this post was submitted on 24 Aug 2023
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Privacy

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I was taking a look at the Naomi Wu situation (A Chinese DIY tech youtuber who went missing after being watched by the government) and in one part they mentioned that she was concerned about her privacy, so started using Signal, but had a default chinese keyboard that had a keylogger and the police had looked into what she was talking on there.

I'm not sure if it was a mobile only thing, but it was mentioned that the keyboard app was used in like 70% por chinese smarthphones.

Now, I use AnySoftKey and refuse to use default keyboard apps, but how far can we reach on the keyboard security thing? Is typing on a computer or using a physical keyboard on a mobile device 100% safe? I think the keyboard issue is often overlooked and would like to know what recommendations your have? Or what should be known more?

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[–] [email protected] 29 points 10 months ago (12 children)

Keyboard is absolutely a thing to be careful with. On Android mobile, use OpenBoard for example. On computer, if you use Linux, also install kloak [https://github.com/Whonix/kloak], a tool that slightly delays randomly your keystrokes to help you hide your typing pattern that can definitively identify you

[–] [email protected] 5 points 10 months ago (2 children)

So, that makes your typing worse so you can't be identified?

[–] [email protected] 8 points 10 months ago (1 children)

No, it randomizes the key timing. It also doesn't address stylometry so you can still be identified, but it helps. I made a browser addon that does the same thing. https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/private-keyboard/

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Hey, I wanted to ask if you could make your browser extension for chromium based browser? I use Brave as my main browser for different reasons and I would love to have your extension also for Brave, since I care a lot about, I also would install the file manually if you won't publish it in Chrome Store.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Hey, I'm currently stretched pretty thin on projects so it will be quite some time before i'm able to port it, however I appreciate the interest. If you or anyone you know is willing to port it, i would appreciate help.

I was partly inspiried by this extension for chrome: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/keyboard-privacy/aoeboeflhhnobfjkafamelopfeojdohk

However I am not sure if it is open source and i don't think its maintained anymore. It is a good starting point regardless.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

Hm okay, sadly my knowledge about making browser extensions is almost zero, so I won't be rly a help :') and thanks for the link, I tried it, but I definitly prefer yours. I will be patient until you got the time to do port your extension, good luck with your projects!

[–] [email protected] 6 points 10 months ago

Not worse, but less repeatable. You don't see any difference in typing, it just help reduce fingerprinting

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