jwzOct 17, 2024

"I'm clicking a cow!"

Today's phone-based video game:

1: Get election SMS spam
2: Block caller
3: Reply STOP
4: Get "you have been unsubscribed" from a *different phone number*
5: Goto 2, in an attempt to preemptively block their entire network.

My score was around 200 before I gave up.
https://jwz.org/b/yka_

"I'm clicking a cow!"

Today's phone-based video game: 1: Get election SMS spam. 2: Block caller. 3: Reply STOP. 4: Get "you have been unsubscribed" from a different phone number. 5: Goto 2, in an attempt to preemptively block their entire network. My score was around 200 before I gave up.

Show threadjwzOct 18, 2024
"I'm clicking a cow!"
Show threadjwzOct 21, 2024
Show threadjwzOct 23, 2024
Show threadCat 🐈🥗 (D.Burch) ⁠
@jwz After I found out you can wildcard block (on Android), dealing with spam got way easier for me.
+13126808*
+1312820*
Oct 24, 2024 at 1:20pmWeb
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 47Oct 24, 2024
@catsalad @jwz wait what
Show threadCat 🐈🥗 (D.Burch) ⁠Oct 24, 2024
@jik @jwz It's so nice 😁
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 47Oct 24, 2024
@catsalad Alas that's not what it looks like on my Pixel. Consider yourself blessed. 😉
Show threadCat 🐈🥗 (D.Burch) ⁠Oct 24, 2024

@jik Oh, screenshot is from Fossify Messages / Phone apps. FOSS replacements for stock phone apps. Great to have, even if you still use stock.

„Fossify Messages“ – IzzyOnDroid F-Droid Repository

Open-source and Ad-free SMS/MMS messaging app

IzzyOnDroid Repo Browser
Show threadcaraneaOct 24, 2024
@jik @catsalad
While my Pixel does not show the option like that either, the entry for 'Phone app -> settings -> blocked numbers -> add number' accepts the '*' wildcard without any complaints, so might be worth a try.
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 47Oct 24, 2024
@caranea @catsalad The documentation I was able to find suggests it won't work, but 🤷 it's of course possible that the documentation is wrong.
Show threadArg à meudonOct 24, 2024
@jik @caranea @catsalad https://f-droid.org/packages/at.bitfire.nophonespam/ has been working great for me.
NoPhoneSpam | F-Droid - Free and Open Source Android App Repository

Block unwanted calls

Show threadThe TurtleOct 24, 2024
@catsalad @jwz i have never figured out how to do that on android... where to put the pattern? The Phone app seems to like complete numbers.
Show threadCat 🐈🥗 (D.Burch) ⁠Oct 24, 2024
@the_turtle Try sideloading either one (or both) of the Fossify apps from ⁠Fdroid or IzzyOnDroid. See this post:
https://infosec.exchange/@catsalad/113362779960935430
CatSalad🐈🥗 (D.Burch) :blobcatrainbow: (@[email protected])

@[email protected] Oh, screenshot is from Fossify Messages / Phone apps. FOSS replacements for stock phone apps. Great to have, even if you still use stock. - :fdroid:⁠https://apt.izzysoft.de/fdroid/index/apk/org.fossify.messages - :fdroid:⁠https://apt.izzysoft.de/fdroid/index/apk/org.fossify.phone - :github:⁠https://github.com/FossifyOrg

Infosec Exchange
Show threadThe TurtleOct 24, 2024

@catsalad i had not checked the array of fossifys that are out there now.

I will experiment later. Currently getting a lot of "early voting" spams from numbers thousands of miles away. Memorizing a lot of area codes is useful.