Ideal SetUp

maybefunke

Hi, I'm getting my Pixel very soon. Obviously my goal is privacy but I've run into some conflicting info in my research to figure out the most secure setup. I would like to be able to text people who don't have Signal or another privacy messaging service and make phone calls but I do not want to put my carrier sim in the device. I've looked into esims and the plans that come with some of them but it seems most don't allow the user to make outgoing calls. I live in North America so whatever carrier I choose would need to offer service from this region. Exiting from a server in the UK, Poland or any single country but my own is not something that will work for me. If anyone can suggest how I can set up my device to be able to do this and my carrier not know it's me I would be very grateful. I do not plan to use Aurora Store if at all possible. but I'm open to any suggestions. Please include how you would suggest paying for the esim, vpn etc. Thank you.

EverettHitch

maybefunke maybe a good place for you to start

https://shows.acast.com/the-opsec-podcast/episodes/your-android-phone-is-volunteering-you-for-mass-surveillance

Remember, your privacy is your responsibility and your vulnerabilities are on you too.

maybefunke

I'm sorry, I forgot to ask if anyone uses a second device with a sim from their carrier to look like a normal person for lack of a better way of putting it? There is new legislation coming to my region that will drastically increase the governments ability to conduct mass surveillance and keep data on citizens for at least a year but more likely in perpetuity. I'm quite resentful of all of us being robbed of the privacy that we deserve. Thank you for your help. :)

DeletedUser728

I obviously don't know your case, but from the first glance (mention of "ideal setup" and few other clues) you overestimated your threat model and thus most likely will overcomplicate your setup.
Unless you're very persuasive, this will lead to negative experience with GOS and a high chance to abandon good habits.

Re-assess your threat model, then re-think if you indeed needs to consider separate "phone for calls" and other "shiny ideas" (let's put aside the question if having dumbphone can lead to worsening your security and privacy)

maybefunke

I'm open to any input you have. I simply want to get the most privacy Graphene can offer while still being able to text and call people. I've read in other forums that people use an esim bought online to avoid monitoring by their carrier network.

DeletedUser728

maybefunke I'm open to any input you have

No, you're not. Otherwise, you wouldn't ignore https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/33511-ideal-setup/3

maybefunke

I guess, I could use help in knowing which order to install, activate etc.

maybefunke

Degoogling my life is my goal.

notlittlerack

DeletedUser728

maybefunke Degoogling my life is my goal.

maybefunke I also don't want my whereabouts to be known

I guess they are at least thinking a little bit about what they want to achieve.
Instead of being cryptic, please try to help a fellow gos user with better knowledge.

If you think the user is not capable of drawing an effective threat model, guide them with something useful.
Use your own words, or link something to read, like this.

You had to learn before being knowledgeable.
We don't care if nobody helped you when you needed to learn, you can break this chain and start to help others.

Please, be better, or at least don't be a d!ck :)

DohnJoe

maybefunke Degoogling my life is my goal.

Apart from some links already present in this discussion, I would add that sometimes there are some good compromises we can use.

For example I personally find a disposable Google account for Play Store to be acceptable.
Also, using google maps through browser with no user seems to be a good thing to me, if you don't use it for navigation and with a good vpn.

Generally speaking, I would start to look at Google as one of the many services you can find out there, and use it when it makes sense, instead of removing it completely from my life and be left without options.

As an easy example: For my daily commuting, I would use CoMaps, which also offers off-line maps/navigation.
As side note, I would say this might not be a good option if where you are, OpenStreetMap is not complete or lacks information.
If I have to drive into another country, tho, I still prefer to use Waze, installed from Play Store.
This is because when my travel lasts 10+ hours already, I would want to avoid making it even longer because one road is not correctly mapped in OSM.

Waze and Play Store are possibly the only two Google apps I am actively using on my smartphone and I would not replace them with other apps, to be honest.
Not even Aurora Store instead of Play Store, because of Play Protect.

maybefunke

I also don't want my whereabouts to be known by anyone but my family at all times. That's all. Like when I was young.

Johnnyloans

DeletedUser728
notlittlerack

Bugger me sideways!
We've got a fist fight in the forum section regarding corporate surveillance!

maybefunke

I have no idea what I did wrong.

Novalissoide

maybefunke no idea what I did wrong.

You did nothing wrong. I'm sorry for my fellow forum helpers behaviour. Welcome!
Maybe start by some reading here.
https://grapheneos.org/usage

maybefunke

I just wan to set up my new phone properly. I don't see what anyone of you are seeing. My bad for offending anyone though. I'll leave everyone alone. I don't know what I did wrong.

maybefunke

All the best.

notlittlerack

maybefunke

i am sorry, that message was not meant for you :)

Anyway, the link I provided might be a good starting point to better understand what a threat model is, and why it is important to have one before deciding how to setup your system.

In few words, there is no golden ticket you can use in every occasion.
Depending on your need you can think of different ways to solve them.

If you really need to "only" degoogle and keep your location to yourself, the path is long.
Not for the setup itself that might be very simple, but for all the habits you need to change and all the convenience you are going to give up.

You should start to chose a lot of different applications.
You might start from here or here.

Plesase, do not treat this information ad exaustive, you need to read a lot more

maybefunke

Novalissoide Thank you for the welcome! A little direction was all I needed and now I have it. I'll run with what has been offered to me and probably pick up a lot more knowledge along the way. I'll find a setup that suits my situation and caters to the sacrifices I'm willing to make for the sake of convenience. Convenience has made me lazy personally, so I think this new direction will benefit me in ways I don't yet realize. Again, thank you!

maybefunke

notlittlerack I am actually already using many of your personal favourites in the list of apps and have been since 2016. Only fairly recently have I committed myself to affording myself as much privacy as suits me while giving up the amount of convenience that suits me as well. I appreciate your kind tone and the resources you provided.

maybefunke

Thank you for the constructive feedback. I'll start with the links you have provided. I'm a good portion of the way of degoogling my life but not completely there. I am confident what you have offered will get me where I want to be. Thank you again.

Novalissoide

maybefunke Don't start out too complicated. With some usage and trying out things, it will become clearer the levels and layout you actually want or need. Good luck!

maybefunke

Novalissoide I'm sure you're right. Thank you!