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Does removing Google-related apps(via ADB, for example) prevent one from being tracked by Google? For example, I've recently removed "Google Play Services" and
by Kelamir 6y ago
Does removing Google-related apps(via ADB, for example) prevent one from being tracked by Google?
For example, I've recently removed "Google Play Services" and much of Google stuff has disappeared. In settings of location, before I removed the app, it was mentioned that Google collects location data for something. Now it does not say so, with the app being gone. Does it mean Google no longer collects it, or is Google somehow app-independent, and there's no way of avoiding their grasp?
- propogandist 6y agoyou have to get a custom ROM, like lineageOS. The OS itself (and most of the stock apps) are calling home to Google constantly, depending on the phone manufacturer, it's likely calling home to them all the time too. You can use something like Netguard to get some idea of what's going off your device (if you're rooted AFWall). It's not perfect, but it's essential software in my opinion. You can see somethings that of that get through Netguard on PiHole, if you have it setup on your network. Removal of play services is one step, but pretty much every app on the phone from the stock keyboard ("Gboard") to all pre-installed apps call home. In the newer versions of Android, Gboard and other apps will complain every few seconds if/when Play Services is Disabled, as they don't get to send the telemetry and usage data to Google.
- andysch 6y agolineageOS is fine, though without play services | microG heaps of apps are broken.. I'd recommend switching to a non-AOSP based OS if you won't use those services, but if you stay on android you should definitely check iodéOS