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The founder of /e/os is anti-security
(bsky.app)
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this post was submitted on 05 Apr 2026
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Privacy
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I have a huge problem with GrapheneOS: they rely too much on Google hardware. That is why I never used Graphene and probably never will.
Well, wait for motorola's graphene compatible phones to pop up ig.
Just wondering, do you have a problem in the sense that you don't want to support Google or more that you're worried the actual hardware is not safe or trustworthy?
Google is the exact opposite of privacy and security.
I find it very dishonest that GrapheneOS was advertising itself as the secure option while tying itself so closely to Google.
It only works on Pixel phones because they are the only phones on the market that meet the security requirments.
Thats why for the future Motorola phones, Motorola will have to design a new phone that will meet those requirements. They can't just put Graphene OS on an existing Motorola model.
https://lemmy.ml/post/45526027/24995083
If you don't care about hardware security then don't use Graphene OS, it's not made for you. Its made for people who do care.
As for Google harvesting data, Graphene has all of that stripped out by default. It doesnt even have Google Play Services, you need to install it seperately if you want to use it.
The Pixel phones were the only devices with secure enough hardware to make GrapheneOS viable, that's why they developed it for them.
It wasn't because of some deal with google or anything like that.
Hardware security guarantees are irrelevant for most people, including myself. A very small segment of the popularion needs them.
What matters infinitely more is who has access to your data. And Google is one of the worst offenders.
In that case another degoogled ROM sounds more like what you're after?
Graphenes thing is hardware security.
I don't really see the issue. So you don't really care about robust and trustworthy hardware. That I get to some extent considering you're more worried about your data itself. But if you're flashing your device with GOS, there is no data being shared to Google unless you specifically want to use Google Play Services or the Play Store. Both of which don't come pre-installed
Edit: I added the if
Robust and trustworthy hardware does not matter if the apps you need for daily life (like banking or public transportation) are so integrated with Google's ecosystem that they leak everything.
Breaking Google's hold over Android is the most important security topic of all time. Everything else is secondary. GrapheneOS is not real security.
But how does this tie back to your original statement about GOS security and tying itself with Google? The issues you're raising aren't even a GOS specific one. I also find it strange to not call it secure because services themselves are reliant on Google's services. That is not an issue any OS can solve. I say this as someone who does not rely on any Google services on my phone. I also believe you might be conflating security with privacy.
The issues are not GOS specific. I am saying that GOS is selling snake oil, not real security.
Buying a phone from Google (HTC really) does not give Google access to your data.
There are no Google services installed by Graphene, you have the option of running Google services if you choose, but even if you choose to do so they are kept in a sandbox and not given privileged information on the system.
Using Google hardware results in financial gain for Google, which is one of the worst companies out there for privacy and security. I do not like that GrapheneOS is working to propagate Google's monopoly.
So buy 2nd hand then.
You're moving the goalposts, you said:
That's completely different than who benefits financially from your phone purchase.
I'm not moving goalposts. If you care about security, then you should also care about not making money for Google.
Those are two different things.