AOSP - Android Open Source Project
AOSP - Android Open Source Project
De-Googled Phones #0
Originally posted on March 3rd, 2023.
AOSP stands for Android Open Source Project. It is a google-free variant of the Android operating system.
Why would you stop using GApps?
Where do I start? Google is the most privacy infringing, 1984-like company in the world, followed by Apple and Facebook. Perhaps a few examples would help:
Google wants your DNA - Google invested heavily in 23andme, that does gene testing. The company was founded by Susan Wojicki, the CEO of Youtube, and her sister Anne Wojicki, who was married to the co-founder of Google, Sergey Brin.
Google tracks your every move on the Internet - Using tools like the Google Analytics platform, Google Safety Net and Google DNS, Google can save all your activities you do on the Internet.
Curious about what google knows about you? Did you forget where you were on vacation 5 years ago? Check your Google Dashboard and get freaked out.
All the apps that collects your data:
https://www.wired.co.uk/article/google-app-gmail-chrome-dataHow to delete your data:
https://www.wired.co.uk/article/how-to-delete-google-search-history-trackingRob Braxman on Google: https://odysee.com/@RobBraxmanTech:6/googleid.mp4:f
De-Googlifying your Android Phone.
If you want to De-googlify your phone, I recommend that you only do that for phones that have official support from one of the many AOSP alternatives. Here are examples for GrapheneOS and LineageOS:
List of GrapheneOS device support: https://grapheneos.org/faq#device-support
List of LineageOS device support: https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/#fairphone
De-Googlifying phones with unofficial support is not worth it. The smallest changes can make the phone unbootable. If you don't want the challenge of having to install a custom OS, I recommend buying a new phone that comes shipped without GApps instead.
If you are up for the challenge of re-imaging your phone, you can easliy find guides on how to do it on the Internet. However, I’m also planning to write a guide on the general steps to flash a phone and install a custom OS on it.