Apps vs Websites - Which is more private and secure?

BlaqGambit

Hello I am a new user on Graphene OS on a pixel phone. I would like to know which is the more private and secure way of me using my device online.

At present I have looked at the banking apps and have noticed some issues when wanting to log into an account and use it and noted that if I used the Grapheme OS web browser (Vanadium) it seems fine. I tried this with other apps and when they wouldn't work the results were the same, in that, the web browser seem to work without any problems.

As I am a new I was wondering if making short cuts to the various websites with the browser would be a better option than downloading apps.

All comments welcome.

Regards

matchboxbananasynergy

BlaqGambit At present I have looked at the banking apps and have noticed some issues when wanting to log into an account and use it and noted that if I used the Grapheme OS web browser (Vanadium) it seems fine. I tried this with other apps and when they wouldn't work the results were the same, in that, the web browser seem to work without any problems.

Using a website instead of an app is a perfectly fine and secure way to access services. That said, you can also use apps just fine.

You noted that you found some apps that didn't work. That may be for a few reasons:

They may require Google Play Services, and you may not have installed Sandboxed Google Play prior to installing them.
They may have memory corruption bugs which are caught by hardened_malloc. To make those apps run despite that, you'd need to go to Settings > Apps > app_name and find the "Exploit Protection Compatibility Mode" toggle; enable that.
They may require native code debugging (it's on by default, but you may have disabled it). It can be found at Settings > Security. Make sure "Enable Native Code Debugging" is enabled.
The app may require a Google-certified Android OS. In those cases, GrapheneOS can't do anything to make those apps run, currently.

newbie24689

BlaqGambit

FWIW, whenever possible my strong preference is to use Vanadium over installing and using some app. And yes, lots of little bookmarks:

I know who the Vanadium maintainers are, that they are technically capable, and their intentions are completely trustworthy.
The tools and techniques used to compile Vanadium are matched with GrapheneOS. Without a lot of work, one doesn't know how well-written any google app is - so I don't take a chance. Yes, GOS is designed to resist and contain a hacked application, but Vanadium will be much harder to hack in the first place. I imagine there's a lot of schlock apps out there produced by well-intended programmers.

From a privacy and security perspective, when counting applications less is more (err..fewer is better).

BlaqGambit

matchboxbananasynergy Thank you so much for your reply. I thinking that like what matchboxbananasynergy said to my comment using Vanadium's (add to home screen) and bookmarks would make it a lot easier. Although I have to put together a process using Bitwarden if I want to log-in to any of my accounts.

Cheers

BlaqGambit

newbie24689 Thanks for your comments, very informative. I'm feeling like you said using Vanadium (add to home screen) and combined with bookmarks would make the operation a lot easier. Like I had written before when I used the Vanadium browser to access my various account there were no issues.

Cheers.