Verizon announces plans to install a download-tracking app on its Android phones
Between the Google play store, Android's general insecurity, and now cell carriers actively pushing spyware, what alternatives exist?<p>And please don't say iOS. It's closed source, which means we really don't know what's going on under the hood. We may trust it today, but one secret court order + an overnight update is all we need to lose everything with iOS. Apple execs may not even be made aware of such an update if the order was delivered to the engineers directly.<p>What are my options such that I'll actually feel comfortable when I sleep at night? My phone knows everything. All my emails (which can typically be used to get into everything else), all my contacts, all my calendar events, where I go every day, and I'm even paranoid that it records all of my conversations. This isn't schizophrenia, we know that devices record people's conversations without their knowledge. A phone doing the same is just one step away.<p>So what can I do? How can I get some sanity and security around my mobile life?<p>Would be a great step to have a phone that:<p>+ Fully open source. (Sorry Android you don't count)
+ Hardware switch for mic
+ Hardware switch for location services<p>Or at least a phone that is beginning to move in that direction? Should I just stop using my phone?