An Overview of the Various Systems Available for Privacy-Focused Phones

 

If you've got a new phone or tablet built around security, you might already be thinking about some of these things: encryption, anonymity, biometrics, etc. There are also a bunch of other options for keeping your information secure. Which ones should you look into?

The mobile device ecosystem has evolved rapidly over the last decade, and consumers now expect their devices to deliver both features and security at every level, from hardware to software. These expectations include maintaining high levels of confidentiality and anonymity.

You might be wondering where to get a private smartphone that won't sell my data to Google or other companies. Many vendors selling devices offer some level of protection against hacking and malicious software. However, if you're looking for the ultimate protection and privacy, I suggest you get a De-Googled Phone.

As mobile usage increases, so too does the demand for greater data security. Smartphones can now perform tasks requiring a dedicated computer and high-end hardware. As such, they become integral parts of our daily life, and we share so much with that device. Unfortunately, that data is not always safe and can be sold or used to show us personalized ads and more.

To learn more about the types of phones that offer this kind of privacy, continue reading the article below. We will talk about the best-operating systems for De-Googled phones, such as the Lineage OS, Graphene OS, and Calyx OS.

Lineage OS Overview

LineageOS is an open-source project started by a community working on improving their privacy and not letting others steal personal data. It's based on Android 9 Pie (9.0), but it still supports some older versions of Android. LineageOS aims to provide users with a custom ROM experience without compromising the user experience.

This operating system can work for both smartphones and tablets. It is derived from CyanogenMod. Cyanogen Inc. discontinued its CM support in mid-2016, but the community continued modifying and developing the OS, thus resulting in LineageOS. Over the next few months, the number of users grew rapidly from under 100,000 to over 1.6 million.

When we talk about commercial data harvesting, we usually refer to the creation of income for companies that produce the hardware or software we use. However, if we look at this from a different perspective, we could say that the operating system is free of charge for us, so why not use it?

The short answer is that it causes more harm, and it can be way more dangerous than what is made to believe. That's why operating systems like Lineage OS exist to combat this data harvesting and to offer freedom and anonymity. [1]

It comes with many useful features like:

• Boot Manager
• Root/Administrator Access
• Digital Analogue World Equivalence
• Root Access
• PIN Scramble
• Privacy Guard
• Protected Apps
• Anonymity
• and more.

If you want to learn more about Lineage OS and get a De-Googled Phone that uses the operating system, click this link. 

Graphene OS Overview

GrapheneOS is another open source project that offers a lot of benefits when compared to other operating systems. This is because it provides a full-featured version of Android, which means that it works well on all devices.

It was created by the team behind the popular XDA forum. They are also responsible for bringing the first-ever Linux kernel to the Nexus 5X. The goal of this project is to make sure that everyone has access to a secure phone that doesn’t compromise their privacy.

This operating system focuses on substance rather than brand name recognition and marketing. It takes a different approach from most security software by focusing on real-world security instead of marketing gimmicks.

It's an extremely technical project attempting to build privacy and security into an operating system rather than include various unhelpful features or bundle proprietary app choices.

Graphene OS is based on Android 8 Oreo (8.0). It includes a wide range of applications and services that help protect your privacy. [2] Some of these include:

Privacy Guard - A feature that allows you to hide apps from search results.

App Lock - This allows you to lock specific apps so that only you have access to them.

Data Saver - Automatically reduces background app activity to save battery power.

AdGuard - Blocks unwanted advertisements and malware.

VPN - Provides a safe connection between your device and the internet.

VPN Gate - Protects your IP address while using public Wi-Fi networks. 

Secure Search - Searches through encrypted content instead of sending information to Google servers.

If you want to learn more about Graphene OS and get a De-Googled Phone that uses the operating system, click this link.

Calyx OS Overview

Calyx OS is one of the newest projects in the world of mobile security. It was developed by the same people who brought you the Calyx OS Rootkit Removal Tool. They wanted to create something that would give users complete control over their devices without sacrificing functionality.

Their main focus is to provide a fully functional version of Android that does not require root privileges. This allows users to install any application they wish without worrying about whether or not it will work properly.

The developers of this operating system believe that anyone must use a phone with privacy in mind and keep personal data safe. Their goal is to bring back the days when you could customize your phone with whatever apps you want.

Calyx OS is built around the idea that if you can't trust your phone's manufacturer, then you shouldn't trust anything else either. [3]

They offer many useful features such as:

• It provides a clean interface that makes it easy to navigate.
• Secure Networking with the Datura Firewall.
• Tethered Network devices can use VPN or the TOR browser.
• Free VPNs from The Calyx Institute and Riseup.
• Cloudflare DNS is available as a Private DNS Provider.
• microG replaces Google Play Services functionality.
• Uses the Mozilla Location Services. 
• Nominatim is the default geocoding Service.
•  Verified Boot to ensure the OS is not Modified.
• Sensitive Numbers Privacy.
• Directly Encrypted Calls using Signal App.
• K-9 Email Client.
• Bromite Browser or TOR.
• F-Droid offers free and open-source apps. 
• Scramble Lock Pin 

If you want to learn more about Calyx OS and get a De-Googled Phone that uses the operating system, click this link.

Closing Thoughts

I hope you enjoyed learning about some of the best privacy-focused operating systems and the different ways to keep your personal data private. I found this topic very interesting because I always look for new ways to improve my privacy. If you know of other great options, please let me know in the comments below!

References: 1 - https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/LineageOS

 2 - https://grapheneos.org/features

3 - https://calyxos.org/features/