New smartphone promises anonymity for users

In today’s digital world, privacy and anonymity are considered prized commodities. The rising demand for internet security has paved the way for tools like mobile 4G proxies that ensure private connection, along with other myriad of tools and services that promise a layer of protection in the World Wide Web.

Freedom Phone promises ‘uncancellable, uncensorable’ mobile use

Now, there is a smartphone that also promises to protect user privacy and avoid Big Tech companies: Freedom Phone is described as a smartphone that prioritizes “free speech and privacy” above anything else. The device runs on ClearOS, which is a software “designed for free speech,” and also boasts of a built-in privacy guard called ClearGM, which will warn users whenever an app or a site is monitoring their behavior.

The device is basically geared towards users who value freedom on the internet, vowing to let everyone read what they like, watch what they like, and do what they like without judgment or restriction thus providing “uncancellable, uncensorable” Internet use. However, publicly available reviews do not paint an enticing portrait of Freedom Phone and instead raises many red flags on the smartphone’s claims of protecting user privacy.

In particular, experts are wary about the lack of information on how the so-called software privacy and free speech features work on the Freedom Phone. As noted by a CNET report, “It also isn’t clear how the phone would handle technical details like IP tracing, website cookies or other conventional tracking tools used on phones and other electronic devices. We don’t know if the Freedom Phone has received clearance from the Federal Communications Commission.”

Freedom shouldn’t be at the expense of user’s online safety

There’s still a lot of unknown factors when it comes to Freedom Phone, but it’s already clear that these types of tools and services can be broken by law enforcement authorities even if they are advertised as capable of resisting lawful attempts to gain access to their content. Take EncroChat Phone for example, these modified Android devices were marketed as guaranteeing perfect anonymity—until they were infiltrated by police forces across Europe.

Whatever its promises are, it’s clear that Freedom Phone still has a long way to go. And regardless of how secure these privacy-centered phones may appear at first glance, it’s still wise for users to implement additional measures as a way of future-proofing potential breaches. Proxy usages are increasingly becoming popular as a preferred tool that provides an additional layer of protection while the user is browsing the internet.

In fact, studies show that tools like proxies are now playing a major role in securing internet privacy given that they act as a secure gateway between the users and the internet. An ENV Media study noted a 14 percent overall growth in proxy use in the past four years, which analysts said speaks volumes about the proven effect of proxies.

“The undeniable and continuous awareness growth among online users about the importance of their privacy and protection leads industry experts to project a lasting and sustainable expansion of proxy markets. Users who generate demand for richer entertainment offers and internet freedom, similarly, can fuel the rise in proxy and VPN adoption across the globe,” according to the ENV Media analysts.