Android 13 Beta 1 Released - Continues Focus On Privacy & Security

[jacob]

So, does it provide some security FROM Google (not BY Google)?

[WannaBeOCer]

So, does it provide some security FROM Google (not BY Google)?

Nothing is free, if you want to use all the luxurious features of Google mobile services/Apple services you’re going to have a telemetry system on your device. They spent millions developing the services, they deserve something back.

[jacob]

Nothing is free, if you want to use all the luxurious features of Google mobile services/Apple services you’re going to have a telemetry system on your device. They spent millions developing the services, they deserve something back.

Except that 1) I PAID for the device, I'm not asking for anything for free; and 2) If that is how it is, then were is the option in Android to NOT use any telemetry (and no services that rely on it)?

[WannaBeOCer]

Except that 1) I PAID for the device, I'm not asking for anything for free; and 2) If that is how it is, then were is the option in Android to NOT use any telemetry (and no services that rely on it)?

You aren’t paying anything extra for Google mobile services, there isn’t any licensing fees. When you turn on your phone you get a TOS from the manufacturer who has their own telemetry layer which most likely sells your data unlike Google/Apple. If you disagree to Google’s TOS at setup of an Android phone, you don’t get the luxury of using GMS.

[jacob]

You aren’t paying anything extra for Google mobile services, there isn’t any licensing fees. When you turn on your phone you get a TOS from the manufacturer who has their own telemetry layer which most likely sells your data unlike Google/Apple. If you disagree to Google’s TOS at setup of an Android phone, you don’t get the luxury of using GMS.

All I want is the luxury of NOT using GMS. How do I actually, reliably disable the telemetry and all other connections between my device and Google? What oversight do I have that my device is really absolutely unreachable by and invisible to Google (not a promise or ToS, a physical impossibility for Google to implement or use a backdoor no matter how hard they try)?

[WannaBeOCer]

All I want is the luxury of NOT using GMS. How do I actually, reliably disable the telemetry and all other connections between my device and Google? What oversight do I have that my device is really absolutely unreachable by and invisible to Google (not a promise or ToS, a physical impossibility for Google to implement or use a backdoor no matter how hard they try)?

Use an AOSP rom and don’t install gapps or buy a non-GMS Android phone but then you’ll have to rely on their services. Which again most likely sell your data.

[Jabberwocky]

If you’re worried about security use AOSP without Google mobile services or a hardened Android OS like GrapheneOS.

https://grapheneos.org

I wish this was practical. Most people use their phones with software that goes through a lot of effort to detect modified systems. Software like Whatsapp, Netflix and banking-apps did not work last time I checked.

The irony is that stock images are vulnerable to many attacks yet it's the only way to use a device in a "typical modern society".

[WannaBeOCer]

I wish this was practical. Most people use their phones with software that goes through a lot of effort to detect modified systems. Software like Whatsapp, Netflix and banking-apps did not work last time I checked.

The irony is that stock images are vulnerable to many attacks yet it's the only way to use a device in a "typical modern society".

Netflix, WhatsApps and banking apps work on GrapheneOS. The issue are apps that require google services. You just need to read up on which roms supports enforced SELinux and relocking the boot loader.

if you can live without Google then you can easily use AOSP.

[partcyborg]

Netflix, WhatsApps and banking apps work on GrapheneOS. The issue are apps that require google services. You just need to read up on which roms supports enforced SELinux and relocking the boot loader.

if you can live without Google then you can easily use AOSP.

Netflix might work but only in standard def (480p). 720p+ requires widevine keys, and the act of unlocking your bootloader (required to install any non-stock rom) renders those keys unusable

[WannaBeOCer]

Netflix might work but only in standard def (480p). 720p+ requires widevine keys, and the act of unlocking your bootloader (required to install any non-stock rom) renders those keys unusable

Edit: Removed because I was incorrect. Widevine doesn’t work on AOSP without GMS since it’s a Google DRM that depends on google play services.