this post was submitted on 05 Feb 2025
155 points (98.7% liked)
Privacy
646 readers
440 users here now
Protect your privacy in the digital world
Welcome! This is a community for all those who are interested in protecting their privacy.
Rules
~PS: Don't be a smartass and try to game the system, we'll know if you're breaking the rules when we see it!~
- Be nice, civil and no bigotry/prejudice.
- No tankies/alt-right fascists. The former can be tolerated but the latter are banned.
- Stay on topic.
- Don't promote proprietary software.
- No crypto, blockchain, etc.
- No Xitter links. (only allowed when can't fact check any other way, use xcancel)
- If you post news exclusive to a country please name it. ~(This isn't a bannable rule, just a recommendation!)~
- If in doubt, read rule 1
Related communities:
- !opensource@programming.dev
- !selfhosting@slrpnk.net / !selfhosted@lemmy.world
- !piracy@lemmy.dbzer0.com
founded 2 months ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
I wonder if there's a way to use some sort of mesh network to get around this and avoid most people needing to transmit to cell towers
Briar.
Briar uses either: Internet (via Tor), Wifi (connects with every contact connected to the same wifi via local connection, does not require internet), or with Bluetooth
You can form a peer to peer connection if you have enough people connected to each other.
Your phone will only connect to users in your contacts, so its best to try sharing this app with everyone at the protest, and adding everyone at the protest as contacts. The more, the stronger the mesh.
Unfortunately, bluetooth is like 10 meters of range, so you need like a contact every 10 meters or so to continue the flow of information.
You just download the app, create a profile, set a password, and Voila. Everything stays on your device, all connections are encrypted.
Then go create a "Forum", share the forum with everyone (do not use the "group chat" thing, that is unreliable).
Everyone in the Forum can also share the forum with more people. But the forum only syncs with contacts.
Example:
User A and User B have each other contacts
User B and User C have each other as contacts
But if User A and User C aren't contacts, they have to relay information through User B.
But User B can also introduce each other, then sync that introduction with User A at Location One, sync with User B at location Two. Voila, now they are contacts.
User B could get arrested, but User A and C will have a connection if they meet later at a protest.
Get it? You have to add everyone to keep the information flowing.
(Also, even if both User A and User C added as contacts, and are on the same forum, they still need to "share" the forum with each other to make sure the connection works, because I think this is a bug)
For anti-tracking, turn on airplane mode, turn off all wireless connections except bluetooth before heading to the protest. Turn off Locations, turn off Location Accuract, Wifi Scanning, Bluetooth Scanning.
You have an off-grid communication system.
Keep in mind, they can still jam bluetooth connections.
Also, bluetooth MAC addresses are not randomized unlike with wifi connections. Its not foul proof.
Also, Briar is Android only.
And, this is all assuming you phone doesn't have a backdoor that tracks you.
You could also use a radio and talk in code, and they'll know someone is transmitting at the protest, but as long as you don't transmit at home, you're safe.
Don't let them find the radio tho.
Edit: Feel free to ask questions, I'm not a security expert, just some nerd digging around the internet often.
https://youtube.com/@andreasspiess