eOS DeGoogled Privacy Smartphone in the US Review

#1

Post by indidea » Thu, Mar 11, 2021, 5:15 PM UTC

eOS DeGoogled Privacy Smartphone in the US Review
ramblinggit.com

Re: eOS DeGoogled Privacy Smartphone in the US Review

#2

Post by ForHackernews » Thu, Mar 11, 2021, 6:21 PM UTC

Worth noting that if you're savvy at flashing custom ROMs, you can install /e/OS (their preferred styling) on your own devices, too: https://e.foundation/get-started/

I've been using it on my old OnePlus for about a year now, and reasonably happy with it.

Re: eOS DeGoogled Privacy Smartphone in the US Review

#3

Post by djrogers » Thu, Mar 11, 2021, 6:34 PM UTC

I'm having a hard time understanding how "de-googling" and Android phone fixes this issue:

> Privacy - smartphones and their apps reporting where you are at, what you are doing, what you are looking for to third parties like Google and it’s advertising network.

Specifically the second part - their apps. Does e-os do something to prevent 3rd party apps from requiring extraneous permissions, or using those permissions to track/profile you?

I get that now the base OS itself isn't tracking/profiling you for adtech purposes, but frankly neither was your iPhone Xr. All of the creepy stuff has always been in the apps, and I don't see how this changes that.

Re: eOS DeGoogled Privacy Smartphone in the US Review

#4

Post by mrweasel » Thu, Mar 11, 2021, 6:37 PM UTC

Third party apps is sadly a huge problem. I honestly don’t care if my phone has email or a browser. I do have a few app, either for payment, government stuff or more specialiced apps for work which I do really need for my phone to be useful.

Re: eOS DeGoogled Privacy Smartphone in the US Review

#5

Post by johnbrodie » Thu, Mar 11, 2021, 6:47 PM UTC

djrogers wrote: post #3

I'm having a hard time understanding how "de-googling" and Android phone fixes this issue: > Privacy - smartphones and their apps reporting where you are at, what you are doing, what you are looking for to third parties like Google and it’s advertising network. Specifically the second part - their apps. Does e-os do something to prevent 3rd party apps from requiring extraneous permissions, or using those permissions…

Doing something is better than doing nothing, you're leaking less data overall even if you install all the same apps. In general though, yes, with a deGoogled phone you have to watch out for what apps you're installing and try to stick to FDroid for the most part.

There's also Warden [0], which does a decent job of stubbing out built-in trackers for your "must have" apps that are otherwise privacy-invading.

[0] https://www.xda-developers.com/warden-open-source-app-aurora...

Re: eOS DeGoogled Privacy Smartphone in the US Review

#6

Post by AdmiralAsshat » Thu, Mar 11, 2021, 6:54 PM UTC

ForHackernews wrote: post #2

Worth noting that if you're savvy at flashing custom ROMs, you can install /e/OS (their preferred styling) on your own devices, too: https://e.foundation/get-started/ I've been using it on my old OnePlus for about a year now, and reasonably happy with it.

https://doc.e.foundation/easy-installer

Every Samsung device on the compatibility page is the Exynos version only, so, that tells me anyone in the US hoping to repurpose their Snapdragon-based Galaxy phones is out of luck.

Re: eOS DeGoogled Privacy Smartphone in the US Review

#7

Post by techrat » Thu, Mar 11, 2021, 7:23 PM UTC

johnbrodie wrote: post #5

djrogers wrote: post #3

I'm having a hard time understanding how "de-googling" and Android phone fixes this issue: > Privacy - smartphones and their apps reporting where you are at, what you are doing, what you are looking for to third parties like Google and it’s advertising network. Specifically the second part - their apps. Does e-os do something to prevent 3rd party apps from requiring extraneous permissions, or using those permissions…

Doing something is better than doing nothing, you're leaking less data overall even if you install all the same apps. In general though, yes, with a deGoogled phone you have to watch out for what apps you're installing and try to stick to FDroid for the most part. There's also Warden [0], which does a decent job of stubbing out built-in trackers for your "must have" apps that are otherwise privacy-invading. [0] https…

Since this requires root, what benefit does it have over having a HOSTS file that also blocks the trackers directly by holing the hostnames?

Re: eOS DeGoogled Privacy Smartphone in the US Review

#8

Post by richardfey » Thu, Mar 11, 2021, 7:31 PM UTC

this reads suspiciously like an advertorial

Re: eOS DeGoogled Privacy Smartphone in the US Review

#9

Post by 177tcca » Thu, Mar 11, 2021, 7:32 PM UTC

ForHackernews wrote: post #2

Worth noting that if you're savvy at flashing custom ROMs, you can install /e/OS (their preferred styling) on your own devices, too: https://e.foundation/get-started/ I've been using it on my old OnePlus for about a year now, and reasonably happy with it.

If you're not savvy at installing custom anything, and just want a setup that keeps the Android security model intact (unlike all of these LineageOS forks), check out GrapheneOS.org.

Re: eOS DeGoogled Privacy Smartphone in the US Review

#10

Post by Karsteski » Thu, Mar 11, 2021, 7:36 PM UTC

177tcca wrote: post #9

ForHackernews wrote: post #2

Worth noting that if you're savvy at flashing custom ROMs, you can install /e/OS (their preferred styling) on your own devices, too: https://e.foundation/get-started/ I've been using it on my old OnePlus for about a year now, and reasonably happy with it.

If you're not savvy at installing custom anything, and just want a setup that keeps the Android security model intact (unlike all of these LineageOS forks), check out GrapheneOS.org.

Alternatively, CalyxOS is also a great choice. I've been using it on my Pixel 3 for a few weeks now and it's seamless