this post was submitted on 25 Jan 2025
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Privacy

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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:

  1. 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?

  1. 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?

  1. 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?

  1. 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?

  1. Fitness

Do you track fitness activities?

  1. Phone

Do you have good phone recommendations? I know that GrapheneOS+Pixel is one, but what about others?

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[–] ravshaul@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 2 days ago

For which ROM to use, I believe any ROM based on AOSP will suffice because even that will fully eliminate all Google tracking, I think LineageOS is the worst one. I do recommend Pixel since you can lock the bootloader after flashing it. You could try CalyxOS.

For privacy, I only use phone for communication, I don't use cell data service so no internet when I'm outside, no messaging, until I connect to wi-fi again. In F-Droid I turn off all anti-features in settings, and everything I install is from F-Droid. No social media and no Aurora store to use Play Store