Information Security

A mobile by definition receives/emits radio waves which can be intercepted at a great distance. Everything sent/received can be picked-up remotely.

A laptop (with any WiFi/bluetooth facility disabled) does not do this. I think that it is more likely to be able to apply elaborate encryption programmes. Also it will not have an easy path to read whatever files you put on it. It has become fashionable to have cable-less keyboard/mouse (radio link) with table top or laptop, but at the price/size/battery capacity how secure is their encryption (some folk do not change the code-keys set by factory)?

Both arrive nowadays with a host of "free" programs like Google/Windows/Android whose purpose in life is to get you to sign on with your personal information and pester you with advertising to pay for the "free" service and sell your behaviour/contact details onward.

All your data can be stored in the "cloud" - so you can access it from smartphone/computer wherever you are. But where is the actual storage device? The cheapest place - Beijing, Amazon offshore "flag of convenience" location? The internet service providers charge by the megabyte, so the more data passed/stored via Google etc, the more they make (photos & videos use massively more than text).

Given the current political and corporate attempts to further erode our personal data privacy and security, I'm surprised this thread has laid dormant for so long.

I would suggest things have changed greatly in the intervening 5 year's.

As Cyber Security as a field of work and/or study seems to be in ascendancy globally, I think the best starting point's are a mobile device running an Open Source Custom OS and/or an Open Source based desktop or laptop.

From there you can emulate Edward Snowden's setup if you like, just give-up trying or settle pretty well anywhere in between.

But, from experience, the deeper you go down the rabbit hole the less social life you have.