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Submitted via IRC for TheMightyBuzzard
If you dream of owning a Linux phone that respects your privacy and keeps your data secure you'll want to check out Purism's new crowdfunding campaign.
The security-conscious US-based Linux laptop maker is hoping to raise $1.5 million to manufacture a 5-inch privacy-focused smartphone powered by open-source software.
Starting at $599, the Librem 5 will run the GNU/Linux PureOS distribution instead of Android, and will include a slate of features aimed at helping you protect your 'digital identity' — including end-to-end encryption of calls and texts made to other Librem 5 handsets.
While the phone will use as much free software as possible Purism do concede that the mobile baseband will likely use ROM loaded firmware (but with a FOSS kernel driver).
Wondering what kind of smartphone you get for $599? Us too. As it is, Purism say Librem 5 specs won't be finalized until after the campaign ends. This, they say, is to "ensure the best available components."
[...] If you're thinking of replacing your current smartphone with the Librem 5 you will need to look elsewhere as Purism plan to ship the phone in January 2019.
Source: Purism is Crowdfunding an Encrypted Linux Phone
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 30 2017, @06:03PM
The difference is that the baseband on this phone will not have access to the other parts of the phone. It is the model neo900 was using (but neo900 wanted to have more than isolation, they wanted to monitor what the baseband was up to). It is impossible (legally, AND within the budget of mortals) to use free software on the baseband processor.
So, with a USB connected baseband, nobody can remotely switch your mic on, nor access the contents of the memory of your phone. So, while not perfect, it is quite a bit better than *every* other modern phone currently available*.
$600 is *a lot* of money, though. And, the actual BOM isn't even known yet. I'd love to help fund this worthy cause, but can't part with that kind of cash for something not even to a specifications phase let alone prototype phase yet.
* The European Galaxy S3 (exynos based) and a couple other older phones use a separate baseband. The US S3 (qualcom based) has baseband integrated into the SOC.