Privacy

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A place to discuss privacy and freedom in the digital world.

Privacy has become a very important issue in modern society, with companies and governments constantly abusing their power, more and more people are waking up to the importance of digital privacy.

In this community everyone is welcome to post links and discuss topics related to privacy.

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If you have a question, please try searching for previous discussions, maybe it has already been answered
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Next smartphone I buy, which one do you recommend? (lemmy.world)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Things that make me angry about my current smartphone Samsung Galaxy S21Ultra on a Verizon plan is the mandatory software updates in which they install WITHOUT MY PERMISSION stupid apps like Netflix and addictive gambling games and stacking block games and Candy crush. God knows what else they install without my permission. I don't want any of it!

Next phone I buy I want to start with a clean slate, I'm not going to affiliate with any conglomerate like Verizon or AT&T or Sprint or T-Mobile etc, I prefer to go rogue somehow,

which smartphone do you recommend that has no bloatware and it's customizable?

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[–] [email protected] 63 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (22 children)

The only recommendation I can provide is a Google Pixel device with GrapheneOS. Graphene is only designed to work on Pixels because they are (allegedly) the most secure mobile phone hardware-wise. Once you flash Graphene, it's up to you to install any apps beyond the basic browser (Vanadium), gallery, camera, caller, SMS, PDF viewer, contacts, file manager, and security/system apps. No Google involved without your permission, though you will have to install Google services, available via a Graphene mirror and sandboxed for privacy, IF you want to install an eSIM after flashing Graphene. If you're interested in further information, please let me know. I use it, love it, and am happy to provide any information you may need to decide if it's a good fit for you or not.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (17 children)

What is the root scene on Graphene? I know the dev is pretty against it but I like having root access after being used to it. Is it possible to easily root it without any integrity issues later on?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

You can root on GrapheneOS. You do it exactly the same way you'd do it for the stock Google ROM:

Have an unlocked bootloader. Yes, this means that it """defeats the purpose of GrapheneOS""", if the purpose of GrapheneOS isn't for you to avoid Google's privacy nightmare. I use GrapheneOS for privacy moreso than security, and not being able to block ads properly is irritating.
Install the Magisk app.
Extract the boot.img from the GrapheneOS image and patch within Magisk.
Flash the patched boot image in the bootloader.

The main annoyance with this is that you'll have to do that dance every month when a security patch gets released, but for me, it's better than vomiting from exposure to ads on mobile.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

What is the patching process when running with Majisk, without OTA? It looked like quite a PITA to me, but I'm using Graphene for the same reason you are.