Google Pixel 7 sensors removing.

Murloc

Hey guys,

I will buy a Google Pixel 7 or Google Pixel 7a in few days and i will install GrapheneOS on it, but before this i will remove my differents cameras on the phone. Front camera, back camera and microphones, etc...

I would like to remove the rotation sensor and acceleration sensor too but i can't find a "shema" or something like that where i could see where they are located when you open the phone.

Anyone of you have already make thing like that and maybe found where the sensors are ?

[deleted]

Murloc

Are you not aware Grapheneos has software toggles to disable the cameras, microphone, and sensors?
You phone will no longer be water resistant and you will have to deal with dust inside.

mmmm

Murloc possible relevent info here : https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Google_Pixel_7

raccoondad

Murloc I feel the need to say this, but theres no guarantee that removing the camera will come without any issue and your warranty will probably be beyond expired...

Eagle_Owl

Murloc
Hi Murloc,
afaik the software switches in GOS are no fake buttons, but real serious switches, so you can switch off all sensors w/o opening your expensive new Pixel phone.
There are pretty stickers to cover the cameras or you can make your own.

This way your nice new Pixel phone will not damaged and you can resell it better for a higher price if it doesn't fit your requirements.

I have switched off all sensors at beginning of my setup and have given back the permission only for a few apps, when they need it for working.
Camera, microphone, WLAN and bluetooth are always off.
If the phone rings or I am waiting for a call, I switch microphone and bluetooth on.

spring-onion

Hey I'm not going to tell you what to do with your device, and I don't have the info you are looking for but here's the obligatory notice that what you have planned is probably beyond overkill.

Murloc

mmmm Thank you, i finaly found what i need :)

For the other members, i know with GrapheneOS you can disable micrphones, cameras, and do what you want with the permissions but i prefeer to remove them physically too for some reasons. Dust and water are not big problem, when you remove them you have holes but you can easly cover them with a little piece of plastic or steel plates that you can stick strongly on the differents holes.

mmmm

I dont think it’s overly unusual for someone to want to remove the sensors from their phone, considering the reasons one may chose to use an OS like GOS.

Seems to be a bizarre thread currently, where only opinions matter and not actual info, which seems to fly in the face of the nature of the community here.

I’m sure the OP is aware and has weighed up the costs of losing waterproofing to ensure privacy, for example.

One persons overkill is another’s saved life.

[deleted]

mmmm

mmmm One persons overkill is another’s saved life

I have extreme doubts if OP's life is in danger. If this is life and death a professional needs to be consulted.

mmmm

[deleted] maybe, but what’s it got to do with you? You have no idea about anything to do with the requirements of the OP.

Weird way of judging people. I could understand if it was on a random ‘normal’ phone website, but here?

It’s one of the most secure OS’ in existence, removing invasive details from the only hardware it can run on is not unreasonable for certain threat models.

Plus - even if the op is not in danger, and they just want to play, again, so what? Just answer his questions or don’t bother commenting, no?

[deleted]

mmmm Weird way of judging people. I could understand if it was on a random ‘normal’ phone website, but here?

I was letting OP know of the downsides of removing hardware, not judging.

Plus - even if the op is not in danger, and they just want to play, again, so what? Just answer his questions or don’t bother commenting, no?

I missed you comment where you told OP how to remove hardware.

mmmm

[deleted] I missed you comment where you told OP how to remove hardware.

I don’t know how to do it, but if you scroll up a bit you’ll see I at least posted something potentially relevant.

Anyway, I’m not trying to make it about you, or anyone else. Just that the thread is not helpful, and it’s something that could be helpful in certain scenarios.

spring-onion

@mmmm You're not wrong, it's totally possible they have a sound reasoning. However there's plenty of people out there who are (rightfully) concerned about being spied on without knowing just how robust the permission model really is, and that that's not an attack vector the vast majority should be concerned about.

That's like you'd hand someone a tutorial on how to root your device without telling them of the security implications... there's a logical baseline of general do's and dont's that should be educated about in good faith.

[deleted]

Perhaps instead of quickly jumping into conclusions we should give OP a chance to explain why he desires such a.change. It may come from paranoia more than it being an informed decision. And perhaps he doesn't realize that by hamstringing his device he takes away the possibilty to fully utilize it only because he distrusts or doesn't fully understand how Android permissions work.

[deleted]

The problem is often not in the ecosystem that can be used relatively safely if used the correct way but in the way we use it without giving it much thought or reasoning.

[deleted]

Murloc If you can share the reasons for doing it, I would like to hear them so I can imagine your type of personality. I will not comment on it, if I can't do it in a pleasant way. Thanks

other8026

[deleted] I would like to hear them so I can imagine your type of personality

I don't think saying or asking this is appropriate. This is a forum for discussing GrapheneOS and related topics, not different community members' personality traits.

Or maybe you'd like to clarify what you mean by this?

[deleted]

other8026 You are right, I am not entitled to ask this type of question in the forum. Thanks. But whatever Murloc's reasons are, I suggest he does a reassessment. He may lose more than gain from doing it like lose functionality he doesn't realize he may need.

mmmm

Eagle_Owl again though, there is nothing more secure than actually removing microphones and cameras. You don’t need to trust a software switch. There certainly does exist threat models where this is viable. I don’t know or not whether the op fits this model, but that’s not an important question. The op asked for advice on removing these hardware features, not anything else.

treequell

Software switches work properly on GrapheneOS.

I recommend using the privacy dashboard in Settings > Privacy. It provides a timeline of apps access to sensitive permissions.

GrapheneOS extends the green indicator light to include location permission in addition to the microphone and phone permissions on stock Pixel OS.

You can grant apps one time access to apps which attempt to abuse the permissions they require.