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What data would an AOSP GSI without GApps send to Google? (lemmy.ml)
submitted 1 month ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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In the absence of privacy-focused ROMs for my tablet, I settled on flashing an AOSP GSI without Google apps. TrebleDroid to be specific, which is essentially vanilla AOSP, but with some additional drivers to maximize compatibility. Compared to privacy-focused ROMs like GrapheneOS, what exactly does AOSP send back to Google?

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[-] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Hey there, for starters A-GPS, stun, secure DNS, and several other preconfigured servers default to Google. Some of these can be changed with ADB. Check out a guide on de-googleing LineageOS for a more complete list. It's not AOSP, but close enough. There are also Google servers configured in the sources. How valuable those connections are, depends on your threat-model. If you'd like a paranoid GSI, check out LeOS. It's probably the most complete treble-compatible option. AOSP by default, isn't very private.

[-] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

When a vanilla GSI starts, up to 10 different Google servers are contacted and private data is transmitted. A vanilla GSI transmits several hundred megabytes of private data to Google every day.

LeOS does not have these connections and data transfers.

after @[email protected]

LeOS sounds interesting indeed. Why isn't it mentioned on privacy communities (unlike Graphene and Lineage) ?

[-] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

That's quite appalling. Might try out LeOS, also curious why it isn't brought up more often. Perhaps because the color scheme screams "I paid for all 16'777'216 colors so I'm gonna use them all!"? Not a dealbreaker for me, but if you have used it, is there an option for less colorful icons?

[-] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

LeOS isn't very popular, because it's a passion-project by one guy, with little marketing. Said guy is a somewhat opinionated Woodstock-era hippie, hence the colorful icons (they can be easily swapped via an icon-pack of your choice.) Though he is a friendly person.

To my knowledge it's the only Treble-option with a hard stance on de-googling. Specifically made as an answer to some policies in eOS. There is an interview with him floating about, if you want the backstory. https://nixfaq.org/2021/01/exclusive-interview-with-guntram-lead-developer-of-a-popular-custom-degoogled-android-rom-called-leos.html

[-] [email protected] 1 points 4 weeks ago

which diveces are supported?

[-] [email protected] 2 points 4 weeks ago

By LeOS? Any GSI-Treble enabled Android phone. So most any phone with an unlockable bootloader. You can use the treble info app to check or search online.

https://gitlab.com/TrebleInfo/TrebleInfo/

[-] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

i haven't used it. But when i do, one of the first things i will do will probably be to install my prefered launcher, lawnchair, to use arcticons

[-] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

There aren't any custom ROMs fory phone, but I block any connections to Google servers in the firewall.

this post was submitted on 29 May 2025
16 points (94.4% liked)

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