Degoogled Pixel 7a

GrapheneOS is an open-source operating system designed to enhance the privacy and security of Android devices. Here are a few benefits of GrapheneOS:

1. Privacy Protection: GrapheneOS prioritises your privacy by reducing the data collection and tracking performed by your device. It limits unnecessary data sharing with third parties, allowing you to have more control over your personal information.

2. Security Enhancements: GrapheneOS includes various security features to protect your device from potential threats. It incorporates security updates promptly, reducing the chances of vulnerabilities being exploited by hackers or malicious software.

3. Enhanced Control: GrapheneOS gives you more control over your device. It empowers you to customise privacy settings, choose app permissions, and control what data is shared. This means you have greater agency over your personal data and can decide how it is used.

4. Open Source Community: Being an open-source project, GrapheneOS benefits from continuous contributions from a global community of developers. This helps in identifying and fixing security flaws quickly, ensuring the system remains robust and up to date.

5. Reduced Bloatware: GrapheneOS minimises unnecessary pre-installed applications, commonly known as bloatware. This reduces the clutter on your device, ensuring a cleaner and streamlined

With the exception of some banking apps, most apps will work on GrapheneOS.

GrapheneOS is an open-source privacy and security-focused operating system for Android devices. As it aims to enhance privacy and security, it doesn’t include proprietary Google services or apps.

However, you can still use many apps on GrapheneOS, especially those available from alternative sources. Here are some options for app sources and the types of apps you can use:

1. F-Droid: F-Droid is a well-known repository of open-source Android apps. It provides a vast selection of privacy-respecting apps that align with GrapheneOS’s philosophy. F-Droid itself can be installed on GrapheneOS, allowing you to easily discover and download various apps.

2. Aurora Store: Aurora Store is an alternative client for the Google Play Store. It allows you to browse, search, and download apps from the Play Store without needing to use a Google account. Aurora Store can be a good option for accessing apps that are available on the Play Store but are not dependent on Google services.

3. APKMirror: APKMirror is a reliable source for downloading Android apps in the form of APK files. This is also referred to as ‘sideloading’. It’s a safe way to access popular apps without the need for Google Play services.

4. Open-source App Websites: Many open-source apps maintain their own websites, allowing you to download the APK directly. Examples include Signal, Telegram (Telegram F-Droid repository), and many others.

5. Web Apps: For some services, you can use web apps through a web browser on GrapheneOS. Many popular services like email, social media, and productivity tools have responsive web interfaces that function similarly to their native app counterparts.

Remember, when downloading apps from alternative sources, exercise caution and ensure that the apps you install are from trustworthy and reputable sources. Installing apps from unverified sources can introduce security risks.

Additionally, Our Basic Package comes with a set of pre-installed apps that are essential for the basic function of a smartphone. These apps are designed to prioritise user privacy and security.

We also provide custom builds with privacy focused solutions for your unique personal and business tech needs.

We recommend that you explore the options mentioned above and find open-source or privacy-respecting alternatives to the proprietary apps commonly found on mainstream Android devices.

For a maintained compatibility list of working international banking apps that are tested, submitted, reviewed and published, please click here.

GrapheneOS allows you to use sandboxed apps from the google pay store. The term “sandboxed” refers to the practice of isolating and restricting the access and interactions of applications (apps) with the underlying system and other apps. This isolation is achieved through a combination of security mechanisms and design principles that prevent apps from having unrestricted access to sensitive resources, data, and functionalities of the device.

In very simple terms, “sandboxed Google Play” in GrapheneOS means that the Google Play Store, which is where you usually download apps for your Android phone, is like a sandbox or a secure playground for your apps.

Imagine your phone is a big, fancy playground with lots of different sections for different activities. Each app you download from the Google Play Store gets its own small, separate sandbox within this playground.

Now, here’s the important part: these sandboxes are like invisible fences around each app. It means that when you play in one section of the playground (use one app), you can’t accidentally wander into another section (access the data or stuff from another app). It’s a bit like having a barrier to keep everything safe and separate.

This is great for your privacy and security. It means that even if one app misbehaves or tries to peek into another app’s area, it can’t because of those sandbox barriers. So, your personal information and data in one app are safer and less likely to be accessed by another app without your permission.

In summary, “sandboxed Google Play” in GrapheneOS keeps your apps in separate, safe areas, like having invisible fences around them, so your information stays private and secure.

Sandboxing is a crucial aspect of GrapheneOS’s security model, aiming to minimise potential attack vectors and mitigate the impact of security vulnerabilities. Here’s what sandboxing entails within the context of GrapheneOS:

1. Limited Permissions: Apps are granted only the permissions they explicitly require to function. They are isolated from each other and the core system components, ensuring that they cannot access sensitive information or perform potentially harmful actions without explicit user consent.

2. App Isolation: Each app runs within its own isolated environment, known as a sandbox. This isolation prevents one app from directly accessing or modifying data from other apps or the system itself.

3. Minimized Attack Surface: By restricting an app’s access to system APIs and components, the potential attack surface is significantly reduced. This helps prevent malicious apps from exploiting vulnerabilities and compromising the device.

4. Resource Constraints: Apps are allocated a limited set of resources (such as CPU, memory, and network) to prevent any single app from monopolising system resources and negatively affecting overall device performance.

5. Security Enhancements: GrapheneOS may incorporate security enhancements, such as using hardened system libraries and compilers, to make it even more difficult for attackers to compromise the device.

6. Regular Updates: GrapheneOS provides timely security updates to address any vulnerabilities that may be discovered. This proactive approach ensures that the device remains secure against known threats.

Overall, sandboxing in GrapheneOS aims to strike a balance between user convenience and security by allowing apps to function while minimising potential risks. It is a fundamental part of GrapheneOS’s design philosophy and contributes to the platform’s reputation as a privacy-focused and security-conscious operating system.

Pixel phones are often recommended for use with GrapheneOS for several reasons:

1. Security and Privacy Focus: Pixel phones receive regular security updates directly from Google, which is crucial for maintaining a secure device. GrapheneOS leverages this update infrastructure and builds on top of it, enhancing security features. Pixel phones also typically have hardware features that align with GrapheneOS security goals, such as tamper-resistant chips and hardware security modules.

2. Compatibility and Stability: Pixel phones are designed by Google, making them well-supported and compatible with the Android-based GrapheneOS. The overall user experience and stability of GrapheneOS tend to be optimised for Pixel devices.

3. Open-Source Foundation: GrapheneOS is an open-source project, and Pixel phones align well with the open-source philosophy. Many key components of the Pixel phones, including the firmware, drivers, and kernel, have open-source availability. This allows the developers to work with a more open platform and maintain compatibility.

4. Developer-Friendly: Pixel phones are popular among developers due to their unlockable bootloader and user-friendly development tools. This facilitates the installation and customisation of alternative operating systems like GrapheneOS.