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submitted 10 months ago by Xirup@lemmy.dbzer0.com to c/privacy@lemmy.ml

I guess there is no need to introduce what a Degoogled phone is (or a custom ROM without google services, like GrapheneOS is) and the Aurora Store is basically said in a crude way the Google Playstore but without the need to log in to your Google account, quite useful in my opinion.

At first, what really concerns me is to run the risk of violating Google's TOS by logging in with my Google account on the Aurora Store to access my purchased apps, but at the same time I think, since Android is Google's operating system, can't they also retaliate against people using a modified version of their OS? And I know that sounds especially stupid when your phone is your phone and not Google's, but we all know how companies like Google work.

I don't use Google services on my device, but I do use it as a secondary email that I don't want to lose, hence the question, I know I can create another email but I don't want to have so many email accounts.

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[-] kbal@fedia.io 29 points 10 months ago

Nobody will be able to give you a definitive answer. Google's ways are unknowable. You are running the risk of losing your Google account by having a Google account.

[-] Facebones@reddthat.com 12 points 10 months ago

Everyone calls you crazy for de-googling until they move and Google decides it doesn't like their new wifi and locks them out forever. 🤷

[-] diffusive@lemmy.world 21 points 10 months ago

The question is not what Google does now but what it will do in 1month, 1quarter, 1year.

It has been years that more and more petty measures have been taken.

FWIW I would make a spare account

[-] Xirup@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 10 months ago

I sincerely consider that it would be permanent and without notice, because again, that's Google and that's how companies like Google work.

I will definitely get a spare account, thanks.

[-] sun_is_ra@sh.itjust.works 12 points 10 months ago

I have been using my google account with Aurora store for couple of years now. I also use degoogled phone (lineageos) with no problem

do with this information what u wish

[-] voracitude@lemmy.world 11 points 10 months ago

I'm running GrapheneOS and if Google locks me out of my device, which I bought from them, they're going to buy me a new apartment :P

Jokes aside, anyone running grapheneOS that gets their Google account banned should DM me. That's solid grounds for a lawsuit.

[-] Melody@lemmy.one 7 points 10 months ago

Realistically I've never been banned, rate-limited or affected when using Aurora. I would recommend at least using microG installation as well though. I suspect that phones that look most suspicious would be ones that never formally "logged into" Google Play Services normally as well, so make sure you've logged into your chosen Google account once with the phone in it's stock full OEM Google Play Services configuration.

Critically, Do Not Use the "Built in Anonymous Accounts" In Aurora! That's just painting a target on your backside and would probably make your device look even more suspicious to whatever AI is swinging the banhammer these days.

Setting up a fresh, new, Google account is critical. Then go about "hardening" the account by setting up TOTP 2FA and disabling all the unwanted tracking options in your Google Account page. You can even generate "app passwords" here that can work for logging into Aurora.

My advice to you is to use this one new Google account across any Google Services you need to log into. Do not just log into microG and Aurora with your new account! Throw it a bone and log into a Youtube page or some other Google Service like GMail every once in a while, even if you do so from the phone's browser only.

The more suspicious and single purpose the account appears to be; the less it blends in and could potentially be suspended by some wayward AI.

[-] WoefKat@lemmy.ml 7 points 10 months ago

Critically, Do Not Use the “Built in Anonymous Accounts” In Aurora! That’s just painting a target on your backside and would probably make your device look even more suspicious to whatever AI is swinging the banhammer these days.

But this is the whole thing about the anonymous accounts. What thing of yours are they going to ban? They don't even know you. There is nothing they can ban.

I'm sure they will ban the anonymous accounts often but the Aurora guys just keep adding more to the pool.

[-] Xirup@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 10 months ago

That's an interesting point of view and I will take it into account, but why not use my new Google account in Aurora?

[-] Melody@lemmy.one 2 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

I'm mentioning that it's a bad idea to Only use that account for Aurora Store and microG services.

You need to log it into a few other apps on the web too. This gives the account more "livelihood". Of course nothing you use the account for should be anything you care about; you just need to occasionally log into it through a browser and browse YouTube while pretending to be someone entirely different from yourself for a bit and check emails or compose a Google Doc, full of nonsense of course, for it.

[-] Melody@lemmy.one 0 points 10 months ago

They will blacklist your device.

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[-] fuckwit_mcbumcrumble@lemmy.world 6 points 10 months ago

Google has made AOSP for years and never banned anyone for using it. They encourage you to tinker with the OS.

[-] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 4 points 10 months ago

Have you looked at AOSP recently? Its mostly dead as basically all the core apps have been replaced with proprietary ones

[-] Max_P@lemmy.max-p.me 1 points 10 months ago

Yes but only if you use their Gapps packages unmodified or don't use their services at all. They don't look as kindly when it comes to microG and Aurora, or even ReVanced, and they still fight to make sure Google Pay doesn't work through SafetyNet and Play Integrity, and you'll only know at checkout too.

People have been banned for using Aurora. You can mess with the OS but they don't want you to mess with their apps and especially not if it affects how much money they make off you.

[-] eruchitanda@lemmy.world 5 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Like other comments suggested, don't take the risk, create a separate account.

[-] kzhe@lemm.ee 3 points 10 months ago

Apparently people said that the Aurora Store accounts had been deleted so use an alt if possible

[-] nyandere@lemmy.ml 3 points 10 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)
[-] shortwavesurfer@monero.town 2 points 10 months ago

Yeah, don't do this. People have had their Google accounts banned already for logging in, and I'm certain you don't want to be another one.

[-] LoveSausage@lemmygrad.ml 1 points 10 months ago

Regarding email you can use k9 email and set it up with your Gmail.

[-] authed@lemmy.ml -2 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)
[-] Xirup@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Believe me, I also say Fuck Google, and I don't want to get into it but there are certain apps that I download from unofficial sources (🏴‍☠️) and I really like them and consider that they deserve my money, and the only way I have is to pay for them in the Google Playstore.

[-] authed@lemmy.ml -3 points 10 months ago

just backup your account

this post was submitted on 12 Nov 2023
63 points (97.0% liked)

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