I need to use Google Android OS for work. If I use a Pixel 4, will it spy on me less than if I use something newer like a Pixel 9?
I need to use Google Android OS for work. If I use a Pixel 4, will it spy on me less than if I use something newer like a Pixel 9?
I’m considering a slight variation of this. I’m considering getting an Android phone for work to get to know Android better. It’ll probably be a Samsung phone. Is that better for Privacy than using a Pixel device? Is it still a privacy nightmare? Is it possible to block/disable location services in Android?
It is worse than the Google Pixel by a lot. Samsung loves spyware (looking at you you preloaded Israel spyware for phones in the middle east), and you still have the Google spyware too (Samsung+Google OS vs just Google). Pixel is pretty clean (compared to other certified Android devices). I used Universal-Android-Debloater-NG on a fresh Pixel 10 and there wasnt much to debloat (without compromising functionality). Avoid phone carriers when buying a phone, more spyware.
My recommendations: Buy a Pixel 9 or 10 (unlocked not from a carrier) and flash GrapheneOS. Way better than stock.
Samsung started permablocking any alternative os by just not having an unlock able bootloader at all
Idk how that relates to my comment at all. Yes that is true, part of the reason I’d never use a Samsung. UAD-ng can be used to debloat while keeping the stock OS.
This is kind of like asking which drug is better to overdose on ;)
That said, in this scenario I’d recommend a Pixel, that way only one company is spying on you, since the stock android experience is kept ‘minimal’. Samsung will bloat the device.
Stock Android will also give you a fantastic jumping-off point if you want to get into something more privacy focused down the line, like GrapheneOS
I’ll prefer the OD with the most awesome colours and the least projectile vomiting 😅
It sounds like the choice will be between one preselected Android model and one pre selected iPhone model, so the choice will probably be limited.
Either way I’ll keep my private phone, and will not have private data on the work phone.
The thing that really gets you are the apps… Anything showing you ads is vacuuming data.
Best thing to do is avoid ads and bad apps, use fdroid instead.
would recommend using obtainium instead of FDroid to get your apps from the source.
https://github.com/ImranR98/Obtainium
I truat fdroid more than I trust upstream tbh