Why do privacy conscious people try to avoid google play services

sfsddsf0

Hi,

I'm new to the privacy scene and I see a lot of people try to avoid installing google play services and I just want to know why? Does it have any special features that could be used to deanonymize users? If I'm using VPN and have it in a separate profile with the apps that need then I should be fine right? Also, some people say that google play services can spy on other apps on your device? Can someone explain how that works. Thanks

[deleted]

Many people try to avoid google due to them collecting immense amount of data on the stock OS from google: Google Data Collection PDF

This research was conducted by Professor Douglas C. Schmidt, Professor of Computer Science at
Vanderbilt University, and his team. DCN is grateful to support Professor Schmidt in distributing
it. We offer it to the public with the permission of Professor Schmidt.

24: During a 24-hour time period the Android device communicated ₉₀₀ data samples to a variety of
Google server endpoints. Of these, ₃₅% (or approximately 14/hour) were location-related. Google ad
domains received only ₃% of the traffic, which is mainly due to the fact that the mobile browser was not
actively used during the collection period of this test. The remaining ₆₂% of communications with the Google server
domains were roughly divided between requests to Google’s Play App store, Android’s uploads of device-
related data (such as crash reports and device authorization), and other data which were predominantly in the
category of Google services background calls and refreshes

matchboxbananasynergy

Play Services on GrapheneOS are not like on stock. They're sandboxed like all other apps. If you give them a permission, they have that permission. If you don't, they don't. Anything they can do, all other apps can do.

https://grapheneos.org/features#sandboxed-google-play

[deleted]

How many of you are doing your banking with an app installed via Google Play? How many of you are still hanging on to social media apps made possible thanks to sandboxed Google Play? How many of you are still playing games with network access installed through Google Play because without it they would throw a tantrum? Data collection often time does not occur directly but via remote analytics. The moment you give an proprietary app network access, expect that it will use it and not always for charitable purposes.

[deleted]

Short answer: I don't rely on Sandboxed Google Play.

Long Answer:
Well, being free from the clutches of social media has allowed me to truly live my best life. I spend most of my days exploring my hobbies, meeting people who share my interests, and indulging in nature's wonders.

With my Debian - Sid/ Unstable desktop setup, I am able to stay up-to-date with the latest updates and developments without sacrificing my privacy or personal freedom.

Thanks to my reliance on invidious, bandcamp, and discogs, I am constantly discovering new music artists, video content, and FLAC files that I never would have encountered and or owned otherwise. I find that my mind is more open and receptive to new experiences, ideas, and perspectives when I am not bombarded by the constant stream of distractions and noise that pervade proprietary apps.

I'm living my best life with GrapheneOS, with 20 apps on my owner profile and that number includes the default ones. Even my primary banking app works without the need for Sandboxed Google Play Services on my second user profile, after I deleted my Vipps account, I no longer have a need for Sandboxed Services!

Max-Zorin

[deleted] Dude, you need to change your avatar to an image of an enlightened guru. :-) I love it!

Phead

For me the most important part of Graphene is it puts me in the driver's seat. I choose if I want to share my data (whatever it might be) with Google or not. It is very transparent about everything it does and does not. Even when I choose to use Google stuff Graphene minimizes what Google can do to you, your data and your device.

So, ultimately Graphene gives you the freedom to choose what you see fit in your situation. It respescts me as user, my privacy and makes sure that my stuff is safe. And once youve tasted this refreshing drop of freedom you do not want go back to whatever soup of dirt you've swallowed before, ye know.

[deleted]

Max-Zorin Thank you for the recommendation.