Google is a very powerful company that knows where you are, what apps you install, what you watch on YouTube, etc. Those who use Pixel install GrapheneOS or CorperheadOS to leave Google and be more secure. However, this is only available for Pixel devices, and if you install apps that do not respect your privacy, such as Facebook, that security is lost.
this post was submitted on 23 Oct 2025
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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/
I try to debloat, and degoogle for the most part. I know it's a losing battle, but it feels like the least I should do.
I use universal android debloater to purge a bunch of garbage. I use adguard and mulvlad. I look for open source alternatives where I can. I pay very close attention to settings and permissions.
I feel like there's a lot you can do, but if you're still using apps by Google and meta youre still giving away your privacy.
Just shut your eyes and dive into the pool. There's no way I'm going to try to live without my cellphone, and EVERY cell phone maker is doing the same thing. There is no such thing as a Linux phone, so don't give me that bullshit.
I do banking on my phone so it's tough. Otherwise I don't install a lot of apps, carefully control app permissions, and set every Android privacy setting to the most strict setting hat I can.
Being unable to use zelle, CashApp, etc has been the biggest single frustration of switching to GrapheneOS.
Changing your workflow is work, but those apps, and Paypal, Stripe, Plaid, and bank account linking services all really exist to harvest all your personal transaction data under the guise of making your life "easier". There are banking regulations governing (somewhat) how older style payment methods can be tracked. These apps circumvent those regs. Those services are best used with throwaway money accounts not bound to your normal accounts, and at the end of a very long pole, but mostly not at all.
However, even credit card companies like MasterCard and American Express are in on it as well, further limiting options. AmEx is an interesting one, as they marketed themselves as a more premium card, housing most services in-house, and keeping transaction data in-house...only to turn around and profit off of it just the same.
Might as well go back to cash and paper checks at this point. Although a realistic lesser perspective is just to minimize which of these services one uses, and be sure that when paying on a web site to not check the "remember you for next time" checkbox that gathers further information to cross-link your purchases. Can't block it all, but starve them of what one can.
Man, I don't want to use those because of the privacy nightmare they present is every bit as bad as Google.
My one problem is there is no tracker warning on GOS and if I have trackers with me everyone gets spanked with unknown tracker.
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!
Edit PS:
Disabling the youtube app solves it.
If that is not an options, go to phone settings, Apps, defaults, and scroll to youtube, and disable open links.
settings > advanced > open links in apps > never
you're welcome
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.
Look into Revanced Extended. It removed most of my YouTube woes.
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.
Set the default YouTube app to firefox and uninstall the YouTube app. I do this with Brave and it works great.
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.
You can uninstall YouTube and most other app with ADB https://github.com/Universal-Debloater-Alliance/universal-android-debloater-next-generation
Ah yes I had completely forgot about that, I used it a few years ago, but it's not very user friendly, and it's easy to make mistakes if you are not careful.
Android is an incredibly shitty OS in many ways, so I have completely stopped doing anything even semi advanced with it.
It was: Settings
Search "default apps"
Default apps
I just checked, it looks like that changed in a recent update. So try disabling the YouTube app. Let me know if that works.
I disabled the app, so IDK if disabling in settings works? But I'm guessing it would.
The only reason I'm still running the stock ROM on my Pixel is because Calyx had already paused their releases by the time I decided which de-googled ROM to go with.
That said, I still rooted it. Won't ever own a device I can't root at this point. Even my TV (LG something or other) and glorified robotic broom (Wyze WVCR200S).
Calyx is no more for now
I personally like my Lineage OS+MicroG setup
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.
De-google and wait. I will not be buying a new phone or anything that has AI in it embedded in the processor, memory or wherever they try to hide it. I'm prepared to not have a phone and only buy a burner for when I need to get a new job.
You know AI is not evil it's just software and barely AI. Nobody cares when they called it machine learning.
AI is giving a single person the ability to pick you individually, identify who you are and categorize you by their perceived threat level or business need. AI is totally fucked. Its like a backdoor for spies and popos to be at your door all the time now and until you're dead and beyond probably.
I just don't really care about Google skimming my data. I might feel differently in the USA where things are going sour.
I have a stock pixel 10. I mostly just ignore it because I have so much more shit going on in my life that needs my attention. The last thing I want is a more complicated phone. Also it's a work phone so it's free for me so I just try and keep personal stuff to a minimum on it.
Google provides functionality for me and my family. Sure it would be nice to be able to trust that my data is mine. But Google photos is great to keep my family photos all shared with people who want to see them. Maybe when I have lower life overhead or Google really makes things bad for me would I consider taking on more technical responsibilities for my privacy.
I carefully curate app permissions and the list of what is installed, but for me at this point the juice of degoogling or changing OS is not worth the squeeze. I'm willing to be the product a little bit to have seamless use on my phone.
When it comes to PC I am willing to take more steps.
This. I use FOSS apps for as much as possible, have all my privacy settings carefully curated, don't use Gmail or other Google apps for anything that matters, and have everything related to AI, social media apps, or services I don't use disabled in the system apps, plus I use Mullvad's DNS server to block ads and social media traffic from my phone itself, not just browsers. I work a lot of hours and don't get much time to just chill. While I'm more tech savvy than the average person I'm far less tech savvy than the average Lemmy user. I don't want to spend what little free time I have trying to install a different OS on my phone hoping I don't brick it, or figuring out if I can get things to work with my phone carrier, my work apps, or my banking apps, and the convenience of having those apps outweighs the cons.
I mean what's the alternative? Give all your data to Apple instead? And miss out on all the cool FOSS apps unavailable in the Google AI store?
I don't care enough to warrant spending any little free time I have fucking about installing a different OS and with all the challenges it would come with.
I try to degoogle the best I can. When I was shopping for a new phone I went with Xiaomi because those phones used to be famous for their community support, but it seems like those days have passed. Once I discovered that I looked for alternatives that are available where I live and saw they weren't any better, so I went with Xiaomi anyway.
Until I manage to move to EU and buy a Fairphone using a private, open source smartphone OS won't be possible.
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.
When a viable alternative becomes available, I will swap to it
I am not letting them use that data. Ad-block everything that's possible and not use the impossible.
Also the hassle to install custom rom is immenese with unknown state of firmware. Banking and e-ID might or might not work there, and they are a necessity as there are couple of things that can be done by phone only.