I’ve been a professional Free Software developer in the GNU/Linux area for 14 years now, and a hobbyist developer and user for much longer. For some reason that never extended much to the smartphone world, beyond running LineageOS on my older phones (my current Sony Xperia is still under warranty and I’m fine with the officially supported Android), and various stabs at using the Ubuntu phone (RIP!).
On a few long weekends this year it got a hold of me, and I had a look over the Google fence to see how Free Software is doing on Android and how to reduce my dependency on Google Play Services and Google apps. Less because I would actually severely distrust Google, as they have a lot of business and goodwill to lose if they ever majorly screw up; but more because of simple curiosity and for learning new things. I want to note down my experience here for sharing and discussing.
I started experimenting on my old Nexus 4 by completely blanking it and installing current LineageOS 14.1 without the Google apps. This provides a nice testing ground that is completely free of any proprietary Google stuff. From that I can apply good solutions on my “production” Xperia.
One of those topics not particularly suited for most smartphone users, but among OSNews readers, there are sure to be quite a few people who are interested in this.
The one Google app I’d seriously have a hard time finding an alternative for is Google Voice. It’s nice to set up a ‘fake’ Voice number and give that to any businesses that require a phone #. They can sell that number to whoever they want and spam it until the cows come home
And then I have my ‘real’ Voice number, which only a handful of people have. I like getting email notifications and transcriptions whenever a voicemail comes in, text messages to my computer and tablet, plus being able to use it across SIM cards, without having to worry about number porting.
Edited 2018-05-04 16:11 UTC
For non-free apps, I’d trust the open-source Yalp Store over uptodown. Thanks to the OSnews reader who pointed it out awhile back.
What I found surprising was how many connections are made to Google on a default Cyanogenmod/Lineage install without GApps.
For those used to preventing such things it’s fairly straightforward but there was also some dodgy shenanigans where the default browser phones home and will break /etc/hosts entries to do so.
The sad fact is that preventing a smart phone from leaking data is a lot of work and compromise. I don’t understand how we’ve collectively accepted that our personal information is freely given out by default without consent by our devices that we paid for and often there is no opt-out.
A highly secure phone just for making calls/text would be perfect.
Heck, an OpenBSD based one that does only those two things would be a dream.
Unfortunately that will never happen until we have a 100% open hardware phone, from the baseband all the way up to the user-facing bits. The carriers control the baseband hardware, and they are opposed to the very idea of open hardware. I’m not holding my breath, though I’m fully on board if it ever does happen.
For one, simply using LineageOS is not enough for ridding your phone of Google.
There are some efforts to do this in a better and more comprehensive way, also covering Google APIs like Maps/Location, such as microG.
Then that person removes proprietary Google software from the phone, but not Google services. Services that still allow Google to track you, although possibly in a more limited fashion.
Using NewPipe is also a direct violation of Google ToS, not sure if that can be recommended. Just access YouTube via the web browser if you can’t help it.
In which way is Google still connected to you if you use LineageOS and you don’t install Google Apps?
It will contact Google servers for connectivity check (to detect captive portals).
Also in certain cases may use Google’s public DNS instead of your ISP’s.
OK I need to check that. I wouldn’t expect LineageOS to leave code in that contacts Google servers
Been meaning to do exactly the same with my nexus 4, but it’s my only/current phone so the impact will be high. Nice article.
According to this google apps will help to make security data for a user. Ie browser is best for surfing to get info from web
https://ie10support.com/
Edited 2018-05-05 17:00 UTC
There is an unofficial Lineage build with MicroG baked in https://lineage.microg.org/
All you need to do is choose a unified NIP backend of your choice from F-Droid (I use Mozilla’s)
Use as much GPL stuff from F-Droid as possible, then use Yalp to get any must have proprietary stuff from Play Store