Simple Steps for Privacy on Android

Submitted ⁨⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago⁩ by ⁨Will8250@lemmings.world⁩ to ⁨nostupidquestions@lemmy.world⁩

What are some simple things i can do while using an android phone to maintain some privacy. Been thinking about this since seeing a thread on favorite foss apps. I currently use duckduckgo browser with their tracking deterrent vpn and simple keyboard. Thanks in advance

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throws_lemy@lemmy.nz ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
On non-root android phone, I always use this steps to maintain privacy

Install f-droid app first, so you can install these below apps from f-droid repo

Mull browser (firefox fork) + uBlock Origin

Cromite (Chromium fork with adblocker)

personaDNSfilter or RethinkDNS

OsmAnd map

GMaps VW (gmaps webview wrapper)

Aegis Authenticator (offline 2FA)

Binary Eye (barcode scanner)

NewPipe

K9-Mail

Nitter for Android

VLC

ImagePipe / Scrambled Exif (EXIF remover)

KeepasDX

QKSMS
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- gedaliyah@lemmy.world ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  I’d also toss in AnySoftKeyboard and Organic Maps.
  
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- user224@lemmy.sdf.org ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  I also like NextDNS. You can try it without account as well, I think for 7 days, if you click “Try it now”. Of course, if you delete cookies you get 7 days again.
  
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  - Notamoosen@kbin.social ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    I want to second this. Paid is only $2 a month or $20 a year. Excellent for blocking various trackers on all devices even those not on your home network.
    
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- e_mc2@feddit.nl ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  I gave [Openboard debug]github.com/Helium314/openboard) a try especially because it supports multilingual typing and has additional features. Really happy with it.
  
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Fake4000@lemmy.world ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
There are a few basic things you can do to enhance your privacy.

Use firefox we a browser.

User an offline password manager like keepassdx.

Substitute Google apps like notes, tasks, and calendar with privacy Foss ones.

Switch your online app with local ones. For example. Rather than using pocket casts, use antennapod instead.

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MajorMajormajormajor@lemmy.ca ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Install a custom ROM to remove all the google spyware and bloatware if it’s supported by your device. If not, buy a phone that can support one.

LineageOS supports the most devices I believe, so better chance to find one that is supported. Some people don’t find it secure enough since you need to unlock your bootloader. You can have LOS without any google apps, or with some reinstalled with microg. Either option is more private that stock android, but the more google apps you use the more data you give them about yourself. I only use gmaps since no alternative works in my area reliably, and banking apps.

GrapheneOS has better security but is only available on specific phones (I believe google pixels only) which makes it more limiting. There are also no google apps, so you’re totally reliant on foss apps.

This gives you a range of devices and a range of privacy depending on your use case.

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- Will8250@lemmings.world ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  Thank you for the idea. However, it looks like my device isn’t supported. Also, not really looking to go that far. Would doing things like disabling search and location history be effective at all? Other simple steps?
  
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  - otter@lemmy.ca ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    Every little step helps
    
    The worry with some of the privacy toggles in the platform itself is that it might not actually affect what the company collects or uses. So if you can swap an app with a FOSS one, it makes a bigger difference. A chunk of the FOSS apps are better anyways so 🤷
    
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habitualTartare@lemmy.world ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
A simple thing you can do is be informed on what data google is tracking on your phone.

If you are signed into a Google account on your phone, you should check your Google dashboard: myaccount.google.com/intro/dashboard and make sure to turn off any tracking you don’t want. You can also request your data is deleted through the dashboard or through Google takeout.

If you stay with the built in OS and you can also get away from a Google account (don’t sign into a Google account on the phone), you’re tracked less, but that’s a bit challenging for many.

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- gedaliyah@lemmy.world ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  One helpful tip if you want to keep the phone logged out. You will not be able to install apps from the Google store (a privacy nightmare anyway). You of course will want to use as many FOSS apps as you can through F-Droid (or Obtainium, etc). But you may also need to occasionally use nonfree apps. Aurora Store is an excellent front-end for Play Store, available (of course) from F-Droid.
  
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