I know that GrapheneOS has a lot of security features that make it basically impossible to compromise your phone. And that it has a lot of control over permissions and has some privacy features. But it also has a Google Services compatibility that would allow you to use Google services, which would allow Google to harvest a lot of data from you; much less data, but still some. Now OSes like CalyxOS or Lineage have microG which in addition to giving you the APIs, it uses less battery and has the ability to use Mozilla network location to stop google from getting that data. CalyxOS and Lineage don’t have the crazy hardening modifications that GrapheneOS has, but Android is already crazy secure compared to something like Windows or Linux without a properly configured SELinux or AppArmor. Why have Graphene over Calyx?

  • newIdentity@sh.itjust.works
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    1 year ago

    That’s why on Android, apps have to request the location permission to have access to Bluetooth, WiFi and cellular networks and their signal strengths. No app has that information unless you explicitly allow it

    • stephenc@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      No, no, no. Not “apps”. The phone itself. It sends out a cell signal to cell towers as part of its basic operation. And it triangulates your location from that. Information your phone data provider, your phone maker (Google/Apple), and possibly your phone manufacturer if different (Samsung, etc) can use, sell, and exploit as needed.

      I have no idea how so many people do not realize this.

        • stephenc@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          That is my point. It IS built in on a hardware level and the cell towers DO know where you are. Triangulation means you’re not going to escape being tracked if you are using a cellphone. Plain and simple. If you own a cellphone and are using it, no matter how much you try to block location tracking via GPS and IP geolocation and other means, the cell towers are still going to know exactly where you are. Cellphones are inherently insecure. That was my point.