Find ways to remove your consent and turn off data tracking.
Find ways to remove your consent and turn off data tracking.
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Consider exploring Android-based options like Lineage OS. There are also older devices that still function well, such as certain Nokia models or Palm Pre devices. You might find a flip phone like the Alcatel Go Flip appealing. Opt for end-to-end encrypted communication tools—Signal, Telegram, Wire, or platforms like Matrix, Tox, or COI. These depend on what others are willing to use. Avoid relying on Windows, as it poses significant privacy risks. Your phone and DNS will still track your activity, but prioritizing privacy matters. Many studies show that societies lacking privacy suffer negative outcomes. We often suppress ourselves online when we doubt our right to be private. Don’t give up—at least express your frustration and let others know you care.
I have concerns about Apple Pay. The support page suggests no clear option between Google and Apple, but if forced to pick, I’d choose iPhone. Apple has declined to unlock an iPhone for the FBI due to privacy concerns—they can’t determine which Apple ID is linked unless the phone is in Lost Mode, and sensitive data is protected by a strong security system (unless you own an older iPhone 7 or newer, but using blackb1rd requires direct access).
Nothing concrete comes to mind except the possibility of misuse. (Though banks also abuse this, which isn't great.) And honestly, you're right. If I had to pick just two, I'd go for Apple. I respect their battle with the FBI, but it seems they're not still pushing hard. I'm doubtful they've reached a deal yet. The US government would never allow such a big company to keep everything secret. They'll keep trying, have plenty of resources, and time to do so. From the Vault 7 leaks, we learn the NSA usually uses side channels rather than direct methods.
I wasn't sure if there was a method to remove those apps without rooting your device. It seems you'd need to perform a factory reset to unlock the bootloader, which is a bit of a hassle since it requires wiping everything.
There are various messaging apps available (I referenced them earlier). If you stick with F-Droid, it offers some benefits but you may need to enhance its privacy settings. Complete privacy is nearly unattainable, yet it's still worthwhile to make efforts. You can avoid using Google (Gmail) and Facebook, which is another positive step for your mental well-being.
Fair comment… That’s a point I’m still unclear about. Why not just use a non-Google app instead? There are thousands of options, and most seem to have privacy concerns, don’t they? But there’s definitely a difference. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.makeuse...droid/amp/ *edit* I just looked—it’s hard for me to tell what dialer I actually have installed. Probably from the Galaxy Store, which is disabled, so I can’t check. But it’s not a Google app! … Even better idea would be to install the Huawei App Gallery (if you can, you’ll likely need the APK, that’s what I did) *certainly not a Google app*. : D