4 ms·

Android user here: 90 % of Android devices have all the stuff you think you avoided by switching preinstalled and running in the background. Either because it's

Android user here: 90 % of Android devices have all the stuff you think you avoided by switching preinstalled and running in the background. Either because it's in the Google contract to use Play Services or because the manufacturer uses proprietary solutions they want to push. And they certainly aren't always removable

browningstreet 5y ago
I understand that. I don't think I can cut it off entirely, but I'm going to segregate my usage of the platforms as much as I can. My personal cloud archive won't be on my phone, that's one thing I can do. I may not be able to take down the beast, but I'll try not to feed it much more than crumbs.
- cucumb3rrelish 5y ago
  I don't see why you switched to Android then in the first place, because only iCloud uploads will be scanned on iOS. Also I can't think of a single manufacturer with better privacy practices than Apple except for custom ROMs.
  - netizen-936824 5y ago
    Isn't the obvious choice to use custom ROMs then?
  - browningstreet 5y ago
    For now… I think it’s easy to imagine what v5 of this tech can do, what additional databases come into scope over time. The potential of abuse by governments, and the principle of on device scanning. Cloud scanning doesn’t bother me as much… but this feels like a step too far. Some things are reasonable, this doesn’t seem so.
nextos 5y ago
These days things are much better thanks to Treble. Device-independent ROMs are a reality. You can easily flash pure AOSP on any modern phone.
- yagya 5y ago
  While that's in theory, reality is much more harsh. Treble implementations vary greatly between OEMs. For example, Samsung phones don't have mobile data working because of proprietary RIL used by Samsung. Also, Treble compatibility often breaks on newer versions of Android, especially for Pixels (which is quite ironic). Treble is really meant to make the job easier for OEMs and ROM devs to continue supporting a device. The GSI is really meant as a way to certify Treble.
jokethrowaway 5y ago
Installing a custom, privacy conscious rom on an Android phone is generally easier.

browningstreet 5y ago

I understand that. I don't think I can cut it off entirely, but I'm going to segregate my usage of the platforms as much as I can. My personal cloud archive won't be on my phone, that's one thing I can do. I may not be able to take down the beast, but I'll try not to feed it much more than crumbs.

cucumb3rrelish 5y ago
I don't see why you switched to Android then in the first place, because only iCloud uploads will be scanned on iOS. Also I can't think of a single manufacturer with better privacy practices than Apple except for custom ROMs.
- netizen-936824 5y ago
  Isn't the obvious choice to use custom ROMs then?
- browningstreet 5y ago
  For now… I think it’s easy to imagine what v5 of this tech can do, what additional databases come into scope over time. The potential of abuse by governments, and the principle of on device scanning. Cloud scanning doesn’t bother me as much… but this feels like a step too far. Some things are reasonable, this doesn’t seem so.

nextos 5y ago

These days things are much better thanks to Treble. Device-independent ROMs are a reality. You can easily flash pure AOSP on any modern phone.

yagya 5y ago
While that's in theory, reality is much more harsh. Treble implementations vary greatly between OEMs. For example, Samsung phones don't have mobile data working because of proprietary RIL used by Samsung. Also, Treble compatibility often breaks on newer versions of Android, especially for Pixels (which is quite ironic). Treble is really meant to make the job easier for OEMs and ROM devs to continue supporting a device. The GSI is really meant as a way to certify Treble.

jokethrowaway 5y ago

Installing a custom, privacy conscious rom on an Android phone is generally easier.