I’m new to Android and was gifted a Razr Ultra. Apart from deleting Google apps and using alternate app stores, are these other things I can do to make the phone more privacy respecting? I’m coming from iPhone and I know Apple isn’t the best, but being on Android/Google makes me concerned about privacy.
As I understand it, GrapheneOS is not an option, and I didn’t see the phone on LineageOS device list.
Any ideas? What would you do (besides selling it for a Pixel to install Graphene lol)?
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I’m always curious if a non Android OS would work on these devices with multiple displays. I’d imagine likely only the main display would work without a fair bit of tinkering, which diminishes a fair bit of functionality for a device with 1.5 screens.
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.
Install firewall software too isolate certain apps. I use rethink DNS. It also allows routing all or certain apps via Wireguard VPN/Tor
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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.
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IMO anything you do will be futile so long as Google has essentially root access to your system.
But you can start by deleting your advertising ID and disabling any tracking you can from your Google account itself. You’ll probably want to look up a guide, as they can be well-hidden.
Thanks! Def going to disable play services and other Google options
I don’t know how effective it is but I use adguard for blocking ads and trackers. It uses a vpn to route traffic through. You can firewall apps so I have all Google apps blocked through the firewall. I’m not sure if this will fully stop Google but I can see that it frequently blocks requests from Google play services. You could also use ADB or canta to remove system apps that you don’t want
You literally can’t.
Go to your Google account settings and make sure that web & app activity, location history and ad personalisation are turned off.
Then uninstall/disable the Google apps you won’t need then replace them with alternatives from F-droid (add the Izzyondroid repo too) like Cromite (in FFUpdater), Comaps, Thunderbird and QUIK SMS.
You should also follow standard practices like setting a non-easy to guess PIN code and also installing security updates.
Thanks! Will do
Well, does the Razr Ultra have an unlocked bootloader?
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.
You mentioned the phone is a gift - generally phones bought for full retail price rather than on a service contract are “unlocked” from the start (since you aren’t on a payment plan from a vendor who wants to make sure you can’t exit unilaterally).
Granted, if that’s not the case, usually the phone is unlocked at the end of the carrier contract. Since you said it’s carrier unlocked, that implies it’s good to go :)
As for options, I haven’t used a Motorola device in a very long time. I heard they’re decent phones in terms of customization, though.
Edit: referring to this thread involving another motorola user (https://sh.itjust.works/post/49881870), you may be hosed if it’s using a mediatek chip.
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:
Yeah, I’m currently using a pixel 9 with GrapheneOS after I sold my old phone. I can highly recommend it, although it’s pricey if you aren’t buying used.
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