Find my Device on GrapheneOS?

graphitecarbon

I'm someone who loses their phone often. How can I install a device tracker that is similar to Google's find my device on grapheneos?

jarelllama

graphitecarbon I struggled with this too, I couldn't find a proper solution though. Here are the things I tried, maybe you can find a better idea:

Find My Device + sandboxed Google play works but I don't want my primary profile to have Google Play on it.
On my work profile (using shelter): Find My Device + Google play doesnt work. Find My Device can't seem to locate my device even with all of Google Play's location services enabled.
On a secondary user, Find My Device + sandboxed Google play works, however if I end the session/reboot, I have to unlock that user before Find My Device can work.

Colvdv

When I open Settings, I see under Security that it says "Screen lock, Find My Device, app security", but when I tap into Security, I don't see any options for Find My Device listed. The search function also doesn't turn up any results.

I'd love to see a secure Find My Device service built in to GrapheneOS, but feel that the mislead that I mentioned above should be removed to prevent confusion.

SoulKeeper

Colvdv It's available under Apps> Sandboxed Google Play> Google Settings

bayesian

I don't know how to privately implement a location tracker without it being a potential privacy and security risk.

Even if GOS would implement something like this In would never use it.

Andy

bayesian Some people pay to be tracked….! And stalked – OMG.
Would have thought Graphene-OS users would want to stay away from any form of tracking, door bell cameras, Alexa etc.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/jan/20/apple-airtags-stalking-complaints-technology

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-60004257

Perhaps I’m in a parallel universe…? Should we protect people from their own stu….?

abcZ

Andy Some people pay to be tracked….! And stalked – OMG.

There is a difference between letting somebody else track you, and letting you find your own missing device.

BluePixel4k

There is a FOSS alterative available:
https://gitlab.com/Nulide/findmydevice
https://www.f-droid.org/en/packages/de.nulide.findmydevice/

I think it's a good alternative to Googles FindMyDevice.

ThunderFarter

BluePixel4k Hey, I just installed it and it's GREAT!, But i'm not so technical is there any way to use telegram or such instead of messaging?, it was said when I installed it but it's unclear for me.

Arnauld

Hi,

You can use the Map app in Nextcloud if you use Nextcloud. It allows you to track your phone after having installed the Nextcloud app in your phone. That's what I do.

Andy

abcZ There is a difference between letting somebody else track you, and letting you find your own missing device.

Oh - Is there..? In reality; is not the outcome the same?

abcZ

Andy Not even close.
If your device securely sends its location to a secure place where ONLY YOU can read it, then nobody else can track you. So its a very different outcome from sharing your location with who the heck knows who.

One is useful for finding your device if you lose it.
The other is useful for making you a suspect in a crime if something bad happens near where you happen to be.

Andy

abcZ sends its location to a secure place

Is this miraculous “secure place” Google Cloud and does it use Google Map – OMG!

Do these ”find me” apps broadcast Bluetooth signals from your phone even when they're offline, allowing nearby Android phones to relay their location to the cloud to help you locate your stolen or lost phone even when it's switched off.
Do they work on the same principles as this….

https://threatpost.com/find-your-keys-lose-your-privacy/121510/

If so what’s the difference?

abcZ The other is useful for making you a suspect in a crime if something bad happens near where you happen to be.

Didn’t that guy who got arrested for being near a crime have to prove his innocence at his expense.. US justice…?

abcZ Not even close.

ps – excuse the puns on not even close :) Just tracked and located my laptop to 30 miles away – others report device in next state or county.. Didn’t know my arms reached that far to type this… :)

abcZ

Andy Is this miraculous “secure place” Google Cloud and does it use Google Map – OMG!

Clearly you have a very confused sense of what a "secure place" is if someone besides you has access and control over it.

peterge

Any news on using Find my device on GrapheneOS? Did you get the location permisson in the background working?

Graphite

If all you need is to manually get the location when you lose it, and don't mind using SMS, Nulide/findmydevice is probably your best bet.
I wrote a similar Tasker profile that is very simple.

If you want continuous monitoring, https://gpslogger.app/ has a lot of options. From auto uploads to cloud storage like Dropbox or Google Drive... to SFTP, or custom webhook URLs so you can use your own server like Home Assistant.
Again, I just wrote something in Tasker that encrypts GPS data and sends to my private server.

f13a-6c3a

Google Play services requires "Allow all the time" location access in order for Find My Device to Work and locate the phone. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth scanning should also be on for indoor location

user74838

Anyone use Prey Project? I am guessing needs to be installed with Google Play. https://preyproject.com/

Graphite

user74838

Seems like Prey is a full enterprise solution with features that free open source can already do.
I would not trust a SaaS cloud provider, when this kind of data can and should go directly to a users own server.

user74838

Graphite hmm - yes I believe it was started Open Source, but not clear now. Does look like it may no longer be? Not sure how that works - they bought out the license or something?

f13a-6c3a

I also briefly looked into Prey Protect but quickly dismissed it as it requires Google Play services