Some may feel "targeted" by this thread. I don't really care, though. I feel it was necessary to post this.
Imagine buying a phone meant for Chinese market, and then whining and moaning on XDA forums about some features (Google Play) - that are meant for the GLOBAL market, i.e NOT China- not working properly.
People buy this phone for its cameras. Everything-Google being wonky on China phones (again, phones meant for the CHINA MARKET) is nothing new. And no, it's not just Vivo phones.
If you didn't know that, well... sucks to suck, I guess?
You didn't do [enough] research prior to purchasing, and now you are venting on the forums. Cool, but I'm pretty sure nobody wants to read your bs complaints.
It's kinda like buying a Blu-Ray disc from another region and then whining online that it doesn't work on your player. Get how stupid you sound yet? Vivo never released this particular model for the global market. It's China only, for the time being, at least. You can import it of course, but at your own risk. And that's exactly what some of you don't seem to understand. Somehow you feel entitled to your non-global phone having perfect Google Play functionality. Ridiculous.
If Vivo decides to improve the functionality of Google features on the X90 Pro+, good! They don't have to, though.
If they decide to absolutely do nothing about it, oh well. Again, they don't have to do anything. We'll try to find workarounds.
Do you understand what I'm saying to you right now?
When a China citizen purchases a phone in their country, there's zero Google stuff pre-installed on that phone. And guess what, the large majority of people in China DON'T install Google stuff, EVER. Because they don't need it. Google is not used in China. They have their own search engines etc.
We are here to help each other, find workarounds to problems. That's what these forums are for. Think twice before making a post whining and bashing brands, because it's very likely that your complaints are completely invalid.
Thanks for reading.
{Mod edit: Inappropriate language edited. Oswald Boelcke}
jericho246 said:
Some may feel "targeted" by this thread. I don't really care, though. I feel it was necessary to post this.
Imagine buying a phone meant for Chinese market, and then whining and moaning on XDA forums about some features (Google Play) - that are meant for the GLOBAL market, i.e NOT China- not working properly.
People buy this phone for its cameras. Everything-Google being wonky on China phones (again, phones meant for the CHINA MARKET) is nothing new. And no, it's not just Vivo phones.
If you didn't know that, well... sucks to suck, I guess?
You didn't do [enough] research prior to purchasing, and now you are venting on the forums. Cool, but I'm pretty sure nobody wants to read your bs complaints.
It's kinda like buying a Blu-Ray disc from another region and then whining online that it doesn't work on your player. Get how stupid you sound yet? Vivo never released this particular model for the global market. It's China only, for the time being, at least. You can import it of course, but at your own risk. And that's exactly what some of you don't seem to understand. Somehow you feel entitled to your non-global phone having perfect Google Play functionality. Ridiculous.
If Vivo decides to improve the functionality of Google features on the X90 Pro+, good! They don't have to, though.
If they decide to absolutely do nothing about it, oh well. Again, they don't have to do anything. We'll try to find workarounds.
Do you understand what I'm saying to you right now?
When a China citizen purchases a phone in their country, there's zero Google stuff pre-installed on that phone. And guess what, the large majority of people in China DON'T install Google stuff, EVER. Because they don't need it. Google is not used in China. They have their own search engines etc.
We are here to help each other, find workarounds to problems. That's what these forums are for. Think twice before making a post whining and bashing brands, because it's very likely that your complaints are completely invalid.
Thanks for reading.
{Mod edit: Inappropriate language edited. Oswald Boelcke}
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good job buddy. A post like this was long overdue even when it should be mandatory to search and read before importing a chinese device.
I don't have any issues, notifications arrive in time, etc.
If you have any issues or do you work and research or just get another phone
Before google was blocked by the chinese governement - it was widely used. Still many people use google via VPN.
But yes - google apps that require to be system apps like Android Auto or Google assistant will never work on a China OS phone that has no root. Becasue the Chinese government doesn't allow google to be used.
This is not about what Chinese user wants, but what the CCP dictates.
Also spyware going crazy (you can check with Rethink DNS how many connections are built up to Chinese servers all the time) to fulfill the CCP data hunger is something immiment to any China OS phone. Yes that includes apple phones sold in China (or maybe even global ones activated in China) or any other phone officially sold in China, else it would not be allowed to be sold.
There are plenty more issues than just google when buying a China OS phone - and most sites mentioning shortcomings do not mention them.
A good clue of what the Vivo phone spyware will likely collect can be to read reports about Feng Cai or BXAQ:
https://7asecurity.com/reports/analysis-report_bxaq.pdf
e.g.: All calendar entries, phone contacts, country codes and dialed numbers;
All stored text messages (SMS);
All information accessible for various installed apps + an MD5 hash of the app;+
Well said.
I'm super happy. I just hope to be able to add a card to Google wallet and I can't ask for more in a phone. Got over my initial disappoint about that issue as I can just use my actual card.
Camera is a photographer's dream and everything is so fast and smooth.
The Chinese can spy all they want as I'm in the UK with no relation to China. Could. Not. Care. Less
Haskren said:
The Chinese can spy all they want as I'm in the UK with no relation to China. Could. Not. Care. Less
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Weill it could actually be much worse - it's really not unlikely the Chinese government has superuser access on all China OS phones. They used to do this with an app, but it would be much easier for them to do this with inbuilt tools:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/chinese-app-on-xis-ideology-allows-data-access-to-100-million-users-phones-report-says/2019/10/11/2d53bbae-eb4d-11e9-bafb-da248f8d5734_story.html
This way it cannot be discovered easily at all like with the app they used to.
Implications of this - oh but I have absolutely nothing to worry are stupid in my eyes. How do you know the Chinese government doesn't have data breaches? The data that is known about you - would be easily enough to destroy your finances. There have been breaches in China and chinese users were financially harmed by data breached. As a foreigner you are less likely target but that data could be easily sold.
Any website offering pay services now has to secure itself from card scanning, because credit card numbers aren't expensive to buy anymore (usually missing CVC - sometimes with CVC ) those credit cards come usually from data breaches (and yeah a shop doesn't see the full credit card number - so it's not the shop that breached that data).
e.g. the vivo secure keyboard. I mean how do you know your credit card number doesn't end up in China when using it? It's enabled by default... I would not trust it a dime.
The past has shown problems already on greater scale, google up XcodeGhost and Tencent...
here it comes, another thread blocked by this guy.
If your so afraid if getting your data leaked just don't use Internet. Don't leave your house cause ur neighbours will leak your position aswell. If you're so afraid of the Chinese, just buy another Smartphone.
extremecarver said:
Weill it could actually be much worse - it's really not unlikely the Chinese government has superuser access on all China OS phones. They used to do this with an app, but it would be much easier for them to do this with inbuilt tools:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/chinese-app-on-xis-ideology-allows-data-access-to-100-million-users-phones-report-says/2019/10/11/2d53bbae-eb4d-11e9-bafb-da248f8d5734_story.html
This way it cannot be discovered easily at all like with the app they used to.
Implications of this - oh but I have absolutely nothing to worry are stupid in my eyes. How do you know the Chinese government doesn't have data breaches? The data that is known about you - would be easily enough to destroy your finances. There have been breaches in China and chinese users were financially harmed by data breached. As a foreigner you are less likely target but that data could be easily sold.
Any website offering pay services now has to secure itself from card scanning, because credit card numbers aren't expensive to buy anymore (usually missing CVC - sometimes with CVC ) those credit cards come usually from data breaches (and yeah a shop doesn't see the full credit card number - so it's not the shop that breached that data).
e.g. the vivo secure keyboard. I mean how do you know your credit card number doesn't end up in China when using it? It's enabled by default... I would not trust it a dime.
The past has shown problems already on greater scale, google up XcodeGhost and Tencent...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Everybody knows this happens with chinese phones , nothing new .Why have you bought one ? I mean you were aware Vivo its a chinese company , right ?
vendetta17 said:
Everybody knows this happens with chinese phones , nothing new .Why have you bought one ? I mean you were aware Vivo its a chinese company , right ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's simply not the case. So far phones produced in China for global market spy much less than phones produced for China. Because even Iphone produced for China or Samsung produced for China will have to comply with the Chinese government orders on receiving the content of all messages, a list of all phone calls and more data (maybe even all call content).
There is a difference between China OS phone and Chinese global phone - and most people do NOT know this.
And then - as long as there is no sticky for China OS phones listing exactly what google services are unreliable (like google wallet) and which don't work (e.g. Android Auto, google Assistant, Google Backup, Google Location History) or restrictions like very hard to exchange system launcher - and if you do you receive a notice that you have to click away (but not click on it) every reboot or every few days - most people simply aren't aware of all the problems.
I haven't seen a single review of the X90 Pro+ listing all the missing google services - on the contrary the say it's easy to install google playstore and everything works (notebookcheck) - showing that they clearly never used the phone as daily driver (but 90% of the readers will not know this!) to XDA review mentioning only Android auto and okay google not working (that way you believe the rest - including conversation with google assistant does work) or Chinahandys.net which goest the furthes but still misses some points - however does explain to remove vivo.pem (single review ever mentioning this) if you want to receive notifications - but still misses out on location history and google backup.
If the reviews all mentioned the above problems, then much less people would buy China OS phones in first place, and then it really would be justified saying don't vent about google stuff not working. But the fact is that the reviews all miss this. Even more they often tell you that you can just flash the global firrmware (in case of Xiaomi) - though with Xiaomi 13 for example this has become super complicated, and very easy to brick your phone while doing so.
That goes so far that Trading Shenzen advertises google wallet working - and I still think it's possible to get it to work so far on every phone - and people just not having the right framework installed - but there is no guarantee whatsoever it will continue to work with Android 14.
Same for updates - all the reviews mention either the global update policy which doesn't apply, or like chinahandys saying no guarentee but 2-3 years of updates including major android versions - which again ist not true - because e.g. Vivo X70 Pro+ never got Android 12, and very likely a single major updgrade - Android 13 - and very very delayed security patches (and as long as you use Android - those patches are essential - they have nothing to do with google itself).
Many people buying the X90 Pro+ come from Huawei P30 Pro or even Mate 20 Pro - those had really good / reliable software with the caveat of course of being stuck with Android 10 due to the Huawei ban. However no single other Chinese brand ever got close to the Huawei software quality...
And no - I wasn't aware of most of those points - before buying - because no damn review mentions them! And I thought chinese phones = China OS chinese phones when it comes to spyware (similar to bloatware ). But this is simply not the case. I didn't know that the China spyware costs a lot of battery life (see identical phones on dxomark or gsmarena battery tests - with the China OS version usually having 7-15% less battery life, espcially standby much shorter!)
And youtube reviews are even worse - they usually mention no single point at all of the above.
jericho246 said:
Some may feel "targeted" by this thread. I don't really care, though. I feel it was necessary to post this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I stopped reading here.
When a company advertises that the phone they sell will work 100% with Google Payment applications and banking apps which require secure/high integrity. Then when I pay them for that phone, I expect these things to work. When it doesn't work, I demand compensation. That's fair, that's life.
Honestly threads and posts like this belong on Reddit where you can scream into the void at your own expense and because you literally have nothing else better to do. I for one have better things to do.
Writing a long-winded rant that no one who values their time is going to read really tells more about yourself than it does about the people you have directed this thread at. Here's your free bump. But I'll make sure to ignore all of your posts going forward. I suggest others do the same.
EDIT: I got a 15% refund of my 512GB Vivo X90PP, because it doesn't pass SatfetyNet. That brings the price down to just under 850€ for me. Also this will likely be fixed in the next software update, as the trial/beta update has Google Pay working for everyone on XDA who has tested it so far.
So partial refund + working on next update. So I guess the joke is on you for not having done your own research. Clearly I did mine.
luontokoodaus said:
I stopped reading here.
When a company advertises that the phone they sell will work 100% with Google Payment applications and banking apps which require secure/high integrity. Then when I pay them for that phone, I expect these things to work. When it doesn't work, I demand compensation. That's fair, that's life.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Aight, you sound upset (for no good reason), so let's get this over with quick. Show me where Vivo actually stated that the Vivo X90PP supports "Google Payment applications".
I'll save you the trouble; you can't, because they never advertised it. Google is never mentioned anywhere.
Now if you are talking about resellers like Wonda Mobile or Trading Shenzhen, then your issue is with them, not Vivo.
Greetings to all. Just a friendly reminder about XDA Rule 2.3:
2.3 Flaming / Lack of respect: XDA is about sharing and this does not involve virtual yelling (flaming) or rudeness. Flaming or posting with a lack of respect is unacceptable. Treat new members in the manner in which you would like to have been treated when you were a new member. When dealing with any member, provide them with guidance, advice and instructions when you can, showing them respect and courtesy. Never post in a demanding, argumentative, disrespectful or self-righteous manner.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While everyone is entitled to post their opinion, we ask only that you do so in a polite and respectful manner, or not at all. So let us please leave the name calling out
of it shall we. Thank you.
-Regards: Badger50
Related
I cant buy any programs at all.
Its many progs I would like to pay for the full version off.
Why cant I do this?
When will this be available in Norway?
Currently Norway is not a supported region for paid apps (see http://market.android.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=138294 ).
Try the beta version of the market enabler ( http://code.google.com/p/market-enabler/ ) which I believe allows you to select which region you want to "appear" to be in so you can access the apps from that region.
Regards,
Dave
This is bull**** by google.
I have to have a rooted phone to do that, and I want to wait for a easy way to root my phone. This I haven't found.
syklitengutt said:
This is bull**** by google.
I have to have a rooted phone to do that, and I want to wait for a easy way to root my phone. This I haven't found.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
rooting your phone is kinda easy... but i admit it's a pain in the ass to have to mod it just for one or two apps
Pissing me off to.
syklitengutt said:
I cant buy any programs at all.
Its many progs I would like to pay for the full version off.
Why cant I do this?
When will this be available in Norway?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I live up in Troms, Norway and I am a bit miffed at the ristrictions imposed on the market place too. I'm searching for a workaround and will post any easy solutions.
Hello to the Hero group too. I have come over from the Athena forum. I'm a WM6.5 traitor.
Hopefulle Google will change the way they support norwegians in the marked. It`s a shame!
To be fair, I believe that it is technically simple, but legally complicated to offer up something like the market in a new territory.
Essentially, Google is acting as a middle-man for all the application developers, who are selling you their apps. Depending on where they are physically located, there are all sorts of issues that may need to be taken into consideration (e.g. VAT, tax, payment processing etc) before they can open up the paid apps market to a new territory.
Not really much help to those of you in unsupported regions, and I do believe that a company the size of Google (and with resources to match!) should be able to do this much quicker!
Regards,
Dave
Have you been to Norway?
foxmeister said:
To be fair, I believe that it is technically simple, but legally complicated to offer up something like the market in a new territory.
Essentially, Google is acting as a middle-man for all the application developers, who are selling you their apps. Depending on where they are physically located, there are all sorts of issues that may need to be taken into consideration (e.g. VAT, tax, payment processing etc) before they can open up the paid apps market to a new territory.
Not really much help to those of you in unsupported regions, and I do believe that a company the size of Google (and with resources to match!) should be able to do this much quicker!
Regards,
Dave
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not legalities that are the problem here but bureaucracy and people sat on their arse drinking coffee and eating cake all day at work. It takes so damn long to get anything done in Norway. Take a look at the XBox 360 update - streaming movies and tv available but switched off in order to let a Norwegian company take control of the content. (But the contracts, and therefore the service, were not ready because everyone was on summer holiday!)
Don't hold your breath for a paid app Marketplace here until at least end of the year.
This is exactly the sort of area where the EU should step up to the plate to harmonize the laws across individual member states. I''m not talking about taxation, or tax rates, but it should be much easier to do business with the EU as a "bloc". Trouble is the bureaucrats seem to spend more time thinking up legislation to complicate and hinder, rather than make things simpler and easier for the people they represent!
Regards,
Dave
Ermmmm.
foxmeister said:
This is exactly the sort of area where the EU should step up to the plate to harmonize the laws across individual member states. I''m not talking about taxation, or tax rates, but it should be much easier to do business with the EU as a "bloc". Trouble is the bureaucrats seem to spend more time thinking up legislation to complicate and hinder, rather than make things simpler and easier for the people they represent!
Regards,
Dave
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Norway's not in the EU and that's it's main problem.
Well, that comes as a surprise to me! I just assumed that it was!
Regards,
Dave
I understand your frustration very well, My country is in European region and IN the EU community and we can't buy payed apps on marketplace either. Our mobile providers have to make deals with google before they can enable it.
Typical Belgium, always steps behind.
These new smartphones and app markets are what makes these new generation phones appealing.
Hope it wont take to long, otherwise people start pirating soft like on WM.
at least you guys in the EU can see the light at the end of the tunnel, im in the middle east and know for a fact that ill never be able to buy an app for my phone ,how come Apple managed to do it with the Iphone ???
quattro_rs said:
at least you guys in the EU can see the light at the end of the tunnel, im in the middle east and know for a fact that ill never be able to buy an app for my phone ,how come Apple managed to do it with the Iphone ???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so the light doesn't shine here in Luxembourg, no way to buy an app in the android store, just the free ones. Better than nothing
Rooted my phone. Now buying what I want when I want.
The same here , I'm from Saudi Arabia and I can't buy any app , I had the iphone before and I was able to buy anything also the had Arabic support !! even though apple is known for bad Arabic support , so google ; shame on you !!!!
i guess this is a general subject, but fits in this forum because we're (nexus users) probably more affected than the rest of the android world. In short, i'm not liking Google's thirst for collecting info in order to sell us ads, tailor and filter information that gets to us, or even sell our info to other companies (android police had an article a while back about a company who was doing this). But let's go back in time a bit first...
My first android device was back in 2010, and i've been through a few htc and samsung devices, galaxy nexus, nexus 4 and of course nexus 5. Now, whoever had a galaxy nexus might remember how android was back then, ICS just came out, it was the first version that could actually compete with it's rival OS's, and the official builds on the galaxy nexus were very close to AOSP.
On the nexus 4 we started to see some changes, Chrome replaced AOSP's browser (Browser) even though it was still not ready for that role yet and despite it coming a long way to where it is now, IMO it's still not as good as the stock browser was. Google Play Music also replaced Music as the default music player and so on..
On the nexus 5 Hangouts replaced stock Messaging (in my opinion it also is not ready for that role yet) and last but not least we're witnessing how G+'s Photos is going to replace Gallery (which is simple and fast, works great, and has a mighty lil photo editor).
Let's add to that Photosphere, a feature exclusive to nexus devices, and the Google Experience launcher (exclusive to nexus 5). So we've reached quite a big divergence from AOSP.
Another thing is how Google is forcing it's social network, either through binding playstore/youtube comments with it, photos, G+ sign in, Game hub (Play Games) etc.. Basically, you have to have G+ to be able to do simple stuff.
Also, we all know that one of the reasons they killed microSD support was to get people to use their cloud services, Keep, Drive, GMusic, G+ autobackup photos...
Other than forcing it's services, Google likes to tailor things for us. A simple example is the Youtube app, it's default opening screen is "What to watch" instead of subscriptions.
Also, Google Now is a cool concept, and it can be very helpful, but it kind of adopts the concept of offering you the info (it thinks) you need, according to certain algorithms. And that's the way Google's search engine has been functioning for years. And it's not only a Google thing, everybody does it, facebook, yahoo etc..
If you've read this far, and this subject interests you, watch this TED talk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8ofWFx525s
I've been thinking about this subject for a while, and honestly, i have mixed thoughts about it. I use Google's services and i actually like Google as a company -despite the lil rant above- but i try my best to control what info i share with them, and i'm definitely not liking the route Google is taking with android, causing fragmentation even between nexus devices, closing down a lot of open source services and forcing it's own, and tailoring stuff for me. I don't need someone to think or make decisions on behalf of me, i want to be able to decide what i want to see/read/know about/use. I also want android to stay as open sourced and available to everyone as it can be.
So what's your take on this subject? do you have any concerns about your privacy and the info you share with Google's servers? and how about the android -or should i say Google- experience on the N5 compared to AOSP or past experiences you had with previous nexus devices, do you see any difference?
Google uses your data to build out great services. They also get a lot of money for advertising, and that's just the way it is. Do you think they should give Maps and Gmail away for free to people without getting something in return? Everyone who buys a Nexus device or uses Google's services understands this. You said in your post that Google forces their services on us, but you aren't being forced to use a Nexus device, or use Maps and Gmail. You made that decision yourself, so I don't understand why you're complaining.
Oh no, Google can't do nothing bad. It's Apple's fault.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
I don't really understand what you are getting at. If you don't like all of the Google services then why not install cyanogen mod? The sole purpose of a business is to make money for it shareholders and Google is a business. They provide amazing apps and services for "free". I put free in quotes because you are indirectly paying for it. No one is forcing you to use Google phones or Google services.
Edit* okay I do understand what you are getting at but I don't feel that Google is hiding it from its users. It's no secret that Google sells ads. That is their business. They can become a more successful business if they gather more information about its users. I am aware of what Google does when I use its services and I accept it because I use the services they provide and don't have to pull out my credit card.
It's not that hard to understand; why are we all flaming this dude? He was just asking for everyone's opinions.
I agree with you 100%. Especially as I initially made the switch from CM9 to CM10, I was really wary about Google Now. It seemed like it was collecting waaaayyyyy too much info. The G+ integration in Google Play and Youtube also ticked me off.
However, the more I think about it, Google is still being sensible. Google Now can't be compared to Siri because Siri can't do crap; Siri just takes what you say and searches it up. Google Now can be turned off, and if you don't want it always tracking your location, just turn off location and it'll turn off all the location-based cards.
I'm also intrigued (not concerned) by Google's recent actions, especially with the acquisition of Moto, the release of Moto X and Moto G, and the introduction of so many GPe devices. Perhaps Google feels threatened by Samsung and feels the need to tighten its grip? The Nexus/GPe community used to be solely dominated by Samsung, but now it's seen entrances by HTC, LG, Asus and Sony. It seems to me that everything Google has done in the past few months has been forced by Scamsung and Crapple, and that we shouldn't really feel concerned in any way...yet.
The whole world runs on information and EVERYONE is trying to collect as much as possible. You might as well let it benefit you. Imagine if you had to pay for an email client, gps, countless news subscriptions, data hosting, and on top of that, had to pay for every new software version as it was made available. Even paid services are focused primarily on learning as much about you as possible. At least they are trying to learn what interests you to offer you something you might actually want!
I for one am very sad to see Google's Android deviate so far from pure Android. I am not a fan of the Google Experience launcher and I miss the beautifully simple AOSP experience. Even when I do run stock android, I fill it up with Google services. I think the point here is that you should choose what you want... ESPECIALLY with a Nexus device. The Nexus has become too commercial with the N5.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
I dont want anyone selling my data. I do appreciate that I use many Google services for free so I'm happy for their bots to analyse my data to sell tailored advertising to support these services.
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rootSU said:
I dont want anyone selling my data. I do appreciate that I use many Google services for free so I'm happy for their bots to analyse my data to sell tailored advertising to support these services.
-----------------------
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Long as i dont get junk in my email or mailing address, besides what do you got to hide huh? unless you're al qaeda right? or some terrorist..
Google doesn't sell your info to other people, and nor does it "read" your inbox or someone is "reading" it, it looks for certain keywords then deliver ads based on that... test it your self on your phone email your self with any subject and just make a random sentence containing the word viagra, you will now receive ads that have to do with "Male enhancement pills".. google does this to provide cheap devices such as the chromecast and nexus line they want you to buy it in return for your interests then deliver ads based on that then google gets paid by the advertiser or the marketing campain, so lets just call this instead of google stalking you or like mining your information like gold think of it as google trying to see what you're interested into and deliver that to you!
oh also inb4 someone says punctuation is your friend
I've always been very bugged about this that's why I try to download privacy apps to control what permissions they are asking for
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Google is just a modern day netzero (from back in the days). The sooner you realize that, the better you'll be able to set your expectations.
That being said everything you find worrisome, you can substitute with a different service. It's not being forced to you.
The reality is, you made a calculation that the benefits outweighs the costs. You just may not be conscious of it.
Lastly, the nexus line is pure Google, it's not pure asop. It's Google flavored android, just as htc one is htc flavored android.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
---------- Post added at 12:08 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:04 AM ----------
nohcho said:
Oh no, Google can't do nothing bad. It's Apple's fault.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stawman
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
markdapimp said:
Long as i dont get junk in my email or mailing address, besides what do you got to hide huh? unless you're al qaeda right? or some terrorist..
Google doesn't sell your info to other people, and nor does it "read" your inbox or someone is "reading" it, it looks for certain keywords then deliver ads based on that...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is exactly my point. You seem to be arguing my point back to me, which makes no sense. Perhaps you misread my post
Nothing online belongs to you.. there are many ways to stay frosty on android.
Sent from my AOSP on HammerHead using Tapatalk
i guess some people didn't get my point, maybe since English is not my native language.
Anyways, as i mentioned in my previous post i do use Google services, and i'm grateful that most of them are free. But it's getting harder and harder to control your privacy. Look at the new location concept in kitkat, you can't switch location OFF completely from the power widget, you have to take additional steps and go into settings. Furthermore, on previous versions, you could use GPS, let's say for sport tracking apps, but deny location from all Google apps. Now you can't do it anymore, even if you use "device only" Google's apps (and facebook and others) are able to ask for your location.
Same goes to the Photos app, if you log in your G+ account, and choose photos from the slide menu, you'll see all your photos, even if they are still only on your device (autobackup OFF), something like the GMusic concept with on-device/cloud music. Honestly, i don't want my photos on G+, and i have a feeling i'll be forced soon to upload them whether i like it or not, just like the location thing.
Also i want to be able to choose what G services i want to use. AOSP still gives that freedom, but no one can deny that Google progressively is stopping to develop AOSP apps, and it's forcing it's own. I think some around here take stuff that Cyanogenmod or the Paranoid team (and others) do for granted. I think people should be thankful for things like 8Sms , Focal and so on, and recognize the effort put in them, and help (test/report bugs) and donate to those devs to encourage them to polish these apps and make them even better. Honestly, i think we were lucky to get to choose what sms client we want as default, if it was up to Google, we wouldn't have that option available.
And lastly, look at what happened to App Ops, it would've been a nice tool to give back control to the end users, but it was killed in the last update with a statement that it was never meant to go public. If they are afraid some people will misuse it and break app-functionality (then whine about it) , well they could've put it in Developer Options right beside ART and the rest of the stuff that can potentially break things on your device.
So as a conclusion, i do like and use Google services, but i also don't want to be forced to share my private data, i just want to be able to do it in the range that i'm comfortable with, and putting everything on Google's servers does not make me feel comfortable :good:
You're never forced to share your data... You don't even have to use your real name on an account!
Sheesh.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Cirkustanz said:
You're never forced to share your data... You don't even have to use your real name on an account!
Sheesh.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's cool, can I use your name when buying my next phone.... how about my Google store/wallet account, oh yeah and PayPal
makes you wonder why so many laws in the past prohibited such practises... they must of been real stooooopid!! haha
also if it was a bad thing lots of literature would have been written about it, warning us
meangreenie said:
That's cool, can I use your name when buying my next phone.... how about my Google store/wallet account, oh yeah and PayPal
makes you wonder why so many laws in the past prohibited such practises... they must of been real stooooopid!! haha
also if it was a bad thing lots of literature would have been written about it, warning us
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't be silly.
You can pay cash for an Android phone. You can even pay cash for a Nexus 5.
You have the option of paying for mobile purchases with your carrier account, and have you never heard of a pre-paid visa card? There are all kinds of ways to get one without providing any personally identifiable information of any kind. The point of google store purchases being an invasion of your personal information is also entirely moot as you can very easily use an Android phone without making a single purchase on the play store.
You don't even have to use wallet, in fact most Android users CANNOT even use wallet to its fullest since they don't have NFC in their phones.
For real now, if you think your personal data is so valuable and sacred, have fun not having a checking account, loan, a real job, or a real place to live.
You don't even have to have google services running on your phone. This is XDA...install a custom rom and just don't load gapps. Or be even more lazy about it and just disable those apps in settings and they don't run.
That's me being silly. See how that works?
Here's my theory on the issue...
The way I see it is that a person has three choices:
1. Go completely off-the-grid, paying (limited) bills in cash, never engaging with the internet, and forgoing many modern technological conveniences.
2. Allow some personal information here and there, trying to maintain control by engaging with services that can be discontinued when they "cross the line".
3. Allowing access to all personal information online, engaging with anything and everything.
The third is simply not an option for me. I have no desire to have for-profit corporations spamming me with offers for crap I don't want and selling my private, personally identifiable information to anyone and everyone.
The first is really not an option, either. I don't want to be completely cut off from friends or have contacting them be excessively difficult. It is convenient to pay my rent, utilities, and other bills online. Frankly, I'm not good enough with any type of work that allows one to go off the grid to make a living.
So, that leaves me with the second option. I monitor changes to privacy and terms of service policies for the services that I use. I try to limit the services that I use. Obviously, I have a bank account and that comes with the need to provide some information to the bank, but also the ability to monitor my money and immediately flag appropriate people if anything suspicious happens. I have a Google account and a Nexus 5, ergo I use Google's services. And here's what's important to me: I can delete my Google account any time I want. With something like Facebook, it was a lot more difficult to do that once I became uncomfortable with my of the changes Facebook was making. Also, with Google, I can opt-out of many of the services that make me uncomfortable, such as targeted advertising or using my +1's as endorsements. If that ever goes away, I will absolutely reconsider my position. I maintain multiple Google accounts, actually, as a means of limiting who can see what information about me. I have a personal account, which has the most information about me and which is as locked down vis-a-vis Google as I can make it, but which allows my friends and family the best means of interacting with me. I have a professional account, which has only information relevant to my work. I have an "partial-incognito" account, which does not have explicitly identifiable information about me. I have a few completely incognito accounts, which I only ever access through very restricted circumstances, like a proxy server, and have absolutely no information that could be tied back to me. Frankly, that's about the best I can do.
I have chosen to make a tradeoff, information for convenience. The line where I am willing / unwilling to make that tradeoff is a massive grey area and I constantly reevaluate it. Sure, it's annoying to have to stay on top of it, but it's a fact of modern life. As long as Google gives me the option to delete my account whenever I want, I give them the benefit of the doubt and continue providing (limited) information about myself in exchange for some extremely useful services (unfortunately, this isn't the same deal I can make with the NSA).
Lokitez said:
Here's my theory on the issue...
The way I see it is that a person has three choices:
1. Go completely off-the-grid, paying (limited) bills in cash, never engaging with the internet, and forgoing many modern technological conveniences.
2. Allow some personal information here and there, trying to maintain control by engaging with services that can be discontinued when they "cross the line".
3. Allowing access to all personal information online, engaging with anything and everything.
The third is simply not an option for me. I have no desire to have for-profit corporations spamming me with offers for crap I don't want and selling my private, personally identifiable information to anyone and everyone.
The first is really not an option, either. I don't want to be completely cut off from friends or have contacting them be excessively difficult. It is convenient to pay my rent, utilities, and other bills online. Frankly, I'm not good enough with any type of work that allows one to go off the grid to make a living.
So, that leaves me with the second option. I monitor changes to privacy and terms of service policies for the services that I use. I try to limit the services that I use. Obviously, I have a bank account and that comes with the need to provide some information to the bank, but also the ability to monitor my money and immediately flag appropriate people if anything suspicious happens. I have a Google account and a Nexus 5, ergo I use Google's services. And here's what's important to me: I can delete my Google account any time I want. With something like Facebook, it was a lot more difficult to do that once I became uncomfortable with my of the changes Facebook was making. Also, with Google, I can opt-out of many of the services that make me uncomfortable, such as targeted advertising or using my +1's as endorsements. If that ever goes away, I will absolutely reconsider my position. I maintain multiple Google accounts, actually, as a means of limiting who can see what information about me. I have a personal account, which has the most information about me and which is as locked down vis-a-vis Google as I can make it, but which allows my friends and family the best means of interacting with me. I have a professional account, which has only information relevant to my work. I have an "partial-incognito" account, which does not have explicitly identifiable information about me. I have a few completely incognito accounts, which I only ever access through very restricted circumstances, like a proxy server, and have absolutely no information that could be tied back to me. Frankly, that's about the best I can do.
I have chosen to make a tradeoff, information for convenience. The line where I am willing / unwilling to make that tradeoff is a massive grey area and I constantly reevaluate it. Sure, it's annoying to have to stay on top of it, but it's a fact of modern life. As long as Google gives me the option to delete my account whenever I want, I give them the benefit of the doubt and continue providing (limited) information about myself in exchange for some extremely useful services (unfortunately, this isn't the same deal I can make with the NSA).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's the type of answer i was looking for, thank you for this :good:
i can recognize myself in most of the things you wrote, basically that's how i feel about it too. i hope we won't get to the part where we'll have to "reconsider our position", but all the closing down and limitations are an indication that we're heading that way (i hope i'm wrong).
I started this thread to hear what others think about this subject, and to see if maybe i'm being excessively paranoid
Cirkustanz said:
Don't be silly.
You can pay cash for an Android phone. You can even pay cash for a Nexus 5.
You have the option of paying for mobile purchases with your carrier account, and have you never heard of a pre-paid visa card? There are all kinds of ways to get one without providing any personally identifiable information of any kind. The point of google store purchases being an invasion of your personal information is also entirely moot as you can very easily use an Android phone without making a single purchase on the play store.
You don't even have to use wallet, in fact most Android users CANNOT even use wallet to its fullest since they don't have NFC in their phones.
For real now, if you think your personal data is so valuable and sacred, have fun not having a checking account, loan, a real job, or a real place to live.
You don't even have to have google services running on your phone. This is XDA...install a custom rom and just don't load gapps. Or be even more lazy about it and just disable those apps in settings and they don't run.
That's me being silly. See how that works?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well none of that was my point, but don't worry about it. your willing to give my and my children's freedom away.. no argument will ever be good enough for you to stop you doing that.
Personally i don't care what Google knows about me (i'm not that interesting and i got nothing to hide - heck let the NSA spy on me too. don't care). I love their services and don't see anything wrong with them using my info to make $$. They are providing me with a service that makes my life a lot easier/better. I also really like the consolidation of Google aps and services and the synergy it creates. Google may force you to use one service to access part of another, but they do not force you to use anything you choose not to. If you don't like G+ integration, don't use Google's suite. I'm not trying to flame the OP, but i just don't get the point of this post. If you don't like something the best way is the speak with your wallet. If enough people do that maybe Google will pay attention.
---------- Post added at 12:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:49 PM ----------
rayiskon said:
That's the type of answer i was looking for, thank you for this :good:
i can recognize myself in most of the things you wrote, basically that's how i feel about it too. i hope we won't get to the part where we'll have to "reconsider our position", but all the closing down and limitations are an indication that we're heading that way (i hope i'm wrong).
I started this thread to hear what others think about this subject, and to see if maybe i'm being excessively paranoid
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this is why you started the thread? to hear opinions that validate your own? i thought it was to spark discussion?
Hi guys. I'm starting this thread in hopes of sparking a conversation and a concerted effort to rid ourselves as users from the clutches of Google and other big tech companies. I am sick and tired of Google tracking me and attempting to force feed me ads on a daily send constant basis. Then selling my info to other companies such as Facebook. So, I have started down the path of decluttering (De-Google-ing) my device(s). I am primarily interested in securing my device as much as possible and protecting my privacy.
So far, I have reformatted my entire device to factory default settings installed and using F-Droid (FOSS) for all my apps. I use Yandex as my search engine (I am often to suggestions and recommendations) in the "private browser" app. I use Aurora instead of Google Play store, New Pipe for YouTube-ing, Frost for Facebookingand SlimSocial for Twitter. I have stopped using Google keyboard and any other Google apps. I have abandoned gmail and replaced it with proton mail instead. So far, no ads and as far as I can tell, no tracking. I have also installed a VPN and am using it religiously—Cyber Ghost, a $99 for 3 years subscription with support up to 8 devices.
However, I am still very much connected to Samsung for I am not privy as to whether or not Samsung is as sinister as Google and Facebook.
Again, I am open to all suggestions, corrections and recommendations. Thank you and I hope to engage with you all.
leave it up to them yandex russians to protect your privacy.
but seriously. the most dangerous thing you can do is acctualy think that the steps you take are really making your life private.
vpns just channel the traffic to an other end point and does the queries for you then sends the data encrypted to you.
the queries are still made on the www. account info and all things you store or access online is still accessible by the www. vpn companies just fool you into thinking that the data being relayed to you is the only weak link. plus the free ones mine your data.
best thing you can do is not use social media. its made to invade your privacy. its designed to fool you into giving as much of your personal life info as possible and sell your habits to add companies so they can in turn send you quatered adds.
the minute you use the internet you void your privacy regardless of how you think the measures you take are working or effective. and what are you going to do about the 100 and 1000's of companies being hacked and their data mined and sold every month? you cant do anything about that. plus its much better for hackers to get their info from a big company because you get much more than just 1 dude that does his banking online and chat every now and then.there is no money to be made from 1 individual.
if you think people are specifically after you, you are gravely being fooled by the vpn ad campaigns that have been poping up everywhere about "privacy".( they must hide the fact that they also get hacked very well.its just that the media hasint picked up on it yet)
anyways who want to waste time on an end user/device?
when again you just need to hack equifax like a few years back and you get the motherload instead.
all in all I've abandoned the thought of real privacy. its futile.( even abstinents dosen't work because companies and governments don't secure customer data correctly. and unfortunately if you are born, you must be branded and labeled and filed away.)
live your life. just know that what ever you do you can't escape big brother and your data from being leaked by the big companies that say that it is secured with them.
the whole infrastructure relies on them companies and the habits we have been embraining ourselves and our children with is the problem.. we live our lives intertwined with the services and devices that we take for granted and have clicked next next next through polices and consent forms for over 25 years now whithout even giving it a second though. we're in over our heads now and it is a little late to back out. this was al dine by design and all voluntarily. its crazy how marketing is evil.
a cabin in the woods is the easiest and most secure thing one can do. anything shy of that is a waste of time and a false feeling of privacy.
anyways I'm going around in circles now.
one thing for sure is that the criminals we think that we need cover from are not who we think they are.
they are the FCC dealing with big telcos, they are the big media giants spewing false information and fabricates facts. they are in our governments in the highest ranks pushing hidden agendas and most of all they are the big social media platforms remodeling our society each day under our noses at our expense.
but hey this is not new. the internet police is just tring to make you think it is and spend 9.99$ a month for a vpn lol
good luck.
I just stopped using as many Google apps as I can and switched over to MS Office apps and use Samsung services where I can too...
bober10113 said:
leave it up to them yandex russians to protect your privacy.
but seriously. the most dangerous thing you can do is acctualy think that the steps you take are really making your life private.
vpns just channel the traffic to an other end point and does the queries for you then sends the data encrypted to you.
the queries are still made on the www. account info and all things you store or access online is still accessible by the www. vpn companies just fool you into thinking that the data being relayed to you is the only weak link. plus the free ones mine your data.
best thing you can do is not use social media. its made to invade your privacy. its designed to fool you into giving as much of your personal life info as possible and sell your habits to add companies so they can in turn send you quatered adds.
the minute you use the internet you void your privacy regardless of how you think the measures you take are working or effective. and what are you going to do about the 100 and 1000's of companies being hacked and their data mined and sold every month? you cant do anything about that. plus its much better for hackers to get their info from a big company because you get much more than just 1 dude that does his banking online and chat every now and then.there is no money to be made from 1 individual.
if you think people are specifically after you, you are gravely being fooled by the vpn ad campaigns that have been poping up everywhere about "privacy".( they must hide the fact that they also get hacked very well.its just that the media hasint picked up on it yet)
anyways who want to waste time on an end user/device?
when again you just need to hack equifax like a few years back and you get the motherload instead.
all in all I've abandoned the thought of real privacy. its futile.( even abstinents dosen't work because companies and governments don't secure customer data correctly. and unfortunately if you are born, you must be branded and labeled and filed away.)
live your life. just know that what ever you do you can't escape big brother and your data from being leaked by the big companies that say that it is secured with them.
the whole infrascturuce relies on them companies and the habits we have been embraining ourselves and our children with is the problem.. we live our lives intertwined with the services and devices that we take for granted and have clicked next next next through polices and consent forms for over 25 years now whithout even giving it a second though. we're in over our heads now and it is a little late to back out. this was al dine by design and all voluntarily. its crazy how marketing is evil.
a cabin in the woods is the easiest and most secure thing one can do. anything shy of that is a waste of time and a false feeling of privacy.
anyways I'm going around in circles now.
one thing for sure is that the criminals we think that we need cover from are not who we think they are.
they are the FCC dealing with big telcos, they are the big media giants spewing false information and fabricates facts. they are in our governments in the highest ranks pushing hidden agendas and most of all they are the big social media platforms remodeling our society each day under our noses at our expense.
but hey this is not new. the internet police is just tring to make you think it is and spend 9.99$ a month for a vpn lol
good luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oy vey! Thank you very much for yor contribution. It is very much appreciated and I see what you are saying.
AndroidUser00110001 said:
I just stopped using as many Google apps as I can and switched over to MS Office apps and use Samsung services where I can too...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How has this been working out for you? What are your thoughts on Samsung's and Microsoft privacy policies etc?
Nonetheless, what are some good and viable alternatives to Google and optimally "securing" one's device (taking everything bober10113 has said).
michel5891 said:
How has this been working out for you? What are your thoughts on Samsung's and Microsoft privacy policies etc?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like the other poster said, I gave up on worrying about privacy. I made the switch for other reasons and privacy was down on the list...
I just do not like what Goolge has been doing lately, especially blocking ad blockers soon in Chrome so I switched to MS Edge on Android and the Chromium version of Edge for desktop and the rest of the apps just followed through. I am seeing how the switch works for myself and if all goes well I will switch back to MS for the small company I work for.
I gave up on Gmail, Google Drive and all their office apps so far and I stopped using Nexus/Pixel phones for the first time in 10 years. I started with the S9+ which I enjoyed for a couple of months and then got a Note9 during a holiday special and now I cannot wait for the Note10.
Privacy is what it is nowadays... We should all own our data and if we choose to let be used as companies are doing now then we should get a slice of all the money being made but I doubt it will ever get to be something like that.
michel5891 said:
How has this been working out for you? What are your thoughts on Samsung's and Microsoft privacy policies etc?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't think that they are any better than Google's. Majority of the companies out there that are international had to adhere to the EU rules of privacy, so a lot of them have adopted those standards. NOT ALL OF THEM. That's why all of a sudden you are getting new agreements from all the major companies that touch each section of land on the world.
I still don't trust any of them even to that point.
This is morbid. I have been thinking a lot more about death, debt, privacy and such, and I have come to the conclusion that I honestly don't care about my own anymore because it has been stolen, including my wife's. Future children though, I worry about them because you don't even have to mention their name on the internet and somehow every major company knows about them.
Ever had a conversation with someone without actually looking something up on the web, and then a day or two later Google and other ads start showing things concerning what you were talking about to someone in person? Yeah, it has happened to me numerous times now I can't even count anymore.
Jammol said:
Ever had a conversation with someone without actually looking something up on the web, and then a day or two later Google and other ads start showing things concerning what you were talking about to someone in person? Yeah, it has happened to me numerous times now I can't even count anymore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
YES!!! I noticed this a few months ago. My wife and I were talking about some random subject and BAM there it was in my Google discovery feed.
I mentioned that to her and she thought I was crazy until it happened again.
My friend was over last week, he mentioned something about a car he is fixing up and once again in my Google feed...
*EDIT*
I am not going to go as far as saying they are listening because my wife did say she looked up what we were talking about later on that day on her phone so I am guessing it is more GPS based then Google listening to give them the benefit of doubt for now. I need to ask my friend if he searched anything while here...
You want to De-Google your phone? Sell it and don't get an Android phone. Don't get an iPhone, either. In fact, get one of those huge car phones from the 80s. I can't add really anything that hasn't been said, other than some slight humor, but again, if you want privacy, stay off the internet.
AndroidUser00110001 said:
YES!!! I noticed this a few months ago. My wife and I were talking about some random subject and BAM there it was in my Google discovery feed.
I mentioned that to her and she thought I was crazy until it happened again.
My friend was over last week, he mentioned something about a car he is fixing up and once again in my Google feed...
*EDIT*
I am not going to go as far as saying they are listening because my wife did say she looked up what we were talking about later on that day on her phone so I am guessing it is more GPS based then Google listening to give them the benefit of doubt for now. I need to ask my friend if he searched anything while here...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is what I'm trying to prevent. Exactly the same thing had happened to me. We were simply discussing an AC unit; never looked it up or mentioned the name of it and the exact make and model in the room we were in showed up.
michel5891 said:
This is what I'm trying to prevent. Exactly the same thing had happened to me. We were simply discussing an AC unit; never looked it up or mentioned the name of it and the exact make and model in the room we were in showed up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah it's super duper creepy. Funny thing is since I refreshed my Note 9 up to PIE, I haven't given assistant or google search any permission to use my microphone and I don't even have them setup!
this might help:
https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/6030020?co=GENIE.Platform=Android&hl=en
turn voice activity off. also check your history to see if it has any recording...
Iam just wondering if it's still a good idea to use the mi 11 ultra after a backdoor was found in the os and the US banned them?
I think you answered your own question...
What backdoor, never heard of anything like that. I know it was banned in the US and that's since been lifted.
deejay1308 said:
Iam just wondering if it's still a good idea to use the mi 11 ultra after a backdoor was found in the os and the US banned them?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It was never shown Xiaomi has a backdoor. Also Xiaomi was never banned in the US. US investors were banned from INVESTING into Xiaomi because of allegations of ties to Chinese military. Which has been temporarily reversed by court order pending more litigation.
Huawei on the other hand was straight up banned from doing business with America and does have very strong ties to the cyber arm of the PLA.
The situations are apples to oranges. However Xiaomi doesn't want to expand into the American market in the current environment and they also want to build up a patent warchest to prevent lawsuits when they do end up in the US market.
Yes, well... just do a search "Xiaomi, security risk".
It's just apples to oranges... and they're all rotten.
Exclusive: Warning Over Chinese Mobile Giant Xiaomi Recording Millions Of People’s ‘Private’ Web And Phone Use
Xiaomi is collecting users’ browser habits and phone usage, raising red flags for privacy researchers.
www.google.com
Yeah you can trust them...
Xiaomi U-Turn: Admits Sending Private Data it Said it Didn’t
This just gets weirder: Xiaomi was caught out by security researchers, who found its devices phoning home.
www.google.com
All Chinese companies are heavily monitored by their government and are required to comply with any request so the question should be, do you trust the Chinese government?
You are aware that you can simply run my script to make your read-only system read-write-able right? All you need is an unlocked bootloader. And then you can fully debloat your device and make your MIUI experience run as smooth as silk! Enjoy it!
blackhawk said:
Yes, well... just do a search "Xiaomi, security risk".
It's just apples to oranges... and they're all rotten.
Exclusive: Warning Over Chinese Mobile Giant Xiaomi Recording Millions Of People’s ‘Private’ Web And Phone Use
Xiaomi is collecting users’ browser habits and phone usage, raising red flags for privacy researchers.
www.google.com
Yeah you can trust them...
Xiaomi U-Turn: Admits Sending Private Data it Said it Didn’t
This just gets weirder: Xiaomi was caught out by security researchers, who found its devices phoning home.
www.google.com
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To be fair the fact that you can't open Xiaomi apps without a pop up about signing your life away tells you that you shouldn't be using their built in apps.
I'd suggest anyone using a Xiaomi phone to use NextDNS with a ton of blockers set up. Don't use Xiaomi native apps.
jmikepr said:
To be fair the fact that you can't open Xiaomi apps without a pop up about signing your life away tells you that you shouldn't be using their built in apps.
I'd suggest anyone using a Xiaomi phone to use NextDNS with a ton of blockers set up. Don't use Xiaomi native apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It gets worse than that. Hidden hardware level backdoors can be insidious and for all practical purposes, undetectable.
The analog attack:
Redirect Notice
After the hell the CCP bioweapon virus caused my trust level is right where it should for Chinese products, zero.
You can only trust someone to be themselves...
blackhawk said:
It gets worse than that. Hidden hardware level backdoors can be insidious and for all practical purposes, undetectable.
The analog attack:
Redirect Notice
After the hell the CCP bioweapon virus caused my trust level is right where it should for Chinese products, zero.
You can only trust someone to be themselves...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If your threat model involves nation states using back doors to target you specifically, then you are in trouble regardless. There's plenty of zero days out there being exploited that we have no idea about by nation states. But I agree. Everyone needs to find the balance in their threat model. There most certainly are plenty of threat models where someone shouldn't use a Xiaomi phone, or most OEM Androids for that matter.
jmikepr said:
If your threat model involves nation states using back doors to target you specifically, then you are in trouble regardless. There's plenty of zero days out there being exploited that we have no idea about by nation states. But I agree. Everyone needs to find the balance in their threat model. There most certainly are plenty of threat models where someone shouldn't use a Xiaomi phone, or most OEM Androids for that matter.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol, Google is a national security risk.
The hardware risk level is exponentially higher with the Chicom chipsets.
I would expect it to be embedded.
why the hell xiaomi got banned but for example one plus didn't despite both being in bbk electronics?
Hahaha oh no the chinese are spying on us...
What concerns me more these days are Google Facebook and Twitter killing Democracy and freedom of speech.
Think about that....
And that's why I picked up mi 11 ultra CN variant ( supported bands were also an important factor )
*justintime* said:
Hahaha oh no the chinese are spying on us...
What concerns me more these days are Google Facebook and Twitter killing Democracy and freedom of speech.
Think about that....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Who said they don't? You can avoid all those things, it doesn't have to be only China or only Facebook lol
Xiaomi is not and never was part of BBK electronics. Where did you get this from?
my name is Aniki and in search for another smartphone with more privacy etc. When I go to a search online with keywords like, secure, privacy, encrypted I get many reslults, from all over the world. The joke is, 99% from sellers use the same head in their website and written "the most secure smartphone from the world".
My english is poor, so is my knowledge about tech, meaning the for you standard things. Maybe because I grew up without internet, if I remember I was around 17 when first came online, ICQ, MSN groups, YAHOO chat, Ebay.com and some ***** was my favorite. But, if I want something, or have a warning light coming up in the car, I read the code and search until found the problem and solution, then I can fix it myself or bring it to a specialist.
I have learn that secure and privacy is not the same, I understand now that for exaple a smartphone can secure about storage what is encrypted but maybe there is no privacy about who, where you are and what you do. Now you understand my level (below zero) about tech, support, custom etc.
I was looking for a Linux phone, like the Pro1 X because I think it is good to support company's what make hardware Linux related, if we don't, we never get/ see a flagship?! Also looking other phone's like Libreum 5 but $1300,- lead time 1 year! or lead time 2 months for a $1999,- shipping $80,- incurence ? then my country tax around $500,- maybe is to much for this device when reading their forum with some little problems, I don't mind pay a little more because a company is not big enough like a Apple so the costs are higher, but if it is not perfect, or verry good, then every time when send it back I need to pay tax when I get it back from them, if it was in EU I would give them a chance. I can go waste more of your time by calling all the one's I was interested and why or why not, like the Bittium 2, Nitrophone2, Brax2 phone, Privy2.0 by Blackphone but quess you have more importend things to do.
I am not realy needed a complete secret/ secure encrypted cryptophone or smartphone, BUT I really don't like when talking to people about for example a e-bike or new laptop, then cpl hours later when surfing online get adds about e-bike's and laptop's, same when chat, phonecall or sending pictures to others it is private and "our thing" . I pay for my iPhone, Laptop etc, so know I little understand about Google, Apple and more, I can choose if I want to let them in my private life or not, before no knowledge and paying for it is I think a crime.
So my choice for smartphone in complete pack what I like/ want or "need" is maybe a Pixel 6 Pro with GrapheneOs, or a S22 Ultra with custom rom, and that's how I get here, searching S22 Ultra DeGoogleD only find people in Reddit or fora say's only Pixels, then I forgotten maybe I used keyword like custom or encrypted. Came on a Hong Kong seller with S22 Ultra custom rom from theirself in combination KNOX etc etc extra encrypted for $3K+, then I was thinking maybe fake because I read everywhere it is impossible with Galaxy S22 so I search again then found some different website's but most and complete explain about it was here. I see how people explain with detail and patience for noobs like me, so I start reading now and maybe, for sure have questions about things, then at least I can do is introduce myself a little, and how/ why I am here.
I understand about DeGoogleD phone, and was thinking about the S22 Ultra custom rom, it is the same as DeGoogleD right, or are there still Google things in after? Is here some one what have used or study both, Pixel 6 (pro) DeGoogleD and S22 Ultra with LineageOS? My experiance is only iPhone, and want to find out the pro and cons about this 2, all info is welcome, and if I need to open another topic for this I can copy paste?
Have a good day! Aniki.
Nothing to hide is not the same as nothing to loose...
Aniki020 said:
my name is Aniki and in search for another smartphone with more privacy etc. When I go to a search online with keywords like, secure, privacy, encrypted I get many reslults, from all over the world. The joke is, 99% from sellers use the same head in their website and written "the most secure smartphone from the world".
My english is poor, so is my knowledge about tech, meaning the for you standard things. Maybe because I grew up without internet, if I remember I was around 17 when first came online, ICQ, MSN groups, YAHOO chat, Ebay.com and some ***** was my favorite. But, if I want something, or have a warning light coming up in the car, I read the code and search until found the problem and solution, then I can fix it myself or bring it to a specialist.
I have learn that secure and privacy is not the same, I understand now that for exaple a smartphone can secure about storage what is encrypted but maybe there is no privacy about who, where you are and what you do. Now you understand my level (below zero) about tech, support, custom etc.
I was looking for a Linux phone, like the Pro1 X because I think it is good to support company's what make hardware Linux related, if we don't, we never get/ see a flagship?! Also looking other phone's like Libreum 5 but $1300,- lead time 1 year! or lead time 2 months for a $1999,- shipping $80,- incurence ? then my country tax around $500,- maybe is to much for this device when reading their forum with some little problems, I don't mind pay a little more because a company is not big enough like a Apple so the costs are higher, but if it is not perfect, or verry good, then every time when send it back I need to pay tax when I get it back from them, if it was in EU I would give them a chance. I can go waste more of your time by calling all the one's I was interested and why or why not, like the Bittium 2, Nitrophone2, Brax2 phone, Privy2.0 by Blackphone but quess you have more importend things to do.
I am not realy needed a complete secret/ secure encrypted cryptophone or smartphone, BUT I really don't like when talking to people about for example a e-bike or new laptop, then cpl hours later when surfing online get adds about e-bike's and laptop's, same when chat, phonecall or sending pictures to others it is private and "our thing" . I pay for my iPhone, Laptop etc, so know I little understand about Google, Apple and more, I can choose if I want to let them in my private life or not, before no knowledge and paying for it is I think a crime.
So my choice for smartphone in complete pack what I like/ want or "need" is maybe a Pixel 6 Pro with GrapheneOs, or a S22 Ultra with custom rom, and that's how I get here, searching S22 Ultra DeGoogleD only find people in Reddit or fora say's only Pixels, then I forgotten maybe I used keyword like custom or encrypted. Came on a Hong Kong seller with S22 Ultra custom rom from theirself in combination KNOX etc etc extra encrypted for $3K+, then I was thinking maybe fake because I read everywhere it is impossible with Galaxy S22 so I search again then found some different website's but most and complete explain about it was here. I see how people explain with detail and patience for noobs like me, so I start reading now and maybe, for sure have questions about things, then at least I can do is introduce myself a little, and how/ why I am here.
I understand about DeGoogleD phone, and was thinking about the S22 Ultra custom rom, it is the same as DeGoogleD right, or are there still Google things in after? Is here some one what have used or study both, Pixel 6 (pro) DeGoogleD and S22 Ultra with LineageOS? My experiance is only iPhone, and want to find out the pro and cons about this 2, all info is welcome, and if I need to open another topic for this I can copy paste?
Have a good day! Aniki.
Nothing to hide is not the same as nothing to loose...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello Aniki and welcome to XDA
Nice intro!
Hello Aniki and welcome to XDA ifyou truly want secure and private, your notgoingto beable to use the majojority of apps or sites, google and apple are always going to collect your data, and even with gappsless roms youstill need to give gps location permissions to use certain apps,my advice is to find an acceptable compromise
Hi Gav83Collins, thank you for info plus advice. I know I need to realize that when change device for go private it should be a major different from how I use my iPhone now.
I do not need to send/ share political or illegal messages/ files, but the idea that alway’s being watched or in control from a big tech company makes me feel uncomfortable. In my country the public points a finger to China, Russia or other “far” away country and say the human have no freedom of speak etc. But now we see it is not a China or Russian problem, it is here in the EU, but also in the USA, just for example here in the EU they maybe have a better way to let you think that you are free and all is democratic. But in the end it’s all the same.
Do you have experience about or with DeGoogle devices? Because if I good understand a Samsung S22 Ultra with custom ROM is the same idea like a Pixel 6 Pro DeGoogleD? But when I search for Samsung DeGoogleD, the only thing I find is that this is not possible… or is that because it is not official support by a custom ROM?
The apps I use mostly is Waze (Google), and YouTube (Google), then mail, online surfing but no games. So if I step to another device I just use it for basic communication and look for a similar app like Waze, YouTube for Odessy or another, not search for it yet.