Is a website / web app actually better than the APK for privacy?

Spout9870

Purely privacy. I want to know if a web app is better than an APK, and why.

I am debating deleting most of my apps and just using the sites in the browser.

What freaked me out is data brokers. A lot of that trail seems to come from APKs and the SDKs inside them, not from opening a tab.

Is swapping to websites a real cut, or does the browser leak the same stuff another way?

KernalPanicAtTheDisco

Spout9870 any good browser like vanadium or Brave is going to reveal significantly less than any app, GrapheneOS exploit protections help but that's also assuming apps don't just crash due to being poorly developed, in terms of data brokers it also comes down to you, not providing any PII of any kind. What also helps is obviously a VPN and using disposable emails like from Proton pass or the like, along with not reusing passwords. A lot of data breaches happen, and re-used passwords and emails along with PII are a nightmare.

mulfi

I don't know all the differences but for example an app would be able to see all the sensors information unless you explicitly disable the GOS permission, the list of installed apps, build info of your OS, battery, storage, cellphone provider and more stuff.

Kamika242

Spout9870

For apps you can block unwanted traffic via tools like RethinkDNS or NextDNS, then they could have better privacy without giving up some features which the original app might have, compared to the website. In addition you can stop an apps network traffic, when unused.

kopolee11

My understanding is that in general web apps are more private and secure.

The big exception is for any service that reply on end to end encryption. In that case an app is generally better because it doesn't need to trust the web server.

Citation: https://nitter.meowing.monster/GrapheneOS/status/1857894501123293272

Of course in reality the answer probably varies depending on how well designed and updated the website or app is. But these seem like good rules of thumb.

Novaliss

Spout9870 Purely privacy. I want to know if a web app is better than an APK, and why.

It might be constructive to specify which apps you've been thinking of.

Spout9870

Novaliss Banking, socials, etc. Anything that isn't FOSS or doesn't have a good community standing, like the Proton suite.

IndigoMizumi

When it comes to most of the social media I use at all I just do it through a browser anyway. A lot of the time I've never felt like I needed the app.

newbie24689

I use as few apps as possible - most are customized http/s browsers anyway, and none are as well-written and as secure as Vanadium. Many likely co!!ect information about you, and some may be malicious. GOOD FOR YOU; Lose the apps.

mar2112

If you don't need the extra functionality, if any, of the app then it makes sense to use the website. Aiming you also used the website on your computer then you have little to no decrease in your privacy.

Reboot

Spout9870 Anything that isn't FOSS

If an app is not FOSS it doesn't mean it's less private.
https://nitter.meowing.monster/GrapheneOS/status/1743655449272942880#m