this post was submitted on 19 Nov 2023
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Privacy

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Things that make me angry about my current smartphone Samsung Galaxy S21Ultra on a Verizon plan is the mandatory software updates in which they install WITHOUT MY PERMISSION stupid apps like Netflix and addictive gambling games and stacking block games and Candy crush. God knows what else they install without my permission. I don't want any of it!

Next phone I buy I want to start with a clean slate, I'm not going to affiliate with any conglomerate like Verizon or AT&T or Sprint or T-Mobile etc, I prefer to go rogue somehow,

which smartphone do you recommend that has no bloatware and it's customizable?

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[–] GasMaskedLunatic@lemmy.dbzer0.com 62 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (22 children)

The only recommendation I can provide is a Google Pixel device with GrapheneOS. Graphene is only designed to work on Pixels because they are (allegedly) the most secure mobile phone hardware-wise. Once you flash Graphene, it's up to you to install any apps beyond the basic browser (Vanadium), gallery, camera, caller, SMS, PDF viewer, contacts, file manager, and security/system apps. No Google involved without your permission, though you will have to install Google services, available via a Graphene mirror and sandboxed for privacy, IF you want to install an eSIM after flashing Graphene. If you're interested in further information, please let me know. I use it, love it, and am happy to provide any information you may need to decide if it's a good fit for you or not.

[–] iamak@infosec.pub 4 points 9 months ago (17 children)

What is the root scene on Graphene? I know the dev is pretty against it but I like having root access after being used to it. Is it possible to easily root it without any integrity issues later on?

[–] trevor@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 points 9 months ago (2 children)

You can root on GrapheneOS. You do it exactly the same way you'd do it for the stock Google ROM:

  1. Have an unlocked bootloader. Yes, this means that it """defeats the purpose of GrapheneOS""", if the purpose of GrapheneOS isn't for you to avoid Google's privacy nightmare. I use GrapheneOS for privacy moreso than security, and not being able to block ads properly is irritating.
  2. Install the Magisk app.
  3. Extract the boot.img from the GrapheneOS image and patch within Magisk.
  4. Flash the patched boot image in the bootloader.

The main annoyance with this is that you'll have to do that dance every month when a security patch gets released, but for me, it's better than vomiting from exposure to ads on mobile.

[–] iamak@infosec.pub 1 points 9 months ago

Oh okay. Thanks! Does it pass the integrity checks?

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