4 ms·

Is there any decent Android (non Chinese) device that is free of Google privacy invading software ?

by suyash 5y ago

johnasmith 5y ago
You can buy a pixel device and flash it to AOSP here: https://flash.android.com/ https://flash.android.com/ Install a launcher of your choice and be on your way: https://www.tomsguide.com/uk/round-up/best-android-launchers https://www.tomsguide.com/uk/round-up/best-android-launchers
- suyash 5y ago
  brilliant!
  - throwaway78981 5y ago
    There is GrapheneOS too: https://nitter.mailstation.de/DanielMicay https://nitter.mailstation.de/DanielMicay
- Dracophoenix 5y ago
  Is there any notable difference between flashing a GSI vs flashing AOSP from source or is the latter just done to ensure a degree of control over what one puts on one's device?
  - johnasmith 5y ago
    No difference except you did it from source and spent the build time yourself.
NotPractical 5y ago
Ironically the best option if you want a secure, private phone is usually to buy a Google Pixel phone, then install GrapheneOS on it. Technically you can use plain old AOSP, but GrapheneOS is probably the better option because: * You can re-lock the bootloader after installing it for security (unlike AOSP which is not signed by Google). * It has additional security/privacy protections on top of AOSP, like the ability to disable the "Internet" permission for individual apps. * It supports Play Services in a secure sandbox to allow for much greater app compatibility (since most Android apps in the Play Store require Play Services). The only way to add support for these apps to AOSP is to install the "Google privacy invading software" you mentioned on top of it, and grant it special privileges over your phone (otherwise it will refuse to run). While the Play Services sandbox feature of GrapheneOS requires installing Play Services on your phone, it not granted any special permissions; it's treated just like any other app. GrapheneOS simply lies to Play Services, telling it that it has special permissions when it actually doesn't. Pretty clever solution! And if you're not comfortable even with this low risk version of Play Services, you can simply choose to stick to F-Droid, but it's nice to have the option if you need it. You can even install sandboxed Play Services in an isolated profile to keep it separate from your main apps if you want. https://grapheneos.org/usage#sandboxed-play-services https://grapheneos.org/usage#sandboxed-play-services Edit: AOSP also has no backup/restore options, while GrapheneOS has Seedvault. I also found a fun video that provides a glimpse at what raw AOSP really looks like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWaAilxX28g&t=306s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWaAilxX28g&t=306s It doesn't even have a setup wizard.
saladuh 5y ago
CalyxOS, or GrapheneOS, flashed to a Pixel device will be a far better degoogled experience than plain AOSP. Though I don't think CalyxOS's chromium webview is fully degoogled, iirc. Something about too many apps breaking.

Is there any decent Android (non Chinese) device that is free of Google privacy invading software ?

by suyash 5y ago

Is there any decent Android (non Chinese) device that is free of Google privacy invading software ?

You can buy a pixel device and flash it to AOSP here: https://flash.android.com/ https://flash.android.com/ Install a launcher of your choice and be on your way: https://www.tomsguide.com/uk/round-up/best-android-launchers https://www.tomsguide.com/uk/round-up/best-android-launchers

suyash 5y ago
brilliant!
- throwaway78981 5y ago
  There is GrapheneOS too: https://nitter.mailstation.de/DanielMicay https://nitter.mailstation.de/DanielMicay
Dracophoenix 5y ago
Is there any notable difference between flashing a GSI vs flashing AOSP from source or is the latter just done to ensure a degree of control over what one puts on one's device?
- johnasmith 5y ago
  No difference except you did it from source and spent the build time yourself.

NotPractical 5y ago

Ironically the best option if you want a secure, private phone is usually to buy a Google Pixel phone, then install GrapheneOS on it. Technically you can use plain old AOSP, but GrapheneOS is probably the better option because: * You can re-lock the bootloader after installing it for security (unlike AOSP which is not signed by Google). * It has additional security/privacy protections on top of AOSP, like the ability to disable the "Internet" permission for individual apps. * It supports Play Services in a secure sandbox to allow for much greater app compatibility (since most Android apps in the Play Store require Play Services). The only way to add support for these apps to AOSP is to install the "Google privacy invading software" you mentioned on top of it, and grant it special privileges over your phone (otherwise it will refuse to run). While the Play Services sandbox feature of GrapheneOS requires installing Play Services on your phone, it not granted any special permissions; it's treated just like any other app. GrapheneOS simply lies to Play Services, telling it that it has special permissions when it actually doesn't. Pretty clever solution! And if you're not comfortable even with this low risk version of Play Services, you can simply choose to stick to F-Droid, but it's nice to have the option if you need it. You can even install sandboxed Play Services in an isolated profile to keep it separate from your main apps if you want. https://grapheneos.org/usage#sandboxed-play-services https://grapheneos.org/usage#sandboxed-play-services Edit: AOSP also has no backup/restore options, while GrapheneOS has Seedvault. I also found a fun video that provides a glimpse at what raw AOSP really looks like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWaAilxX28g&t=306s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWaAilxX28g&t=306s It doesn't even have a setup wizard.

saladuh 5y ago

CalyxOS, or GrapheneOS, flashed to a Pixel device will be a far better degoogled experience than plain AOSP. Though I don't think CalyxOS's chromium webview is fully degoogled, iirc. Something about too many apps breaking.