This will probably be my move eventually. Phone was a gift so I might keep it for a bit doing the most I can to reduce Google services & tracking. Eventually I’ll sell for a pixel

Thanks! Def going to disable play services and other Google options

I’m not refusing to help myself. I mentioned using alternative App Stores, and I’m aware that options like Graphene are not available. I’m just trying to see if there were other options or practical tips people might know, since I’m new to android. That’s all.

Agreed. I assume that might be part of the reason that Lineage and others aren’t supported. Also, it’s not a particularly huge segment of that market.

Thanks! Will do

Thanks for the information - I’ll take a look at the thread. It is a snapdragon chip, so no mediatek thankfully

I’ll definitely check this out from the thread:

Everyone has their own use case, needs and preferences My thought is that you have the following options - not in any order as you will have your preferences Buy a Pixel and install Graphene See if you can install Linage OS, or buy another phone that can Universal android debloater / ADB (not as tricky as it seems) https://github.com/0x192/universal-android-debloater Search and disable apps you don’t want (limited at best) Install RethinkDNS & Firewall. What did I do? On my Samsung tablet, I used Universal Android Debloater AND run RethinkDNS & Firewall. Not as good as Graphene, but cheap / free and 90% of the same.

Unsure as this is new to me. the phone comes to me next week, so I can’t actually check ATM. It’s a carrier unlocked device, if that means anything.

Fair enough!

Maybe, I couldn’t say if it’s a premium for privacy, marketing, or what.

As for turning over data without a warrant, I don’t have a problem with companies complying with lawful orders, as Proton does. I don’t think there’s any evidence to support the notion that Proton complies with non-legal or mere requests from LE. Correct me if I’m wrong.

I don’t have an issue with telcos complying with lawful warrants, which is what Lawful Interception requires. but if your telco can only turn over limited amounts of data because that’s all it has access to, then that’s a plus.

Separately, do you have a source that telcos are unaware when LE is wiretapping? LE would likely need the assistance of the telco to do so and the telco should require the warrant.

I don’t think this is really a replacement for the offering that Cape is proposing. Airalo are data only eSIMs and target consumers who need short-term data plans while traveling abroad. This is not a replacement of your primary carrier service and doesn’t give you a phone number. Additionally, other than the transient nature of the temporary eSIM you buy, there are no notable privacy-focused features behind Airalo.

Not saying Cape follows through with its claims, just saying these are not really comparable offerings.

We can all condemn CP and rightfully so. But it’s asinine to think you can break encryption and that only the good guys will be able to take advantage of that.

Don’t think that happened yet when I commented, but there you go - just the justification the UK government is looking for.

True, expensive. Prosper to offset no selling customer data.

Yeah it looks like the cell network is the consumer facing product

Fair points. Different strategies for different threat models I assume. Anonymity through hardening (if we take Cape at their word, big if) or security through obscurity.

100% agree. I would definitely not have them install graphene for you. Do it yourself so you know what’s in the installation

Collecting and monitoring are two different things. If NSA is still dragnetting communications in the post-Snowden era, it’s likely storing and then accessing when something gives the reason. The sheer volume of communication data is far too large to monitor everything.

Wtf? Is this real?

It’s insane how intense the UK is being about breaking encryption. I could understand the hysteria if they had just suffered a terror attack or something and were riding public outrage, but as far as I know this is just based on some nebulous national security/protect the kids justification.

It’s insane. The U.S. and E.U. are not doing any better. The west is becoming a surveillance state.