(I reposted this bc some applications were missing.) I had to install some apps because of school. Btw, can you say improvements that I can make? I can’t install anything that isn’t from playstore. Edit: Duolingo is now just a PWA

Rikj000
link
fedilink
32d

Not really imo,
however doing good taking small steps OP! :)

Suggestions I’d make:

  • Aim to use nothing/as little as possible from the Play Store (proprietary, often filled with trackers)
  • Aim to use everything/as much as possible from F-Droid (open source, no or nearly no trackers)
  • Switch GApps for MicroG (The open source implementation of the Google system apps to make things like notifications work, which removes spyware)
  • Switch your Xiaomi OS (also spyware filled) for a more privacy friendly OS like LineageOS

I’d suggest LineageOS4MicroG:
https://lineage.microg.org/

It’s vanilla LineageOS,
with MicroG + F-Droid pre-included.

Ori
creator
link
fedilink
12d

I went to almost every website that offers ROMs and couldn’t find any official ROMs for my device (/e/? Doesn’t work. Lineage? Nope. Graphene? Only works for pixels). I can’t install apks outside playstore (So, no aurora store and no f-droid. Newpipe was an exception) Thanks btw

Rikj000
link
fedilink
52d

Ufff sad to hear.

What you could do:

  • Not recommened: Search on XDA for an un-official build of a custom rom for your device (stability may vary)
  • Recommended: Be patient, until it’s time to buy a new phone, then first look for the OS you want, then choose a device from the list that the OS supports, that’s how I do it nowadays :)

Also interesting, but annoying that you can’t install apks from outside the PlayStore :/ No way to circumvent it?

Ori
creator
link
fedilink
12d

Just if my parents chose another configuration abt apks in family link (parental controls)

Rikj000
link
fedilink
42d

Huh, if your parents are the blocking factor,
how about trying to educate them a bit about F-Droid and data privacy?

Software from F-Droid really is much more privacy/battery/storage friendly. Just open source software, no spyware services bloating up the apps.

Perhaps after some convincing, they’ll at least allow you to use F-Droid and Aurora Store! :)

3xodus can help with convincing them:

It shows known trackers (= spyware) in applications.

ClassyShark does it by de-compiling the apps and scanning them on the fly.
Their website shows reports by other users that scanned applications.

Nearly everything from the PlayStore contains trackers, while nearly nothing from F-Droid does.

Autonomous User
link
fedilink
2
edit-2
2d

how about trying to educate them

[Video] Free software, free society: Richard Stallman (or here)

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A place to discuss privacy and freedom in the digital world.

Privacy has become a very important issue in modern society, with companies and governments constantly abusing their power, more and more people are waking up to the importance of digital privacy.

In this community everyone is welcome to post links and discuss topics related to privacy.

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