This is reposted from r/degoogled, where I was told this would be a better place to inquire.

https://www.reddit.com/r/degoogle/comments/1dagnvi/advanced_help_needed_completing_degoogling/

Hello there. I could really use some help from an experienced DeGoogler to put the finishing touches on eliminating Google from my life.

I'm running GrapheneOS on a Pixel 8 Pro with one profile for exclusively FOSS apps + a permissionless GBoard so I can have Swipe on my keyboard. Then I have a secondary profile for Banking apps, WhatsApp, ChatGPT, Social Media, and other random apps that I need sandboxed Google Play Services for.

I've got my Gmail, Google Photos, Keep, Maps, and Drive covered with Proton, Ente,Standard Notes, and OSMand + GMaps WebView Wrapper. Using Vanadium browser.

I've got media needs covered with NewPipe, ViMusic, AntennaPod, and Feeder.

Additionally, I've got FreeOTP, Signal, Session, Hypatia, Carrion, Proton VPN and Pass, UntrackMe, and Tor/Orbot for security/privacy related stuff. KDE Connect, Photon, and OnionShare for file sharing.

I will be thinning out social media data soon, but I need it for work, so can't completely eliminate that.

Here's what I need help with:

Do you know of any secure WebView wrappers for Facebook/Instagram that actually work?

Would it be safer to just do social media through Vanadium browser in my primary Profile rather than through their respective apps in a second profile? They are currently segregated to prevent app intents between them and the apps in my regular profile and to completely prevent access to my regular phone storage.

I could really use an automated system for backing up my contacts and messages. Suggestions?

Suggestions as to the best data broker deletion services?

Does anyone know of a good, decently private VOIP service for a second US number that isn't Google Voice? Or just a way to run Google Voice or another service through a wrapper app, maybe using some kind of API? I don't know much in this area. Basically I want to use the number to text, but I want the app to be open source.

I'd like to switch over to using open source AI models on a client-side E2EE cloud service to replace ChatGPT. I need the models to have access to the internet. Then I need an app to access that from my phone. Are there any possible solutions that you know of for this (yeah I know it's a lot to ask lol).

Any other suggestions are welcome. My end goal is to have as few apps on my secondary profile as possible, rarely have to switch profiles, depend on Google for nothing, and enjoy a more private life.

Thanks.

    Formatting issue in my post, here's the questions:

    Do you know of any secure WebView wrappers for Facebook/Instagram that actually work?

    Would it be safer to just do social media through Vanadium browser in my primary Profile rather than through their respective apps in a second profile? They are currently segregated to prevent app intents between them and the apps in my regular profile and to completely prevent access to my regular phone storage.

    I could really use an automated system for backing up my contacts and messages. Suggestions?

    Suggestions as to the best data broker deletion services?

    Does anyone know of a good, decently private VOIP service for a second US number that isn't Google Voice? Or just a way to run Google Voice or another service through a wrapper app, maybe using some kind of API? I don't know much in this area. Basically I want to use the number to text, but I want the app to be open source.

    I'd like to switch over to using open source AI models on a client-side E2EE cloud service to replace ChatGPT. I need the models to have access to the internet. Then I need an app to access that from my phone. Are there any possible solutions that you know of for this (yeah I know it's a lot to ask lol).

      iraqi_sunburn If you just want swipe typing, you don't need Gboard. Heliboard supports that if you install its version that supports user libraries. On the releases page, you want the HeliBoard_1.3-release.apk version. Go through the settings both to enable it and to customize it to your liking. If you want a voice to text service, FUTO Voice is very good and integrates well with Heliboard.

      You can manage and update apps using Obtainium.

      SMS Backup & Restore for backing up, restoring, and transferring SMS, MMS, and RCS messages. It does a better job than Google's backup feature.

      For contacts, either host your own using nextcloud kr use a privacy respecting service like proton or tutanota. To actually sync it, if your service doesn't provide it, some choose to use EteSync or Davx5, though this could be security issue. It might be simpler to just export/import your contacts to your phone and keep the master copy stored on the service's servers.

      For google voice, it works very well using a progressive web app (I.e. click install from a web browser). You won't get notifications since PWAs don't usually support it, however, google voice allows you to forward voicemails and SMS to Gmail. If you setup an IMAP client like K-9 Mail, you can have it fetch new emails every minute or so. Not as good as real time, but good enough if you're comfortable calling people back. The PWA will also allow you to make calls directly from the browser by first calling your linked number and then calling the dialed number (using the google voice caller ID).

      I'd personally just use a normal browser to create a Google Maps PWA than use a probably inferior webview app. You may want to enlist the help of additional browsers to segment activity further if staying within one profile. Brave is often recommended.

      For AI chatbots, I can't help you with open source models, but I just use third-party websites that give free access to chatgpt API. There are a bunch. I access it through my web browser. You can bookmark the pages or add to home screen. I access them with a VPN in a browser that doesn't contain personal info.

          Alternatively, you can download the cheogram app and it will guide you through the process of signing up with jmp.chat, creating a snikket host server (its not difficult to do this) to handle things, and choosing a number from their list to have assigned to your jmp.chat ID. Once its all done, you will get and senx texts in Cheogram and you can take and make calls in it or the stock dialer, and possibly other dialers.

          I haven't figured out how to get SMS/MMS to be routed into the stock messages app or another SMS handler app. (I would like to, cheogram is a bit ugly... Tho if you set it to material you, it looks a lot better)

          Just... Write down your ID. You need the full ID, not just your username, to sign in if cheogram crashes.

            Sbpr Thank you for suggesting Heliboard and SMS Backup & Restore. I will check these out =]

            That's not a bad idea with Voice. I don't want Google to get my IP using WebRTC so I wouldn't be able to use audio or video (from my understanding at least, given that it would access my camera/mic). @GlytchMeister suggested JMP/Cheogram, so perhaps that would be easier? Plus I'd like google not to have my messages. For maps I could try the PWA, but then I might not be able to automate the switch to OSMand, unless you know of a way?

              GlytchMeister Thank you, I will check this out =] If i figure out how to route it to another SMS app I'll let ya know. Do you know if you can port a number to JMP?

                  permissionless GBoard

                  Its not degoogled if its running google 😄. Florisboard did have swipe too and its open source

                    jackFang just switched to Heliboard =] of course, to enable swipe you have to import a proprietary Google library... Lulz. I can't text fast enough without swipe, unfortunately...

                    Do you or anyone else know if, when network permissions are enabled for Heliboard, using the proprietary Google library results in information being sent to Google? For now I have all permissions disabled. Thanks

                        iraqi_sunburn With GOS the best option is to isolate apps between profiles. Even if the app doesn't have direct access to internet, it can communicate with other apps that do, e.g. play services

                          2 months later

                          Sbpr If you just want swipe typing, you don't need Gboard. Heliboard supports that if you install its version that supports user libraries.

                          Horrible idea from a security point of view

                            iraqi_sunburn Do you know of any secure WebView wrappers for Facebook/Instagram that actually work?

                            Web browser.

                            Would it be safer to just do social media through Vanadium browser in my primary Profile rather than through their respective apps in a second profile? They are currently segregated to prevent app intents between them and the apps in my regular profile and to completely prevent access to my regular phone storage.

                            Web browser.

                            I could really use an automated system for backing up my contacts and messages. Suggestions?

                            DAVx5

                            Suggestions as to the best data broker deletion services?

                            DIY

                            Does anyone know of a good, decently private VOIP service for a second US number that isn't Google Voice? Or just a way to run Google Voice or another service through a wrapper app, maybe using some kind of API? I don't know much in this area. Basically I want to use the number to text, but I want the app to be open source.

                            Voip.ms

                            I'd like to switch over to using open source AI models on a client-side E2EE cloud service to replace ChatGPT. I need the models to have access to the internet. Then I need an app to access that from my phone. Are there any possible solutions that you know of for this (yeah I know it's a lot to ask lol).

                            Huh?

                              iraqi_sunburn I'd like to switch over to using open source AI models on a client-side E2EE cloud service to replace ChatGPT. I need the models to have access to the internet. Then I need an app to access that from my phone. Are there any possible solutions that you know of for this (yeah I know it's a lot to ask lol).

                              MLC-AI? (Full work on phone, without internet access) (apk)

                                Sbpr My thumb loves my FUTO keyboard and the offline voice typing is great as well!

                                  iraqi_sunburn I'd like to switch over to using open source AI models on a client-side E2EE cloud service to replace ChatGPT. I need the models to have access to the internet. Then I need an app to access that from my phone. Are there any possible solutions that you know of for this (yeah I know it's a lot to ask lol).

                                  15k USD and 3.6kW gets you the hardware to train your own model with 738 FP16 TFLOPS

                                  https://tinygrad.org/#tinybox

                                  Or you could just use perplexity in your browser