this post was submitted on 16 Nov 2021
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Privacy

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Which smartphones are most private? Is a Google Pixel + GrapheneOS really the most private way? (lemmy.ml)
submitted 3 years ago* (last edited 3 years ago) by nVZWmCa67Tq0SQkXPR@lemmy.ml to c/privacy@lemmy.ml
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What are the most privacy respecting smartphones to buy, I am also looking for the one which respects your privacy the most. So far going to privacy communities esp on reddit, I often see Google Pixel + GrapheneOS being recommended.

But the thing is I don't really trust Google with privacy, as we have seen they are last one to respect privacy. What if Google has some backdoor in the hardware that cannot be changed? And the problem with the more privacy respecting OSes for mobiles like GrapheneOS, CalyxOS etc are that they are only supported for Google pixel phones.

So I am really confused here.

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[–] R51@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I hear lots of great things about Graphene but it's only able to run on Pixel phones. I have a LineageOS installed on my phone & I have full control over the firewall, and there's no google on it. Got the phone a year ago, battery still lasts 2 days of occasional use. It's amazing how nice a phone feels without ads, constant upload/download, and unneeded background services running.

Basically, and even with Graphene, the biggest security risk for a phone is the person using it. I wish it were more turn-key but the tracking with cookies is just the tip of the iceburg.. apps like to track too and if you need an app outside of the free-open-source-software circle you should know how to control its access to the internet.

[–] TheAnonymouseJoker@lemmy.ml 2 points 3 years ago (3 children)

GrapheneOS is a highly problematic ROM with a lot of security grift. Their community is extremely toxic, racist, disgusting and refuse technical help via a combination of lots of gatekeeping and technical elitism. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dx7CZ-2Bajg

The developer is a one man show who acts like a dictator and exclusively claims Google Pixels are the only phones he will ever support. Why? https://unddit.com/r/privacytoolsIO/comments/gs4uv7/i_dont_fully_trust_grapheneos/fs82fdv/

GrapheneOS also takes some rather controversial stances regarding the protection of its users, a lot of whom have a high threat model. https://teddit.net/r/privacytoolsIO/comments/pjl4bh/what_is_your_opinion_of_grapheneos_conforming_to/

There are a few malicious actors and proponents of this community that attack everyone like an unorganized group, sometimes with sockpuppets and sometimes with their known accounts when they want to come off as self proclaimed experts.

A lot of evidence I collected personally via my own interactions with madaidan, cn3m and the likes: https://lemmy.ml/post/73800/comment/66676

Evidence of GrapheneOS proponents practicing censorship on Lemmy on my comment on c/GrapheneOS, one day after they became moderator (FYI this was my only comment on that sublemmy): https://lemmy.ml/pictrs/image/3hsM7Du9n6.jpg

They have also hijacked the Android, AOSP sublemmy communities by becoming defunct moderators.

[–] nVZWmCa67Tq0SQkXPR@lemmy.ml 2 points 3 years ago (1 children)

Sorry for a late reply. The grapheneOS seems to have a problem with not a very welcoming community but their OS is still good with all the security and privacy features that it comes with? If it is not Google Pixel + GrapheneOS that is the most private way of using a mobile phone then what is the most private way? I see this set up recommended in almost every privacy community including this thread.

[–] TheAnonymouseJoker@lemmy.ml -1 points 3 years ago* (last edited 3 years ago)

A lot of these people are either sockpuppets or members of GrapheneOS, NoGoolag or SpiteChat Telegram/Matrix rooms that create a narrative to hijack the privacy communities. And it would not be surprising to conclude that they are a menace, because they encourage technical elitism quite a lot, and all of the other problems mentioned above.

GrapheneOS moderators practicing censorship on Lemmy is not going to look the best either, but here we are. I have engaged with these people for probably 2-3 years, so I am about as experienced as one gets.

A lot of these GrapheneOS privacy grifters also promote Windows, MacOS and iOS over Linux distros and Android, because they have some distorted definitions of security in their head. They believe closed source security is better for some reason.

You could check this resource I made for a smartphone guide https://lemmy.ml/post/54596 or https://teddit.net/r/privatelife/comments/lpyl1s/

[–] GenkiFeral@lemmy.ml 1 points 3 years ago (1 children)

can't you stick to the OS and hardware (facts) and leave politics/opinions outta this? the community does matter if you need help, but how in the hell do they know your race, sex, or politics unless you wear them on your sleeve?

[–] TheAnonymouseJoker@lemmy.ml -3 points 3 years ago* (last edited 3 years ago) (2 children)

GenkiFeral, you know, what you call politics only tells about your indecency as regards with how communities are run. And whoever calls calling out assholery a mere form of political whining tells a lot about them. Nobody likes assholes, period. And nobody wants to worship one. Especially one that is adamant at establishing a cult with the use of sockpuppets and handful friends.

Facts do not care about feelings, so you can just stop feeling about others' feelings towards your lack of decency, and you can enjoy your technical supremacy, if you really think you are so highly meritorious and if that gives you the right to trample on others.

[–] Cerov2@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

The question is "which smartphones are most private?" Not "which OS community is the least toxic?" Seems you have your reasons for hating on Graphene, but you've totally lost the plot here. Save that rant for a question thats actually asking about it, please. In the end, if it works and its the most private, thats what is going to matter the most to the end user.

[–] TheAnonymouseJoker@lemmy.ml 0 points 2 years ago

GrapheneOS community is terrible if you want help from them. It is a place filled with faux elitists with 4chan and reddit tier knowledge, and will use buzzwords to impress you, with non existent explanations when asked for. If you want to use it, go ahead. But if you want to enter a landmine expecting any guidance, good luck.

Many people have been driven away from that community and ROM for plenty reasons I laid out in parent comment. People learn only via 2 ways - they learn from others' experiences or they experience it themselves and then learn. You can make your choice.

[–] GenkiFeral@lemmy.ml 1 points 3 years ago (1 children)

My rights end where yours begin and vice versa. My main point will always be "you do you" or "good fences make good neighbours" or don't trespass on my property or in my mental space. Values differ from individual to individual - even within close-knit families or within causes. As long as you don't infringe upon another's freedom (I include all animals - wild and domestic), you should be able to do as you please. Both Left and Right have one thing in common - both try to shove their values ("decency") down the throats of others. Fuck you both equally. If that (do as I say) mindset isn't offensive, then i don't know what is! Be as this or that as you like, but preaching to me when I don't wanna hear it is going to breed resentment. That is you wasting my time and mental energies. Live by your own values and if I see that you are content, healthy, and successful in one manner or another, maybe I will adopt some of your ways WITHOUT your saying one word to me. Proselytizing or 'teaching' me is so often rude.

[–] TheAnonymouseJoker@lemmy.ml -2 points 3 years ago (1 children)

Both Left and Right have one thing in common - both try to shove their values (“decency”) down the throats of others. Fuck you both equally.

Well, then indecency will not be spared either. You already resent decency, since you already decided your stance, and have decided that any discussion is going to result in you saying "fuck you" to anyone that does.

You are also wasting your time when you say calling out GrapheneOS community is political whining, when it is not, and if it is, then it makes you the same, because you are complaining about feelings when you ask me to stop caring about some politically motivated understanding or feelings. It is hypocritical.

[–] GenkiFeral@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Right and wrong are relative to some extent and always have been and always will be. Who is to say the religious fundamentalist's 'decency' is better or worse than (the obvious opposite) a Progressive's? Who is sole arbiter of the truth? Shouldn't it be more up to the individual? What ever happened to "Live and let live"?

[–] TheAnonymouseJoker@lemmy.ml -2 points 2 years ago

Who is to say the religious fundamentalist’s ‘decency’ is better or worse than (the obvious opposite) a Progressive’s? Who is sole arbiter of the truth?

I see these arguments from modern day fascists and /pol/ users all the time. This is a classic grift technique to make themselves look balanced and somehow try to place the onus of morality on an entity that does not exist, and so they themselves can look more balanced instead of the extremists that they are.

Your history, your above comments and your obsession to reply even after 18 days reveals enough about your interests, so forget about convincing me regarding your holier than thou arguments.

Anyway, downvoting my comments will not make a difference. The moment I see something that goes against Lemmy rules or the rules for this sublemmy, I will take action in accordance.