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?
My compromise is to just to minimize big tech tracking.
I mean, 90% of data is because people use corporate social media with real names and real IPs. I don’t use “social media” like everyone else, and that is just cutting away 90% of mass surveillance. I only occasionally look at reddit over VPN (without loggining in and never posting anything), I use Lemmy over Tor. Use Fennec (aka: firefox, but from F-Droid) + uBlock Origin + VPN, for everything else (like watching youtube videos)
I usually only have Fennec and Tor (amongst a few other things) through VPN, everything else is going to clearnet. My though is, if I put the entire traffic over VPN, Google would see my VPN IP attached to my device serial number.
If there is some university thing, I’d just begrudgingly use it. Use browser if possible, but if app is required, probably put it in a “work profile” (the Shelter app from F-Droid can do that) to separate it from everything else, and prevent any such app from seeing my files. Also give as few permissions as possible. And never installing any “profiles” or “certificates” they give you for access to their wifi. They should have a “guest wifi” without such requirements so just use that instead. (Or get a second phone with the “Share Wifi Connection” ability and use that as your “router” and connect your main phone to it.) Or just use mobile data if you can afford it.
For banking, put the app in the “work profile” or use browser if whatever you need to do doen’t require the app.
For uber/lyft/taxi, probably use the browser, or if that doesn’t work, again, put the app in work profile, don’t give permissions until I’m ready to use it, and its getting deleted the moment my ride is done.
For maps, unfortunately I still have to use Google Maps, because I value being alive and not getting lost in some sketchy neighborhood over the privacy… 😓
I feel like Graphene OS is too much of a hassle for me, I’ll have to get a Pixel, which does not have a microSD slot, and that’s a dealbreaker for me.
Well, calyxos works on some motos and fairphones (the fairphone is expensive as shit tho and used motos are relatively nonexistant in the used market).
I have trust issues with used phones tbh. It goes beyons the FRP.
Like… who knows if the previous owner is a drug dealer or something, then the authorities got the IMEI, then if I use that phone, the cops assume that I am that drug dealer.
Imagine they got an agency like the United State’s DEA involved, and you happened to be using that phone that used to belong to a drug dealer, the authorities just send a pegasus, upload all your stuff, activate cameras microphones. Then eventually raid your house.
I don’t like the thought of that.
Well, you’re kinda fucked. At least I live in the EU, so it’s not as big of a threat, as I could gather the evidence about the purchase and maybe not get murdered.