Re: FSF not related to hardware

[Jacob Hrbek]

> The link you have referred to does not tell that it has "spyware" 
neither "backdoor". It speaks about blobs, but not spyware or backdoors. 
Though such possibility exists.
> However, your way of giving references is not consistent with your 
statements. It seems like you are giving an URL for people not to click 
on it, and not to read it, but only to give your statement on the 
mailing list more credibility. I have read it, and I have not found any 
reference to spyware or a backdoor. -- Louis

I though it's self-evident, but let me explain it:

Same as in the software the existence of such blobs especially in the 
modem that on most devices has direct access to ring-0 of the OS which 
usually can be accessed remotely by an unwanted entity makes it a 
spyware as without the relevant hardware files (mainly gerber as that 
can always be different from schematics and firmware) you can't for sure 
say that the device is malware-free even when the device has a hardware 
kill-switch (as you will be exposed each time the switch is not triggered).

And even if you do x-ray scans it won't really tell you anything e.g. 
the kill-switch might have power creapage issues (which are very common) 
that powers up the modem without the knowledge of the user.

It's also important to have access to the firmware and method to inspect 
the firmware installed on the chips to make sure you know what it does 
otherwise it's just rootkit waiting to be used e.g. what rockchip does 
by providing all the used software and methods to inspect the chip.

..FWIW i really find it stupid that we are so concerned about malware in 
the software to dismiss non-free while letting in malware on the 
hardware which majority of the people already have on their devices even 
if they run 100% Free Software.

> I think you should be. Maybe you can learn it. And you should 
basically find few hardware engineers and get along and make at least 
some free hardware design parts. Do that step. -- Louis

I am developing hardware already excluding chip development that i am 
still experimenting with.. e.g. currently working on 
https://github.com/ringerc/openscad-pegboard-peggrid/pull/2 which is 
licensed under BSD license.

and i can't really afford to make complicated projects as FSF will just 
endorse my competitor to hurt me financially and make it significantly 
harder to sustain the development like they did with PINE64 to hurt free 
hardware projects such as https://github.com/Open-Smartwatch, like they 
do now with Power Progress Community and like they will always do unless 
something dramatically changes in FSF and they finally recognize that 
Hardware Freedom is critical for Software Freedom and should be fully 
supported by FSF

namely I was annoyed with Librem 5 and pinephone so i went to make my 
own design which would cost me ~5000 EUR to develop and i can't really 
sustain the development as even if i make it i will be in a huge 
net-loss with my target audience (freedom-minded people) being lead by 
FSF to use my competitors who don't give a damn about hardware freedom 
and in case of Purism are most likely scamming people with false statements.

and it's to me really annoying that this whole situation could be 
avoided by FSF undoing their endorsement of Purism while highlighting 
the hardware freedom issues as their whole business plan is oriented 
around FSF and Free Software Movement to sell their products which would 
force them to keep their word and release the hardware files instead of 
indefinitely saying "oh even after you gave us millions on crowdfunding 
**NEARLY A DECADE AGO** and we currently hire 40 people to work on our 
products, ye we also have a notebook now, cool eh? but we still didn't 
pay for the development of librem 5, help us with that and buy librem 5! 
7th batch of at least 1000 devices (close to 3000 now most likely) for 
the price of 1199 USD per each next week" and making fools off us all.

And just that FSF won't do anything about this situation and continue 
participating on this in good faith assumed fraud (with reasoning 
provided beyond a reasonable doubt including quotes from expert 3rd 
party hardware manufacturers) is depressing especially (not meant as an 
insult, just what i feel from my point of view) reading from a person 
who has Snowden support message  (where snowden is probably the most 
vocal about hardware freedom) at the header of _each email_ that they 
send that they don't have the time to get arduino kit for <5 USD/EUR and 
do dimmable LED circuit that would take them 5 min of plugging dupont 
connectors to the board like a lego and copy pasting of example code on 
the chip to use that as an example why Hardware freedom is not 
sustainable and that they would rather go to store and spent a premium 
for a proprietary solution.

On 1/31/22 20:56, Jean Louis wrote:
> * Jacob Hrbek <kreyren@rixotstudio.cz> [2022-01-27 20:15]:
> > > How do you feel about devices from suppliers such as Pine64, these allow
> > for free software to be installed, but also for parts to be removed and
> > replaced. -- Sutton
> >
> > I argue that pinephone should be avoided at all cost as it has a built-in
> > spyware and
> > backdoor[https://www.pine64.org/2020/01/24/setting-the-record-straight-pinephone-misconceptions/].
> The link you have referred to does not tell that it has "spyware"
> neither "backdoor". It speaks about blobs, but not spyware or
> backdoors. Though such possibility exists.
>
> However, your way of giving references is not consistent with your
> statements. It seems like you are giving an URL for people not to
> click on it, and not to read it, but only to give your statement on
> the mailing list more credibility. I have read it, and I have not
> found any reference to spyware or a backdoor.
>
> > I am not hardware engineer i learned everything myself as the
> > information needed is widely available and there are numerous
> > communities that will guide you in your projects.
> I think you should be. Maybe you can learn it. And you should
> basically find few hardware engineers and get along and make at least
> some free hardware design parts. Do that step.
>
> Jean
>
> Take action in Free Software Foundation campaigns:
> https://www.fsf.org/campaigns
>
> In support of Richard M. Stallman
> https://stallmansupport.org/

--
Jacob Hrbek, In support of ukraine sovereignty #supportUkraine

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