this post was submitted on 10 Aug 2023
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Vulnerabilities in Sogou Keyboard encryption expose keypresses to network eavesdropping.

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[–] nomadjoanne 151 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (6 children)

Didn't swiftpad or whatever its called send every key pressed to Microsoft?

Not a China shill. China is horrible. Microsoft less so as they don't commit genocide in slow motion. But still, I think this sort of thing is more common than we think.

Use FOSS.

[–] dx1 21 points 1 year ago (6 children)

What are the best FOSS options for Android keyboard apps? I've been struggling with this lately.

[–] nomadjoanne 18 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I use OpenBoard (it's available on fDroid. Maybe the play store too).

I don't know if it's the best but I like it. If you type in multiple languages you do need to hit a "language switcher" key on the keyboard to switch to the autocorrect for that language. A very minor complaint. Otherwise it's great.

And it will learn swear words. No more ducking ducks.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago

OpenBoard - every other keyboard app is ducking shirt

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago (2 children)
[–] realherald 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

F-Droid says the app hasn't been updated in the last 14 months. Is the project still worked on? It says beta on the website.

[–] makingrain 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Yes.. The pitfalls of FOSS is that some dude is working on it when they have free time. I've been using it for 2 years and can't say I mind.. would like to have the word suggestions, though.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Thanks for the recommendation. This comment is typed using a freshly installed florisboard keyboard :)

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Seconded. I use Gboard because it has the same functionality but I have to sandbox it and restrict all internet access via firewall. I still don't trust it and would prefer a FOSS alternative with the same functionality.

[–] assa123 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)
[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Not OP, but this can be managed with Datura firewall on CalyxOs

[–] PlutoniumAcid 16 points 1 year ago

wants to do something

needs to be an IT major

Welp, guess I'll choose between China and Microsoft, then.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You can sandbox an app using Shelter. You can block the internet access of that app using NetGuard. Both apps are available on F-Droid and easy to setup. No special OS needed but I strongly recommend GrapheneOS to avoid backdoors.

[–] assa123 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Thank you vm! NetGuard is awesome. I will test Shelter.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Glad to help. Consider dropping the NetGuard dev some coin, he's doing incredible work. He also develops FairEmail which imho is the best IMAP email app in existence.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm partial to thumbkey. It even has a Lemmy community: [email protected]

[–] PsychedSy 3 points 1 year ago

Thanks for the heads up. It's really similar to the keyboard I use.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

OpenBoard with Gesture

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Using FlorisBoard right now, no auto correct but you'll adapt

[–] Spambox 17 points 1 year ago

Think you mean SwiftKey which Microsoft just introduced bing AI into that you can't turn off. I 100 percent assume they now use all your typing data to train their ai too. They won't even let you use themes without logging in to an account so I again assume they also tie data to accounts.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Yes that's why I've disabled Internet access for my keyboard since I haven't found a FOSS one with all the features I want. Not that I need them but they're nice and blocking network access is built in GrapheneOS anyway.