24
submitted 2 days ago by applemao@lemmy.world to c/degoogle@lemmy.ml

For example, how do I know that the Samsung calendar app is any better than the g calendar app? Is the only way to go full open source (I'd prefer this, yes).

Also, should we stop using things like the default photo gallery? I have a feeling they steal data from that as well.

I know this is more phone related but I don't have this issue on my pc since I mostly use linux and open source software.

top 8 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[-] Tundra@lemmy.ml 10 points 2 days ago

also before downloading any app, check exodus:

https://reports.exodus-privacy.eu.org/en/

[-] 73kk13@discuss.tchncs.de 5 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Exodus Privacy is a good starting point. They also have an app to check your installed apps with.
One possible next step could be to install an Android firewall like Netguard or Rethink DNS + Firewall to block unwanted connections. Both don't require root and are well documented.

[-] rumba@lemmy.zip 2 points 16 hours ago

Okay, but how do we know they don't collect the data about you? You can tear these Java apps apart, try to decompile the native binaries, there's just telemetry all over the place and any app that's free that's offering you privacy is getting paid somewhere.

[-] merde@sh.itjust.works 9 points 2 days ago
[-] 73kk13@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Ah yes, for a start Tracker Control is even better than a Android firewall. If you don't have F-Droid, an alternative PlayStore installed yet, you can also get it here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.kollnig.missioncontrol.play

[-] anon5621@lemmy.ml 4 points 2 days ago

Unfortunaly there no easy way to get rid of it easily since many spy things integrated inside stock os ,so only open source custom os + open source apps like from fdroid .only in this combo together it make sense

[-] wuphysics87@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 days ago

You can know it doesn't if it literally can't. Likewise if it can it might. I got thinking about this the other day when, in the grocery store, I was counting cameras waiting in line. They can watch you in particular the entire time you are there. They might. Or they might not be real cameras at all. They only way you could know they aren't surveilling you is if you know without a shadow of a doubt there are no cameras at all. If they can they might. If they can't they won't.

I tend to think about my personal privacy this way. Sandbox what you can. Don't have what you don't need. But at the end of the day, your phone is a computer you always carry with you, so you can never really know for sure. Mitigate what risks you can and don't worry about it past that. Life is too short.

[-] Rodneyck@lemm.ee 2 points 2 days ago

Use the app Brokada 5 or the paid one Brokada 6. I use the free version, tells you if an app has trackers and what they are, blocks bad ones.

this post was submitted on 04 Jun 2025
24 points (100.0% liked)

DeGoogle Yourself

11986 readers
352 users here now

A community for those that would like to get away from Google.

Here you may post anything related to DeGoogling, why we should do it or good software alternatives!

Rules

  1. Be respectful even in disagreement

  2. No advertising unless it is very relevent and justified. Do not do this excessively.

  3. No low value posts / memes. We or you need to learn, or discuss something.

Related communities

!privacyguides@lemmy.one !privacy@lemmy.ml !privatelife@lemmy.ml !linuxphones@lemmy.ml !fossdroid@social.fossware.space !fdroid@lemmy.ml

founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS