I feel like this is an obvious question, but my searches through the documentation & forum have yielded nothing, so here goes.

I recently installed grapheneos (pixel 7) and was under the impression I had google services fully sandboxed. however, Ibvisited a website in firefox nightly (aurora store) and google smartlock popped up, offering to log me in. Not something I wanted. Does this mean google has device-wide access?

I have a logged in gmail app. I also seem to be logged in to the play store and it won't let me log out without logging out of gmail as well. Is this where my issue lies? If so, is the best solution to put all google services in a separate profile or can I keep access to gmail somehow?

IMO best way to access gmail is by using a 3rd party email client like Fairemail (available on F-Droid).

I'm not sure what this "smartlock" thing is, I was expecting it to be one of those trusted location or devices lockscreen things. I presume this is some kind of password filling service? Its probably because you're logged into google in firefox.

    IMO the best way to access gmail, and most other HTTPS services is using vanadium.

    1. It is maintained by a known, trusted provider.
    2. It is hardened to resisted hacking.
    3. It will be maintained and updated, if necessary, promptly.
      IMHO one should strive for a very FEW, trustworthy applications - not lots of applications from various sources written by people of varying capability.

    There's no need to be sarcastic here. Let's keep it a welcoming and open minded community where different points of view are equally respected. That being said, I guess accessing Gmail via browser is fine. However, besides the browser approach and Fairmail there's also K9 (which will become Thunderbird for Android soon). Quite a few options which will do the job just fine.

      thank you newbie and sugseg! i will give Fair and k9 a shot, but i think the point about minimizing the number of apps is good and i will pursue that more generally.

      sugseg52 There's no need to be sarcastic here

      Thanks for stating what needed to be said. @newbie24689 's comments are the kind that really turn me off the GrapheneOS community.

      I too am a longtime Firefox user and will continue to be so. Vanadium is not perfect and certainly does not need all my needs for privacy.

          ve3jlg What's wrong with @newbie24689 comment? Seems appropriate, concise, to the point, AND accurate. S/he did state "IMHO" - if you dont share that opinion, fine, proceed with your own. I think your comment is much more inappropriate and out of line falsely accusing a perfectly good answer that you, apparently, did not like to "turn you off". Appears victimizing. That's how it came across to me. I apologize if I misread it.

          It has been said many times on these forums that Firefox is an inferior product use of which is strongly discouraged and Vanadium recommended every single time, but, you do you.

              abcZ

              abcZ I presume this is some kind of password filling service? Its probably because you're logged into google in firefox.

              exactly what it is, but unfortunately it's beyond firefox- happened in a couple (gsm dependent) apps now. i believe i made the mistake of logging into play store with my existing account, giving google access to some apps. i'll be creating a blank account soon to sub in for it.

                  f13a-6c3a

                  ya, subseg was referring to a very rude comment that's now been deleted, don't know what the other guy is on about.

                  how large is the gap between vanadium and firefox? i am definitely using vanadium a fair amount but google monopolizing the browser world has kept me using firefox a lot of the time.