I have degoogled my phone few years ago it really hit me how much the phones depend on Google services. Few examples from of my daily usage when I compromised:
- Communication
I’m in students group, people there have own group chat on facebook messenger. They share info regarding tests, deadlines etc. Basically standard uni messaging. Unless I had fake Facebook account to be there I would have to collect all info by myself. The alternative is a discord server, which in privacy terms is questionable choice too.
At least I have few friends who use Signal or Element, but it’s minority.
What do you usually use and offer when people ask you for contact?
- Banking app
Banking app I used has blocked me from app after few years of using it when they realized I have it from “unofficial” source - Aurora store. That motivated to switch the bank and app, which doesn’t really on Google Play services. The easiest way to do that was browsing Huawei app store and finding the most suitable app. Do you use baking apps?
- Taxi/Transport
Of course theres no way to use Bolt/Uber for transport on degoogled device. What’s your way of transport after having few beers in pub? Do you use taxi via calling it directly or use that weird Telegram taxi addon?
- Map directions
Is there a way to convert google map pins to open source solutions and vice versa? What’s your recommended software for directions? What do you use for driving?
- Fitness
Do you track fitness activities?
- Phone
Do you have good phone recommendations? I know that GrapheneOS+Pixel is one, but what about others?
Ask your family/partner/friends to use signal, it is idiot proof enough for most people. You can provide your email and phone number for acquaintances who you don’t speak with enough to justify installing signal.
I’m not in any student groups, but you can make a dummy Facebook account and only login using their website from behind a VPN.
Just use their website and carry a physical credit card in the back of your phone case.
We literally just drive drunk here. Is public transit an option? Again, you can sandbox these apps or use their respective websites.
Organic maps is good if you have an address and only need directions. If you need complete records of where local businesses are and traffic info, google maps is your only option. I’d set it up in a sandboxes container though, at the very least.
No, and I’d argue that nobody other than serious athletes need to. That being said, you can get a tracker that does not connect to your phone or the internet.
Graphene+pixel is head and shoulders the best option, especially in places like the US where you have to worry about illegal searches. Privacy requires security. That being said, there are alternatives if you cannot afford a new device: https://eylenburg.github.io/android_comparison.htm
After a couple days Facebook will say you are suspicious and demand that you upload a government ID (and/or take a “video selife” or something similar.)