US immigration agents will have access to one of the world’s most sophisticated hacking tools after a decision by the Trump administration to move ahead with a contract with Paragon Solutions, a company founded in Israel which makes spyware that can be used to hack into any mobile phone – including encrypted applications.
The Department of Homeland Security first entered into a contract with Paragon, now owned by a US firm, in late 2024, under the Biden administration. But the $2m contract was put on hold pending a compliance review to make sure it adhered to an executive order that restricts the US government’s use of spyware, Wired reported at the time.
That pause has now been lifted, according to public procurement documents, which list US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) as the contracting agency.
Soo basically to stay ahead of this you gotta have the newest pixel running the latest build always… that sounds expensive.
Doesn’t have to be the newest device if I understand the chart right. It does need to be relatively up-to-date (IMO it’s kind of silly to use GrapheneOS but not update it).
It looks like it says “yes if you haven’t updated grapheneOS since 2022” specifically, meaning they haven’t updated in 3y. No matter what phone is 3y out if date, I wouldn’t trust it either lol. It’s a cat and mouse game, the cat’ll for sure catch up within 3y, gotta stay ahead of them.
Depends on your threat model.
I mean imo everyone’s threat model should be at least their local police if not the national authorities. Local cops have cellebrite. Only the latest pixel is secure before first unlock on this chart.
I’m finna go dumbphone in a Faraday bag.
You can buy a Pixel 7a which has two and a half years of software support remaining on Ebay for under $200.