Looking for Custom ROM focused on privacy - Lenovo Vibe K5 Plus Questions & Answers

Looking for Custom ROM focused on privacy - Lenovo Vibe K5 Plus Questions & Answers

Hi all,
I'm new on this forum, so thanks for your help!
I'd like to install a custom ROM focused on privacy to avoid personal data leaks and spying. There seems to be plenty of options out there so I dont know which one to choose, and if it'll work on my phone.
I use:
- Lenovo vibe K5 plus A6020a46
- Android version 5.1.1
- Material version H201
Also I wonder if normally available apps will work on a custom ROM: I use quite a few apps for work and want to make sure I can keep them with me after I switch to a custom google-free spy-free ROM (xpl: spotify, nordvpn, tutanota, Mega, wordreference, Qwant...)
Any advice on ROMs and how to proceed (Can I just use TWERP?) is very welcome!
Thanks

Basically Stick to STOCK ROM and install privacy securing apps like NordVpn and Avast. I never saw any custom rom with focus on privacy. They're mainly made for either Battery Life increase or Performance.
"Also I wonder if normally available apps will work on a custom ROM: I use quite a few apps for work and want to make sure I can keep them with me after I switch to a custom google-free spy-free ROM (xpl: spotify, nordvpn, tutanota, Mega, wordreference, Qwant...)"
It does work. If it doesn't let you install it, it's because you are on custom rom, but Magisk has a tweak to bypass it ( It modifies liboemcrypto.so) So it tricks Play Store into thinking you're on stock rom/without root. Else, if you still can't install an app it's either because your version of android does not support it ( you must be on a newer version, seek installing it through custom rom) or because it is made for a specific phone ( with another architecture, etc..) If the custom rom doesn't have play store, you'll need to reflash it and then flash also Gapps: https://opengapps.org/ . Also don't forget to factory reset after flashing a new ROM.

Related

About Flashing Custom ROM (RR/PA) on D855

Greetings everyone. I wish to know more about flashing Resurrection Remix...
I watched the brief instruction on official XDA thread but I wish to know more detail...
- Current Phone Status -
My G3 D855, 32 GB memory, is running stock Android 4.4.2, ROM version “V10n-HKG-XX”, stock recovery, rooted with PurpleDrake (script by xda developer”. Kernel version 3.4.0. All things are stock except I have rooted, with SuperSU.
- Reason of wanting to flash Remix ROM -
I wish to change resolution to 1080x1920, even 720x1280. So I did this using build.prop editing and “wm size 1080x1920”，“wm density 480”. However in stock rom, build in LG apps like Phone, Messaging, Calender will crash. I fix this by installing Xposed & app settings with DPI 530. But I don’t quite want this to be the solution...
Plus I noticed there really are battery difference between 1440x2560 and lower resolution. So I started to think about custom Rom. I found that Resurrection Remix and Paranoid Android are quite slim, good looking, most importantly very customizable.
And Stock ROM has many software that I don’t need, so I wish to give it a try.
- My question -
I haven’t flash any custom rom before (I have flashed on my previous phone but messed up quite a bit).
- So I wished to know what is the prerequisite, anything that need to pay good attention into? I want to avoid bootloop or hard brick...
- Should I install official TWRP recovery on my current status and make a full system backup image? (is that called nandroid backup?)
- If any error occured, can I use TWRP recovery to restore everything in my current status (everything in stock but have root access)?
- Are the custom roms contain build-in Root access? Because I want the phone to be rooted.
- I use LG Flash tool 2014 to flash stock firmware kdz files), with CRC method to completely wipe the phone and back to stock. Is this method still applicable if I want to back to stock after flashing RR rom? Because I want everything to be clean each time I flash a new system...
- I watched YouTube video that changing AOSP rom resolution won’t mess up icons or apps. So I can still receive SMS, dial, calender sync to Google etc. Correct?
--------------------
Finally, I wish to flash the latest STABLE version of the Remix ROM / Paranoid Android ROM. Would be good to hear some recommendations. I wish things to be more customizable and slim. Thanks for reading this long article in advance!

About Flashing Custom ROM (RR/PA) on D855

LineageOS without AOSP apps

One of the reasons I prefer a custom ROM over stock Android OS is the ability to install only the app I want (this is also why I like the OpenGapps aroma installer).
Today when I updated my Nexus 6P using the LineageOS built in updater I noticed that upon restarting I had a heap of bloat that I was careful not to install when I first set up my phone.
Does anyone actually use the AOSP apps? They don't update through the Play Store and are inferior to the Google equivalent , wouldn't it be better to offer them as a separate package?
Is there an easy way to prevent them from being installed when I update?
** EDIT **
I found this a debloat script, see
https://forum.xda-developers.com/oneplus-one/themes-apps/lineageos-debloat-script-t3546519

USING STOCK APP's WITH CUSTOM ROM

We all love using custom rom's to improve our device. But every now and then I will go back to stock rom. Why?
Samsung make great apps!
I make a backup of various stock apps and then try to install them on the custom rom. It doesn't work.
.
How can I get stock apps to run on custom rom's?

meekspace said:
We all love using custom rom's to improve our device. But every now and then I will go back to stock rom. Why?
Samsung make great apps!
I make a backup of various stock apps and then try to install them on the custom rom. It doesn't work.
.
How can I get stock apps to run on custom rom's?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The depths to which Samsung (for better or for worse) customise the Android OS on thier devices is what allows them to so deeply integrate thier own apps into the OS. This is what allows them to have proprietry features such as the S-pen recognised throughout the OS and perform specific functions in thier own apps, and also why such proprietry features, such as the S-pen, often don't work as expected (if at all) in apps that Samsung didn't develop.
Hopefully you can understand now why you can't install applications from a Samsung stock ROM on a custom ROM; the apps require functionality built into the stock rom itself.

Ok, I get it. S-pen not possible.
Is it the same for other apps? Like Music?
Another thought I had, and I don't know anything about compiling ROM's, but can you modify a stock ROM to have the improvements of a custom ROM? Therefore keeping stock apps.

There's a handful of independent apps which employ or require a pen.
The Samsung drawing app is an outdated version of a MicrographX or Adobe app in the store. But in the OS itself, the pen can just be used instead of the fingers, but with the digitizer's precision.

[TomaHawk]Back2Basics BETA

[Back 2 Basics]
Simple privacy oriented rom based on stock, just like in old days.
[The way you like it]
Keep it simple or modify
Your Phone
Your Rom
[Simplicity]
So simple, your grandparents could use it
[Security]
Privacy is our right
Stop feeding corporations with your data
[Speed]
Do you need to buy visually faster phone every year, so the manufactures would produce more electronic waste?
Use your phone at full potential instead!
XDA:DevDB Information
[TomaHawk]Back2Basics, ROM for the Sony Xperia XZ Premium
Contributors
Doom Slayer
ROM OS Version: 9.x Pie
Based On: Sony Stock
Version Information
Status: Testing
Current Beta Version: 0.2
Beta Release Date: 2020-07-28
Created 2020-07-28
Last Updated 2020-07-28

How To
[Installation]
Assuming you unlocked your bootloader and have TWRP
IF WIPED SYSTEM/USING AOSP/WANT TO ENABLE SECOND SIM ON G8141
Flash This with a newflasher
CONTINUE:
P.S. Keep a TWRP backup of stock rom on your phone, so you won't need to use newflasher again.
Install this on top of the stock/stock based rom (like Tomahawk Project)
Don't forget factory reset!
Links:
AFH
GDRIVE
CONTINUE:
[Freedom of choice]
FOR MAXIMUM SECURITY:
Keep it simple, without ROOT
Install F-Droid and explore open source world. Download APK and send it to your device. I removed browser, pick your own
At your own risk:
If you want download apps from playstore anonymously, try Aurora Store
Want to get accurate Network location and some of the Google apps working properly, then install this Magisk Module
To get Network Location working, signature spoofing is needed. You'll need this or this edXposed module
If you think my work was for nothing:
Install Gapps and never visit this thread again

Changelog
0.1
Initial release
0.2
Fixed broken GSM + Data

Privacy made Easier
Let's find a balance between security and ability to use apps which we have to.
Most of us have people who use messengers we don't trust, but we still need to communicate with those people.
Another CONCERN is a fact that most of the apps rely on google for push notifications. Google get all the content, no matter how secure your messenger is.
If you don't have Google Services, then you have problems with notifications. Here MicroG will help us.
So, let's make a secure environment for apps we use, but don't trust.
You gonna need:
This rom installed
Magisk + "microG installer Revived"
Shelter
Let's do it!
Open Shelter app and let it create work profile.
Then you need to make sure install some apps in there:
If you install Aurora Store inside Shelter it will allow to easily manage apps from Play Store.
You can clone magisk to shelter( enable multi user in the main app first, then clone) and install firewall inside the shelter.
Update:
Another way is to install vpn inside shelter and enable kill switch. So apps inside shelter only won't have internet access unless you enable VPN.
I use protonvpn, it give 3 countries for free and it's more than enough for average user.
Beware that when VPN is outside of the shelter, on the mainland, apps on shelter will bypass it, so you need to have clients on both. You may have 2 different VPN clients enabled if you need to.
What do we get?
See "Contacts" and "Files"?
Those are seperate from the mainland, so you can just add your relatives' phone numbers and WhatsApp will only see those.
We are LIMITING ACCESS TO FILES AND CONTACTS.
Plus we can easily freeze those apps, or limit connectivity with a firewall, or vpn.
Result:
You can use apps, that brings vulnerabilities or privacy concerns in a locked,controlled environment.
Still receive notifications without sending them to Google.
Or you can try VMOS, at your own risk of course

Short message for each of you.
This rom is a result of a project which aim to strip android back to it's core, so WE CAN BUILD IT THE WAY WE WANT IT. Not the way market researchers say we want it.
In short, this ROM is a prototype of community communication device.
Everyone can join the digital freedom project. I am sure each of us can help a cause.

Is ther any way to get real all the 4k working all time

mahmoodsaud said:
Is ther any way to get real all the 4k working all time
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not real,but VM
If you set "apply on boot", you will notice that boot animation will become smaller ,but it's the same trickery as adb commands.

g8141 does not work, reboots right after sony logo no bootanimation.
p.s. flashed over .107 stock rom with twrp 3.2.3-0
edit: installation guide is a bit vague, do we MUST flash this? https://androidfilehost.com/?fid=4349826312261694774
It says
IF WIPED SYSTEM/USING AOSP/WANT TO ENABLE SECOND SIM ON G8141
but I didn't wiped system nor using aosp nor want to enable second sim
second edit: Needs few reboots before booting to system, seems to work like intended.
Some suggestions:
Please find a solution to Automatic reboot when sim tray is removed, since I don't use dual sim and switch SD cards frequently it gets frustrating so fast. Thanks in advance.
Qualcomm Device Security still persists on this rom, it has an apk under vendor\app\QualcommTelemetry(?)
Video Enhancement is not working, at least on settings preview.
VERY USEFUL: Show charging current on lock screen, existenz rom had it.
Dark/Full Black System theme

Boot time is unacceptable, it takes around 2 minutes for normal boot, whereas even in a bloated stock it took around 30~ seconds. It is due to your framework changes and deodexing. However, I've been able to restore optimal boot time by changing all frameworks.

@undefine,
Yeah, boot time is longer because because of deodexing. Frameworks are untouched though in this rom.
If you want Video Enhancements, then you need to go back to android 8 and istall drm patch.... Since they fixed the camera on Pie nobody really bothers with other drm related things...
Agree on the dual sim reboot thing, it's annoying, but I have no idea how to disable it for now. If you really don't need to dual sim functionality then you can try flashing this rom on top of G8141 version and make sure you got kernel as well.
Theme is overlay, adding functionality to the lock-screen require modifying services.jar to disable signature (super user mod), both are security risks... You may flash existenz on top and remove what you don't need. At your own risk of course

Doom Slayer said:
@undefine,
Yeah, boot time is longer because because of deodexing. Frameworks are untouched though in this rom.
If you want Video Enhancements, then you need to go back to android 8 and istall drm patch.... Since they fixed the camera on Pie nobody really bothers with other drm related things...
Agree on the dual sim reboot thing, it's annoying, but I have no idea how to disable it for now. If you really don't need to dual sim functionality then you can try flashing this rom on top of G8141 version and make sure you got kernel as well.
Theme is overlay, adding functionality to the lock-screen require modifying services.jar to disable signature (super user mod), both are security risks... You may flash existenz on top and remove what you don't need. At your own risk of course
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think boot time is not because frameworks are changed but some are missing, I just reflashed with everything in stock framework folder, it seems to be blazing fast as normal. I'm actually surprised it booted that fast even with Deodex.
As far as I remember Video Enhancements worked on stock 9 at least on my device, I have my drm keys though since I waited for a proper ta backup. However it is not a must feature either.
I'd rather flash opengapps full package than flashing existenz over this rom . I will look into some other tricks for showing charge current, maybe some xposed module exists?
Anyway, thanks for your contribution to this device. Cleanest stock rom I've ever used (besides one bloat called Qualcomm Device Security which I immediately removed).

Develop Bugs

welcome