GOS network connections are obvious fingerprints

du61gd

Only GOS phones and tablets connect to GOS servers for services. That stands out during network inspections, unlike typical Android phones that have very similar traffic. Is there a plan to provide an option to let users cut themselves off all GOS services and related network connections until users specify otherwise?

mmobder

du61gd Is there a plan to provide an option to let users cut themselves off all GOS services and related network connections until users specify otherwise?

Of course, and the plan was implemented long time ago!
If you would only bother to open Settings or read faq. But apparently it's more difficult than to create a thread.

MetropleX

du61gd

Default connections are documented at:

https://grapheneos.org/faq#default-connections.

For people who want to blend in with other users, our recommendation is setting connectivity checks to Standard combined with a VPN since the other default enabled connections will go through the VPN unlike those.

Source: https://xcancel.com/GrapheneOS/status/1951745852361359832

23Sha-ger

Switch to Google for all connectivity checks, GNSS, and disable the updater. "Network inspections"?
If your threat model is that high, use a VPN with a kill switch. Nobody is coming after you for using GOS.

Graphite1

23Sha-ger

Untrue - some EU countries have started to monitor GOS phones by physical stalking the user, to check if they are involved in criminality.

So it can draw unwanted and unnecessary attention.

23Sha-ger

Graphite1 some EU countries have started to monitor GOS phones by physical stalking the user, to check if they are involved in criminality.

They are wasting their resources then, if you are physically stalked to know which phone you carry there had to be a reason then. Any credible source to such claims? How would you know to separate a GOS device from a stock Pixel from a distance? Unless in those "good neighborhoods" we all know about in every major EU city.

nologo

Graphite1 some EU countries have started to monitor GOS phones by physical stalking the user, to check if they are involved in criminality.

Please provide evidence for this claim.

Graphite1

23Sha-ger

https://www.androidauthority.com/why-i-use-grapheneos-on-pixel-3575477/

This happened to me aswell, I live in the EU, but not in Spain.

I agree, it is a waste of resources.

ignoramous

Graphite1 it is a waste of resources

You mistake for how this all works. There's someone with big enough ego in the power corridors who wants this stalking of GrapheneOS users to NOT be a waste of resources.

And so, they will throw the proverbial book at folks who they stalk for the slightest misdemeanor, just to prove their resource allocation didn't go a waste.

Worse case, probably game the system to justify more resource allocation, even.

mmobder

ignoramous ... or you're overcomplicating. It's like with crypto - no wonder officials want to govern it the same way the do for fiat money to circumvent ML and other stinky stuff. Others, like pdfs and privacy-concious users will suffer as well, but it's not gvmt issue.
Also, anyone who tried to use Tor knows it's challenging, as a lot of merchants (hello ticketmaster) don't like even VPN, not speaking about Tor. And I don't blame them, but rather abusers of Tor.
KISS;)