Setup check for my Android phone

Questions
1

Hello, I’d like to know if my phone setup is good in terms of privacy(obviously) in the main perspective of getting off of big corpos and mass surveillance. Here are some screenshots for apps specifically:

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The folders for tax, banks, e-commerce, ISP, devices have all the stinky proprietary apps set inside work profile with Shelter. Although for the banks folder is still pending on decisions whereas I have 2 bank accounts but their apps are not able to be downloaded due to my neutered Android even inside work profile using play store, so I’m thinking whether I should just use my old phone for the apps where it’s already the registered device.

Tools folder has LibreOffice viewer, local send, pdf viewer by GOS, metadata eraser, exit eraser, Kagi translate, and broccoli(recipe app)

All Google apps including most(to my knowledge) system apps are disabled using ADBzero, excluding play service. My camera app is a Nothing default. I use Wallet by BudgetBakers(it is propriety software, they are compliant with GDPR so I feel OK enough, and I can delete user data anytime without question). Stinky apps are all inside work profile

I have adguard DNS, proton VPN on both profiles.

No Google accounts are logged in at all.

Device settings are, Google Android settings such as location service by Google, the Google protections services etc. are disabled. I probably can’t list out all the settings individually, but if there’s anything to take note of for Android settings let me know and I’ll check.

And if there are specific things if you’d like to know if I’m doing or not, let me know too.

Let me know how I’m doing and your insights. Thank you!

1 Like
3

You most likely do not need an e-commerce app, you can use their website. Same for ISP (use your phone data monitoring). The best app is the one you don’t install . Putting them in a work profile merely make it harder for them to profile you, it doesn’t prevent it. On the contrary, browser fingerprinting is very minimal.

2 Likes
4

Based on what you’ve written, I recommend the following:

  1. If you use a paid ProtonVPN, activate NetShield; AdGuard DNS isn’t necessary. Unless you’ve paid for AdGuard DNS, either the personal version or another type, for better blocking control, that’s fine. If both are free, it’s fine to use them together; however, the free Controld DNS has better blocking than AdGuard. If you use a paid external DNS service and have a paid ProtonVPN, deactivate NetShield.

  2. In the settings, look for network (internet connection) settings for each application (I don’t know if this is available on your current system). If it is available, block all applications that you don’t need connecting to the network in both the foreground and background. This includes system applications. This is ideal for systems (stock ROMs) that tend to send large amounts of data to external servers and saves mobile data.

  3. Remove applications you don’t use and disable any system apps you don’t use (if possible). Use websites; it’s better than having them as apps. This is ideal for those learning about privacy. In any case, enable desktop mode in your browser if the website requires you to download its app.

  4. If you have essential personal accounts, such as a YouTube channel, use your browser to upload your videos in desktop mode. It will help a lot.

Note: If ADB is required, that’s a more complex issue.

That’s all for now.

5

So I have 2 apps in the E commerce folder, one of them is impossible due to not having a website at all and is for calling cabs similar to Uber, the other is a shopping app which is possible but their website has some key features missing that I need to manage too, it’s a pay later service, of which they have KYC info on me from many years ago(grave mistake). And I plan to delete that account(and to request KYC data deletion if ever possible) once I’m done with the pay later service, although they’d still hold that data for some time, I just realized when trying to login to my account on cromite inside the work profile, it somehow say failed login even after verifying my email pasting the verification link in there. :face_with_diagonal_mouth:

For ISP, there’s the SIM and WiFi, you’re probably right about not needing the app for the WiFi part but there’s no way for me to reload my SIM without an app and to purchase a data plan.

So, I’m not too sure if either can be done, at least I can’t think of it right now

6

I am using many of these apps too :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:

BTW, if you are not using RedReader for accessibility purposes, I would like to suggest Infinity for Reddit.

Communities:

  1. Reddit
  2. Google Play
  3. Apple App Store
  4. Patreon

Since Reddit’s API restrictions, the app switched to a subscription model but it’s the best Reddit app I have seen on any platform.

7
  1. I have paid versions for both, DNS having a 5 year plan, and has Adguard DNS filter, Hagezi pro++, OISD, Dandelion and threat intelligence filters. Don’t know how to deactivate NetShield though, it just deactivates itself as there’s no button for it cuz it knows I have external DNS
  2. I actually didn’t think I could do that cuz it’s not an option in the per app settings, it’s only accessible in the data usage window, weird. But I have some “apps" that’s just a string of numbers… and some others I don’t if I should disable, such as Android OS, Play Service, Nothing Launcher, Essential apps, config updater, private compute services? Just to name a few, again I see lots of just strings of numbers of “apps".
  3. There might be some apps that might be able to do that, like one of the tax apps. But banking is impossible since virtually any banks WANTS me to install their apps as their 2FA to transfer money :face_exhaling:, but ye I’ll try my best to find apps that could use websites, luckily I don’t have many proprietary apps
  4. Probably not? I can’t remember much personal accounts like social media accounts, I still have reddit and twitter accounts but they are for miscellaneous purposes and would like to find apps for each of them that can locally save posts/subreddits and follow people

I did use ADB to disable a lot of junk apps like Google and nothing apps, I used ADBZero, it’s a web based ADB and I disabled all of the recommended apps from UAD database. Thanks!

8

If it could save things locally, like following subreddits and saving posts without needing an account, I’d use it. But how much is it? And how do you pay for it?

9

Okay I get it. I pointed out that out since many western e-shopping websites have feature parity between website and app, but that may not be the case elsewhere, especially in Asia.

that’s strange. if it’s prepaid can’t you buy physical top-ups and enter them with a SMS/phone number ?

10

There is an Anonymous option if that’s what you want. You don’t need an account for that. As for paying, you can pay through patreon or google play. I would prefer patreon as that won’t deduct the 30% extra free from google play. If you can then please support the app with Grande ($5 / month) option or you can use the $2.99/month version. Basically you will be paying for reddit API, indirectly through the developer. BTW, you can DM me if you want to set it up without the subscription as a last resort.

Again, it’s an open source project with a lot of love poured into it by the developer. You will definitely like it.

11

Here’s my answer:

1. Use whichever one works best for you. In the ProtonVPN settings, there’s an option to disable NetShield. You can do this only if it suits your needs—for example, if you disable AdGuard’s DNS, NetShield will still block unwanted content.

2. Whatever you want, with the exception of operating system updates (OTA), for example. As long as there are settings available—if there are any—go ahead.

3. Okay. What I do advise is not to install antivirus software because they collect too much information.

4. It depends on your needs. I go on Reddit to browse, take what I need, and ignore the rest.

You can also use ADB through apps if you want; here are two very useful apps in case you ever need them: Canta and Inure.

It’ll help you.