How to "degoogle" my phone?

[lxskllr]

And you think Canonical doesn't provide support?

You're just proving my point. People who expect to buy smart phones and expect not be "spied" on are backwards.

And I did gloss over your post. I apologize for that.

So tell me, what's the point? You still never answered that, and it's a basic question. Do you visit web sites? Google and everyone under the sun still spies that information. You can still be served custom ads. You still take the phone home, right? What is the point? Why would I purposefully make my experience inferior for the mere idea that I'm not being spied on, when the reality begs so hard to differ?

Why are we so concerned about what Google finds out about us, while perfectly fine ignoring what our governments will learn about us? How does that cognitive dissonance work?

I don't get ads. Scripts are blocked aside from the minimum required to make a site work, and sometimes I just do without if I don't like the script load.

The entire point is google=government. What google has, the government has; well, the government, and google's trusted partners.

Oh, regarding Canonical. I'm not as much interested in corporate support as developer/community support. For kicks, I just went to the Ubuntu Touch website. After reviewing the vast array of three phones, I picked the middle price range, and got redirected to site that showed a price in Euros, and that it was sold out. Maybe I could buy one of the other two... At least with FirefoxOS I'd only have to go to Mexico for a phone. Staying in this hemisphere certainly is a plus, even if the crappy phones aren't.

 

[Artdeco]

Maybe a little tin foil hattish, but I was shocked to see Googles location data it had accumulated on me. And that's not taking into account all my email sniffing.

And the targeted ads are unnerving too. I bought a couple of Tile trackers, and all I see now is Tile ads, etc. I recently bought several guns and reloading equipment, and suddenly TSA is literally pulling me aside for free ball groping, every single time, coincidence? It's the dystopian future I dreaded.

 

[pete6032]

What about blackberry in terms of snooping security? How does it compare to google?

 

[poofyhairguy]

You better hope it remains a priority for Google, then:

It is. Android M will have a huge upgrade in Now On Tap. Which is good for me, I am neck deep in Google.

If I was paranoid about privacy I would have a Blackphone. They just announced the sequel.

 

[zCypher]

What you're asking can be done, but it depends on what level of functionality you are willing to sacrifice, as this is all built into the system. Simply uninstalling apps is going to do almost nothing in terms of removing any potential spying. Same goes for "disabling" location, all that does from the main settings is disable it for *you*. What you can do is start by installing a clean custom ROM but do not install the Google Apps package, and install a permissions manager if your ROM doesn't come with it. You can then manually disable what apps have permission to what features/services.

You can dig deeper into disabling specific services including system services using apps like "DisableService", and remove various apps using things like "Root App Delete", or "Uninstall". There are tons of apps for this sort of thing, some good, some OK, some terrible. You need to do your due diligence in selecting the right ones.

What I found is that once I had attained a sufficient level of privacy, I had lost so much functionality. So it really comes down to how much of the functionality you want to sacrifice. Good luck!

 

[NutBucket]

I recently bought several guns and reloading equipment, and suddenly TSA is literally pulling me aside for free ball groping, every single time, coincidence? It's the dystopian future I dreaded.

That's why you buy those items in person

 

[Red Squirrel]

What about blackberry in terms of snooping security? How does it compare to google?

I'm actually curious about this myself, I'm not opposed to switching to BB, it is a Canadian company after all so it would be nice to support them, though I also don't really need a new phone so it will probably be my last resort, I'll check out the custom roms first. There's not much apps for it though, but the nice thing is it does open up doors to code some. I've kinda been wanting to learn mobile development, so it makes sense to pick a platform that actually needs more apps than one that already has one for everything.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Not having a smart phone is still very realistic today. Your hyperbole fails.

And yes, that is the answer. Taking google services off your phone and using Duck Duck Go protects you exactly as much as a tinfoil hat.

A smart phone by nature does not need to be a spy device. It's just a computer, it should be able to run self sufficiently without outside contact, unless I specifically initiate said contact, such as using the phone function or internet etc. The issue is it seems most apps/OSes for phones are designed to spy on us as much as possible, but it does not have to be that way.

 

[WelshBloke]

I'm actually curious about this myself, I'm not opposed to switching to BB, it is a Canadian company after all so it would be nice to support them, though I also don't really need a new phone so it will probably be my last resort, I'll check out the custom roms first. There's not much apps for it though, but the nice thing is it does open up doors to code some. I've kinda been wanting to learn mobile development, so it makes sense to pick a platform that actually needs more apps than one that already has one for everything.

If you're asking if it's as compromised by government agencies as every other OS the answer is yes.

Someone earlier mentioned that if you don't want to be tracked then not to get a smartphone and they are right.

Even with a dumb phone your getting your location tracked, your call history tracked and your messages tracked.

The bickering that people do over which company is the better in this regard totally misses the point. You're being tracked by multiple agencies (not necessarily for nefarious reasons, it's just that shit won't work if they don't) and the only way to opt out is not to use the service. Which, unfortunately, means pretty much living off grid in a shack in the woods. And then they'll just send a bunch of guys round to check on you.

 

[WelshBloke]

A smart phone by nature does not need to be a spy device. It's just a computer, it should be able to run self sufficiently without outside contact, unless I specifically initiate said contact, such as using the phone function or internet etc. The issue is it seems most apps/OSes for phones are designed to spy on us as much as possible, but it does not have to be that way.

They need to constantly keep contact with mobile towers unless you're not interested in getting any calls or messages.

 

[WelshBloke]

As to the question in the OP, install an AOSP (or the like) ROM (from someone you trust). That'll have no hooks to Google.

Then don't install any Google apps.

You'll still get tracked and data mined up the wahoo but it won't be by Google.

 

[WelshBloke]

Also, sorry for the multiple posts.

 

[WelshBloke]

Honest.

 

[Red Squirrel]

They need to constantly keep contact with mobile towers unless you're not interested in getting any calls or messages.

Well that's one thing, but I'm talking more about being tracked more in the sense of them being able to activate the mic or camera or being able to see what I'm doing on the phone etc. I don't think this can be done at the carrier level without the appropriate preloaded software. So hopefully a trustworth custom rom that is based on privacy would not have the code to allow stuff like that. Basically I want to get rid of any forms of tracking that does not actually need to be there for the actual mobile network to function.

 

[WelshBloke]

Well that's one thing, but I'm talking more about being tracked more in the sense of them being able to activate the mic or camera or being able to see what I'm doing on the phone etc. I don't think this can be done at the carrier level without the appropriate preloaded software. So hopefully a trustworth custom rom that is based on privacy would not have the code to allow stuff like that.

You 'should' be OK like that, just be careful what you install.

Basically I want to get rid of any forms of tracking that does not actually need to be there for the actual mobile network to function.

The more you want to do on the phone the more you'll have to compromise your privacy. If you're just going to let it ping the cell towers then you're just going to end up with a dumb phone with a big screen.

You could use an AOSP ROM with a vpn and filter the traffic coming out of the tube I guess but most of its going to be encrypted.

 

[sweenish]

I don't get ads. Scripts are blocked aside from the minimum required to make a site work, and sometimes I just do without if I don't like the script load.

The entire point is google=government. What google has, the government has; well, the government, and google's trusted partners.

Oh, regarding Canonical. I'm not as much interested in corporate support as developer/community support. For kicks, I just went to the Ubuntu Touch website. After reviewing the vast array of three phones, I picked the middle price range, and got redirected to site that showed a price in Euros, and that it was sold out. Maybe I could buy one of the other two... At least with FirefoxOS I'd only have to go to Mexico for a phone. Staying in this hemisphere certainly is a plus, even if the crappy phones aren't.

I can get rid of ads using firefox and ghostery and adblock and noscript. All easily available without going through the hassle of "de-Google-ing". If we're takling system-wide, that's as easy as root and adaway. Again, no need to go crazy on the phone. If getting rid of ads is the best reason you have, it just shows how pointless this whole thing is.

What goes through your phone, the government has, period. They don't need Google to spy on you. That's kind of been my point this whole time.

 

[Red Squirrel]

You 'should' be OK like that, just be careful what you install.



The more you want to do on the phone the more you'll have to compromise your privacy. If you're just going to let it ping the cell towers then you're just going to end up with a dumb phone with a big screen.

You could use an AOSP ROM with a vpn and filter the traffic coming out of the tube I guess but most of its going to be encrypted.

Well I should still be able to browse regular websites (of course some might have tracking cookies and stuff but I can take the same steps as I do on PC and block those) or play games... though have to watch which games as I recently learned a lot of them have tracking built in. So probably want to avoid the mainstream games like Angry Birds. I don't play all that many games though. Really I mostly use my phone for texting/phone calls, occasional web browsing (mostly forums), checking house temp/monitoring alarms, set hvac etc...

Though it seems for some reason when it comes to mobile even the most basic app has some kind of tracking. I think even some flash light apps do. A freaking flash light! But if it's really at that point where even the most basic apps arn't to be trusted then I'll definitly learn mobile development and just code my own. I don't imagine basic apps like a flash light are very hard to do once you get setup with the dev environment. It's probably like 1 line of code to activate the led. Then there's various utilities like I have one for resistor codes and stuff... there's no reason why any of this stuff needs to track me. But if it's really that bad then I'll have to code my own apps I guess.

 

[Raduque]

I'm surprised you're not being more paranoid about this and trying to fork AOSP yourself... but then the manufacturer's hardware drivers probably phone home too, and you can't do anything about those, as they're closed-source and proprietary.

 

[Red Storm]

If you use a smartphone you're information is going to be collected, simple as that. The only way not to have this done is to not use a smartphone, any smartphone. They don't need to install spyware on your phone to do this.

 

[WelshBloke]

Well I should still be able to browse regular websites (of course some might have tracking cookies and stuff but I can take the same steps as I do on PC and block those)

The websites will log your IP address and your isp will log your browsing.

You have to stop and start thinking about what information you're prepared to leak. Its just not feasible to use a smartphone and not leak any.

Ultimately does it matter if you leak some of the small stuff?

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

I'm not sure why there is so much hostility on this thread. Different people have different levels of privacy desires.

The fact is it can be done, and if you don't care about giving Google your information, then there's nothing wrong with continuing your method.

However, Android is a platform you can tweak for your liking. Did people forget about it? Now the only solution for people who want privacy is to not use a smartphone?

This is far from being paranoid. There's different levels of paranoia. Sure you can go all out and not use a phone and go off the grid like Osama did. Or you can be a journalist reporting in a hostile nation like Iran or China and need to get information out securely but want to avoid being identified. Or you could just be a privacy minded citizen who appreciates the internet, but doesn't want to be tracked for ads and doesn't want an online profile built around him/herself. Big freaking deal.

If you use a smartphone you're information is going to be collected, simple as that. The only way not to have this done is to not use a smartphone, any smartphone. They don't need to install spyware on your phone to do this.

If you're using a mobile device, your information is being collected regardless. Dumbphone or smartphone. What OP wants is to not have Google constantly build a location profile about him, assign his device an advertising ID, etc. Those things can be avoided while still enjoying a smartphone.

 

[Crono]

The websites will log your IP address and your isp will log your browsing.

You have to stop and start thinking about what information you're prepared to leak. Its just not feasible to use a smartphone and not leak any.

Ultimately does it matter if you leak some of the small stuff?

VPN or Tor (Orbot)

 

[WelshBloke]

I'm not sure why there is so much hostility on this thread. Different people have different levels of privacy desires.

Not seeing a lot of hostility TBH.

The fact is it can be done, and if you don't care about giving Google your information, then there's nothing wrong with continuing your method.

Apart from it doing little to protect your privacy. Its fine if you have some beef with Google but it sounds like the OP wants a bit more that that.

However, Android is a platform you can tweak for your liking. Did people forget about it? Now the only solution for people who want privacy is to not use a smartphone?

If you want privacy then the solution is, indeed, not to use a smartphone. If you want to use a smartphone then you'll have to compromise your privacy a bit.

This is far from being paranoid. There's different levels of paranoia. Sure you can go all out and not use a phone and go off the grid like Osama did. Or you can be a journalist reporting in a hostile nation like Iran or China and need to get information out securely but want to avoid being identified. Or you could just be a privacy minded citizen who appreciates the internet, but doesn't want to be tracked for ads and doesn't want an online profile built around him/herself. Big freaking deal.

Fine, but you need to understand whos tracking what and why (which is what people in the thread have been pointing out).

If you're using a mobile device, your information is being collected regardless. Dumbphone or smartphone. What OP wants is to not have Google constantly build a location profile about him, assign his device an advertising ID, etc. Those things can be avoided while still enjoying a smartphone.

Actually Op was asking how he could avoid being spied upon. Just telling how to avoid Google (which is pretty easy) would be missing the main point.

 

[WelshBloke]

VPN or Tor

I use a VPN (not particularly just for privacy) but you still have to trust what information is being sent down the tube. (thats what I was getting at in post #40)

 

[Mike64]

bump so i can find this later.

You can also just subscribe to the thread, just set the notification option to "none" if you don't want email every time someone posts to it.