Pixel Camera (Gcam) - safe to use?

starbright

EverettHitch
I described that because I want to know the opinion of more experienced guys.
But do have any proof or describe a way data will extracted or just a certain feeling? I am new to it, so I want to learn.
How do you handle that? Just use GOS cam?

dabvi6e1

EverettHitch

There's an option I use to avoid that problem: I install the sandboxed Play services - and all apps that require them - in a work profile. (Or private profile, if you prefer.)

The camera stays in the main profile, without network permissions, and isn't able to talk to GPS directly either.

starbright

@dabvi6e1 :
Workprofile or private profile (not sure about the difference) - but doesn't close it more or less right away when screen is off?
Sound good for the first moment, but well - you need to open it for every single photo - (assume you are as a tourist in a fancy area - there is a photo every 5min). And you will not have access to the images from your main profile. I mean for send a photo to a friend as example.
I didn't understand the threat I am faced of with Sandboxed Google Play (just network) and Photo/Cam without network access.

nologo

starbright Workprofile or private profile (not sure about the difference

'workprofile' is not a feature of GOS/AOSP, neither is 'private profile'. There are user profiles: by default one, which is the owner profile. Optionally you can add up to 30 secondary user profiles.
A private space is a separated profile within a user profile.

Putting your Google photo stuff in a private space embedded in your owner or daily profile is probably a good way to seperate them from other apps, while still having them available for easy and fast use.

dabvi6e1

starbright

The differences between work profile and private space are minor. Under the hood they use the same implementation, but they may be treated differently by profile-aware apps like launchers. Unlocking Private Space requires a biometric unlock, while unlocking Work Profile doesn't, but those might just be the defaults. You can have both at the same time in any case.

Work profile and private space are both always-on (you have a quick button to turn them on/off), alongside your main profile. You're probably thinking of separate User Profiles, which are the ones you need to manually switch to and from. I don't use those.

The sharing interface allows you to choose to share across profile boundaries (with some exceptions). My usual "flow" is taking a photo with main-profile GCam (no network access, no Google Play Services available), which gets saved locally and synchronized to my Immich photo album. Then I can hit 'share' -> 'work profile' -> 'Whatsapp' and send it to a friend, while Whatsapp stays installed on the work profile side.

starbright

nologo
Sorry, you are right - private space (not profile).
But again, I want to share my photos with friends - in private space they are locked.

An again the question about the threat vector when :

GCam and Gphoto have no network access, and
Playservices have ONLY network access.

nologo

starbright sending photos in private space works just fine for me.
I don't think anyone can answer your threat vector question with 100% certainty. I do believe Pixel Camera works fine without Google Play Services though, but my knowledge may be outdated.

Datasapiens

starbright But again, I want to share my photos with friends - in private space they are locked.

your private space has Files. Go there and share what ever you want 😇

Johnnyloans

starbright I want to share my photos with friends - in private space they are locked.

To transfer files and photos to private space:

The plus sign in the private space app list has the option for "add files." This transfers from owner to PS. After you select the files, you have the option to copy or move
Or
use the inter profile sharing app in both profiles to transfer files back and forth. The app is found in accrescent. This copies the file, not move.

EverettHitch

nologo basic functions of Pixel camera work fine without Play services and network, removing most IPC out of equation. I use it too, mainly for panoramic photos, feature not available in GrapheneOS camera.

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