ill intall graphene os, i just need my carrier to unlock it first. for now though, what can i do to make it as private as i can?
Install GrapheneOS, don’t install the Google services package. Install as few proprietary apps as possible. Use free and open source apps, for example from the F-Droid repository. Mind that your carrier always knows where you are, because you’re connected to a cell tower nearby. Choose a good carrier and forbid them to use or sell your data. (Or activate airplane mode.)
Also use a suitable browser like Mull. And no social media or “free” services that harvest your data. Instead get a mail provider and instant messenger from companies/projects that respect your privacy.
can’t install graphene until my carrier unlocks it. only temporarily using pixel os
I already use graphene normally on my old pixel
Ah, I thought you were asking a general GrapheneOS setup question. I somehow missed the “for now”. Now I get it, you want to know what you can do in the meantime… Well phones come with a load of bloatware. And I don’t think you can get rid of the Google stuff on a normal phone, let alone on a Pixel. Not connecting it to a google account is a start. But it pings Google every few minutes and transfers data anyway. You can go through all the settings and disable all targeted advertising and cloud services. Apart from that I’m afraid there isn’t much you can do. As far as I know the google services run with more privileges as “system-apps”. And unless a phone is rooted, there is nothing that can be done on the device itself to prevent such an app from talking to the internet. Well you could use Wifi only and block everything with the firewall of your router. I don’t now your threat scenario / what you want to protect against… Disabling everything and not having a google account tied to it might be enough. If you absolutely need privacy, disconnect the device from the internet, use it just to call people and use a Linux computer to access the internet… I think you have to compromise.
Download fdroid and start switching to open source apps
not gonna set it up, as I won’t be staying. I already use 99% foss
Oh, okay then. I was under the impression you already had the device set up and were starting the privacy journey.
so im basically stuck on pixel os for 3-5 days. im purposely not setting up my phone, just installed frdoid and qksms, might add fennec, but thats it. declined everything during setup, but theres definetly more i can do
You can install netguard from F-Droid and then use the allow and block list options to block everything Google that you will not need.
Just wait 3-5 days?
-
Keep WiFi and Bluetooth turned off while you’re out in public.
-
If you have the ability to keep the phone connected to a guest network or VLAN on your home network while it still has stock android that is a bonus. Google scoops up data regarding the other devices on your network.
-
Use a privacy oriented DNS service like NextDNS to block all the google requests. They have a block list just for that, blocking them is as simple as clicking a button.
-
Check the Android section in TNO’s website. https://thenewoil.org/en/guides/most-important/mobile-settings/
If there is a setting to delete advertising ID (somewhere in privacy settings), do that. That will solve the most stuff and there’s not much more you can go. If you disable the ID all other apps dont know who’s data they are collecting, and google will figure out who you are anyway.
One vote for tracker control so that any apps w/ tracking software have a harder time also.
