If you have ever wondered what smartphone you would use if you were to dedicate yourself to crime instead of working and paying taxes, the answer is not the most obvious: a iPhone. The mobiles of Apple They are known for their emphasis on privacy and security, but the choice is another, according to a person in charge of the fight against the drug of the drug National Police In Catalonia: Los Google Pixel. They are so common among criminals that ‘Every time we see a Google Pixel we think it can be a drug trafficker’the policeman has pointed out to the ARA newspaper.
The reason for this love is not its photographic qualities or any other aspects that the Pixel stand out, but also allow the installation of an alternative operating system with ease. And that is Grapheneosbecause it allows an encrypted communication that the police cannot track.
Another advantage that has grapheneous for criminals is that it is designed to format and delete all data if the PIN is erroneously entered several times. In addition, they also take them to specialized stores in which components such as microphone, camera or GPS are disabled.
According to the police in the middle, Traditional telephone listeners are not effective In today’s world, since criminals communicate through encryption applications. For that reason, it is used to Trojans To infect the device and access your information, something that is done with Judicial authorization.
Another situation raised by smartphones to the police is that they can be remotely reset. To prevent them from doing that with a requisitioned smartphone, is isolated in a special bag that prevents it.
Why it is easy to install an alternative operating system in a pixel
Generally, manufacturers They do not allow you to install another operating system other than yours. And when it can be done, it is A complicated process. Pixel has an advantage in this aspect because, if it is a free mobile and has no link with any operator, Has the unlocked bootloader in a simple way.
The bootloader or starter manager It is a tool that runs at the beginning of the phone, before Android does, and Verify that the operating system that starts is legitimate.
To unlock it, you just have to activate the Developer options in Settings> System touching 7 times in a row in Compilation number.
Once this section is available, you have to enter it and activate the option OM unlock.
What is grapheneous and why the drug traffickers choose
There are many alternative versions of Android, which are Forks or derived from the original project and are distributed as ROMS Personalized. Grapheneos It is based on AOSP (Android Open Source Projectthe base of the Android system, which is what other manufacturers use to offer their customizations) and has been specifically designed for Google Pixel.
It is a platform 100 % openwithout owner components and completely auditable. Bring the minimum apps, no customization layer and has its own application store.
Grapheneos offers, in front of the standard Android, a reinforced security which includes greater advanced protections against exploits and vulnerabilities, as well as a improved privacy that eliminates unnecessary and, by default, Does not include apps or Google servicesalthough it is possible to install them in an isolated space. The camera application reduces data collection and does not even include metadata EXIF In the images, unless it is enabled.
When presenting No pre -installed trackinggenerates one ‘minimum track’ For the police. Apps with end -to -end encryption can be used as Signal either WhatsApp And, thanks to its reinforced security architecture, It makes the silent installation of malware or spyware difficult. All this, and the fact that Delete automatically After several failed attempts to introduce the pin, they have made Grapheneos The operating system desired by those who want to move online and the world with maximum privacy, a group in which criminals must be included.