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GrapheneOS fixes Android VPN leak Google refused to patch

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Re: GrapheneOS fixes Android VPN leak Google refused to patch

#41

Post by buu700 »

y-c-o-m-b wrote: post #27
winter_blue wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sadly, Verizon Pixel phones, even after carrier unlocking, seem to be forever blocked from using GrapheneOS.

I finally left Verizon after nearly 20 years. I had it with their enshittification, couldn't stand it anymore. I switched to US Mobile and on the Darkstar (AT&T) network. I have no regrets. I caught it on a black friday deal, so I'm paying basically $20/mo for top tier service. You wouldn't have caught me dead with an AT&T service or MVNO years ago because I'd seen so many bad experiences second-hand, but these days…

+1 for US Mobile. Verizon was also good, but a few months ago my cofounder and I discovered we were absurdly overpaying for our decade-old small business plan and found that US Mobile offered a better end product for a fraction of the price.

Currently running my Pixel on Warp (Verizon) with zero practical difference, and starting Monday I'll also have a backup iPhone with a small $8/mo Darkstar line. The money I've saved since switching more or less paid for the iPhone, and I'll be getting 2x reliability for way less ongoing cost. The better app/website/support and extra features are just a bonus.

Re: GrapheneOS fixes Android VPN leak Google refused to patch

#42

Post by mctt »

fg137 wrote: post #39

Side question: what's a good way of getting a GrapheneOS phone? I have been interested in using GrapheneOS but hesitant about actually getting a Pixel phone. Used phone prices are usually >$300 even for "a" series unless I go back several generations. Whether the device bootloader can be unlocked is also a question. I am definitely not ready to spend $449 on a new Pixel 10a.

I bought a Pixel 7 from BackMarket to test out GrapheneOS. I have previous positive comments and conversations in my account history.

Re: GrapheneOS fixes Android VPN leak Google refused to patch

#43

Post by mystifyingpoi »

fg137 wrote: post #39

Side question: what's a good way of getting a GrapheneOS phone? I have been interested in using GrapheneOS but hesitant about actually getting a Pixel phone. Used phone prices are usually >$300 even for "a" series unless I go back several generations. Whether the device bootloader can be unlocked is also a question. I am definitely not ready to spend $449 on a new Pixel 10a.

Don't buy Pixel 10a, 9a is almost exactly the same thing and still sold new.

Re: GrapheneOS fixes Android VPN leak Google refused to patch

#44

Post by Itoldmyselfso »

mpol wrote: post #40
fg137 wrote: post #39

Side question: what's a good way of getting a GrapheneOS phone? I have been interested in using GrapheneOS but hesitant about actually getting a Pixel phone. Used phone prices are usually >$300 even for "a" series unless I go back several generations. Whether the device bootloader can be unlocked is also a question. I am definitely not ready to spend $449 on a new Pixel 10a.

You could wait it out for a bit. There is work underway to support more phone hardware. Which brand was a bit up for speculation.

It was announced a while ago to be Mororola: https://motorolanews.com/motorola-three-new-b2b-solutions-at...

Re: GrapheneOS fixes Android VPN leak Google refused to patch

#45

Post by neilv »

fg137 wrote: post #39

Side question: what's a good way of getting a GrapheneOS phone? I have been interested in using GrapheneOS but hesitant about actually getting a Pixel phone. Used phone prices are usually >$300 even for "a" series unless I go back several generations. Whether the device bootloader can be unlocked is also a question. I am definitely not ready to spend $449 on a new Pixel 10a.

I answered this in another thread: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48076522

Basically, buy a Pixel 6 or later (I suggest Pixel 7 or later, since Pixel 6 will be minimal support soon) that you are sure has an unlockable bootloader. The majority you'll see don't have an unlockable bootloader.

Which mostly means either buy direct from Google, or buy one on eBay that already has GrapheneOS/CalyxOS/LineageOS on it or for which the seller expressly says it has an unlockable bootloader.

(IME, don't bother trying to ask a seller to check bootloader, if they haven't already said. Almost no one is going to go through the process to check, the answer is probably no anyway, they might misunderstand your question and answer that it's "unlocked", and they may be tired of people asking.)

Re: GrapheneOS fixes Android VPN leak Google refused to patch

#46

Post by izacus »

mpol wrote: post #40
fg137 wrote: post #39

Side question: what's a good way of getting a GrapheneOS phone? I have been interested in using GrapheneOS but hesitant about actually getting a Pixel phone. Used phone prices are usually >$300 even for "a" series unless I go back several generations. Whether the device bootloader can be unlocked is also a question. I am definitely not ready to spend $449 on a new Pixel 10a.

You could wait it out for a bit. There is work underway to support more phone hardware. Which brand was a bit up for speculation.

I doubt Motorola will give him a phone cheaper than 449$ though.

Re: GrapheneOS fixes Android VPN leak Google refused to patch

#47

Post by izacus »

mystifyingpoi wrote: post #43
fg137 wrote: post #39

Side question: what's a good way of getting a GrapheneOS phone? I have been interested in using GrapheneOS but hesitant about actually getting a Pixel phone. Used phone prices are usually >$300 even for "a" series unless I go back several generations. Whether the device bootloader can be unlocked is also a question. I am definitely not ready to spend $449 on a new Pixel 10a.

Don't buy Pixel 10a, 9a is almost exactly the same thing and still sold new.

10a will get longer support, so why not (unless 9a is significantly cheaper)?

Re: GrapheneOS fixes Android VPN leak Google refused to patch

#48

Post by 2ndorderthought »

unethical_ban wrote: post #2

I know there are bad business reasons, but how can someone classify a VPN leak as "not a security issue" and keep their pride?

It's a feature for them not a bug. Google is an ad company and an offense contractor they want VPN users leaking packets for both reasons.

Re: GrapheneOS fixes Android VPN leak Google refused to patch

#49

Post by pyrophane »

fg137 wrote: post #39

Side question: what's a good way of getting a GrapheneOS phone? I have been interested in using GrapheneOS but hesitant about actually getting a Pixel phone. Used phone prices are usually >$300 even for "a" series unless I go back several generations. Whether the device bootloader can be unlocked is also a question. I am definitely not ready to spend $449 on a new Pixel 10a.

This won't help you right now, but GrapheneOS did recently announce a partnership with Motorola, so presumably in a year or so support will start showing up for some Motorola devices.

Side note: I did get the 10a on launch from Google Fi for ~300.

Re: GrapheneOS fixes Android VPN leak Google refused to patch

#50

Post by realusername »

whatsupdog wrote: post #36
zb3 wrote: post #17

Stock Android is spyware and adware, back in the day we called such software malicious and removed it, now it's the default.

We all agree. But what's the solution? We know 99% of the users don't care. So, the only pressure point is phone manufacturers. I don't have any power to influence anybody significant in this space. I feel helpless.

The phones without tracking are so rare that I don't think we can even say that the users do not care, they simply never had the option
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