So today I finally took the plunge and bought a new Pixel 8a to install GrapheneOS on. It will be my new daily driver, replacing my current phone. It's getting delivered tomorrow, and I'd like to make sure I'm getting the full privacy/security benefits from the device. What other recommendations would you provide?

  • OhVenus_Baby@lemmy.ml
    ·
    2 months ago

    F-droid session installer, aurora store for google play apps, second profile or 3 for main non invasive apps, google apps, then tor privacy app usage on 3rd. Create backups of each on a flash drive use experimental app data feature in settings. Storage scopes for google app usages, deny most permissions in all profiles, use the camera and mic block toggles. Setup distress in the settings. Download wasted app on fdroid if you like it for extra precaution and settings. Use private messengers. FUTO makes good voice dictation, password storage bit warden its pretty seamless to use. Don't use fingerprint or face ID. Go through the settings and tweak as you need.

  • smams@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    2 months ago

    One thing I wish I knew going in, apps installed via Aurora store (google play store front end), for example ProtonMail typically rely on google play services to correctly send push notifications unfortunately.

    You can remedy this with a seperate profile that can run in the background with google play services and apps that you want notifications for if you take issue with running google software running on your main profile.

    Other than that, I've actually found GrapheneOS on my pixel 8 to be a much better software experience than my previous S22 without any tampering at all, both privacy (obviously) and functionally.

    Congrats and enjoy your new freedome phone, you won't ever look back!

  • communism@lemmy.ml
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    2 months ago

    The suggestions people are making are good but I want to point out that GrapheneOS has good defaults so you don't need to do much except use your phone. If you don't have a particularly high threat model you shouldn't need to make any other considerations (beyond just what software you use on your phone, like if you use something like discord or whatever)