Google / Gmail

Coontzy1

I signed into gmail on Owner account and it signed me in to other apps (photos / play store). I thought the apps were supposed to be isolated from each other...? Unless I am missing something.

user

Yes, you're missing something.
It's a common misconception to think sandboxed apps to be isolated apps. That is not the case.
If you want apps to be isolated you have to use different user or work profiles.

Coontzy1

I see. I should probably just get away from Google all together in the long run. I assume running Google services on Graphene provides somewhat better privacy than just on stock android?

233328

Coontzy1 I assume running Google services on Graphene provides somewhat better privacy than just on stock android?

Yes, much better privacy in fact, because on GrapheneOS, Google Play Services don't have any privileged access to the system (no access to hardware identifiers, no powerful permissions which you wouldn't be able to revoke) since they are installed as user apps (hence being called sandboxed Google Play on GrapheneOS), and on top of that they are subject to GrapheneOS's privacy and security features (such as Network/Sensors permissions, the hardened memory allocator, Storage Scopes etc).

Official documentation regarding sandboxed Google Play: https://grapheneos.org/features#sandboxed-google-play

Blastoidea

You nailed it ….. Just get away from Google altogether.

I must add that I do this with two phones, the Google phone never leaves my residence, and the other one goes out into the real world with me. I use the free Proton VPN on both.

I’m really not naive enough to think I can really hide, but at least Google doesn’t know who I am, where I am, or what I am doing.

(Get stuffed, Google)

[deleted]

Blastoidea That's exactly how I do it. All my Google services are always located at home on device 1 and GOS travels with me. As per Mr Rob Braxman advice (who might be seen as a charlatan but gives some pretty on point tips) I use two identities as opposed to two user profiles on one device.

Coontzy1

233328 Awesome. Thanks for the info guys. Yeah I do like the ideas above but at the same time sometimes accessing these emails / maps / YouTube are nice. It's a tough choice. Thanks for the insight guys! Any other tips you guys recommend for a new user?

doffactory

For mail - use any other email client with Google's IMAP
For maps - Organic maps
For YT - Newpipe