Is there actually a phone + OS option out there that doesn’t regularly collect and report data (above and beyond the typical data that can be captured via cell phone networks, stingrays, and wifis).
-
Is there actually a phone + OS option out there that doesn’t regularly collect and report data (above and beyond the typical data that can be captured via cell phone networks, stingrays, and wifis). As in, one that doesn’t tattle back to a corporation all the time?
GrapheneOS? Any “true” Linux phones?
boosts appreciated
#cellPhone #phones #phone -
@aud only if you're willing to accept significant limitations for it's usefulness.
GPS data is received through a location service, and as far as I'm aware the only one is Google now that Mozilla has dropped theirs. So if you ever plan to toggle on the "location" feature, google will get some data on that, though I'm unsure how closely tied that is to your identity. There was an alternative I heard of but I can't find it now.
Other than that, Calyx and Graphene are pretty good options. I run Graphene on my Pixel 6 and it has a lot of extra features for improving privacy. It lets you deny network access to any app, and it lets you provide access to a specific subset of your media rather than the all-or-nothing approach from AOSP. Google services doesn't get special access.
Last I heard the true linux phones are still not daily-driveable but I would love to hear otherwise. Probably the biggest blocker for me that will likely continue to remain for a true linux phone is the lack of a Signal client.
-
@scott @aud I've used Ubuntu Touch (ubports) on and off for years. It's great but bare bones. Biggest limiting factor for me is only a few devices have VoLTE support, which is essential in the US now that 3G networks have all be dismantled. Fairphone, Pine phone, and mediatek chipsets have support at the moment.
Sailfish OS is nice but only runs on a few devices. You could check out PostmarketOS - it runs on quite a few devices as well. -
@aud I have a light phone (www.thelightphone.com) and I think with the mapping/directions feature not installed it isn't telling them much other than what cell towers I hit? But you're going to give up a lot of functionality, this is not a smart phone and until the III rolls out early next year there isn't even a camera (I'm happy with my II, but I know at least one person who is waiting to switch just so they have a camera).
-
I don't know what data Ubuntu logs or not but it's a good place to start.
