Any Solid Privacy ROMs? - Google Pixel 2 XL Questions & Answers

I'm curious - one of the main reasons I rooted my device was to use AdAway, I dislike viewing ads on my mobile. So, I know there have been a few ROMs developed around the idea that the OS should not be feeding streams of data back over to servers constantly (see here, here and here... the list can keep going.). I think a few of those ROMs are the ones where you have to manually install the Google Apps bundles, possibly run Google Play services manually, etc.
Some of those ROMs are marketed as severing all hidden ties between your device, Google and miscellaneous things. I'm sure you've all seen that article about Google changing a setting en masse recently and then apologizing over it. It seems like for those of us who understand there may be snakes in the grass these days, we have to consider these types of things.
Are there any ROMs in development for the Pixel 2 XL specifically created with these types of security + privacy tweaks today? If not, are there any prominent ones in development for another device?

Related

[Q] Any ROMs with TaintDroid built in?

Hi all, I saw one post asking about this earlier (but it only mentioned that it would be difficult a few months ago), and was wondering if anyone had integrated TaintDroid into a ROM.
FYI - TaintDroid is effectively a privacy auditor for apps:
http://www.appanalysis.org/
Researchers at the participating institutions have developed a realtime monitoring service called TaintDroid that precisely analyses how private information is obtained and released by applications "downloaded" to consumer phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My suspicion is no, and I think I'll probably go with one of the ad-blocking ROMs when I get there (my current plan is to wait until I have an OTA froyo going, before I plunge into loading ROMS and/or buying various paid apps for customization, etc., but this seemed pretty useful.

[Q] Is 'Droid working strictly for us (and not for Google) possible?

Hi, guys!
Before I pose my question: I am really in awe of projects in the Open Source community style and this is soooooo good to see and experience (my other hobby is Sat TV "hacking" and so on... )!!!!!!!!!! :good: So, endless thanx and respect(!!!!) to all involved!!!!!!!!!!
Context: recently I managed to S-OFF my HTC Desire with 'Droid 2.2.2, then somehow I rooted it, 4EXT recovery/backup (if memory serves, the "touch" one) is in, in recovery mode I flashed the latest MIUI ROM (sorry if I misspelled it) with JB 4.1.2, improved the "radio" and so on... The one or two things that do not work - that I noticed - was no sending SMSs and poor video recording and reproduction. So, the search is continuing!
My question is - before I attempt the flashing of Paranoid Android ROM (how fitting, regarding my question! ) - is there a ROM that has kicked the living daylights out of Google corporate c*a#, please? As in, there is no stuff, in that would-be ROM, that constantly collects our data and sends it back to corporate and other commercial coders, please?
Because, as a matter of principle, we ought not to have to think of just how much data is going to corporation(s) and individuals coding apps etc. And from then on, to "authorities", of course. Not that I have anything to fear, in that respect - but it is the principle that is at stake here! Similar with Linux v. MacroHard and their "enlightened" attitude towards our privacy etc.
You know, we have a myriad of apps of all sorts, so I suppose we do not need Google's intrusion in all aspects of our interaction. I am perfectly happy, for instance, to use Firefox or Maxthon or Opera browser and get into my emails that way, not having to use the Google app for Gmail! I presume we could also have other apps to replace Google chat (presumably through Firefox in Gmail?) and so on and so forth. Really, I do not need Google's maps, when we have Open Street app and so on and on and on.
So, does this ROM exist, please? No Google/corporate/commercial stuff in it, that is...
And if not, has the time arrived?:angel: It is Linux, after all...
Would it be possible to make something like that?
Many thanx, again!
P.S. I recently bought a SuperPad tablet and I wonder if there are custom built ROMs/OSs for those, as well? Anyone knows, please?
Well of course any Rom without the Google apps.
Your principles on data collection went out the window when you first used the internet.
I disagree... respectfully, of course...
For instance, see BBC website for the "right to be forgotten" EU proposal on data collection/storage/handling... However, no such battle can ever be completely lost or won - they keep going on...
As a newby I have a problem with posting links but... let me try:
Code:
bbc co uk / news / technology-16677370
My Q was also re. full functionality without Google stuff - some ROM authors warn that their ROMs can't function properly unless we flash the Google stuff immediately after ROM itself... Any clarification, please?
goggysan said:
I disagree... respectfully, of course...
For instance, see BBC website for the "right to be forgotten" EU proposal on data collection/storage/handling... However, no such battle can ever be completely lost or won - they keep going on...
As a newby I have a problem with posting links but... let me try:
Code:
bbc co uk / news / technology-16677370
My Q was also re. full functionality without Google stuff - some ROM authors warn that their ROMs can't function properly unless we flash the Google stuff immediately after ROM itself... Any clarification, please?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its not to do with they cant function properly (they can) its just the fact that play store is "google" and u also need a gmail account. correct me if im wrong. Soo like dethrat says,.... its about gapps. (more or less).
It's not a matter of me thinking this is/you're wrong (on this one). I think/hope, that you are also hoping that I am right... Am I right?
You have a point, in a way, since it started in this manner with credit cards (easily done but also easily circumvented) and onwards but...
Look, ever tried Flipboard? I mean, if you are neglecting the examples I already wrote about... Check it and compare with Google Currents, please... Simply flipboard dot com... Need I say more?
On the level of principles: we do not need to be tethered/electronically tagged and under constant "surveillance" by Google or any other corporation or even the state, for that matter... Don't you think this is kinda worth at least trying? No offence intended to anyone(!) but I think this is the adult thing to do...:angel:
Well, this is what I am looking forward to nowadays... So, do you think that, for instance, a developer of Paranoid Android could make it all work with "alternative" apps, please? An effective "Ads Blocker" and kinda "No Script" apps included, of course. Maybe even - in this sense - "cleaned up" crucial apps, too... If "Anonymous" were really serious and competent (intellectually, professionally and morally), maybe they should get on it right away, eh? :angel:
I mean, if I ever requested anything from anyone on these boards, this would be it - an AIO OS without corporate [email protected]#. And I have a feeling that a fair few of us might keep trying this sort of thing out...:good:
Code:
bbc dot co dot uk / news / science-environment-21923360
Any more info on my question, please? Anyone with some experience?
Cheers!
So, the great WoH tells me that it is possible to use his ROM without the G-stuff, that is "Gapps" - and that everything should work just fine! And I am very grateful for this possibility! I only need to "skip the step with the gapps", he says.
Then, one proceeds with "3rd party app stores" like Amazon, GetJar, Fireplace and Yandex.Store. I presume there is an included browser in the ROM without the Gapps, so I start it and go to one of those sites, get their gadget and simply install from there, the free stuff... hopefully not having to log in with my Gmail account...
My problem, though, lies here in this thread - setting up PDroid. That's for seriously enhanced privacy/security! In the thread's "how to" there seem to be some discrepancies with the newer versions of PDroid... Really not sure how to do it, what exactly must be done, with which files... And I can't post in that section, to ask questions... Like "Where is the apk you mention in the top post?" and "What exactly are the steps?"
So, I must prepare by reading a lot, testing it and then redoing it, from scratch, i.e. flash the ROM again, as WoH described in his thread here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2131790
My hope would be that he includes the PDroid patch/apps - if at all possible - in the next edition of his awesome ROM!
Also, I would dearly love to see and test a ROM with all the best alternative apps, links to a few of the best 3rd party apps stores, tools etc. - but no G-c#@p (or almost no G-c#@p)... at least as much as humanly possible...
Here is a sketch:
3rd party apps stores,
keyboard and speech apps,
a couple of browsers (Firefox/Opera, maybe),
a few tools to manage the phone and set it up properly (Advanced Task Killer, Android Manager and alike),
best audio-visually capable Gtalk app and Skype for chat,
some non-demanding but good protection (Avast suite?),
Flipboard for news,
Adobe Reader, Kindle and Aldiko for reading,
MX and Meridian players for multimedia stuff,
Flash,
camera and videocam apps(?),
audio, video and photo editing SW,
Sopcast (TV channels) and "1Channel for Google" for audio-video streaming from the net,
...and so on,,, everybody continuing to fill it up according to their preferences, of course... all freeware/gratis!!!
Perhaps call it an "Alternative apps pack"???
So, maybe: when apps2sd card tool has been installed, we flash the "Alternative apps pack"... and it all goes to an SD card?
I think this might be a very cool idea, for many of us...
Go WoH and co.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :good:

If you have noticed apps going missing on Google Play in the updates list,read this!

For anyone that is reading this,I encourage you to get Google's attention for this utter nonsense and join together to show some backlash against these changes.
I found out about this because I was neglecting to update some listed apps because the changes of the apps weren't worth the update yet.
Recently I noticed a few of the apps I know had updates to them mysteriously vanished from the updates list on my Android Shield TV Pro (2015),which is still on Nougat OTA 6.3, and I couldn't figure out what was going on for a bit.
So when I found out they were suddenly listed as incompatible on Google Play via an already installed Opera for Android web browser that I commonly use,I had to message the app developers.
One of those apps I helped brainstorm a few features for ,so I am fairly acquainted with one of the devs more than the other app developers that I also notified via e-mails.
Turns out,they have to go through some new survey/review garbage now in order to pass a test designed for the most lax Shield TV users (users that never side-load anything and never use a keyboard on it,or users who only use a small number of apps).
Sorry if this offends any users that don't do a bunch of extra things on their Shield TV,its Google messing with Android TV again which causes more extensive users to suffer.
The attached image shows what stuff every app must do in order to become "eligible" to be accessible on a Shield TV.
That means,any abandoned old app that was previously listed more-or-less or any app that the developers don't want to update to make it compatible or "eligible" or any app that the developer is too lazy to even bother with making it compatible again will be locked away from proper updates if they were previously listed on Google Play as compatible for being possible to install/update directly.
The biggest problem in all of this mess is that anyone on the Oreo update is stuck with that stubborn and extra difficult untrusted app sources change that makes it basically impossible to install many apps due to them failing to show up in the list that comes up for allowing you to install each app that you wish to side-load.
I encourage anyone that reads this to help get Google's attention for this utter nonsense and give them some backlash.

Global Proxy with LOS 18 on Pixel 3a?

I have a Pixel 3a XL and need to set it up as a company/work device. I need to use a global proxy MDM/filtering system to filter/restrict all traffic (including app traffic) to keep this limited to mainly work related usage. A very similar system is already in place for the all the company iOS devices (I hate Apple), but we need a solution for Android. This is a small company third party service, in-house developed. The idea is to get something that will integrate with the back-end system already in place, so various other MDM systems like Google Enterprise won't work in this case.
It is my understanding that in "stock" (Google) Android, this isn't feasible because Google blocks installation of certs in the system store. Is this correct?
So the main question: Is this possible with LOS? The phone still needs Play Store and some Google apps like Maps.
I'm new to LineageOS, so any and all help will be appreciated.
PS. I'm also looking at GrapheneOS for this. Would that work better for this application? Or is that a bad idea? I don't know.

Question [ROM] [LineageOS 12.1] DivestOS 19.1 for Alioth (privacy focused)

Hi there.
I want to share what I found outhere.
Its a SERIOUSLY privacy focussed ROM, wich I havent tried yet, but I think at this times we need things like that, and you maybe could share here your thoughts and knowns about this kind of developments.
Here is the link to the official website:
Home - DivestOS Mobile
divestos.org
And the rom for Alioth:
Devices - DivestOS Mobile
divestos.org
Cheers!
My thoughts: no Google Play Services. For the moment I skip this one till I find some time to migrate to non google apps.
Yes, migrating from Google might be too hard and frustrating.
This shows how far we are trapped, that we are in many cases unable to get out of there, to a great extent by our comfort.
BTW, I'm in the process of getting out of google, there are good alternatives for most of services, wich maybe I'll share when I'm done.
The key is to have an own server, better at home and not VPS's, to host all your services.
The biggest problem (in android) is getting push notifications without Google Services (neither MicroG), because most of apps uses Google Clouds to manage it. "Unifiedpush" is a great and versatile alternative, but your apps has to implement support for it, and there are very few of them.
This Is swimming against the current, but there are others trying to swim in this direction, and together will be at least easier.

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