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/e/OS: A complete "deGoogled" mobile ecosystem

(e.foundation)
63 points gaws | 14 comments | 19 Nov 24 01:15 UTC | HN request time: 0.208s | source | bottom
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hnaddict123 ◴[19 Nov 24 19:16 UTC] No.42187042[source]▶
For a lay person, can someone elaborate how does a custom ROM like Lineage OS fare compared to eOS? Can it de de-Googled to the same extent? Or never.
replies(2): >>42188191 #>>42189135 #
jqpabc123 ◴[19 Nov 24 23:21 UTC] No.42189135[source]▶
e/OS *is* LineageOS de-Googled.

Nothing short of source code changes can achieve some of the de-Googling.

The LineageOS developers made a specific and deliberate decision to *not* do this.

replies(1): >>42189960 #
1. Novosell ◴[20 Nov 24 01:30 UTC] No.42189960[source]▶
What do you mean exactly? Lineage OS doesn't come with google play services or the like. It is "de-googled".
replies(2): >>42190280 #>>42202968 #
2. SpecialistK ◴[20 Nov 24 02:23 UTC] No.42190280[source]▶
/e/ uses MicroG, which is a reverse-engineered re-implementation of some Google services. It requires spoofing the signature of the original Google apps, which official Lineage does not support for security reasons.
replies(1): >>42193383 #
3. thrw42A8N ◴[20 Nov 24 12:35 UTC] No.42193383[source]▶
That is not true. MicroG works just fine on Lineage and there are no Google services on their AOSP distribution until you add them yourself. You have to manually Google the OS; not de-Google it.
replies(2): >>42193872 #>>42195289 #
4. jqpabc123 ◴[20 Nov 24 13:43 UTC] No.42193872{3}[source]▶
Google servers and services are hard coded into the AOSP distribution at various points. These could be used to facilitate identification and tracking.

e/OS/ removes, replaces and/or anonymizes these. LineageOS does not.

https://doc.e.foundation/support-topics/deGoogling-scope-and...

5. SpecialistK ◴[20 Nov 24 16:10 UTC] No.42195289{3}[source]▶
Then someone here is lying:

> Why do we need a custom build of LineageOS to have microG? Can't I install microG on the official LineageOS?

> MicroG requires a patch called "signature spoofing", which allows the microG's apps to spoof themselves as Google Apps. LineageOS' developers refused (multiple times) to include the patch, forcing us to fork their project.

> Wait, on their FAQ page I see that they don't want to include the patch for security reasons. Is this ROM unsafe?

> No. LineageOS' developers decided not to include this patch for various reasons. The signature spoofing could be an unsafe feature only if the user blindly gives any permission to any app, as this permission can't be obtained automatically by the apps. Moreover, to further strengthen the security of our ROM, we modified the signature spoofing permission so that only system privileged apps can obtain it, and no security threat is posed to our users.

https://lineage.microg.org/#faq

replies(1): >>42195467 #
6. thrw42A8N ◴[20 Nov 24 16:23 UTC] No.42195467{4}[source]▶
Just add Magisk.
replies(1): >>42201205 #
7. NewJazz ◴[21 Nov 24 04:45 UTC] No.42201205{5}[source]▶
I don't want to root my phone.
replies(1): >>42201310 #
8. thrw42A8N ◴[21 Nov 24 05:06 UTC] No.42201310{6}[source]▶
Then add the spoof app from recovery.
replies(1): >>42201613 #
9. NewJazz ◴[21 Nov 24 06:15 UTC] No.42201613{7}[source]▶
Or... Just use an OS that includes it by default. Way less convoluted, and I don't have to redo things on updates.
replies(1): >>42203644 #
10. akimbostrawman ◴[21 Nov 24 10:46 UTC] No.42202968[source]▶
There are still tons of Google connections similar with /e/. If you want a fully degoogled android use GrapheneOS

https://grapheneos.org/faq#which-legacy-devices

11. thrw42A8N ◴[21 Nov 24 12:27 UTC] No.42203644{8}[source]▶
I don't like all the fluff that eOS adds. LineageOS is just clean android.
replies(1): >>42204729 #
12. NewJazz ◴[21 Nov 24 14:41 UTC] No.42204729{9}[source]▶
CalyxOS, lineage for microg...

There are options besides e.

replies(1): >>42206150 #
13. thrw42A8N ◴[21 Nov 24 16:48 UTC] No.42206150{10}[source]▶
Calyx is good but not officially available for as many devices. LineageOS is the most supported one. I don't trust random forum builds of smartphone OS - and they're too old/never existed anyways in case of my devices.
replies(1): >>42216139 #
14. NewJazz ◴[22 Nov 24 18:21 UTC] No.42216139{11}[source]▶
Lineage for microg isn't a random forum build