For those unfamiliar, GrapheneOS is a privacy and security enhanced custom ROM endorsed by Snowden. Despite these big names, plenty of people give it backlash

Even @TheAnonymouseJoker@lemmy.ml gives it backlash despite being a moderator of Lemmy’s biggest privacy community. A quote here: “grapheneOS trolls are downvoting every single post and comment of mine, and committing vote manipulation on Lemmy. They are using 5-6 accounts.” That was in response to downvotes on a comment posted in the c/WorldNews community, which is entirely unrelated to technology.

One of the reasons is that GrapheneOS can only be installed on Google Pixels due to security compatibility, which makes complete sense considering Android should be most compatible with Google’s own devices. GrapheneOS even lists the exact reasons they chose Pixels, and encourage people to step up and manufacture a different supported device.

One year ago, Louis Rossmann posted this video outlining his reasons for deleting GrapheneOS. Mainly, he had multiple bad experiences with Daniel Micay (the founder and main developer of GrapheneOS) which put his distrust in the GrapheneOS project. Since then, he has stepped down and will no longer be actively contributing to the project.

So, I am here to learn why exactly people still do not like GrapheneOS.

  • MagneticFusion@lemm.ee
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    0
    ·
    edit-2
    1 year ago

    Genuine question for you and I hope you don’t ban me again for asking an objective question.

    Do CalyxOS or LineageOS (which doesn’t even allow you to lock the bootloader) have all these others security and privacy features?

    Storage Scopes

    Native Code Debugging

    Hardened Memory Allocator

    Pin Scrambling

    Auto Reboot

    Secure App Spawning

    Bluetooth and Wifi Autodisconnect

    MAC Address Randomization per connection

    Sandboxed Google Play Services (I know Google is the devil and I know of Micro G but certain applications simply do not work without the actual Google Play Services installed, and having them sandboxed is significantly better than giving them privileged access)

    These are just the few I can think of on top of my head. Because as far as I’m concerned, I originally had the same reaction after Rossman’s video and wanted to switch over to LineageOS (not Calyx because they’ve fallen as long as 4 months behind on security updates which is why Henry from Techlore stopped using Calyx even though he really likes the project), but GrapheneOS objectively is the most secure and hardened version of Android in my view. I would love to be proven wrong by actual evidence and not just a distrust in the OS because of the developers and their toxic community.

    • TheAnonymouseJoker@lemmy.ml
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      0
      ·
      1 year ago

      You are arguing in bad faith once again. You trolled, which was the reason you were banned. https://lemmy.ml/comment/11511659 If you repeat this behaviour and avoid admitting your erroneous ways, action will be taken. This is a final warning to stop baiting mods unnecessarily. I will answer your questions for this one time, even though you continue to repeatedly make bad faith claims about your temp ban. Any further questioning will be treated as debate pervert behaviour.

      Do CalyxOS or LineageOS (which doesn’t even allow you to lock the bootloader) have all these others security and privacy features?

      CalyxOS, yes. LineageOS, no. However, GrapheneOS has never been tested against bootloader attacks, and they have even lied about it in the recent past, which is highly suspicious. https://i.imgur.com/woNxPhx.jpg

      Storage Scopes

      Added in Android 10.

      Native Code Debugging

      What does this mean? Check Developer Options for Debugging section.

      Hardened Memory Allocator

      Part of Linux kernel and thus Android.

      Pin Scrambling

      Some Android brands provide it, most do not. Better to use fingerprint to protect against shoulder surfing attacks.

      Auto Reboot

      Exists since over a decade under a different name, “scheduled power on/off” or similar name.

      Secure App Spawning

      This is a complicated topic regarding Morula, Zygote and other app spawning methods. Easiest solution I can give is in developer settings, enable “Don’t keep activities”. Achieves the same thing. However this setting does not persist across reboots, only annoyance. This will effectively kill the ability to multitask on your phone.

      Bluetooth and Wifi Autodisconnect

      Can download and use Greentooth from F-Droid. A similar app may exist for WiFi disconnection.

      MAC Address Randomization per connection

      Added in Android 10.

      GrapheneOS is mostly a rebranding of AOSP features and kdrag0n’s project put on top of AOSP. It is a deep rabbit hole. I did a dissertation of what it is over a year ago, when they sent a spy (ryan97) to siphon all of chat content from my r/privatelife Matrix room to monitor me, which is kept private. https://i.imgur.com/pQHoq84.jpg