eOS DeGoogled Privacy Smartphone in the US Review

https://ramblinggit.com/2021/03/09/eos-degoogled-privacy.html

by indidea • 5 years ago

54 35 5 years ago

Worth noting that if you're savvy at flashing custom ROMs, you can install /e/OS (their preferred styling) on your own devices, too: https://e.foundation/get-started/

I've been using it on my old OnePlus for about a year now, and reasonably happy with it.

AdmiralAsshat• 5 years ago

https://doc.e.foundation/easy-installer

Every Samsung device on the compatibility page is the Exynos version only, so, that tells me anyone in the US hoping to repurpose their Snapdragon-based Galaxy phones is out of luck.

177tcca4• 5 years ago

If you're not savvy at installing custom anything, and just want a setup that keeps the Android security model intact (unlike all of these LineageOS forks), check out GrapheneOS.org.

Karsteski• 5 years ago

Alternatively, CalyxOS is also a great choice. I've been using it on my Pixel 3 for a few weeks now and it's seamless

ForHackernews5• 5 years ago

Most commercial apps will not run on GrapheneOS, because it doesn't provide alternative implementations of Play Services.

https://github.com/GrapheneOS/os_issue_tracker/issues/204

hiq2• 5 years ago

want a setup that keeps the Android security model intact (unlike all of these LineageOS forks)

Can you expand on how LineageOS breaks the Android security model?

djrogers• 5 years ago

I'm having a hard time understanding how "de-googling" and Android phone fixes this issue:

Privacy - smartphones and their apps reporting where you are at, what you are doing, what you are looking for to third parties like Google and it’s advertising network.

Specifically the second part - their apps. Does e-os do something to prevent 3rd party apps from requiring extraneous permissions, or using those permissions to track/profile you?

I get that now the base OS itself isn't tracking/profiling you for adtech purposes, but frankly neither was your iPhone Xr. All of the creepy stuff has always been in the apps, and I don't see how this changes that.

johnbrodie• 5 years ago

Doing something is better than doing nothing, you're leaking less data overall even if you install all the same apps. In general though, yes, with a deGoogled phone you have to watch out for what apps you're installing and try to stick to FDroid for the most part.

There's also Warden [0], which does a decent job of stubbing out built-in trackers for your "must have" apps that are otherwise privacy-invading.

[0] https://www.xda-developers.com/warden-open-source-app-aurora...

techrat• 5 years ago

Since this requires root, what benefit does it have over having a HOSTS file that also blocks the trackers directly by holing the hostnames?

mindslight• 5 years ago

An OS that represents the user should have the option to "allow" extraneous permissions (perhaps even by default), but return junk data - mock location, fake contacts, arbitrary device identifiers, etc. And to transparently proxy network traffic as well. The point of sandboxing is that an app should not be able to know whether it has been given access to private information, plausible garbage, or a mix of both.

I have no idea if this particular OS can do this. But it's a possible difference between proprietary and Free land, and where the Free world needs to head to fight back against nonconsensual permission demands.

searchableguy• 5 years ago

An OS that represents the user should have the option to "allow" extraneous permissions (perhaps even by default), but return junk data - mock location, fake contacts, arbitrary device identifiers, etc.

Many Chinese roms have started to do this. They have option to provide fake or blank data when an app asks to access sensitive information.

I expect this to be available in stock android soon too.

jqpabc1233• 5 years ago

All of the creepy stuff has always been in the apps, and I don't see how this changes that.

Not all of it. Google embeds a lot of creepy into Android itself, including AOSP.

But apps are a legitimate concern with an easy, sensible solution --- don't install creepy apps.

eOS offers an alternative app store with non-creepy apps.

FDroid is another popular alternative store with only open source apps.

Some things are not available on these alternative stores. For these, I use Aurora store (load the client from FDroid) which lets me install just about anything from the Google Play store without a Google login and I can see how creepy an app is before I install it. They scan apps for trackers and show the results.

Finally, if all else fails, I can't find a suitable alternative and I really, really want a particular creepy app, I use an old phone (Moto G4 Play running eOS) with no personal info stored in it. About the only thing I have found that falls into this category is some banking and payment apps.

Bottom line: Non-creepy apps are available if you take the time to look for them. One of my personal favorites is TwinMe --- peer to peer video and messaging with no personal info required. Actually works better than the creepy stuff and my iOS friends like it too .

mrweasel• 5 years ago

Third party apps is sadly a huge problem. I honestly don’t care if my phone has email or a browser. I do have a few app, either for payment, government stuff or more specialiced apps for work which I do really need for my phone to be useful.

richardfey• 5 years ago

this reads suspiciously like an advertorial

ignoramous• 5 years ago

Yep. Relevant: http://www.paulgraham.com/submarine.html

Mediterraneo10• 5 years ago

How are these phones with regard to an unlocked bootloader and passing Safety Net? Online banking apps refuse to launch on some de-Googled Android versions, on the grounds that the device is now supposedly insecure. The new COVID vaccine passports, which several governments have announced will exist only as an Android/iOS app producing limited-time QR codes (because paper certificates are too easily forged), might have the same demands for the Android they are running on.

nobodywasishere• 5 years ago

It's not going to pass SafetyNet without workarounds using Magisk Hide.

jqpabc1233• 5 years ago

In my experience, it's not going to pass SafetyNet with Magisk Hide either. As far as I can tell, Magisk is of little practical value any more.

mnahkies• 5 years ago

This is really a problem. Ideally this would be approached in a similar way to TLS errors in browsers - scary warning, but ability to proceed anyway if you understand the risks. Certainly for banking apps etc at least

Animats2• 5 years ago

The account gives you an email address youname@e.email and cloud storage which syncs with the phone.

Doesn't tethering to this new service defeat the whole purpose of the project?

hombre_fatal• 5 years ago

Not if “degoogling” is the purpose.

Animats2• 5 years ago

It's like, having escaped the walled garden, the user feels the need to be caged again.

1vuio0pswjnm7• 5 years ago

"About e Foundation F.A.Q

Is e Foundation a non-profit or a corporation?

e Foundation is a non-profit organization created to host, develop, support and promote pro privacy tech solutions. Some partner companies handle the commercial side of the project and help finance e Foundation.

How do you make money? Where are your revenues coming from?

Most of our incoming revenue comes from private and public donations. As a non-profit, we strongly rely on individual and corporate donations."

Basic questions

Who are the "partner companies" that "handle the commercial side" and "help finance" the foundation. If the foundation has a "commercial side" is it truly a non-profit organisation.

Who pays the salaries of the persons working for the foundation. What are those salaries.

Could Google or some other entity at some stage acquire the rights or assets of the foundation. If not, what are the legal protections against that scenario.

Are the individual and corporate donations anonymous. How can we be assured that the donors have no direct or indirect influence over the hiring decisions or operations of the foundation.

ThePowerOfFuet• 5 years ago

Weather Underground - app works well. There are major privacy concerns with this but I don’t care because I’m a weather junkie.

Reading these words from the author of this review of a privacy-specific smartphone destroys the author's credibility.

Closi• 5 years ago

A phone review that doesn't even include battery life or price... hmm...

eOS DeGoogled Privacy Smartphone in the US Review

Related Stories