Just a quick post today to share a review we've received from Kevin, who recently acquired a Pixel 4a with Graphene OS and started his degoogling process.

You can read Kevin's article here.

With this post we share how to initiate a Calyx OS phone instead.

Hope this helps!

With this post we share how to initiate a Calyx OS phone instead.

We have received quite a number of requests on how to properly set-up Graphene OS once the De-googled phone is received. Indeed setting up the phone may look like a bit daunting at first, and that is due to the fact that stock GrapheneOS (ie: what you get once you finish the initial setup) comes by default only with Vanadium and a couple of other apps preinstalled.

No worries, it's actually easier than it looks like and there's plenty of good guides out there to help you install F-droid first, Aurora Store second, and then all of the other apps you need.

We suggest following this guide, which is quite accurate and complete.

Hope this helps!

We have received questions asking us to explain what, in our opinion, is the most private way to purchase phones on our website.

Here below is our take on the matter:

Part 1 – Acquire sound money. 

Credit cards are convenient, but they’re definitely a privacy nightmare. You’re disclosing your purchases not only to the credit card company (eg: Visa, MC, etc), but to the partner bank too (unless your card is a card which is not co-branded).

Using cash would be a better proposition, but it’s confined to the physical realm, and clearly we are a web shop.

To solve the issue, you can use Monero (XMR) or Bitcoin (BTC) to pay for your phones here, and either of them is a better option from a privacy point of view. 

Acquire XMR or BTC - refer to getmonero.org or buybitcoinworldwide.com to get an idea on various methods of acquiring them – and move it to a wallet you control

Part 2 – Get a burner sim card. 

It should be pretty easy to find one at places like supermarkets, convenience stores, newsagents, and other places. Activate the sim card – you will need to give us a phone number so that the logistics company knows how to deliver the goods to you.

Part 3 – Use an address which is not your home address to get the goods. 

There is no need to disclose and use an address you reside habitually. The only requirement is that you have enough access to the address you tell us so that you can retrieve your goods.

For instance, think about using your office address, your accountant / lawyer address. If you know that you’re going to move place where you live, use the address you’ll be leaving before you leave…

And that is it… if you followed the parts above, your privacy is well protected and you can go ahead and secure your private phone, in a private way.

You can use the Auditor APP that comes with Graphene OS to make sure that the OS version we installed on your phone is the original one without any modifications (Please note that unfortunately the Auditor APP no longer supports CalyxOS).

For more information about the APP, please follow this link https://attestation.app/about.

Reclaiming your privacy starts with selecting the right Operating System, and that’s what we want to help you do on this website.

That’s only the first step, however; the next steps in remaining private depend largely on what app you run on your phone. 

For example, you are allowed to use WhatsApp on Graphene or Calyx OS, and WhatsApp will always try and use the data you’re willingly share with them like this.

So what can you do?

If it’s feasible, consider moving your network to better platforms that respect your privacy better and that do not tie up their services to your identity. Consider moving to Matrix / Element, Threema or Blabber. All of these instant messengers do not require personal details and they do not even require a phone number to work.

However, we understand that it’s difficult to move away from an instant messaging platform into another one; these platforms owe their success to their network effect. In simple terms, an instant messaging app is useful only if also the people you talk to are using the same platform.

Even if you decide not to move away from the platform you are using now, please consider creating a different account and using different (virtual) phone numbers to associate yourself with.

Apps like Vyke allow you to buy virtual phone numbers (also in geographical location other than the one you reside) that you control via their app. You can use these numbers to get apps like WhatsApp or Signal going, and you’ll make it more difficult for snooping parties to know what you do.
 

So you’re lurking on this website, undecided whether to take the plunge and opt out of the system and into more private tech. Sure, take your time, we understand it takes time to get mentally committed.

However, while you think, are you using an Apple iPhone currently?

If so, please update to iOS version 14.5 now! In iOS 14.5, which started to roll out on the 11th of May, there are new privacy features that may make you feel happier. The new feature is called App Tracking Transparency. Many apps don’t just track your movements inside the app, but they track your movements outside of the app — in other words, where you go after you’ve left the app. This software update will give you the option to opt out of tracking by apps when you use your phone.

No more advertisements from companies like Facebook, Google or big tech (well, perhaps other than… Apple…), isn’t that a breath of fresh air?

Here is how you do it: 

• Go to your iPhone’s settings and select Privacy > Tracking.

• Beneath “Allow Apps to Request to Track,” you’ll now see a list of specific apps that have asked for that permission. You can permit or revoke that permission for each specific app.