Smartphone, don't spy!
Smartphone checklist: Political activism
Political activists are not only repeatedly targeted by house searches, confiscations or other state repression, they are also exposed to threats from politically dissident groups. Activists are particularly at risk of direct access to smartphones by the authorities and should try to protect their identity as much as possible, especially online.
- You don't use a feature phone
- Your SIM card is protected with a PIN
- Do not unlock your smartphone on demand
- Deactivate positioning if you don't need it
- You have not activated your mobile data connection at all times
- You know your most important contacts by heart
- You have set up a screen lock
- You use secure messengers
- Refrain from taking photos and videos at demonstrations
- You make regular backups
- Do without biometric unlocking
- You use tracking and ad blockers
- Are your apps and system up to date?
- You use strong passwords for unlocking
- Notifications on your lock screen are deactivated
- You do not use your pseudonyms at the same time
- You don't share your Google or Apple account with other people
- Your smartphones are encrypted
- You waive root rights
- You use Tor or the Tor browser
- You know important logins by heart
- You practise restoring your backups
- Your device does not display any warning messages at startup
- You use different pseudonyms and email addresses
- You take photos and videos without unlocking your smartphone
- Your backups are stored decentrally
- You have deactivated USB debugging
- Do not store unused appliances in your home
- You have written down the unique numbers of your device
- Encrypt your emails or do without them
- You are using a free operating system
- You are using GrapheneOS on a compatible device
- You do without apps like "SnoopSnitch"
- You know all participants in sensitive chat groups
- You have activated lockdown mode on your iPhone
- Activate two-step verification in your messengers
- You use disappearing messages
- Your backups are encrypted
- Your operating system has verified boot
- The bootloader of your device is locked
- Weigh up the risks before you take your smartphone to a demo
- You can switch off your devices quickly
- You have already taken part in a cryptoparty
- Switch off your phone before sensitive meetings
- Check whether your messengers also work without a SIM card inserted
- You delete metadata from your pictures
- You do not publish pictures with shadows and time
- You have sealed your device
- You have removed your sim card number
- You use anonymous sim cards
- Deactivate your SIM card if you are traveling with a group
- You use your smartphone exclusively for one SIM card
- You often use other SIM cards and a proxy phone
- Do not use your anonymous SIM card at the same time as a non-anonymous card
- You deactivate your SIM card when traveling in modern cars
- You have purchased SIM cards and phones anonymously
- You use a burner phone
- You don't make calls with your anonymous SIM card
- You get your phone credit anonymously
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