My Setup Idea

Alphathecaptain

Hello!

I just got a Pixel phone and I'm planning how to set it up, considering I want to balance privacy with practicality.

As a software engineer, I know perfect privacy means big sacrifices, so here's a simpler middle-ground plan:

Use the Pixel with GrapheneOS for personal stuff like WhatsApp, Signal, SMS, and calls, with my main SIM card. I'm kinda aware of carrier will be able to track my location if they want to(any way to avoid?)
Use another Android phone without a SIM for work-related apps like Telegram, Binance, and Brave, mainly for my blockchain projects. This phone will connect to the internet through my Pixel's WiFi hotspot.

Do you think this setup offers any benefits, and where might my privacy be compromised?

Thanks for your thoughts!

Xtreix

Alphathecaptain You don't need two Android devices unless you're using Google Pay, which doesn't work on GrapheneOS, just activate and use separate user profiles by going to System > Multiples Users.

WhatsApp sends metadata, so you can set up a dedicated profile for it and pass the traffic via Tor using Orbot. All applications in the same profile are sandboxed, putting them in separate profiles is supposed to prevent them from sharing data by mutual consent.

Google Maps runs on GrapheneOS and you can use Android Auto with it.

[deleted]

Keeping work and personal life seperated with dedicated devices is always a good idea in my book.

tango

Hi,

Your privacy will be compromised from Whatsapp if you use it in main profile and using a standard Android for 2nd phone. You could use WA in a separate user profile which will help and have notifications sent to main profile if thats not too inconvenient. Obviously it would be better to just use Signal and have your metadata protected.

How about picking up a cheap Pixel 6/6a for your 2nd phone and having 2 GOS phones for extra security and privacy? There is no way to avoid carrier tracking without lots of hassle. In my opinion having a good VPN always on like Mullvad/IVPN/Proton, separating privacy invasive apps into separate profiles is enough to work with. It just depends how far you want to go with the privacy, everyone is different.

Alphathecaptain

tango Thanks for this.
I am pretty much open to new ideas, my threat risk is not high at all tho my personal preference would be to separate personal conversations from the ones i have regarding blockchain on telegram and twitter.

Still brainstorming what possible data am i leaking if my pixel with sim card is giving a hotspot to my android phone?

2nd phone as android is mainly because of google maps and some video editing apps, just because its very handy and fast to use(i am very lazy right). Considering ios also but not sure if there's any advantage in that.

tango

Alphathecaptain

https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/332-tethering-grapheneos-to-android-phone-for-android-auto-support-workaroud

Im not sure if the above link will help or not, I have never used a hotspot before so wouldnt like to advise regarding that. The thing with ios and standard android are, that you will never have control over your phone without giving away lots of data, thats one of the things that makes GOS special, you can actually feel like you own your own phone and lock it down however you wish!

Alphathecaptain

Xtreix thanks for the update about google maps.
I've been trying to read past threads regards it and saw many users had trouble with it. Seems i missed the fix!

Alphathecaptain

tango Yes this is also valuable.

My curious side is wondering at which point your sim provider is able to figure out that both phones belongs to you(assuming android is kept at airplane with wifi connected to GOS pixel)