I’m currently using GrapheneOS and I quite like it, but I would like to switch to something else. Will I lose much privacy if I switch to e/OS? Can I lock bootloader after flashing it like on GrapheneOS? I’m using Pixel 7 btw

  • Atemu
    11•11 months ago

    Were you using the Google espionage services on GOS? If so, you’d likely gain a little privacy because of µG.

    Some devices can lock the bootloader but that’s not a generally supported feature on /e/OS.

      • Atemu
        1•11 months ago
        • µG is not running as root
        • It does not “already have google code in it”. That’s an optional, tightly scoped feature with one specific blob that is required to implement the SafetyNet feature in any implementation
        • I see no reason why you couldn’t run µG inside a sandbox too; the differentiating factor for security is the sandbox, not the GMS implementation. Also has nothing to do with privacy as, contrary to the original GMS, µG doesn’t spy on you to begin with.
          • @[email protected]
            1•11 months ago

            It’s still a Google espionage service, even if we’re putting a pretty effective blindfold on it.

            If someone wiretaps my landline, but I’ve set it up so they never hear anything (as simple as not using the landline), it’s still a spying device, it’s just been made ineffective.

  • @jacktherippah
    1•11 months ago

    I recommend sticking to GOS. If you’d like to use something else, I’d recommend DivestOS. CalyxOS, LineageOS, /e/OS and iodéOS are all significant downgrades in usability, privacy and security and therefore not worth using on a Pixel.

  • @sir_reginald
    1•11 months ago

    it depends.

    you’ll definitely be loosing security, which can turn into loosing privacy if you get affected by malware.

    you’ll also be loosing privacy if installing proprietary apps, since GrapheneOS has features like storage scopes and a better permission system that help minimizing privacy issues.

    I think that locking your bootloader in a Pixel is possible regardless of the ROM you install.

    Anyway, I think that there’s no real benefit of installing any other custom ROM in a Pixel other than GrapheneOS. You’ll be just loosing out in security and potentially privacy for no real reason.

    • @[email protected]
      7•11 months ago

      What? Please stop spreading misinformation.

      /e/ includes microG per default and thus calls google servers. /e/ includes unique identifyer per update call tracking its users. Graphene uses several proxy servers to hide user information, /e/ does not in similar way. And so on…