People running stock or OEM-Android: what do you think about privacy and your personal data in the hands of Google? For Apple, you just kinda have to trust them on not selling/using/… your private data (not discussing how much that trust is worth…). For Google, it is just clear that they are - it’s their business model after all.

Sure - Graphene, Calyx, Lineage etc. exist, but either are limited to specific models, have drawbacks in functionality or are more hassle to setup than most average users are willing to invest.

So, if you are aware of this but still opt to running default Google Android: do you just „ignore“ this? Do you try do „degoogle“ as much as possible? I’m curious to see different opinions on this.

  • zout@fedia.io
    0·
    11 days ago

    I try to keep the private data to a minimum where possible. I remove the apps I don’t use, and I disable those that can’t be removed. I also use NetGuard to limit internet acces for a lot of apps.

    • Lka1988@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
      0·
      10 days ago

      Calyx is on hold, not “no more”. They were very specific about why:

      “[W]e estimate that this audit and the implementation of new security protocols and signing keys will take four to six months”

      That was the beginning of August. It hasn’t even been 3 months yet and people are acting like the project is blown up. Have some patience.

  • Buffalox@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    11 days ago

    I’ve replaced default web browser with Firefox, and generally don’t use Google apps.
    It’s fucking annoying that every time I open a Youtube page in Firefox it asks me to use the Youtube App instead of Firefox where I have uBlock installed! I wish I could get it to stop that!

    • LAN_Mower@lemmybefree.netEnglish
      0·
      11 days ago

      Set the default YouTube app to firefox and uninstall the YouTube app. I do this with Brave and it works great.

      • Buffalox@lemmy.worldEnglish
        0·
        11 days ago

        Thanks, but how do you set default youtube app?
        I can’t uninstall youtube app, but I can disable it and that worked too. But I would be interested to maybe make changes to other default apps.

      • Buffalox@lemmy.worldEnglish
        0·
        11 days ago

        Thanks, but apart from the annoying popup it works fine in Firefox. And I prefer to not have apps for things that can be handled in the browser.

      • Buffalox@lemmy.worldEnglish
        0·
        11 days ago

        But then I can’t view documents.
        But I figured it out, I simply disabled the Youtube app, I can’t uninstall it but I can disable it.

  • atrielienz@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    11 days ago

    Don’t get me wrong. I’m not defending Google here because honestly, Google definitely is an ad aggregation company first and foremost and the android ecosystem as well as its other apps and services are all aimed towards augmenting or facilitating that business.

    But Apple absolutely are also in the ad aggregation business and not only do they take kickbacks from Google in order to make Google the default search app on their I-devices, but they also have been fined for illegally collecting user data for targeted ads without user consent.

    They absolutely do harvest user data for the purposes of ad aggregation. Their “ethos” of user privacy should not be trusted and anyone who thinks they’re the good guy in this space should probably do some research into this subject.

    https://gizmodo.com/apple-iphone-france-ads-fine-illegal-data-1849950163

    https://www.wired.com/story/apple-privacy-data-collection/

    https://www.androidpolice.com/apple-google-meta-handing-over-user-data-at-alarming-rate/

    https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/opinions/apple-wiretap-settlement-privacy/

  • 9limmer@lemmy.zipEnglish
    0·
    11 days ago

    It’s tough because I absolutely do care about privacy. But I find attempting a mobile experience free from Apple and Google to be technically challenging with problems that aren’t solved currently. It seems much more difficult than installing desktop Linux today, and akin to what it was like 20 years ago.

    • James R Kirk@startrek.websiteEnglish
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      11 days ago

      Yep well said. My hope is that Google’s recent changes will encourage some activity into other projects or (even better) a Linux Phone OS.

    • a1studmuffin@aussie.zoneEnglish
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      11 days ago

      And it’s getting worse. Locking down bootloaders, priority firmware, “safety” checks on devices for banking apps, inability to repair/replace hardware components. The industry is actively hostile to competition, especially open platforms.

      If personal computers were invented today, there’s no way we’d end up with open standards like ATX. Every company would have their own lock-in ecosystem that prevented DIY assembly and repairs. And they’d probably throw a subscription on it too.

  • Ilandar@lemmy.todayEnglish
    0·
    11 days ago

    The biggest invasion to people’s privacy is generally through the apps and services they use, not the operating system. If you don’t switch to FOSS and privacy-respecting alternatives wherever possible, you’re not actually gaining much from changing the operating system. So whilst I do try to prevent as much tracking as possible at the OS level, it doesn’t trouble me that much. The loss of some privacy is worth being able to use any phone, at least for me.