Privacy Tool Spotlight: GrapheneOS
Simply said, mobile operating systems are data-hungry ecosystems that spend a lot of cycles tracking far too much. Nosy little buggers.
What's worse is that nobody really owns their mobile device as long as it's controlled by the manufacturer. And while there are options in iOS and Android to lock down the device and applications, there is a better option: GrapheneOS.
GrapheneOS is a mobile operating system based on the Android Open Source Project, designed with a strong focus on privacy and security. It's a great option if you're worried about security or how much data your phone collects but want a familiar Android experience.
The primary motivation for switching to GrapheneOS is its uncompromising stance on security and privacy. It incorporates a multitude of hardening features designed to protect users from a wide array of digital threats. These include:
A More Secure Core: GrapheneOS implements stricter security policies and exploit mitigations at a fundamental level, making the entire operating system more resilient to vulnerabilities. (Developers: check out their hardened malloc at https://github.com/GrapheneOS/hardened_malloc)
Enhanced Sandboxing: Applications are more effectively isolated from each other and the underlying system, limiting access to sensitive information and the potential damage a malicious app can inflict.
Controlled Network Access: Users have granular control over which applications can access the network, preventing unauthorized data transmission.
Sensor Permissions: GrapheneOS provides the ability to disable access to sensors like the microphone, camera, and GPS on a per-app basis, preventing unwanted eavesdropping or tracking. Seriously, does a notepad app need GPS access?
Sandboxed Google Play Services: For those who still require access to mainstream apps in the Google Play Store and its services, GrapheneOS offers a unique solution. It allows for the installation of Google Play Services within a "sandbox." This is a contained environment that prevents them from having privileged access to the entire system. This provides a balance between app compatibility and privacy.
And there are so many more topics that could be included, like their hardened Vanadium browser, a privacy and security-enhanced browser based on Chromium. Or their regular patching that include fixes for new vulnerabilities as well as those not yet fixed in Android.
GrapheneOS is only supported on Google Pixel devices due to better security hardware and a long minimum support guarantee from launch, allowing 5 to 7 years of support.
Consider switching to GrapheneOS if you value your privacy, security, and device ownership.
Learn more about GrapheneOS at https://grapheneos.org/
