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greentea23yesterday at 5:11 PM3 repliesview on HN

Mullvad is nothing like Apple. For apple devices: - need real email and real phone number to even boot the device - cannot disable telemetry - app store apps only, even though many key privacy preserving apps are not available - /etc/hosts are not your own, DNS control in general is extremely weak - VPN apps on idevices have artificial holes - can't change push notification provider - can only use webkit for browsers, which lacks many important privacy preserving capabilities - need to use an app you don't trust but want to sandbox it from your real information? Too bad, no way to do so. - the source code is closed so Apple can claim X but do Y, you have no proof that you are secure or private - without control of your OS you are subject to Apple complying with the government and pushing updates to serve them not you, which they are happy to do to make a buck

Mullvad requires nothing but an envelope with cash in it and a hash code and stores nothing. Apple owns you.


Replies

Melatonicyesterday at 6:59 PM

Agreed on most points but you can setup a pretty solid device wide DNS provider using configuration profiles. Similar to how iOS can be enrolled in work corporate MDM - but under your control.

Works great for me with NextDNS.

Orion browser - while also based on WebKit - is also awesome and has great built in Adblock and supposedly privacy respecting ideals.

show 1 reply
MrDarcyyesterday at 5:27 PM

This comment confuses privacy with anonymity.

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apparentyesterday at 8:19 PM

You do not need an email address to set up an iPhone, and you do not need an email address or phone number to set up an iPad/Mac.

If you want to use the App Store on these devices, you do need to have an email address.