Hi. I just got a new phone (Motorola) and spent a bunch of time manually removing access to location etc. I hate Google so much, “don’t do evil” my ass. I’m just looking for my blindspots. Im not in tech so, what should be disabled to keep my phone private?
if you dont want to fuck around with custom roms, but you want to get rid of the bloat. look around closely in each apps description, cause deleting everyting can easily break moto gestures https://github.com/Universal-Debloater-Alliance/universal-android-debloater-next-generation
switch all apps to foss. or at least most you can.
Here’s what I’ve done:
- Delete your advertising ID in the system settings
- Disable the other ad-related settings
- Disable tracking in the keyboard app (long-press
,to get to settings, then click “Privacy”) or switch to HeliBoard - Avoid the Google Play store when possible
- Use F-Droid and Obtainium instead
- Install the DuckDuckGo browser and enable DuckDuckGo App Tracking Protection (I only use the DDG app for app tracking protection and email protection; I don’t browse the web with it)
- Install Firefox with uBlock Origin
- Set DuckDuckGo as your search engine in Firefox
- Make sure your next phone supports GrapheneOS and install that instead of normal Android
- Wait for real Linux phones to become viable and use that in a couple years
Stuff I haven’t done yet but probably will eventually:
- Replace the default home screen app (your home screen is an app, btw)
- Replace the Google keyboard app
I haven’t looked for good alternatives for these yet so if anyone has suggestions, I’m listening!
The launcher is just an app, but the way it’s set up ensures that different launcher apps cannot offer the same experience as the stock one.
Rabbit hole I dove into trying to figure out why my back to homepage didn’t feel snappy (like the swipe up animation goes and only after it’s done the icons load). Turns out that’s pretty much intentional and the solution is rooting your phone.
Kvaesitso and Lawnchair are launchers that get recommended a lot. I prefer LaunchTime. Unexpected Keyboard is my favorite, minimalist but great. All of these are on F-Droid,
I use Neo Launcher. It’s as close to Nova as I’ve been able to find. It hasn’t been updated in years but I have had no issues with it.
Big fan of HeliBoard
Typing this out using HeliBoard now. So far so good, thanks!🔥
It works well with the additional Swipe library, too (which is unfortunately not a FOSS library).
Why Heliboard over FUTO Keyboard? FUTO makes Immich too.
I used to use FUTO keyboard but I know they had some weird controversies about licensing and such so I figured the safer move would be HeliBoard. FUTO was nice too though
Later Android versions also let you set a custom DNS in settings, so you can have DNS level traffic filtering without an app that does it via local VPN.
I dont think we are ever going to see a third consumer level production phone with an alternative Linux based OS. There aren’t enough people out there in the main stream to make a product like this truly viable. Maybe Fairphone or a equivalent. But that’s a tall maybe. Definitely not a flagship level phone.
What’s more realistic is seeing graphine gain availability on more devices.
This is the one place I haven’t taken the plunge. My experience with Linux desktops over the years leaves me a little concerned being stuck without making calls in an emergency situation. I’m also using MVNOs and I worry they won’t be compatible with a different OS.
Wait for real Linux phones to become viable and use that in a couple years
Is anyone actually working on that?
postmarketOS, Mobian, Ubuntu Touch, and Mobile NixOS all seem to have recent activity.
As for hardware, although the PinePhone Pro got lukewarm reviews, maybe they’ll iterate and get better or at least prove to other companies that there’s a demand for Linux phones.
I’m hopeful there’ll be at least one usable option within 5 years or so. And if not, I’ll be sticking with GrapheneOS.
The only way to remove Google tracking is to install a third party firmware like GrapheneOS.
Not on a Motorola though. LineageOS would be the alternative here
That is exactly such a mentioned third party alternative
Depending on the model you could try flashing a different flavor of android like LineageOS, it’s easy it just looks hard for the amount of steps tho
If you do i recommend downloading f-droid, inside the app you could download Aurora Store that let you access play store without account :)
Shrekislove posted some good advice, so I’ll add something here for you to evaluate based on what you said above.
“I hate Google so much… I’m just looking for my blindspots… Im not in tech”
Years ago I went all in and too fast on privacy. I’d recommend some guard rails as getting privacy is a journey. First you need to define what “privacy” is for you. Privacy is a spectrum. Only you can determine it based on your needs and wants, and you can do that by figuring out your threat model.
That old expression of tightening your grip and more things fall out applies here.
Think about your security and privacy. Think about what you’re willing to give up, and think about your relationships with others that can be impacted.
You can get recommendations and learn more about privacy by checking out privacyguides.org.
As for me? I’m basically at the point where I’m fatigued with big tech - especially smartphones. I’m waiting to see when GrapheneOS will reveal what new OEM they are working with, to determine if I’ll get another smartphone when my current one is too old. Else, my plan is to upgrade to a truly dumb 5g phone with hotspot. Then I’ll carry my Linux laptop with me and use that when I need the internet.
Best of luck! Don’t go too fast and evaluate everyone’s suggestions carefully. I don’t recommend just dropping the phone you got and going all in on buying a Pixel and installing GrapheneOS. That’s a drastic action to take suddenly since you’re still getting your feet wet on all this privacy stuff. You can improve privacy on your current phone, and then when you’re comfortable and if you decide you need the benefits of GrapheneOS, then look into upgrading in the future.
Buy a Pixel, install GrapheneOS. Or look into Lineage OS supported hardware.
LineageOS is far behind GrapheneOS in terms of privacy and security.
And still worlds better than standard android.
Can you provide a link that explains why LineageOS is behind Graphene?
Yes, but it supports a wide range of devices, has no telemetry and is available sans gapps so is a considerable improvement over stock.
Well, they still usually use test keys and don’t support AVB yellow (which doesn’t concern me because my phone is old enough it doesn’t support AVB anyway).
Yes, which is why I’ve moved on from LineageOS on Poco 4 to GrapheneOS on Pixel 7a and Pixel tablet. Should GOS become nonviable then we would have to regress to LineageOS or Linux.
Why is that?
If you’re just getting started, e/OS is a great option for privacy for non-Pixel phones.
You can check compatibility here: https://doc.e.foundation/devices
It is not. It is better than bloated Google Android but not “great”.
- They use tracking ids for updates
- They are far behind with updates lowering security and thus risking privacy
- They use testing keys which is ridicolous
- They added OpenAI integration and called it “Murena Voice to Text” so that unfiliar users could unintentially leak sensitive data
- They ignore valid critique and call it ‘personal harassment’ although nothing personal nor something like harassment happen there (for example in related /e/OS threads)
Well, apparently they are involved in harassment of gos with caylx and rossman.
Stop reinventing the wheel. Privacy is not single player. When you do everything manually, who’s going to copy you? GrapheneOS already solves half the problem, so start there.
GrapheneOS doesn’t support Motorola phones
Which is why you pick hardware to support the OS you want.
Ironically, you’re supporting Google by buying their hardware just to remove their software…
I know, GOS is the standard, but Lineage isnt far behind. Removes Google, removes telemetry, doesn’t sell your data (though ToS does say if you make an online account they warn you it’s public and can be shared, etc)
Google don’t give a shit about your lost sale out of the other trillion phones they sell. You’re just fucking yourself over.
When GrapheneOS gets big, they can start making phones, or get a GNI+Linux phone.
Childish attitude. It definitely makes a difference walking arround with a Google logo. If it’s okay for you: fine, says alot.
One should avoid giving money and presenting Google (and others) wherever and whenever possible.
No one’s looking at your logo. The case covers it.
Samsung, Apple and Xiaomi ain’t making phones any more libre.
For my next phone, I’m planning on getting a used Pixel or possibly something from whatever OEM they’ve partnered with
Been waiting so long, if only they could give us a sneak peek or hint or something
Maybe they don’t because there is not much to show.
You don’t know refund?
