Why Snowden Asked Visitors in Hong Kong to Refrigerate Their Phones

nytimes ^ | 6/25 | murphy

[sickoflibs]

Which brings up an irony.

Snowden was trusted with government info and swore he would protect it from exposure, and he did the opposite.

So he sure isnt going to trust reporters with him who claim their phones are in airplane mode . Thieves know how to protect their own stuff.

Phones can still record in AP mode.

[mountainlion]

Tinfoil/metal case would block the radio waves form entering and exiting. The microphone can pick up signals but the tinfoil will stop the transmissions of pirated audio.

So how do I stop my onstar form spying on me?

[PowderMonkey]

Now, what to do about that battery powered toothbrush...

[fruser1]

So, given a particular cell number, how do I log on and listen in?

[Bobalu]

People should remember that the NSA has its own silicon chip fab....they didn’t spend those billions for nothing.

Integrated circuit chips are black boxes and lots of mischief goes on inside black boxes.

[schm0e]

So would a small piece of aluminum foil wrapped around the phone, or a tin box and lid.

You're getting warm...

[schm0e]

The perfect accessory:

[Pearls Before Swine]

Tin foil... it’s not just for hats anymore.

[Salgak]

Actually, no, a Faraday Cage requires a physical, non-conductive gap.

You’d have to wrap it completely in aluminum foil, then a layer of (for example) shrink-wrap, then ANOTHER layer of aluminum foil, and you’d have a weak Faraday Cage. .

[sickoflibs]

I am with you on that one.

Dont forget that the NSA is reading these FR posts as we type and they get a crosslist report of your FR username, real name, SS #, IP address, your home and work address and your credit report for everytime you hit ‘post’

:)

AHHHHHH

[US_MilitaryRules]

Wrap your car in tinfoil! Don’t forget the antenna!

[cuban leaf]

I declined an update to youtube on my phone because it said right there in black and white that one of the new “features” is that the camera and microphone would be enabled to hear and see without your knowledge. I paraphrase.

[Jumper]

That is why you have to also push the on/off button several times to drain any power remaining in the device.

[babygene]

A cookie tin would work well, or tin foil for that matter. BTW, they sell wallets that are made out of aluminum which keep your RFDI credit cards secure...

[DManA]

That is the first time I've heard THAT one. (Not doubting you)

Not even removing the battery will interrupt all potential for transmission and / or recording, as there are small batteries on the boards themselves.

[mountainlion]

All I need to do is ground the antenna and it should burn out the transmitter. A needle through coaxial cable can stop a radio form transmitting. I suspect it is designed so that you can’t unhook the cable to the antenna.

An antique cigarette case that a phone fits in might be an interesting concept to security.

[ErnBatavia]

they sell wallets that are made out of aluminum which keep your RFDI credit cards secure

For my standard leather wallet, I simply folded a piece of foil and stuck it in with the currency....instant shield - I hope.

[DManA]

I have heard that people are selling Faraday bags, doing a brisk business too. I have no idea if they are effective.

[DManA]

That's not true. Where did you get that idea?

Actually, no, a Faraday Cage requires a physical, non-conductive gap.