NetGuard - https://f-droid.org/packages/eu.faircode.netguard/
TrackerControl - https://f-droid.org/packages/net.kollnig.missioncontrol.fdroid/

How was your experience with them? Differences in battery life etc.

Another doubt:
I had tried NetGuard some years ago to restrict internet access of apps like Gboard n Gdrive(I use the pdfviewer associated with it. Any lightweight foss alternatives to it?).
Was planning to use it again, but saw that eventhough they have a recent update, their Github doesn’t allow issues and the latest pull request are from 2023. Is there some change in the app? Have they transferred to Gitlab or Codeberg.

I don’t know much details about programming, so asking the doubt here because of the Simple apps transfer issue that I heard recently.

Thanks in advance.

Edit: Mentioned the usecase for gdrive

  • donio@lemmy.world
    0·
    3 months ago

    I’ve been using NetGuard for many years to block net access for apps that shouldn’t need it. I haven’t noticed any impact on battery life and haven’t run into issues other than what one might expect (for example when it turns out that the blocked app refuses to run without network access)

    Didn’t know about RethinkDNS, looks neat, will give it a try sometime.

  • slazer2au@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    3 months ago

    I use netguard and whitelist apps for network connections. I haven’t noticed a difference in battery usage.

    • Achyu@lemmy.sdf.orgOP
      0·
      3 months ago

      Yep. I switched to Fossify Gallery during that time.

      Is RethinkDNS better? I did see it and it seems have much more features and focused on anti-censorship. Would it to be too much for my use? In terms of battery usage n all.

      • Cheradenine@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        0·
        3 months ago

        I think it’s better since it allows more granular control. For instance, if you have the Wikipedia app you can block

        intake-analytics.wikimedia.org

        and still use the site normally. You have to decide if that’s right for you.

        Battery usage is 4.2% on my device.

        Edit: formatting

      • boredsquirrel@slrpnk.net
        0·
        3 months ago

        RethinkDNS is unique and basically Android magic.

        It combines the possibility for Orbot, multiple Wireguard VPNs with different apps and killswitch, firewall rules (like blocking mobile network or HTTP traffic)

  • ⓝⓞ🅞🅝🅔@lemmy.ca
    0·
    3 months ago

    Tracker control is pretty fantastic. It blocks an incredible amount of communication from every app including advertisements.

    Examples:

    • I love Gboard and detest Google’s data theft. And so, my gboard is now cut off from Google and offline with all features still available.
    • I’ve made simple games like Mahjong entirely offline.
    • I block dozens of trackers for apps I pay for which I think inappropriately steal information. Why on earth is Paramount+ trying to contact 43+ companies. Or AP contacting 32?

    Tracker Control is a very very useful tool.

    And… It uses only a tiny fraction of my battery. I’m talking 0.13% the last 24 hours.

    • xx3rawr@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      0·
      3 months ago

      As a consequence it might also block sone ads so that’s a bonus. Either way, I like the level of control.

    • Achyu@lemmy.sdf.orgOP
      0·
      3 months ago

      Thank you.

      It says that private dns must be disabled. Is there a way to use both? Or add it into trackercontrol?

      Edit:
      The private dns stuff does not seem to be an issue for restricting net access to apps.

  • kyub@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
    0·
    3 months ago

    RethinkDNS is probably better, but I’m currently still using NetGuard Pro and kind of happy with it, but I will soon migrate to Rethink DNS. If you use NetGuard, make sure to use the Pro version, download its hosts file and use it in whitelist mode and display all contacted hosts/IPs for each app (block everything by default, allow only the technically necessary connections!). The more proprietary apps you use, the more tracking hosts you’ll see being contacted (lots of proprietary apps contact Google, Meta, etc.). Don’t allow these connections.