Ive just startee getting into privacy, but i had a few questions.

  1. I havent switched operating system yet due to fear of losing my data. I have a lot of pictures, contacts and messages i dont want to go missing. I have a one plus and i really love it. I do not want a pixel phone. Is there a way i can maintain privacy without changing phones?
  2. If i delete google play services, will my phone not work correctly?
  3. I have been replacing my apps with open source apps, is that helpful?
  4. What vpn should i use? I have malewarebytes.
  • pandorabox@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
    51·
    2 months ago
    1. Thank you so much! Ill see what i can download. Lineage os is not avaliable for my specific one plus phone. I’ll check with some other ones.
    2. I wanted to delete because thats how google mostly tracks people. Is there another system processes i should delete?
    3. Makes sense! Ive been changing them to make sure my data isnt taken.
    4. Yikes i didnt know that. I also use malewarebytes for antivirus so i just started using their vpn. So i paid for it, so i hope they arent bad actors…😭
    • MentalEdge@sopuli.xyz
      8·
      2 months ago

      A VPN provider can potentially log every site you visit, just like your ISP.

      The actual benefits are mostly practical, being able to access streaming services and other sites from other countries.

      It does hide your IP but this isn’t as big a deal as you might think, and moot, if the ISP logs your activity.

      It does not provide some special extra layer of encryption. It does encrypt the traffic, but most of the time, it was already encrypted anyway. The vast majority of internet traffic is.

      • pandorabox@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
        2·
        2 months ago

        Yikesss. Ill discontinue it. I definitely got a few viruses on my computer back in the day. And i sail the high seas from time to time, so i dont want to get any foolishness from that.

        I also do not update my device on time. Usually when i updaye my phone or windows computer, something be wrong with it for several weeks, so ive stopped updating them until it force updates. Do you why that is?

          • pandorabox@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
            3·
            2 months ago

            Makes sense, i always ignore them until necesary. My cousin alwat told me to never let the computer update. Hes a programmer and i didnt know why.😭

            How often do they update another android distros like graphene and lineage? Like at similar intervals?

              • pandorabox@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
                2·
                2 months ago

                Yep thats why my windows taskbar doesnt hide anymore. They messed it up on one of the updates. So frustrating.

                Makes sense. I do want to try the open source software! People say graphene is the best but im not buying a pixel when i love my one plus. And the way people say the battery life is digusting🤣🤣 Linegage ive heard good things about. But they dont have one for my oneplus device. And im afraid of not having my shit backed up. I just want to try degoogling without resetting my device!

                  • pandorabox@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
                    1·
                    2 months ago

                    Yepp! Firefox was an easy change. I use it on my computer! I love the helioboard. But i feel like im making a bunch of spelling mistakes with it😅 Thats truu. I do not like sms alternatives, any recomendations? Im currently using quik and i dont like how clunky it is. It looks weird.

                    Yeah i need to take it easy i just want to change everything all at once🤣 I changed my notes app, calendar app, keyboard, clock app and sms all on the same day🤣🤣