https://aktuelltfokus.se/foraragd-taxi-app-utmanar-uber-och-bolt/ Sweden got a collective owned service :)

https://www.beeper.com/faq#how-does-beeper-connect-to-encrypted-chat-networks-like-imessage-signal-whatsapp

So yea a bit of trust put in beeper. Matrix bridge and self host is as I said better.

This is easy. For services that’s not so good to start with , like SMS , WhatsApp etc.

For sensitive stuff i use signal with a fake number. Or other channels.

My way around the issue with the app and its collection is :

1. Install in a separate profile with empty everything. (So they get an empty contact list)
2. Install beeper in a different profil and connect WhatsApp to beeper.
3. Remove all permissions from WhatsApp. There if I need to reconnect sometime.

Oh and using fake number is also a good idea. And yes not as good as selfhosting I know. Signal is an option if you can get them to switch. Telegram is crap.

Lineage does not have any special privacy features besides not having gapps. You can use Microg for a balance between privacy and convenience.

Use aurora store and don’t login with any account. You will need the lineage for microg version or root to get it working

I’m not sure it does , however you could just change DNS to DNS.adguard.com for that :)

Np, Yea , unfortunately only one VPN at a time.

I like that they don’t foce apps on me , I’d rather install what I need myself. F-droid is not the best app as I see it. I use neo store so do not want extra bloat.

Regarding Firefox , you are either running chrome/vanadium or chrome/vanadium plus Firefox. Since webview. So what you have with Firefox is at best the in use browser features. Open a link in an app and you still use the webview. Firefox on android has it issues as well (sandboxing) . So 1+1 = 2 issues. Using a VPN / DNS with adblock makes ublock unnecessary.

I use GOS so built in firewall for just denying network permission, but there is also fake-VPN based ones that don’t require root.

https://f-droid.org/packages/eu.faircode.netguard/

Gboard and blocked network

Regarding email you can use k9 email and set it up with your Gmail.

Try the new stealth protocol. Never have any issues :)

Cloudflare can do it at least

Thing is it is very easy to get a signal account with a fake number, I have 3 different ones. My spare phone don’t have a sim or number, but do have signal. On my main phone I have one for each profile.

Ah yea, that’s true. But at least you can remove it after activation it seems. https://github.com/GrapheneOS/os-issue-tracker/issues/159#issuecomment-1292329307

I use a simple bash script on my parents pc and schedule cup all -y with windows scheduler. No longer on call IT support :)

Windows AME

Thanks , yea that’s what I thought

Let me know more about the argument against VPN +tor

While I am agreeing somewhat, and I haven’t been active in the community much. The few encounters I had was in the matrix chat . Yea toxic af . Checked in too see now , scrolled a bit but quite civil atm.

I repair pixel phones as an hobby / side gig and yea not comparable withe fairphone, but still repairable , better than a lot of others but depends on models.

I buy second hand in bulk and repair whats needed. Bonus of no trail to Google as well.

GOS also have esim implementation without google