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Degoogling - can someone ELI5 how certain apps work on Graphene OS? (self.privacy)

submitted 9 months ago by acetanilide to c/[email protected]

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Hi,

I am (very, very early) in the process of degoogling. I am definitely not a high risk as far as needing to be completely locked down. It's more about trying to have a little more control over how my data is used.

I am looking at Graphene OS, but I am a little confused how certain apps (that rely on Google services) work. I have a Pixel 8 and will have it for the foreseeable future.

The apps I currently use that I would still need (or their equivalents) are:

Clash Royale (Supercell)
Notion (Notion Labs)
Clickup (Mango Technologies)
Business Calendar 2 (Appgenix)

If I installed these exact apps "sandboxed", what exactly does that mean from a user standpoint? Will I have to use a separate account, reboot my phone, etc, or is it a quick process to use the app?
Is there a list of apps that I could browse to find equivalents to the above? Recommendations here are also ok.
I saw that Firefox isn't exactly private(?) and that Vanadium is better in that aspect but I don't understand why. Can someone ELI5, and help me see if this is a relevant concern for me?

Thank you! 😁

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[–] [email protected] 29 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (5 children)

So, the point here is to degoogle, yet you need certain apps that require google services.

What I and many others do is have a clean (i.e. no google services) main profile and a dirty (has google services) secondary profile. Put your needed apps in the secondary, live in main, and it's two swipes and a tap to get to your apps in secondary. Best of both worlds. Over time find replacements that work in your main, congratulations, you're now degoogled on your phone.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 9 months ago

I do the two profiles on mine as well. The Google profile isn't allowed to run in the background so it's only active when I'm using an app that really needs it. Down to just a single app now that needs it.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

So you don't even have sandboxed GPlay Services on your main profile?

I do like how all profiles have all their own data, so if you logout another (not main) profile then that second profile data is encrypted again until you enter the password.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

Yeah, main is for google-less.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Is there a faster way to switch profile than going into the settings? Sounds like you've got a much better way than what I've been doing

[–] [email protected] 5 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Swipe into notifications, swipe down on the quick access thingies (bluetooth, aeroplane mode etc), at the bottom is three circular buttons, leftmost brings up select user (swipe, swipe, tap, tap, sorry, missed one.)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

You can also swipe down with 2 fingers and bring up the full quick settings thing with just one swipe

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Cool!!!

Must say I hate the lack of a manual / help these days. "It's intuitive", no it's fucking not, you just don't want to write doco. (Not aimed at GrapheneOS specifically, just the state of things in general)

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago

I feel like AOSP, at the very minimum, should have its own "tips and tricks" list (ideally in the form of a built-in app). Ideally every OEM flavor of Android should. I should not have to look it up in order to find these out tbh

[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago

In my case I just use an app called "shelter". Going to the dirty profile is as easy as opening the app drawer and swiping left. I can also "pause" all apps in that profile whenever i want. No tikering necessary.

[–] acetanilide 4 points 9 months ago

I tried the two profiles and I love it! Still figuring things out but this is going to work well.

[–] acetanilide 3 points 9 months ago

I like this. I may do that two profiles since it sounds easy to switch between.