233: Outsmarting Spyware: Ramiro Romani’s Guide to Phone Security
The Expat Money Show - With Mikkel Thorup
Introduction
Michael Thorop is a technologist, activist, educator and entrepreneur. He dropped his corporate career to work on meaningful social movements. His company, Above Agency, recently released Above Phone,. A completely privacy phone solution that combines secure hardware, open source operating systems and cutting edge privacy services. Romero Romani has over 20 years of overseas experience with the Expat Money Show.
How to Stop Your Phone From Spying on You
- If you've long suspected your phone is spying on you, trust us, it is. Today's episode will give you the tools you need to begin to fight back.
- Ramiro delves into his background as a software engineer and how he realized the Big Tech companies are a part of the privacy problem.
- I discuss with Ramiro how he decided to shift his priorities and help build systems outside of Big Tech's grasp and bring heart back to their technology, quitting his job to become a full-time activist in movements such as the Freedom Cell Network before founding Above Agency in 2021.
- Ramiro breaks down how his software team went about creating Above Phone by “De-Googling” their phone and using open-source software to tweak existing open-source platforms
- We discuss in detail why having a privacy phone is so important and how Big Tech companies track everything you do because YOU are the product.
- Ramiro shares some SHOCKING examples of how innocent lives have been affected by big-tech spying.
- I discuss with Ramiro the 3 layers of tracking through the Operating Systems, the apps and the telecom companies.
- We look at one of the most common questions Ramiro fields regarding why they use “the Devil” aka Google to build a privacy phone instead of using Linux or another system?
- Ramiro and I examine why it’s important to accept incremental steps in taking privacy back and not let the lack of the perfect tool prevent you from taking any precautions against Big Tech.
- We examine how even “privacy” companies track and mine data from their users and make false claims about their products while portraying a privacy face on the surface.
- Ramiro gives an on-screen demonstration of how some of the available apps work - this is a great reason to head over and watch the video on the Expat Money YouTube channel!
- We even learn how it's possible to use a phone without being exposed to ANY EMF at all by using an ethernet adaptor! This blew me away!
RELATED EPISODES
162: How Privacy Can Protect You If They Come For You - Gabriel Custodiet 182: Creating Your Freedom Cell Overseas – John Bush 117: How To Protect Yourself From The Digital Inquisition - Remso MartinezHOW TO LEARN MORE AND GET AN ABOVE PHONE
For a special offer and to support our work go to riseabovephone.com and use code EXPATPRIVACY for $50 off your Above Phone!CONCLUSION
I hope that by now, most of my listeners are aware of the privacy issues regarding Big Tech and their phones, but this episode will open the eyes of even the staunchest privacy advocates to the depth of the problem. Luckily, there is a solution, and I can personally attest that Ramiro and his team at Above Phone have come up with a great one! See you all next Wednesday on the podcast!Mentioned in this episode:
Into The Amazon—Then Straight To The Beach
This year, I’m taking a private group into the Amazon rainforest—then we head to Fortaleza and explore Brazil’s booming Northeast coast. Think Amazon river cruises, beachfront developments, and wide-open opportunity. From the heart of the rainforest to pristine beaches most people only dream about—this is bucket-list meets Plan-B strategy. If you’ve ever wanted to see the real Brazil and scout investments along the way, this is it. Go to ExpatMoney.com/Brazil.
Brazil Tour August 2 - 9, 2025
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Every month, we offer exciting new webinars for our community. Topics include how to use retirement accounts to buy real estate overseas, how to get a second passport in Latin America, why you should sell your stock portfolio and move your money offshore, how to buy a beachfront rental property in Brazil for less than $100k, or apartments in Paraguay for $60k. If you want to join us for FREE for these presentations with live Q&A, insider secrets, and exclusive opportunities with my professional network of experts, then sign up today.
Gold in the Caribbean—No Bank Can Touch It
Fiat is failing. Banks are cracking. And smart investors are moving their gold offshore—outside the system. I’ve partnered with a fully insured private vault in the Caribbean where you can buy, store, and protect physical gold… legally and securely. The entire account opening is done online—fast, private, and no nonsense. If you’re serious about protecting your wealth, get the details now at ExpatMoney.com/gold
Join Us For Upcoming Live Webinars
Every month, we offer exciting new webinars for our community. Topics include how to use retirement accounts to buy real estate overseas, how to get a second passport in Latin America, why you should sell your stock portfolio and move your money offshore, how to buy a beachfront rental property in Brazil for less than $100k, or apartments in Paraguay for $60k. If you want to join us for FREE for these presentations with live Q&A, insider secrets, and exclusive opportunities with my professional network of experts, then sign up today.
Into The Amazon—Then Straight To The Beach
This year, I’m taking a private group into the Amazon rainforest—then we head to Fortaleza and explore Brazil’s booming Northeast coast. Think Amazon river cruises, beachfront developments, and wide-open opportunity. From the heart of the rainforest to pristine beaches most people only dream about—this is bucket-list meets Plan-B strategy. If you’ve ever wanted to see the real Brazil and scout investments along the way, this is it. Go to ExpatMoney.com/Brazil.
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