> 5553154 /pb (Q post #2996)

Phone co's involved?

Yes, phone companies (ISPs in general) can install what's know as a "super cookie" on unencrypted HTTP requests, that can be used to track user identity even if all cookies are disabled by the browser. Using a VPN or HTTPS prevents this attack.

Phone_wipe resolve?

Wipes (on phones or and other computing device) generally refers to reinstalling the operating system. Wipes of this sort will not affect super cookies but, more importantly, they won't eradicate malware embedded into the Loader or, even deeper, into the BIOS. Such implants survive wipes because they exist under that which is wiped (the OS). The only way to block such malware is for the hardware to be manufactured with SecureBoot enabled from factory. SecureBoot causes the BIOS to cryptographically verify itself, using a value stored in protected ROM, and then cryptographically verify the Loader before running it, as well cause the Loader to cryptographically verify the operating system before running it. If any of these steps fails, the system refuses to boot, and hence the attack is defeated.