Leaker reveals which Pixels are vulnerable to Cellebrite phone hacking (arstechnica.com)

Article summary

The article discusses the vulnerability of certain Pixel phones to Cellebrite phone hacking, with some commenters noting that a custom ROM created by volunteers is more resistant to such hacking than the official Pixel OS. The reason for this vulnerability is unclear, but some speculate it may be due to Google's business model and potential complicity with government agencies. Google's security measures are being compared to those of Apple, with some arguing that Apple's devices are more secure. The discussion also touches on the limitations of full-disk encryption and the importance of dedicated security hardware.

Main themes

• Phone security
• Cellebrite hacking
• Google vs Apple
• Government surveillance
• Encryption
• Business models

What commenters say

• Google's business model, which relies on collecting user data for ad sales, makes it more likely to compromise on security and hand over user data to government agencies.
• Apple's devices are more secure than Google's due to their dedicated security hardware and full-disk encryption.
• The vulnerability of Pixel phones to Cellebrite hacking is a result of Google's choice to prioritize business interests over user security.
• Full-disk encryption is not enough to ensure security, and dedicated security hardware is necessary to resist brute-force attempts and other exploits.
• Government agencies have ways to twist the arms of companies to provide backdoors and access to user data, regardless of laws and regulations.
• Laws and regulations can be subverted or broken by government agencies, and it's essential to be aware of these possibilities to prevent abuses of power.
• Companies like Google and Apple have the capability to fight against government demands for backdoors and user data, but their business models and priorities may influence their decisions.
• The security of devices depends on various factors, including hardware, software, and user behavior, and no device is completely unhackable.