Buying my first phone for GOS - Does any of the recommended list work?

[deleted]

mmmm (and therefore hopefully any added carrier spyware)

You may want to familiarize yourself with the definition of spyware.

mmmm

To be honest, I was merely replying to the other person who said they didn't trust buying a handset from a carrier. I was trying to ascertain that it's not something I'm bothered about. I don't really want to get in to an in depth conversation about anything other than my OP.

Thanks for the advice nonetheless. I'm quite well versed in my own threat model and my own risk assessments regarding this field, I just haven't used any mobile OS before other than iOS. I do have a nicely hardened Mac set up for work (I need a particular app thats only available on MacOS or Windows) and I have a Qubes laptop for everything else. GrapheneOS has been of interest to me for rather a few years, and now I feel ready to try to use it as my main mobile OS.

Not knowing the names or the technical terms should not really be a barrier to this, and nor should random rather off topic remarks be considered particular conducive to the conversation.

[deleted]

mmmm
Just a few words of encouragement for you:

there's a good chance carrier phone is going to be fine. I helped others install and they were in exact same predicament (one person got a free phone via loyalty). Just do due diligence and check first.
others point out about not trusting carriers, and while not ideal, privacy is a journey, plus it's a matter of a degree There's so much to learn. If you expect to do everything in the best way possible the entire endeavour may seem daunting and may cause one to just back off entirely. I hear this sentiment often among acquaintances - complete resignation. Meamwhile it's just better to start aomehere and you improve as you go. Perhaps your next phone will be bought with cash. Two sayings come to mind: "perfect is the enemy of good" &
"a journey of a thousand miles starts with a few steps".
any newer Pixel would be fine, but 7a specifically maximizes the value proposition, which includes longest current service life.

Hope this helps. Welcome to a better world, @mmmm!

mmmm

[deleted]

Thank you for your comments @[deleted]! I'm very excited to this next phase of my journey! As I mentioned above I already use Qubes (difficult for me, not being overly technical, but have been making it work for 2 years plus now). I'm massively eager to clean up my mobile life.

I'm not unhappy with iOS security to be honest, and I'm vigilant already with apps and practice various compartmentalisation methods, but still. I'm also very eager to replace my rather difficult to maintain Qubes laptop with perhaps a GrapheneOS Tablet. But one step at a time!

I'll look in to the 7a. I know nothing about Android handsets, avoiding them simply because I don't use or trust Google anything, so this is already a new topic for me.

mmmm

[deleted]

Also, regarding buying a phone in cash, what would this achieve, as I already pay for my service with the carrier? I'm not trying to avoid LE - I simply don't want to be followed around the internet by big tech, I deal with various sensitive contents that must be kept private and secure, plus I'm interested in the whole subject anyway so it's fun - but for me so long as I can minimise any profiling by big tech, avoid my conversations being heard or read by a 3rd party, and make sure my files and affairs are kept private either online or not, then I'm happy.

Is there a reason I'm missing that necessitates buying in cash?

[deleted]

mmmm nor should random rather off topic remarks be considered particular conducive to the conversation.

Someone responding to an incorrect use of the term spyware is not random nor is it off topic. This forum sees a lot of activity on a daily basis. Someone could see the words "carrier spyware" and be easily misled since its use is incorrect/untrue.

[deleted]

mmmm
Very welcme.
Graphene makes choice of hardware simple.

it's juat Pixels
there are only 3 tiers (-ish).
very latest models (7a currently is a recentmost) afford logest shelf life since support runs for 5 years from release date.

[deleted]

mmmm
It would appear not really in your case - if you got your phone anonymously, the dots would be connected via your carrier rather quickly.

You would need to take many more additional, rather difficult steps to prevent that from happening.

I also foresee a comment coming your way (which I know you know) about the fact that nothing guarantees perfect privacy. MAGFA will not stop trying to follow you around, you just decrease the instances/seseverity. Fingerprinting, among other things is quite an insidious beast... Still, totally worthwhile and feels quite good to make an effort to stand up for yourself. It feels, perhaps, a bit like a kindergarten: "it's my toy, you go and play with yours!"

mmmm

[deleted]

Indeed

mmmm

[deleted]

So does one prefer to teach or just admonish? It's hard to be involved in certain topics without feeling like one 'doesn't belong' or that one is a 'noob' and therefore doesn't warrant proper advice. Most forums also see a lot of that on a daily basis. A one sentence slap on the wrist is indeed not conducive to this conversation, certainly less so than a proper explanation as to the correct terms or procedures.

[deleted]

mmmm I'm not at all admonishing you. I simply suggested that you may want to familiarize yourself with the definition of spyware and pointed out that this forum sees a lot of activity on a daily basis and that someone could see the words "carrier spyware" and be easily misled since its use is incorrect/untrue. I don't think at all that you're a "noob" or that you "don't belong" and therefore don't warrant proper advice.

mmmm

[deleted]

Ok then, so help me out please, here is the conversation:

Blastoidea I never buy a phone from a carrier.

I do not trust them.

Skip their “deal” and just buy the phone.

My answer:

mmmm Perhaps, but as I already use their network and pay them for that, getting a deal on a phone is no biggy for me, I have been doing it for years. They don’t see what I do online, and they don’t snoop on my calls and texts because I’m careful. There is no trust necessary. Buying a hardware that I intend to root is really not a prob for my threat model.

Followed by:

mmmm that’s just me using the incorrect nomenclature I’m afraid! I’m new to doing this type of thing hence the potentially stupid questions and incorrect usage of the terms. Thanks for the clarification. All I mean is remove the stock OS (and therefore hopefully any added carrier spyware) and install Graphene.

Now it's in its proper context, what term should I have used?

[deleted]

mmmm I've been following the conversation since the beginning, so I'm already aware of its proper context. Carrier-specific apps/software are not spyware.

mmmm

[deleted] If I made the statement "all carriers insert spyware in to their phones", I think you would have a point. As it stands, I think my greenhorn meaning was very clear, and could not remotely be labelled as misinformation. @Blastoidea was talking about trust, I assumed it meant they didn't trust buying a hardware from a carrier, and my assumption was that they suggested that due to a perception that they may have installed some type of something. Or esle why not? Anyway, I'm sorry if I misunderstood why he suggested never to buy from a carrier, but there you have it.

This thread is considered solved anyway, due to prior friendly advice.

[deleted]

mmmm and could not remotely be labelled as misinformation.

Relax, bud. I never accused what you said of being misinformation.

[deleted]

Aaaaand it's off the rails...

Misunderstandings happen.
Can we climb back on the constructive train?

mmmm

[deleted]

I contacted the provider, who predictably didn't understand what I meant, and told me to ask Google becau
se they don't manufacture the phones themselves. Huh.
Anyway, he confirmed they don't carrier lock the phone, as I knew anyway as they're not allowed to do that here, normally. So I suppose I'm going to take a risk, when the time is right, and give it a go!
Earlier you mention the 7a is a good idea. Well the 7 is the exact same price included in the deal they're offering - I assume it would be a better choice based on specs?

[deleted]

mmmm

Not making them? No kidding...

For the 7 vs 7a it's up to you. The trade off is specs vs best before date (Graphene or not, it's dictated by Google/ its suppliers).

7 has 4y 2mo left
7a has 4y 9mo left
https://grapheneos.org/faq#device-lifetime

mmmm

[deleted]

'Bud'? I don't know what that word means, but by the tone of the sentence it sounds somewhat aggressive.
I'm sorry if i have offended you with my various and I have to say very slight mistakes in what is or isn't considered the correct phrase, English isn't my first language.
It's seems to me to be a finished conversation now though, wouldn't you agree?

mmmm

[deleted] Ah, well in that case the spec difference isn't worth the tradeoff. If it was a 7pro v a 7 or 7a, then maybe. But I would rather have a longer support time. Thank you for the valuable advice @[deleted]

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