Reducing the harm of WhatsApp with Qubes

[user@dom0 Desktop]$ qvm-ls | grep droid
droid1-base                  Halted   StandaloneVM  red     -                            sys-firewall
droid1                       Halted   StandaloneVM  red     -                            sys-firewall

Using the awesome (yet outdated) Android x86 project¹, I just migrated my WhatsApp accounts from a internet-connected phone into my new HVM.

The installation was pretty easy, with the ISO in a external device, I just booted from the image. The Android comes with root, so you can use AFWall+ to block the rest of accessing internet!

No camera and audio because AFAIK there was no Qubes integration with Android, but no problems, WhatsApp Web device linking can be used without camera, by inserting a code.

Now I can reliably use nchat without having ever to power the phone on.

What remains in the unsafe phone is the banking app and SIM card.

Now the next goal will be the banking app. So I will be able to replace the unsafe internet-connected smartphone by a not-smart phone only for the SMS messages!

The devices should be under our control, not smarter than us, LOL