this post was submitted on 08 May 2024
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privacy

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Degoogled phones running privacy oriented OS - Accepting Monero (de-googled.com)
submitted 6 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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[–] [email protected] 8 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

Pixel 7a new is $500.

Pixel 7a from this site is $950. As far as I can tell this is just the stock Pixel 7a.

That's $450 for someone to install grapehenos for you. I'm sure that's a good value proposition for some people.

Now consider the nitrophone 3a. https://shop.nitrokey.com/shop/nitrophone-3a-506?search=nitrophone#attr=793 it is a pixel 7a, with optional removal of all of the sensors microphones cameras, as you like. Physical removal. And that comes to 950 Euros.about $1050. If you leave all of the sensors on it's 715 eur, or 770 USD.

So that's only $270, to get somebody to install grapheneos on your phone for you.

I personally wouldn't buy the nitro phone, but it's interesting in the context of the menu.

For those unaware installing grapheneos it's very easy. They have a website, that'll do the entire installation for you. You just plug in your phone

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

That’s $450 for someone to install grapehenos for you. I’m sure that’s a good value proposition for some people.

This is always the case with everything, if you are lazy you will pay double.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Just in case someone reads this wondering if it's a lot of work or complicated to install graphene, it's not. Looking through the instructions is a good idea if you're planning this. Of course you need some tech literacy, but this is one of the easier firmware updates around.

Degoogling can be hard, though. I still recommend it. Get started at least.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 months ago

I actually installed Graphene for the first time a few days ago via the web installer.

It's dead simple. Click where it tells you on the page, accept on the phone, repeat until done. My only problem was Windows which took three times to recognize it had in fact installed the driver it said it installed.

My first custom ROM. If I had Linux or MacOS available I would not have needed the driver.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 6 months ago (1 children)

That de-googled site uses google fonts.

How is this better for privacy than buying one used locally and paying in cash?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 6 months ago

That's hilarious thank you for pointing it out

[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

The microphone blocker accessory, is just a headphone jack. That does not mean the normal microphone is cut off from the computer. Depending on your threat model, it may be insufficient.

Some devices, some phones, inserting the headphone jack physically disrupts the audio circuits to the speaker and microphone. But it's more common now that these are just two separate devices the software chooses between. Especially on modern laptops

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

Good point. Hardware switches are also a minor nightmare for UI and documentation work and other product/user support, so manufacturers are more likely to favour something with an easy software override.