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Privacy

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Help me choose a phone. (slrpnk.net)

submitted 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) by sun@slrpnk.net to c/privacy@lemmy.ml

16 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I cannot use a custom ROM as I need apps that sadly enforce the Google Play Integrity API, and no GrapheneOS with Google Play Services dose not passes this check.

I am stuck between an iPhone and a Google Pixel.

I have government apps and a work app on my phone that I do not want to route through a VPN or any other type of proxy(All apps are in the Android privet spaces). The only thing I need to go through a VPN/proxy is my browser (I know brave have a VPN in their browser but I don't want to use or pay for it and the DuckDuckGo vpn is system wide and the Firefox vpn does not have a Firefox exstention on iOS or android). I need to be able to change countries myself (I don't think you can do that with Apple's Private Relay), as I live in the EU and ID checks for social media, other things, and maybe even Wikipedia are coming soon. Android support split tunneling but iOS don't.

I need to have Facebook Messenger installed on my phone and active all the time (I cannot put it into the private space feature on Android).

I use another service for mail and backup, so iCloud end-to-end encryption is not a plus for me.

I don't communicate much over SMS, but I would be able to chat over iMessage instead of Facebook Messenger with some contacts.

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[–] solrize@lemmy.ml 18 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Use a separate phone for the work stuff.

[–] Lfrith@lemmy.ca 10 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Yep don't mix work and personal devices. Im surprised work wouldn't be providing a work phone.

Or maybe they decided to use a work phone as a personal phone too which shouldn't be done.

[–] sun@slrpnk.net 2 points 3 months ago

It's not necessary to have the app installed, but in reality, it is.

I had tried to mitigate it by using Android's private spaces, but I now use it in a web browser on my phone but I don't get notifications

[–] monovergent@lemmy.ml 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Work phones are unfortunately rare, at least in my field. The number of people who put work apps on their personal phones without a second thought and expect I do the same is astonishing.

[–] Lfrith@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 months ago

I don't find it surprising, since its not too common a thing for the average person to even consider it could not be ideal. Does lead to some concerning situations though like doing personal projects on a work device that could end up being considered now property of the company.

[–] spinning_disk_engineer@lemmy.ca 9 points 3 months ago (1 children)

It would certainly be preferable to use two devices in this context, but first verify that the apps in question actually use the Play Integrity API, and that you can't replace them with websites. For myself, I use a Pixel with a custom ROM, and I've never had any problems. Of course, it could get worse over time, it depends on the policies of the developers.

Taking your requirements at face value though, iPhone is definitely the correct choice. For the longest time, it was google wants your data but doesn't care about control, while apple wants control over what you do (to force you to buy their other products) but doesn't care about your privacy one way or the other. Of course, in the past few years, they've both taken some of each other's worst attributes, but I still think iPhone is marginally better on privacy in stock configuration.

There are definitely ways in which apple is worse: they track your location while your device is powered off, not merely whenever it's connected to a cell tower or wifi network, and I think they still scan photos uploaded to icloud (but that last point could be out of date, somebody correct me if so). But all that can be worked around if necessary, and in any case it's not as bad as stock android.

Finally, consider how much has to be tied to your phone at all. Maybe your government apps need to be on the phone, but maybe social media and wikipedia can be primarily used on your laptop, loosening the requirements somewhat. Maybe email can go to your x86 boxes only, even if facebook messenger doesn't. It depends on your situation.

[–] sun@slrpnk.net 2 points 3 months ago

Thanks a lot for the response, it's very helpful.

I have verified that tow apps have implemented the Play Integrity API. I believe a third one is going to implemented soon. Yes, sadly, the government apps need to be on my phone but luckily i think you can disable background usage.

[+] mugita_sokiovt@discuss.online 6 points 3 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

[deleted]

[–] sun@slrpnk.net 3 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (2 children)

Sorry for the long response.

I will think about switching to GrapheneOS anyway and just have tow devices it would be possible and mabye not as annoying as i first thougt.

I don't have the money to switch to an iPhone if the apps I need for my day-to-day life on the go begin requiring the Google Play Integrity API (I think some of the apps may do so in the future, like the app used to send money in my country).

Btw, thanks for pointing out the work app. I might actually be able to use it in a browser (didn't think about it because I hade it in Android private spaces).

Yes it's proton. It sounds like you have an iOS device. What's your experience with Proton on that, if you have the apps installed?

Facebook Messenger is also cross-platform, but not great for privacy. Unfortunately, I need it at the moment - not so much for close friends. Less close friends I still want to stay in contact with and groups for activity's if you join a socker team the communications is gonna be on Facebook messenger.

And also, I heard that GrapheneOS (and other ROMs) will only receive non-critical security fixes every 3 months, which sounds like a long time. And looks like Google will do more and more to kill custom Roms. The thing I fear is google will require google play integty api to use Google play services.

[–] Lfrith@lemmy.ca 3 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Is buying two used phones not an option? Older models whether it is Pixel or iPhone should continue to function for their intended purpose. Iphones get long updates and Pixel has moved in that direction too. Its not a good idea to use a work device for personal use and not one of the areas to save on.

I'd focus on just trying to get two cheap phones within your budget before even diving into selecting based on privacy to keep work hardware separate.

[–] lsjw96kxs@sh.itjust.works 6 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I have a graphene is phone and I have no problems with play integrity api. I currently have two apps (one banking) that does such calls (I see the notifications) and blocked it for both, they still work without problem. By default, graphene does not block it, btw.

[–] sun@slrpnk.net 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Do normal phone calls work fine? I remember last time I used graphene I had problems with those, but it might just have been the phone itself.

[–] lsjw96kxs@sh.itjust.works 4 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Never had a problem with phone calls. For me, graphene always worked just like a regular android phone but without bloatware.

[–] Neptr@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 points 3 months ago

Android private spaces dont share the same network namespace, meaning a VPN in the main profile wouldn't effect anything inside the private space.

[–] DieserTypMatthias@lemmy.ml 2 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

I live in the EU and ID checks for social media

The app will ask for your camera anyway.

::spoiler

Please stop panicking. ID checks are fortunaterly contained on the British isles. They left the EU 5 years ago. .

Use work profiles and also try Signal.

[–] sun@slrpnk.net 1 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

You can deny camera access, and the EU has proposed the same and is set to implement age verification by the end of 2026.

[–] goldkiddo@feddit.it 1 points 3 months ago

pixel