Isn't 5a the same hardware as 4a 5G for the most part? CalyxOS, RattlesnakeOS, and GrapheneOS should have support for it soon.
Edit: Here you go https://gitlab.com/CalyxOS/calyxos/-/issues/642
Ask HN: How much is Google collecting and keeping on Android if not signed in?
41–50 of 58 posts
Re: Ask HN: How much is Google collecting and keeping on Android if not signed in?
#42Disclaimer: I work at Google. In cloud, not on Android. I am privacy conscious so I though I would give a try at Graphene OS, it was brutal. It was overall stable and the stock android R was refreshing. The app selection available through F-droid was very limiting and the quality of apps was a struggle compared to those in the app store. I wish there was some incentive for the better apps to open source and publish o…
> I donate to many apps on Patreon, should I just message to the devs and ask them to go open source and publish on f-droid?
Definitely! In addition, offering your time to set up the F-Droid build pipeline would go a long way
Re: Ask HN: How much is Google collecting and keeping on Android if not signed in?
#43If you install TrackerControl, no root needed (it pretends to be a VPN to capture your traffic, but is not a real VPN), you will see which apps try to talk to tracking services and thus also which ones talk to Google. It also as a 'traffic log' feature which, when turned on, shows live which app is talking to which tracker. Note that, especially if you turn on blocking services marked as essential in the setup, you w…
I installed this and when I turn it on it stops all internet access to any app needing to access the internet. For example my podcast app immediately stops working.
> Note that, especially if you turn on blocking services marked as essential in the setup, you will need to unblock a lot of CDNs and tracking services for many apps to work including Spotify, your browser, etc. Of course you can also just whitelist apps completely, or temporarily turn all blocking off altogether. But by default it will block trackers, since that's kind of its point. This has the side effect of blocking virtually all advertisements.
Might be time to consider a different Podcatcher.
Re: Ask HN: How much is Google collecting and keeping on Android if not signed in?
#44If you install TrackerControl, no root needed (it pretends to be a VPN to capture your traffic, but is not a real VPN), you will see which apps try to talk to tracking services and thus also which ones talk to Google. It also as a 'traffic log' feature which, when turned on, shows live which app is talking to which tracker. Note that, especially if you turn on blocking services marked as essential in the setup, you w…
I installed this and when I turn it on it stops all internet access to any app needing to access the internet. For example my podcast app immediately stops working.
Did you enable "Block essential data sharing" during initial setup?
Re: Ask HN: How much is Google collecting and keeping on Android if not signed in?
#45I have a stock android phone but use wireguard and a pihole for DNS. It blocks something like 70% of all request but my phone works without issues.
Re: Ask HN: How much is Google collecting and keeping on Android if not signed in?
#46Earlier quoted context omitted.
I installed this and when I turn it on it stops all internet access to any app needing to access the internet. For example my podcast app immediately stops working.
> Note that, especially if you turn on blocking services marked as essential in the setup, you will need to unblock a lot of CDNs and tracking services for many apps to work including Spotify, your browser, etc. Of course you can also just whitelist apps completely, or temporarily turn all blocking off altogether. But by default it will block trackers, since that's kind of its point. This has the side effect of block…
I'm using AttennaPod from FDroid store. Assuming that means it might be podcast specific.
Re: Ask HN: How much is Google collecting and keeping on Android if not signed in?
#47Disclaimer: I work at Google. In cloud, not on Android. I am privacy conscious so I though I would give a try at Graphene OS, it was brutal. It was overall stable and the stock android R was refreshing. The app selection available through F-droid was very limiting and the quality of apps was a struggle compared to those in the app store. I wish there was some incentive for the better apps to open source and publish o…
Gotta step in as a GrapheneOS User. You have multiple options. The easiest and most approachable one is: install Aurora Store from F-Droid. It gives you access to Google Play + App Updates without logging you into Google. This almost feels identical to Google Play itself. Next: think about install the Experimental GMS Support that GrapheneOS offers. If you e.g. absolutely need an App that has troubles working without…
> Oh and stay as far away from MicroG as possible, it seriouly cripples the security of GrapheneOS by a lot.
I'm using MicroG on an unrooted stock Android just to be able to use Youtube Vanced.
What am I risking here?
Re: Ask HN: How much is Google collecting and keeping on Android if not signed in?
#48Earlier quoted context omitted.
Gotta step in as a GrapheneOS User. You have multiple options. The easiest and most approachable one is: install Aurora Store from F-Droid. It gives you access to Google Play + App Updates without logging you into Google. This almost feels identical to Google Play itself. Next: think about install the Experimental GMS Support that GrapheneOS offers. If you e.g. absolutely need an App that has troubles working without…
> Oh and stay as far away from MicroG as possible, it seriouly cripples the security of GrapheneOS by a lot. Doesn't this severely limit which apps you can install?
Severely? Not even close.
Re: Ask HN: How much is Google collecting and keeping on Android if not signed in?
#49Disclaimer: I work at Google. In cloud, not on Android. I am privacy conscious so I though I would give a try at Graphene OS, it was brutal. It was overall stable and the stock android R was refreshing. The app selection available through F-droid was very limiting and the quality of apps was a struggle compared to those in the app store. I wish there was some incentive for the better apps to open source and publish o…
Off topic question, but what is the sentiment towards employees who want to protect their privacy at Google?
They didn't encrypt comms between DC's until after 2013.
Easy guess, it seems.
Re: Ask HN: How much is Google collecting and keeping on Android if not signed in?
#50Depends on the ROM. AOSP barely has any Google on it compared to "stock" Android; it uses Google services for system resources like DNS, time synchronization, cert stores updates, etc. This is configurable. Of course, it uses Google servers for updates. I believe that webviews and such use Google Safe Browsing. AOSP doesn't have Google Play Services at all. There's a trivial amount to "de-google". I'd recommend looki…
If you're looking for security today, you can get away with a cheap 3aXL web installed with Graphene, for under 150 USD.