L
lcalamar

  • Joined Aug 21, 2022
  • Switch to ENTE.io - and you'll have a great 'gallery' app as well as a secure backup of your photos... great deals going on now

  • Got the latest GOS update for my Pixel Tablet - and was able to get a location fix using Magic Earth!

    FYI... I am using the app FAKE GPS, would be happy for other recommendations (Always looking for apps I can manage with Obtanium - but wasn't able to for this app...)

  • treenutz68 The only downside I might see to using a DNS service provided by your ISP is now you've put all those eggs in one basket. One of the biggest concerns regarding ISPs is can you trust them any moreso than an ISP or any other carrier? (history says no - and no matter what their marketing tells you - they are likely keeping logs somewhere!). Also - just because your IP is 'masked' by a VPN - if you read other articles regarding privacy and VPNs - you'll find that hiding your IP doesn't really do much...

    I highly recommend NextDNS ... that said I'm not sure how or if you can use your own DNS with a VPN... just something to check out...

    • treenutz68 Agreed with all you are saying - and there doesn't have to be a black/white answer to the VPN question...
      But if you want your ISP to NOT know what you are doing - your best solution is to use a DNS service. This at least masks what sites you are visiting and doubles up in removing trackers and other privacy busters from getting to your device...

      There is a great tool you can use to see how much you are being 'hidden' whether using a VPN or not: https://www.deviceinfo.me/ just check that out before and after launching your VPN... The only way I've found to truly mask who I am and what I am doing is TOR... but try it out - very informative

      • treenutz68 Yeah - this is one of the issues regarding privacy and why it is so elusive. At every point in the online 'chain' - someone is going to try to take your data. So - at some point who is it you 'trust'? For example - I am using Google FI and I HATE using google for anything. However - do I distrust Google more than Verizon or AT&T? I also use google fiber (and hate that also - BUT - they are my only fiber option where I live), but who do I distrust more - Comcast or Time Warner or some other ISP? (heck - Comcast was dumbing down my speed whenever I was using non-comcast services... )

        The best we can do with Privacy is control what we can control and then understand that getting from 90% privacy to 100% privacy is not really possible... at some point we start to thrash and create so much friction that it isn't worth the hassle.

        ... I use NextDNS - and while I really like that service - I still come across a lot of sites that NextDNS blocks - sites I need to visit... so I end up doing some type of work-around... again - more hassle and friction...

        ... when I was using VPN - (I used to use IVPN in my router so all home traffic went through VPN)... however - banks and streamers and many other services were blocking me... and yes I could have worked harder to get around it - but again - at some point it just wasn't worth the hassle - especially when I factored in that VPN really wasn't doing much in the way of privacy - and it cost $$$ and my time...

        I try to do what I can to be sensible regarding privacy - but I've understood the only way to be 100% private is not to be online...

        • Ammako Makes sense.

          I tried some 'fake gps' apps and changed my developer settings to try to force the issue - but I guess these apps are looking for hardware...

          • SgtSurehand Guess we'll have to disagree on VPN. But to say my statement is inaccurate is - well - inaccurate. It is an informed opinion and when it comes to privacy - 90% of what you read is an informed opinion. I HAVE researched this topic quite a bit - and have fallen on the side that I stated. If you really want to 'hide' from your ISP - my opinion is you are better spending money on something like NextDNS (which I DO use)...

            I DO use my own wireguard VPN - but only use it when on a public network - and/or want to access my internal systems when I'm not on my home network...

            Lots of information out there that support my 'opinion'... take it or leave it but please don't blindly say my opinion is inaccurate, it is ok to say you disagree though!

            Below is just to have something to look into... but again - LOTs of similar information out there...
            Why You Don't need a VPN

            • IamZorro Yes - this exactly - I have a minimal 'plan' with Proton. There are really no other 'features' that Proton offers that can't be got for free or close to free - that work better.

              I'd start by not paying for VPN... unless you are using it to access your home network when external - VPN is mostly a waste of money and a lot of hassle (banks, streaming, etc...) I do use my 1 connection of ProtonVPN that comes free - and that suffices just fine, but I rarely use it.

              VPN really doesn't provide any privacy protection anyway

              • sky9000 Launcher(s) need to add this functionality - I use LawnChair and they have that as an open item but who knows 'when' or 'if'...

              • tilion_silverbow
                Your best and easiest solution would be to migrate to Ente - then whatever 'platform' you are using becomes moot... besides - it is a great product.

                perhaps you can dumb-down your Proton account - to save the $$$ needed for Ente photos... also watch for a black friday deal - they had a great one last year.

                Don't attempt to compare protondrive to any other photo app (ente, apple, google) - it just isn't in the same category. At least with Ente you partner won't be adding ANY inconvenience/friction in her life...

                outside that if you try to go with a 'free' solution - then you are going to get that lack of features and added friction... I'd say find a way to pony up to Ente

                • Just can't get a location in any apps on my tablet. Just tried Magic Earth and Google Maps doesn't work either.

                  I have the following settings:

                  • Reroute Location requsts to the OS - OFF
                  • Google Location Accuracy - On
                  • Use Location - On
                    Location Services:
                  • WiFi and BT Scanning - On

                  No other settings to be found as the Tablet does not have GPS...

                  Note that I have tried changing these settings with no change in results...

                • I don't use VPN (except to access my internal network when external).
                  But I DO use NextDNS.

                  At home my router is setup to use NextDNS.

                  When I am external then I use the Private DNS settings on my phone.

                  I don't keep the private DNS active all the time as there are instances where I need to bypass NextDNS due to it blocking something...

                • In HELP

                  Just a quick note from my experience on LInux.

                  I've always used the CLI install - then there are no questions as to where or if there are issues...

                  It is quite easy to use... the instructions are very good - just follow the details.

                • lcalamar

                  I do have to update my previous post.

                  Pretty much just using GMAPS full time - none of the alternatives come near the functionality of gmaps.

                  (not saying that gmaps is 'worth' the spying... but from a feature/functionality standpoint there isn't any question which works best).

                • [deleted] I think the problem with this (but well intentioned).. is that there is no single 'best' for a list like this, plus there are many other sources that do JUST this - so you can find this information elsewhere and GOS probably is best to stay away from some of this.

                  Doesn't mean you can't ask here... and you may get some good information - but for any kind of definitive list - that's just a lot of noise ...

                  • haddock This is the same setup I am looking to implement. With the exception (or not) that I will use an anonymous google account for my private space.

                    My conundrum is that I use Google FI - which requires a 'real' google account - and it also needs to be in the owner profile (or Google FI won't work :( ).

                    So I may just be doing a lot of effort for no reason as I have to keep that google FI account active at all times in my owner profile :( ??

                  • I've been playing a bit with private space - so far so good... (no issues with banking apps sending sms codes for 2fa - it comes in on my owner profile - so no problems)

                    As I am looking to move all my apps that require GSF to my private space - I have some ??

                    1) How do I determine if an app actually uses GSF? (outside looking it up in Aurora store?)

                    2) Is it worth the effort to create an anonymous google account to use for my private space google play store ?
                    2a) I'd use this for things like google maps...or other google apps I use from time to time...

                    3) Any one tried setting up their pixel watch going against WearOS in a private space (whereas I would use that anonymous google user for managing my watch). (for things like fitbit, watch connectivity, etc...)