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Android phones are sending significant amount of user data with no opt-out [pdf]

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Re: Android phones are sending significant amount of user data with no opt-out [pdf]

#91

Post by detaro »

ir77 wrote: post #68

it's always amazing to me that a typical android user tells me they hate iOS because it's locked down and android is much more open -- whenever i follow up with what apps they've actually side loaded they don't know what i'm talking about, never mind about whether their phone is rooted and they're running a rom. yet a majority of them use very expensive handsets that compete in a premium space to iOS devices and ciph…

Of course anecdotal here too, but it seems highly unlikely that that's a typical android user perspective. Even among fellow nerds that argument is not that overwhelming, and they are a tiny group of people.

Re: Android phones are sending significant amount of user data with no opt-out [pdf]

#92

Post by CountDrewku »

salusinarduis wrote: post #72
CountDrewku wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just bought a pixel to test lineageOS out. Worth mentioning that if you want less Google and still want to use normal Android services in the OS you need to install the MicroG lineageOS ROM. Otherwise, you're still sending Google a lot of info through Gapps or MindTheGapps. Graphene or lineage without any of those is also an option but you'll be missing a lot of the normal everyday apps you use. IMO if you're going t…

I don't agree regarding your flip phone comment, that's silly. I don't use any form of Google Play Services (No OpenGapps or MicroG even) and my phone works completely fine. The only thing that doesn't work is push notifications, which isn't a problem because FOSS apps like Signal bundle their own notification system that does not use Google Play Services. Discord however, does not get push notifications (which I wou…

Regardless of what software you put on the phone it is a tracking device. It has gps, audio, cameras, and web browsers that are all vulnerable to being hacked or used for tracking. I signed into gmail via the Bromite browser on my Pixe3a. I immediately received an email from google about my new Pixel device. They now know what device I use, what browser etc.

I don't care how locked down and FOSS you make your smart phone it's not going to be as secure as a dumb phone. There's a reason criminals don't use smart phones.

Re: Android phones are sending significant amount of user data with no opt-out [pdf]

#93

Post by salusinarduis »

deft wrote: post #87
salusinarduis wrote: post #75

I use GraphineOS and LineageOS without Google Play Services. They are great and are suitable replacements for Apple and Google. - Osmand(FOSS) for maps (supports being fully offline!) - Signal and Discord for messaging (Discord is sandboxed) - Newpipe(FOSS) for Youtube - F-droid(FOSS) for my FOSS appstore - APKmirror for the few non-free apps I need - Libretorrent(FOSS) and VLC(FOSS) for watching movies - Firefox(FOS…

There's an app available on f-droid called Aurora Store that lets you download apks from the Play Store directly, avoiding the need for stuff like APKMirror (where you don't know where or what happens to the apk you're downloading). On desktop you can use the program Raccoon for the same.

Thanks for the suggestion!

Re: Android phones are sending significant amount of user data with no opt-out [pdf]

#94

Post by Guest42 »

dron57 wrote: post #13
Guest42 wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can you recommend a couple phones that are compatible with LOS + microg? I looked on their sites and it wasn't quite clear

I've been using the Pixel 4a 5G for about 6 months with MicroG and Lineage. Works really well. Other than Whatsapp and Google Maps I don't miss anything, but those apps have alternatives too.

Fantastic!!!!

Re: Android phones are sending significant amount of user data with no opt-out [pdf]

#95

Post by dgan »

salusinarduis wrote: post #75

I use GraphineOS and LineageOS without Google Play Services. They are great and are suitable replacements for Apple and Google. - Osmand(FOSS) for maps (supports being fully offline!) - Signal and Discord for messaging (Discord is sandboxed) - Newpipe(FOSS) for Youtube - F-droid(FOSS) for my FOSS appstore - APKmirror for the few non-free apps I need - Libretorrent(FOSS) and VLC(FOSS) for watching movies - Firefox(FOS…

Do banking applications work? I mean as in "I buy X online. It requires me to login to my bank application and press 'confirm'. I perform this sequence, and online purchase is completed. "?

Re: Android phones are sending significant amount of user data with no opt-out [pdf]

#96

Post by aboringusername »

The issue with Android is it's extremely restrictive from a firewall perspective, I guess exactly as designed.

I cannot dictate what apps chat over the internet or to what IP's (say, a setting to only allow EU-only addresses).

Of course this means - rightfully or wrongly - you have to move this to another layer - probably PiHole or router level, but even then there could be gaps (can it use mobile data with you unaware?).

I am surprised major OS' still don't allow users to configure this yet. it's pretty basic stuff.

Re: Android phones are sending significant amount of user data with no opt-out [pdf]

#97

Post by COGlory »

salusinarduis wrote: post #90
dont__panic wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Consider Fennec instead of Firefox -- I just switched yesterday, and I think the only difference is that Fennec is usually a couple of versions behind because it removes some Mozilla crapware.

Does it support extensions? I can't go anywhere without uBlock Origin :D

It does

Re: Android phones are sending significant amount of user data with no opt-out [pdf]

#98

Post by salusinarduis »

dgan wrote: post #95
salusinarduis wrote: post #75

I use GraphineOS and LineageOS without Google Play Services. They are great and are suitable replacements for Apple and Google. - Osmand(FOSS) for maps (supports being fully offline!) - Signal and Discord for messaging (Discord is sandboxed) - Newpipe(FOSS) for Youtube - F-droid(FOSS) for my FOSS appstore - APKmirror for the few non-free apps I need - Libretorrent(FOSS) and VLC(FOSS) for watching movies - Firefox(FOS…

Do banking applications work? I mean as in "I buy X online. It requires me to login to my bank application and press 'confirm'. I perform this sequence, and online purchase is completed. "?

Some will, however I have heard some of these apps have janky hooks into Android's trust system which will break them on non-google distros.

Personally I wouldn't suggest having banking apps on a phone.

You can always use the web browser if you absolutely must access those accounts.

Re: Android phones are sending significant amount of user data with no opt-out [pdf]

#100

Post by snypher »

CountDrewku wrote: post #92
salusinarduis wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't agree regarding your flip phone comment, that's silly. I don't use any form of Google Play Services (No OpenGapps or MicroG even) and my phone works completely fine. The only thing that doesn't work is push notifications, which isn't a problem because FOSS apps like Signal bundle their own notification system that does not use Google Play Services. Discord however, does not get push notifications (which I wou…

Regardless of what software you put on the phone it is a tracking device. It has gps, audio, cameras, and web browsers that are all vulnerable to being hacked or used for tracking. I signed into gmail via the Bromite browser on my Pixe3a. I immediately received an email from google about my new Pixel device. They now know what device I use, what browser etc. I don't care how locked down and FOSS you make your smart p…

If you think Google is adversarial then don't use Gmail; It seems strange to avoid using their 'apps' but continuing to use their products? I think you just handed them that information when you logged into their website.
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