GrapheneOS app strategy

Carlsagan

Hi all,
So i just started using GrapheneOS.
De-googling process which i have been working on for years.

And feel like i'm almost their, but some things are so difficult to get rid of. Like, i'm not gonna convince 40 parents to switch to signal so i dont have to install whatsapp. Or banking apps, or apps for messages from government bodies like twx office.
I havent found a solution to get rid of play services completely.

So my question is this.
Like i have worked for many years to prepare my depaeture of big tech, is it wise to keep a seperate profile that had all these apps and work on getting ridnof them over time.
Or is having these apps now completely beating the whole purpose of running grapheneOS.

Maybe the privacy situation is not petfect, but i get to enjoy the benefits of both worlds.

It just sometimes seems to good to be true. And most of the time, it then probably is.

Any advise on this?

spring-onion

Welcome!

Carlsagan Or is having these apps now completely beating the whole purpose of running grapheneOS.

Far from it. Apps that may not have the best intentions at heart are best installed on GrapheneOS thanks to features like storage & contacts scopes that help you keep them at bay. We're working on an app communication scope too to give you granular control over interprocess communication. And depending on how far you want to take it you could put them in a dedicated profile as well so you don't "mud" your clean profile. Emphasis on could, there is no right or wrong here.

Carlsagan Maybe the privacy situation is not petfect, but i get to enjoy the benefits of both worlds.

You're on the right track already, this is an important point to remember. How much more privacy do I win in return for usability and convenience? And is that worth it to me?

de0u

Carlsagan Like i have worked for many years to prepare my depaeture of big tech, is it wise to keep a seperate profile that had all these apps and work on getting ridnof them over time.

Yes.

Carlsagan Or is having these apps now completely beating the whole purpose of running grapheneOS.

No. Even if you run those apps in the same profile as everything else, you would still benefit from:

If you saw somebody online saying something about "defeating the whole purpose", please consider going back there and commenting appropriately. This is a common misconception, but it is not accurate.

If one's primary goal is maximizing the convenience of running lots of Google apps and lots of Play Store apps, the most-convenient way is to run Google's stock OS. But users who are willing to put in a bit of extra work, and forgo "Ok, Google...", there are substantial security and privacy benefits to be had, even if one chooses to run WhatsApp for a while.

Edit: running WhatsApp is not great for privacy and it might also pose some security risk. But if one is running WhatsApp, GrapheneOS adds a lot of security compared to the average Android installation.

Aeon

Using GrapheneOS even with one use profile and google services installed is already so much better for privacy and security than any other mobile operating system.

I am currently also only using one user profile with google services installed. I also have to use whatsapp but having the contact and storage scope helps a lot :-)

How you use your mobile phone and how much of a trade off you make between privacy and convenience is not a static thing, it evolves over time and Graphene helps you adapt to your current needs. For example you can start out with just one user profile and when you need it, create a second one for whatever purpose it might be, even if its only a temporary one to try out an app you are not 100% sure about.

Thats why I really like GrapheneOS, it gives you choice to use your mobile device how you want to, while keeping it as secure as presently possible.

PaulDavis

de0u with the determination for data that Facebook and google have, is WhatsApp a good idea? Would their software not try to draw some sort of location info, whether from cell towers or WiFi providers?
The 40 parents can go to heck. Plans have unlimited texts these days, so send a message. The phone is yours, with no obligation to install apps just to make the lives of others easier

Dan-cer

Thank you for this thread. So each day since GrapheneOS installation I can learn of new features reading in this forum.
Today I got to know of storage & contacts scopes. Great! I changed the settings immediately, especially for Whatsapp and some other apps.

mmmm

PaulDavis I'd rather use WhatsApp with care than ever send sms'.

de0u

PaulDavis With the determination for data that Facebook and google have, is WhatsApp a good idea?

So far I have resisted WhatsApp, on the grounds that Meta owns them. But everybody needs to decide based on their circumstances.

PaulDavis Would their software not try to draw some sort of location info, whether from cell towers or WiFi providers?

Unless granted unusual permissions, WhatsApp and other apps don't have access to anything like that. It might be useful to read through the various GrapheneOS privacy enhancements, maybe starting here.

Dan-cer

Yes I agree. For many years I have already avoided to use Whatsapp until I started to use it to be better in contact with my sister and my father. She is hard of hearing, that's why phone doesn't work.
However, I take your comment as a sign to change it again.
I'll try to convince her to give Telegram a chance.