# Basic smartphone - Spyware **URL:** https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/basic-smartphone-spyware/19073 **Category:** Questions **Tags:** guide **Created:** 2024-06-23T20:12:56Z **Posts:** 33 ## Post 1 by @anon1373539 — 2024-06-23T20:12:56Z Hi! If you were to recommend a phone that could have basic apps like WhatsApp, twitter, mail… and so basic and primitive (I’m not technical some people call it I heard (preinstalled apps/spyware) ) that you wouldn’t need to worry about some advanced spyware on it what would you recommend. I have heard oneplus, murena, android go edition (like in Nokias with touch screen) … any ideas Many thanks! --- ## Post 2 by @Valynor — 2024-06-23T20:57:15Z If it can run WA,Twitter it can run “advanced spyware”, too. Get a used Pixel that still gets updates perhaps. --- ## Post 3 by @anon32558482 — 2024-06-23T22:08:58Z A Pixel with GrapheneOS. GOS has done extensive attack surface reduction so it’s your best bet against malware --- ## Post 4 by @anon73250778 — 2024-06-23T23:56:39Z Can you elaborate please? Are you perhaps referring to feature phones or “dumb phones” like the ones Nokia used to have way back then, without Android? --- ## Post 5 by @anon1373539 — 2024-06-24T00:10:14Z Yes, it does not need to be Nokia. I’m looking for any phone that would allow me somehow to use WhatsApp, Twitter… and for this phone to be somehow dumb enough to support that but not spyware. Any ideas? --- ## Post 7 by @anon1373539 — 2024-06-24T00:52:06Z Thank you for that link I appreciate it a lot! I see they also sell laptops which is also what I’m looking for many thanks. But I have another question. If I chose a phone from that website do I need to install one those operating systems you mentioned or they would come already with one of them? --- ## Post 9 by @anon1373539 — 2024-06-24T00:59:52Z My idea was to buy a Linux phone with kill switches (like pine phone) and install anbox to download twitter, WhatsApp. Is that a bad idea to get anbox on a Linux phone. My problem is not corporations collecting my data but a bad actor with spyware on my phone --- ## Post 10 by @Valynor — 2024-06-24T01:04:40Z The pine phone is by far not powerful enough to do something like that in a meaningful way. Also this is a complicated thing to do even if it would work and since you said you are “not technical” you should probably stick with either stock Android (Pixels) or Graphene OS. --- ## Post 11 by @anon1373539 — 2024-06-24T01:08:48Z Ok thank you, if I were to choose the Motorola Moto G7 with e/OS you think there would be a chance someone could still access my mic, camera, etc without me noticing? I understand this phone is not very “advanced” to super such spyware like the ghost type or it still could like in iPhones? Any educated guess? --- ## Post 12 by @anon1373539 — 2024-06-24T01:23:12Z I could on the pine phone use WhatsApp and twitter web version too? --- ## Post 14 by @Valynor — 2024-06-24T01:28:00Z If you want a secure device - Linux on the Pine Phone is pretty much the exact opposite of that. It’s really a tinkering platform for enthusiasts. --- ## Post 16 by @anon1373539 — 2024-06-24T01:42:29Z A) Ok thank you very much so I will Go with a pixel 4a with graphene os running these apps in a sandboxed google play environment and that should help not having mic gps camera exploited all the time… B) also with those laptops on the privacy shop is it a good idea if I install word and excel that shouldn’t be a problem for spyware? Thank you! --- ## Post 17 by @anon1373539 — 2024-06-24T01:44:44Z Also I found this phone > **[Punkt. MC02 secure phone with Apostrophy OS - Punkt. MC02](https://mc02.punkt.ch/en/mc02-5g-secure-phone/)** > > The Punkt. MC02 phone, the best secure smartphone for intentional tech use, running Apostrophy OS to prioritise Swiss data sovereignty, security, and privacy. It does not support whatsapp but I don’t know how good it is for spyware --- ## Post 18 by @anon73250778 — 2024-06-24T04:19:03Z > [@anon1373539](#): > > I will > Go with a pixel 4a with graphene os These are the devices that Graphene OS currently support: - Pixel 8a (akita) - Pixel 8 Pro (husky) - Pixel 8 (shiba) - Pixel Fold (felix) - Pixel Tablet (tangorpro) - Pixel 7a (lynx) - Pixel 7 Pro (cheetah) - Pixel 7 (panther) - Pixel 6a (bluejay) - Pixel 6 Pro (raven) - Pixel 6 (oriole) - Pixel 5a (barbet) I would not get a Pixel 4a because you can no longer install Graphene on it. It may be a bad idea to buy a Pixel5a or Pixel 6a today because the software support is about to end in a few years. Get at least the Pixel 7a. --- ## Post 19 by @anon73250778 — 2024-06-24T05:56:15Z If you _have_ to use Pixel 4a or already have one and dont want to buy another phone, you can use DivestOS instead rather than /e/OS. Flashing ROMs can get a bit complicated for the less tech inclined. I really would have you use something like an iPhone and reduce the risk of things going catastrophically wrong, completely ruining your new phone and wasting your money. Do take note that you void your warrantly when you flash a custom ROM on a new phone. I’ve paid Asus service center once to return it to a non-bricked state on a brand new phone. > [@anon1373539](#): > > B) also with those laptops on the privacy shop is it a good idea if I install word and excel that shouldn’t be a problem for spyware? We do not recommend microsoft products here because of the same spyware issues. If you _have_ to use MS Office products, at least get a proper boxed copy. --- ## Post 20 by @ph00lt0 — 2024-06-24T08:37:58Z > [@anon73250778](#): > > Do take note that you void your warrantly when you flash a custom ROM on a new phone This highly depends on where you live. In EU you surely do not void warranty by doing that, although they might claim so. If you show them you know the law they usually back off, because they know it causes trouble for them. Note that rooting is a different thing if you actually use exploits to alter your phone. --- ## Post 21 by @jonny-freeman — 2024-06-24T09:57:39Z note: DivestOS removes numerous proprietary carrier apps that may be necessary for select carriers. VoLTE didn’t automatically activate for AT&T in some areas and thus may not make calls. --- ## Post 22 by @anon63378630 — 2024-06-24T14:14:09Z This should fix that for many cases: [Making sure you're not a bot!](https://codeberg.org/divested-mobile/divestos-build/commit/4328ec6c6594f3949113ccd923eecaa36d8f7b1f) --- ## Post 23 by @jonny-freeman — 2024-06-24T14:47:33Z thanks, can this be done for Oneplus 5 / 5T? and how to perform this? “Switch to CarrierConfig2 from GrapheneOS” --- ## Post 24 by @anon63378630 — 2024-06-24T14:57:25Z @jonny-freeman assuming no issues in my testing the next few weeks, it’ll be available for all 20.0+ devices in the July update --- ## Post 25 by @jonny-freeman — 2024-06-24T15:02:14Z you rock! --- ## Post 26 by @anon46412288 — 2024-06-26T13:50:06Z Please avoid random phones like these that have absolutely no details on their physical security, do not release the source code to their custom Android operating systems, and do not mention how long they will support their phone for. Even if somehow this phone _had_ decent security, I have a feeling that MediaTek Dimensity 900 chipset will not have firmware updates for 5 years, the minimum offered with Pixel 6 and above. --- ## Post 27 by @anon46412288 — 2024-06-26T13:52:09Z For Pixels that have gone EOL, even with GOS, there can be some harm reduction by installing CalyxOS or DivestOS since it will ensure updates to at least the open source components of the system. --- ## Post 28 by @crossroads — 2024-10-06T08:38:28Z Yesterd I found out about FuriPhone. Looks like good offer, at least compared to PinePhone (Pro) and Librem 5 > **[Home](https://furilabs.com/)** > > The FLX1 Linux smartphone is the best Linux Mobile! Privacy, security and a fast UI. Use Android and Linux apps the way you want. And some nice review > **[Furilabs FLX1 | Luigi311](https://blog.luigi311.com/furilabs-flx1/)** > > Information about the Furilabs FLX1, its features and limitations. --- ## Post 29 by @user1 — 2024-10-06T08:51:24Z Really? That’s super sketchy, red flag. --- ## Post 30 by @crossroads — 2024-10-06T08:57:05Z It shouldn’t be. They’ve participated at some FOSS conferences, had talks with Volla, are open about what they’re doing. The issue is - they just started, many software issues are still there and I would say it is not ready for everyday usage (just like most of other linux phones). You can check their forum or matrix channel for more info. --- ## Post 31 by @asanyan — 2024-10-06T13:07:03Z waydroid on a virtual machine, or blissos. In your computer. --- ## Post 32 by @anon32558482 — 2024-10-06T13:28:56Z Just based on the name, I wouldn’t buy this. EWWW lol --- ## Post 33 by @anon63378630 — 2024-10-06T13:33:22Z has some mediatek garbage that doesn’t even have mainline linux support. people need to stop promoting actual garbage, volla did the [same shit.](https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/new-google-free-smartphones/9927)