Play Services track you.
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phoenixz@lemmy.ca 1 year ago
Interesting tidbit: I’ve been watching “the big bang theory” a lot these past few weeks on my own hosted jellyfin install.
I don’t use google search anywhere, I don’t type tbbt anywhere. Yet, on my Android phone I have this obligatory Google news thing when I swipe left (HATE that) and all of the sudden that thing got chock full of chatgpt written TBBT articles… I don’t really go there (usually end up there by accident swiping left once too many) and I don’t read those articles but it really obviously switched to TBBT articles when I switched to watching TBBT.
This really kinda freaks me out and makes me wonder WTF more google is monitoring. I use a Google Chromecast, I guess google monitors that?
MonkderZweite@feddit.ch 1 year ago
leanleft@lemmy.ml 9 months ago
i suggest block play services in your main profile and let it be enabled for some apps in your work profile. via shelter app.
MonkderZweite@feddit.ch 9 months ago
Or disable/remove them. Don’t even need root for that. There’s always microg if an app really needs them.
leanleft@lemmy.ml 9 months ago
thats an awesome idea! much thanks for the info!
personal insight preinstall (for ppl reading this):
- it is always better to use fdroid apps whenever possible.
i had tried mcroG once upon a time(many years ago). it didnt work for me.
possible reasons:- project may have been less mature than it is today.
- other. (see below)
installation:
github.com/microg/GmsCore/wiki/Installation “Install GmsCore.apk” , “Install GsfProxy.apk”
“Please review the Prerequisites and Helpful Information before starting installation.”github.com/microg/GmsCore/wiki/Prerequisites
“Your System needs to support signature spoofing, see Signature Spoofing” , “[You need a ROM that supports signature spoofing.]”conclusion:
-need to follow the specific installation instructions.- according to the docs… u need a custom rom(distro ie lineageOS on a supported device.)
wiki.lineageos.org/devices/
netchami@sh.itjust.works 1 year ago
Use GrapheneOS without Play Spyware services.
phoenixz@lemmy.ca 1 year ago
Can I still install all software? I need my banks software, for example. If I can’t install that’s then my phone is useless
netchami@sh.itjust.works 1 year ago
Unlike other ROMs like CalyxOS, GrapheneOS ships the actual Google Play services and Google Services Framework, but they’re sandboxed so they can’t spy on you. Whether your banking app works, depends on the SafetyNet requirement it has. If it requires full integrity, it unfortunately won’t work on any system that is not whitelisted by Google. If basic SafetyNet integrity is enough for the app, it will work on GrapheneOS. You can google (or duckduckgo) your banks name and “GrapheneOS”, and you may find posts by other people who tried it out.
biscuit@lemdro.id 1 year ago
Which phone do you have? I’ve been able to disable that “swipe left to access Google” thing on every Google Pixel I’ve ever owned.
phoenixz@lemmy.ca 1 year ago
OnePlus 8T. One day they pushed an update that removed the option to disable it. Obviously they have a contract with Google so that they profit from this, and it sucks .
When I have some time I might reinstall some new OS on it that removes all that crap
squirrelwithnut@lemmy.world 1 year ago
That and your phone’s microphone, and other sensors
phoenixz@lemmy.ca 1 year ago
Not using Google Assistant here
netchami@sh.itjust.works 1 year ago
You can buy phones from NitroKey (the company that makes secure, open-source security keys) that have the microphone and sensors physically removed.