A guide to figure out whether GrapheneOS makes sense for you and how to set up
a smartphone or tablet with Android 16, using GrapheneOS, in a privacy-focused
way.
With all that said, there’s a common misconception that I keep encountering, that simply flashing GrapheneOS onto a compatible device is enough to magically protect its owner from Big Tech or other adversaries spying on them and their data. While GrapheneOS goes to great lengths to disable and circumvent the tracking that smartphone vendors like Google usually build into their Android phones, and hardens various aspects of the system on top of that, the main cause for concern is usually less the bare naked Android system, but more often than not the apps running on top of it. If you are using apps like Facebook, TikTok, Outlook and Amazon, the surveillance happens within these apps and platforms, regardless of what operating system they’re running on.
Well done for putting this up front, it needs to be said again and again. Very common misunderstanding, particularly among GrapheneOS users as it is the most mainstream Android privacy ROM.
Yeah, to add to that basically, security is layered. More than people realize…
You’ve got the OS, the apps, the accounts used, the radio permissions tied up the drive out apps (WiFi, BT, NFC, GPS), search engines, web pages/browsers, the network (DNS especially), the IMEI (device ID) & IMSI (SIM ID), more too I’m sure.
Fixing one doesn’t fix it all, like how many people used incognito mode on Chrome and thought that was actually private 🤣
Its not exactly Android but does involve pixel/android like OS. Its very interesting to see the perspective of someone who is security minded but in a way that works for them.
