mirror of
https://github.com/privacyguides/privacyguides.org.git
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feat!: Separate full list of tools into new page
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---
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title: "Android"
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description: Our advice for replacing privacy-invasive default Android features with private and secure alternatives.
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icon: 'simple/android'
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cover: android.webp
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schema:
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-
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"@context": http://schema.org
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"@type": WebPage
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name: Android Recommendations
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url: "./"
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-
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"@context": http://schema.org
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"@type": CreativeWork
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name: Android
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image: /assets/img/android/android.svg
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url: https://source.android.com/
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sameAs: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_(operating_system)
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---
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{ align=right }
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The **Android Open Source Project** (AOSP) is an open-source mobile operating system led by Google which powers the majority of the world's mobile devices. Most phones sold with Android are modified to include invasive integrations and apps such as Google Play Services, so you can significantly improve your privacy on your mobile device by replacing your phone's default installation with a version of Android without these invasive features.
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[General Android Overview :material-arrow-right-drop-circle:](../os/android-overview.md){ .md-button .md-button--primary }
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## Our Advice
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### Replace Google Services
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There are many methods of obtaining apps on Android while avoiding Google Play. Whenever possible, try using one of these methods before getting your apps from non-private sources:
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[Obtaining Applications :material-arrow-right-drop-circle:](obtaining-apps.md){ .md-button }
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There are also many private alternatives to the apps that come pre-installed on your phone, such as the camera app. Besides the Android apps we recommend throughout this site in general, we've created a list of system utilities specific to Android which you might find useful.
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[General App Recommendations :material-arrow-right-drop-circle:](general-apps.md){ .md-button }
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### Install a Custom Distribution
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When you buy an Android phone, the default operating system comes bundled with apps and functionality that are not part of the Android Open Source Project. Many of these apps—even apps like the dialer which provide basic system functionality—require invasive integrations with Google Play Services, which in turn asks for privileges to access your files, contacts storage, call logs, SMS messages, location, camera, microphone, and numerous other things on your device in order for those basic system apps and many other apps to function in the first place. Frameworks like Google Play Services increase the attack surface of your device and are the source of various privacy concerns with Android.
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This problem could be solved by using an alternative Android distribution, commonly known as a *custom ROM*, that does not come with such invasive integration. Unfortunately, many custom Android distributions often violate the Android security model by not supporting critical security features such as AVB, rollback protection, firmware updates, and so on. Some distributions also ship [`userdebug`](https://source.android.com/setup/build/building#choose-a-target) builds which expose root via [ADB](https://developer.android.com/studio/command-line/adb) and require [more permissive](https://github.com/LineageOS/android_system_sepolicy/search?q=userdebug&type=code) SELinux policies to accommodate debugging features, resulting in a further increased attack surface and weakened security model.
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Ideally, when choosing a custom Android distribution, you should make sure that it upholds the Android security model. At the very least, the distribution should have production builds, support for AVB, rollback protection, timely firmware and operating system updates, and SELinux in [enforcing mode](https://source.android.com/security/selinux/concepts#enforcement_levels). All of our recommended Android distributions satisfy these criteria:
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[Recommended Distributions :material-arrow-right-drop-circle:](distributions.md){ .md-button }
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### Avoid Root
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[Rooting](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rooting_(Android)) Android phones can decrease security significantly as it weakens the complete [Android security model](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_(operating_system)#Security_and_privacy). This can decrease privacy should there be an exploit that is assisted by the decreased security. Common rooting methods involve directly tampering with the boot partition, making it impossible to perform successful Verified Boot. Apps that require root will also modify the system partition, meaning that Verified Boot would have to remain disabled. Having root exposed directly in the user interface also increases the attack surface of your device and may assist in [privilege escalation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privilege_escalation) vulnerabilities and SELinux policy bypasses.
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Content blockers which modify the [hosts file](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hosts_(file)) (like AdAway) and firewalls which require root access persistently (like AFWall+) are dangerous and should not be used. They are also not the correct way to solve their intended purposes. For content blocking, we suggest encrypted [DNS](../dns.md) or content blocking functionality provided by a VPN instead. TrackerControl and AdAway in non-root mode will take up the VPN slot (by using a local loopback VPN), preventing you from using privacy-enhancing services such as [Orbot](../alternative-networks.md#orbot) or a [real VPN provider](../vpn.md).
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AFWall+ works based on the [packet filtering](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firewall_(computing)#Packet_filter) approach and may be bypassable in some situations.
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We do not believe that the security sacrifices made by rooting a phone are worth the questionable privacy benefits of those apps.
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### Install Updates Regularly
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It's important to not use an [end-of-life](https://endoflife.date/android) version of Android. Newer versions of Android receive not only security updates for the operating system but also important privacy enhancing updates too.
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For example, [prior to Android 10](https://developer.android.com/about/versions/10/privacy/changes) any apps with the [`READ_PHONE_STATE`](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/Manifest.permission#READ_PHONE_STATE) permission could access sensitive and unique serial numbers of your phone such as [IMEI](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Mobile_Equipment_Identity), [MEID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_equipment_identifier), or your SIM card's [IMSI](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_mobile_subscriber_identity); whereas now they must be system apps to do so. System apps are only provided by the OEM or Android distribution.
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### Use Built-in Sharing Features
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You can avoid giving many apps permission to access your media with Android's built-in sharing features. Many applications allow you to "share" a file with them for media upload.
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For example, if you want to post a picture to Discord you can open your file manager or gallery and share that picture with the Discord app, instead of granting Discord full access to your media and photos.
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---
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meta_title: "The Best Android Operating Systems - Privacy Guides"
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title: Alternative Distributions
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description: You can replace the operating system on your Android phone with these secure and privacy-respecting alternatives.
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schema:
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||||
-
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"@context": http://schema.org
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"@type": WebPage
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name: Private Android Operating Systems
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url: "./"
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-
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"@context": http://schema.org
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"@type": CreativeWork
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name: GrapheneOS
|
||||
image: /assets/img/android/grapheneos.svg
|
||||
url: https://grapheneos.org/
|
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sameAs: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GrapheneOS
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subjectOf:
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"@context": http://schema.org
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"@type": WebPage
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url: "./"
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robots: nofollow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large
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---
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||||
<small>Protects against the following threat(s):</small>
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||||
|
||||
- [:material-target-account: Targeted Attacks](../basics/common-threats.md#attacks-against-specific-individuals){ .pg-red }
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||||
- [:material-bug-outline: Passive Attacks](../basics/common-threats.md#security-and-privacy){ .pg-orange }
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A **custom Android-based operating system** (sometimes referred to as a **custom ROM**) can be a way to achieve a higher level of privacy and security on your device. This is in contrast to the "stock" version of Android which comes with your phone from the factory, and is often deeply integrated with Google Play Services as well as other vendor software.
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We recommend installing GrapheneOS if you have a Google Pixel as it provides improved security hardening and additional privacy features. The reasons we don't list other operating systems or devices are as follows:
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- They often have [weaker security](index.md#install-a-custom-distribution).
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||||
- Support is frequently dropped when the maintainer loses interest or upgrades their device, which is in contrast to the predictable [support cycle](https://grapheneos.org/faq#device-lifetime) that GrapheneOS follows.
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||||
- They generally have few or no notable privacy or security improvements that make installing them worthwhile.
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||||
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||||
## GrapheneOS
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||||
<div class="admonition recommendation" markdown>
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{ align=right }
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||||
{ align=right }
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||||
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||||
**GrapheneOS** is the best choice when it comes to privacy and security.
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||||
GrapheneOS provides additional [security hardening](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardening_(computing)) and privacy improvements. It has a [hardened memory allocator](https://github.com/GrapheneOS/hardened_malloc), network and sensor permissions, and various other [security features](https://grapheneos.org/features). GrapheneOS also comes with full firmware updates and signed builds, so verified boot is fully supported.
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[:octicons-home-16: Homepage](https://grapheneos.org){ .md-button .md-button--primary }
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[:octicons-eye-16:](https://grapheneos.org/faq#privacy-policy){ .card-link title="Privacy Policy" }
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||||
[:octicons-info-16:](https://grapheneos.org/faq){ .card-link title="Documentation" }
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||||
[:octicons-code-16:](https://grapheneos.org/source){ .card-link title="Source Code" }
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||||
[:octicons-heart-16:](https://grapheneos.org/donate){ .card-link title="Contribute" }
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||||
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||||
</div>
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||||
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||||
GrapheneOS supports [sandboxed Google Play](https://grapheneos.org/usage#sandboxed-google-play), which runs Google Play Services fully sandboxed like any other regular app. This means you can take advantage of most Google Play Services, such as push notifications, while giving you full control over their permissions and access, and while containing them to a specific [work profile](../os/android-overview.md#work-profile) or [user profile](../os/android-overview.md#user-profiles) of your choice.
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||||
[Google Pixel phones](../mobile-phones.md#google-pixel) are the only devices that currently meet GrapheneOS's [hardware security requirements](https://grapheneos.org/faq#future-devices). The Pixel 8 and later support ARM's Memory Tagging Extension (MTE), a hardware security enhancement that drastically lowers the probability of exploits occurring through memory corruption bugs. GrapheneOS greatly expands the coverage of MTE on supported devices. Whereas the stock OS only allows you to opt in to a limited implementation of MTE via a developer option or Google's Advanced Protection Program, GrapheneOS features a more robust implementation of MTE by default in the system kernel, default system components, and their Vanadium web browser and its WebView.
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GrapheneOS also provides a global toggle for enabling MTE on all user-installed apps at :gear: **Settings** → **Security & privacy** → **Exploit protection** → **Memory tagging** → **Enable by default**. The OS also features per-app toggles to opt out of MTE for apps which may crash due to compatibility issues.
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||||
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||||
### Connectivity Checks
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||||
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||||
By default, Android makes many network connections to Google to perform DNS connectivity checks, to sync with current network time, to check your network connectivity, and for many other background tasks. GrapheneOS replaces these with connections to servers operated by GrapheneOS and subject to their privacy policy. This hides information like your IP address [from Google](../basics/common-threats.md#privacy-from-service-providers), but means it is trivial for an admin on your network or ISP to see you are making connections to `grapheneos.network`, `grapheneos.org`, etc. and deduce what operating system you are using.
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||||
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||||
If you want to hide information like this from an adversary on your network or ISP, you **must** use a [trusted VPN](../vpn.md) in addition to changing the connectivity check setting to **Standard (Google)**. It can be found in :gear: **Settings** → **Network & internet** → **Internet connectivity checks**. This option allows you to connect to Google's servers for connectivity checks, which, alongside the usage of a VPN, helps you blend in with a larger pool of Android devices.
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||||
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||||
## Criteria
|
||||
|
||||
**Please note we are not affiliated with any of the projects we recommend.** In addition to [our standard criteria](../about/criteria.md), we have developed a clear set of requirements to allow us to provide objective recommendations. We suggest you familiarize yourself with this list before choosing to use a project, and conduct your own research to ensure it's the right choice for you.
|
||||
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||||
- Must be open-source software.
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||||
- Must support bootloader locking with custom AVB key support.
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||||
- Must receive major Android updates within 0-1 months of release.
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||||
- Must receive Android feature updates (minor version) within 0-14 days of release.
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||||
- Must receive regular security patches within 0-5 days of release.
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||||
- Must **not** be "rooted" out of the box.
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||||
- Must **not** enable Google Play Services by default.
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||||
- Must **not** require system modification to support Google Play Services.
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||||
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||||
---
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||||
title: "General Apps"
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||||
description: The apps listed here are Android-exclusive and specifically enhance or replace key system functionality.
|
||||
schema:
|
||||
-
|
||||
"@context": http://schema.org
|
||||
"@type": WebPage
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||||
name: General Android Apps
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||||
url: "./"
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||||
-
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||||
"@context": http://schema.org
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||||
"@type": MobileApplication
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||||
name: Shelter
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||||
applicationCategory: Utilities
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||||
operatingSystem: Android
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||||
-
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||||
"@context": http://schema.org
|
||||
"@type": MobileApplication
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||||
name: Secure Camera
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||||
applicationCategory: Utilities
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||||
operatingSystem: Android
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||||
-
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||||
"@context": http://schema.org
|
||||
"@type": MobileApplication
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||||
name: Secure PDF Viewer
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||||
applicationCategory: Utilities
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||||
operatingSystem: Android
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||||
robots: nofollow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large
|
||||
---
|
||||
<small>Protects against the following threat(s):</small>
|
||||
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||||
- [:material-bug-outline: Passive Attacks](../basics/common-threats.md#security-and-privacy){ .pg-orange }
|
||||
|
||||
We recommend a wide variety of Android apps throughout this site. The apps listed here are Android-exclusive and specifically enhance or replace key system functionality.
|
||||
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||||
### Shelter
|
||||
|
||||
If your device is on Android 15 or greater, we recommend using the native [Private Space](../os/android-overview.md#private-space) feature instead, which provides nearly the same functionality without needing to place trust in and grant powerful permissions to a third-party app.
|
||||
|
||||
<div class="admonition recommendation" markdown>
|
||||
|
||||
{ align=right }
|
||||
|
||||
**Shelter** is an app that helps you leverage Android's Work Profile functionality to isolate or duplicate apps on your device.
|
||||
|
||||
Shelter supports blocking contact search cross profiles and sharing files across profiles via the default file manager ([DocumentsUI](https://source.android.com/devices/architecture/modular-system/documentsui)).
|
||||
|
||||
[:octicons-repo-16: Repository](https://gitea.angry.im/PeterCxy/Shelter#shelter){ .md-button .md-button--primary }
|
||||
[:octicons-code-16:](https://gitea.angry.im/PeterCxy/Shelter){ .card-link title="Source Code" }
|
||||
[:octicons-heart-16:](https://patreon.com/PeterCxy){ .card-link title=Contribute }
|
||||
|
||||
</div>
|
||||
|
||||
<div class="admonition warning" markdown>
|
||||
<p class="admonition-title">Warning</p>
|
||||
|
||||
When using Shelter, you are placing complete trust in its developer, as Shelter acts as a [Device Admin](https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/admin/device-admin) to create the Work Profile, and it has extensive access to the data stored within the Work Profile.
|
||||
|
||||
</div>
|
||||
|
||||
Shelter is recommended over [Insular](https://secure-system.gitlab.io/Insular) and [Island](https://github.com/oasisfeng/island) as it supports [contact search blocking](https://secure-system.gitlab.io/Insular/faq.html).
|
||||
|
||||
### Secure Camera
|
||||
|
||||
<small>Protects against the following threat(s):</small>
|
||||
|
||||
- [:material-account-search: Public Exposure](../basics/common-threats.md#limiting-public-information){ .pg-green }
|
||||
|
||||
<div class="admonition recommendation" markdown>
|
||||
|
||||
{ align=right }
|
||||
{ align=right }
|
||||
|
||||
**Secure Camera** is a camera app focused on privacy and security which can capture images, videos, and QR codes. CameraX vendor extensions (Portrait, HDR, Night Sight, Face Retouch, and Auto) are also supported on available devices.
|
||||
|
||||
[:octicons-repo-16: Repository](https://github.com/GrapheneOS/Camera#readme){ .md-button .md-button--primary }
|
||||
[:octicons-info-16:](https://grapheneos.org/usage#camera){ .card-link title=Documentation}
|
||||
[:octicons-code-16:](https://github.com/GrapheneOS/Camera){ .card-link title="Source Code" }
|
||||
[:octicons-heart-16:](https://grapheneos.org/donate){ .card-link title=Contribute }
|
||||
|
||||
<details class="downloads" markdown>
|
||||
<summary>Downloads</summary>
|
||||
|
||||
- [:simple-googleplay: Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.grapheneos.camera.play)
|
||||
- [:simple-github: GitHub](https://github.com/GrapheneOS/Camera/releases)
|
||||
- [:material-cube-outline: GrapheneOS App Store](https://github.com/GrapheneOS/Apps/releases)
|
||||
|
||||
</details>
|
||||
|
||||
</div>
|
||||
|
||||
Main privacy features include:
|
||||
|
||||
- Auto removal of [Exif](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exif) metadata (enabled by default)
|
||||
- Use of the new [Media](https://developer.android.com/training/data-storage/shared/media) API, therefore [storage permissions](https://developer.android.com/training/data-storage) are not required
|
||||
- Microphone permission not required unless you want to record sound
|
||||
|
||||
<div class="admonition note" markdown>
|
||||
<p class="admonition-title">Note</p>
|
||||
|
||||
Metadata is not currently deleted from video files, but that is planned.
|
||||
|
||||
The image orientation metadata is not deleted. If you enable location (in Secure Camera) that **won't** be deleted either. If you want to delete that later you will need to use an external app such as [ExifEraser](../data-redaction.md#exiferaser-android).
|
||||
|
||||
</div>
|
||||
|
||||
### Secure PDF Viewer
|
||||
|
||||
<small>Protects against the following threat(s):</small>
|
||||
|
||||
- [:material-target-account: Targeted Attacks](../basics/common-threats.md#attacks-against-specific-individuals){ .pg-red }
|
||||
|
||||
<div class="admonition recommendation" markdown>
|
||||
|
||||
{ align=right }
|
||||
{ align=right }
|
||||
|
||||
**Secure PDF Viewer** is a PDF viewer based on [pdf.js](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PDF.js) that doesn't require any permissions. The PDF is fed into a [sandboxed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandbox_(software_development)) [WebView](https://developer.android.com/guide/webapps/webview). This means that it doesn't require permission directly to access content or files.
|
||||
|
||||
[Content-Security-Policy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Content_Security_Policy) is used to enforce that the JavaScript and styling properties within the WebView are entirely static content.
|
||||
|
||||
[:octicons-repo-16: Repository](https://github.com/GrapheneOS/PdfViewer#readme){ .md-button .md-button--primary }
|
||||
[:octicons-code-16:](https://github.com/GrapheneOS/PdfViewer){ .card-link title="Source Code" }
|
||||
[:octicons-heart-16:](https://grapheneos.org/donate){ .card-link title=Contribute }
|
||||
|
||||
<details class="downloads" markdown>
|
||||
<summary>Downloads</summary>
|
||||
|
||||
- [:simple-googleplay: Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.grapheneos.pdfviewer.play)
|
||||
- [:simple-github: GitHub](https://github.com/GrapheneOS/PdfViewer/releases)
|
||||
- [:material-cube-outline: GrapheneOS App Store](https://github.com/GrapheneOS/Apps/releases)
|
||||
|
||||
</details>
|
||||
|
||||
</div>
|
||||
|
||||
## Criteria
|
||||
|
||||
**Please note we are not affiliated with any of the projects we recommend.** In addition to [our standard criteria](../about/criteria.md), we have developed a clear set of requirements to allow us to provide objective recommendations. We suggest you familiarize yourself with this list before choosing to use a project, and conduct your own research to ensure it's the right choice for you.
|
||||
|
||||
- Applications on this page must not be applicable to any other software category on the site.
|
||||
- General applications should extend or replace core system functionality.
|
||||
- Applications should receive regular updates and maintenance.
|
||||
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
|
||||
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|
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<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="128" height="128" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 33.867 33.867"><g><g><g fill="#1b1b1b" fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" image-rendering="optimizeQuality" shape-rendering="geometricPrecision"><path fill="#1b1b1b" d="m605 798 381-217c-7-21-12-43-12-67 0-92 67-168 155-184v-330h64v330c88 16 155 92 155 184 0 24-5 46-13 67l382 217c14-16 31-30 50-42 80-46 180-26 237 42l286-165 32 56-286 165c31 84-2 180-82 226-18 10-36 17-55 21v442c19 4 37 11 55 21 80 46 113 142 82 226l286 165-32 56-286-165c-57 68-157 88-237 42-19-12-36-26-50-42-127 72-254 145-382 217 8 21 13 43 13 67 0 92-67 168-155 184v330h-64v-330c-88-16-155-92-155-184 0-24 5-46 12-67l-381-217c-14 16-31 30-50 42-80 46-180 26-237-42l-286 165-32-56 286-165c-31-84 2-180 82-226 18-10 36-17 55-21v-442c-19-4-37-11-55-21-80-46-113-142-82-226l-286-165 32-56 286 165c57-68 157-88 237-42 19 12 36 26 50 42zm1080 992c-18-50-15-108 14-157 30-52 81-84 136-92v-438c-55-8-106-40-136-92-29-49-32-107-14-157l-382-218c-35 40-85 65-142 65s-107-25-142-65l-382 218c18 50 15 108-14 157-30 52-81 84-136 92v438c55 8 106 40 136 92 29 49 32 107 14 157l382 218c35-40 85-65 142-65s107 25 142 65z" class="fil0" transform="translate(0 -263.13) matrix(.072143 0 0 .072143 -44.234 303.31) matrix(.17755 0 0 .17755 641.74 -556.97)"/></g></g></g></svg>
|
||||
|
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|
||||
---
|
||||
title: "Obtaining Applications"
|
||||
description: We recommend these methods for obtaining applications on Android without interacting with Google Play Services.
|
||||
---
|
||||
There are many ways to obtain Android apps privately, even from the Play Store, without interacting with Google Play Services. We recommend the following methods of obtaining applications on Android, listed in order of preference.
|
||||
|
||||
## Obtainium
|
||||
|
||||
<div class="admonition recommendation" markdown>
|
||||
|
||||
{ align=right }
|
||||
|
||||
**Obtainium** is an app manager which allows you to install and update apps directly from the developer's own releases page (i.e. GitHub, GitLab, the developer's website, etc.), rather than a centralized app store/repository. It supports automatic background updates on Android 12 and higher.
|
||||
|
||||
[:octicons-repo-16: Repository](https://github.com/ImranR98/Obtainium#readme){ .md-button .md-button--primary }
|
||||
[:octicons-info-16:](https://github.com/ImranR98/Obtainium/wiki){ .card-link title=Documentation}
|
||||
[:octicons-code-16:](https://github.com/ImranR98/Obtainium){ .card-link title="Source Code" }
|
||||
[:octicons-heart-16:](https://github.com/sponsors/ImranR98){ .card-link title=Contribute }
|
||||
|
||||
<details class="downloads" markdown>
|
||||
<summary>Downloads</summary>
|
||||
|
||||
- [:simple-github: GitHub](https://github.com/ImranR98/Obtainium/releases)
|
||||
|
||||
</details>
|
||||
|
||||
</div>
|
||||
|
||||
Obtainium allows you to download APK installer files from a wide variety of sources, and it is up to you to ensure those sources and apps are legitimate. For example, using Obtainium to install Signal from [Signal's APK landing page](https://signal.org/android/apk) should be fine, but installing from third-party APK repositories like Aptoide or APKPure may pose additional risks. The risk of installing a malicious *update* is lower, because Android itself verifies that all app updates are signed by the same developer as the existing app on your phone before installing them.
|
||||
|
||||
## GrapheneOS App Store
|
||||
|
||||
GrapheneOS's app store is available on [GitHub](https://github.com/GrapheneOS/Apps/releases). It supports Android 12 and above and is capable of updating itself. The app store has standalone applications built by the GrapheneOS project such as the [Auditor](../device-integrity.md#auditor-android), [Camera](general-apps.md#secure-camera), and [PDF Viewer](general-apps.md#secure-pdf-viewer). If you are looking for these applications, we highly recommend that you get them from GrapheneOS's app store instead of the Play Store, as the apps on their store are signed by the GrapheneOS's project own signature that Google does not have access to.
|
||||
|
||||
## Aurora Store
|
||||
|
||||
The Google Play Store requires a Google account to log in, which is not great for privacy. You can get around this by using an alternative client, such as Aurora Store.
|
||||
|
||||
<div class="admonition recommendation" markdown>
|
||||
|
||||
{ align=right }
|
||||
|
||||
**Aurora Store** is a Google Play Store client which does not require a Google account, Google Play Services, or microG to download apps.
|
||||
|
||||
[:octicons-home-16: Homepage](https://auroraoss.com){ .md-button .md-button--primary }
|
||||
[:octicons-eye-16:](https://gitlab.com/AuroraOSS/AuroraStore/-/blob/master/POLICY.md){ .card-link title="Privacy Policy" }
|
||||
[:octicons-code-16:](https://gitlab.com/AuroraOSS/AuroraStore){ .card-link title="Source Code" }
|
||||
|
||||
<details class="downloads" markdown>
|
||||
<summary>Downloads</summary>
|
||||
|
||||
- [:simple-gitlab: GitLab](https://gitlab.com/AuroraOSS/AuroraStore/-/releases)
|
||||
|
||||
</details>
|
||||
|
||||
</div>
|
||||
|
||||
Aurora Store does not allow you to download paid apps with their anonymous account feature. You can optionally log in with your Google account with Aurora Store to download apps you have purchased, which does give access to the list of apps you've installed to Google. However, you still benefit from not requiring the full Google Play client and Google Play Services or microG on your device.
|
||||
|
||||
## Manually with RSS Notifications
|
||||
|
||||
For apps that are released on platforms like GitHub and GitLab, you may be able to add an RSS feed to your [news aggregator](../news-aggregators.md) that will help you keep track of new releases.
|
||||
|
||||
   
|
||||
|
||||
### GitHub
|
||||
|
||||
On GitHub, using [Secure Camera](general-apps.md#secure-camera) as an example, you would navigate to its [releases page](https://github.com/GrapheneOS/Camera/releases) and append `.atom` to the URL:
|
||||
|
||||
`https://github.com/GrapheneOS/Camera/releases.atom`
|
||||
|
||||
### GitLab
|
||||
|
||||
On GitLab, using [Aurora Store](#aurora-store) as an example, you would navigate to its [project repository](https://gitlab.com/AuroraOSS/AuroraStore) and append `/-/tags?format=atom` to the URL:
|
||||
|
||||
`https://gitlab.com/AuroraOSS/AuroraStore/-/tags?format=atom`
|
||||
|
||||
### Verifying APK Fingerprints
|
||||
|
||||
If you download APK files to install manually, you can verify their signature with the [`apksigner`](https://developer.android.com/studio/command-line/apksigner) tool, which is a part of Android [build-tools](https://developer.android.com/studio/releases/build-tools).
|
||||
|
||||
1. Install [Java JDK](https://oracle.com/java/technologies/downloads).
|
||||
|
||||
2. Download the [Android Studio command line tools](https://developer.android.com/studio#command-tools).
|
||||
|
||||
3. Extract the downloaded archive:
|
||||
|
||||
```bash
|
||||
unzip commandlinetools-*.zip
|
||||
cd cmdline-tools
|
||||
./bin/sdkmanager --sdk_root=./ "build-tools;29.0.3"
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
4. Run the signature verification command:
|
||||
|
||||
```bash
|
||||
./build-tools/29.0.3/apksigner verify --print-certs ../Camera-37.apk
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
5. The resulting hashes can then be compared with another source. Some developers such as Signal [show the fingerprints](https://signal.org/android/apk) on their website.
|
||||
|
||||
```bash
|
||||
Signer #1 certificate DN: CN=GrapheneOS
|
||||
Signer #1 certificate SHA-256 digest: 6436b155b917c2f9a9ed1d15c4993a5968ffabc94947c13f2aeee14b7b27ed59
|
||||
Signer #1 certificate SHA-1 digest: 23e108677a2e1b1d6e6b056f3bb951df7ad5570c
|
||||
Signer #1 certificate MD5 digest: dbbcd0cac71bd6fa2102a0297c6e0dd3
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
## F-Droid
|
||||
|
||||
{ align=right width=120px }
|
||||
|
||||
==We only recommend F-Droid as a way to obtain apps which cannot be obtained via the means above.== F-Droid is often recommended as an alternative to Google Play, particularly within the privacy community. The option to add third-party repositories and not be confined to Google's walled garden has led to its popularity. F-Droid additionally has [reproducible builds](https://f-droid.org/en/docs/Reproducible_Builds) for some applications and is dedicated to free and open-source software. However, there are some security-related downsides to how F-Droid builds, signs, and delivers packages:
|
||||
|
||||
Due to their process of building apps, apps in the *official* F-Droid repository often fall behind on updates. F-Droid maintainers also reuse package IDs while signing apps with their own keys, which is not ideal as it gives the F-Droid team ultimate trust. Additionally, the requirements for an app to be included in the official F-Droid repo are less strict than other app stores like Google Play, meaning that F-Droid tends to host a lot more apps which are older, unmaintained, or otherwise no longer meet [modern security standards](https://developer.android.com/google/play/requirements/target-sdk).
|
||||
|
||||
Other popular third-party repositories for F-Droid such as [IzzyOnDroid](https://apt.izzysoft.de/fdroid) alleviate some of these concerns. The IzzyOnDroid repository pulls builds directly from code forges (GitHub, GitLab, etc.) and is the next best thing to the developers' own repositories. They also offer [reproducible builds](https://android.izzysoft.de/articles/named/iod-rbs-mirrors-clients) for hundreds of applications and have developers who verify the reproducibility of developer-signed APKs. Furthermore, the IzzyOnDroid team conducts [additional security scans](https://android.izzysoft.de/articles/named/iod-scan-apkchecks) of apps housed in the repo, which usually result in [deliberations](https://github.com/gouravkhunger/QuotesApp/issues/22) between them and app developers toward privacy improvements in their apps. Note that apps may be removed from the IzzyOnDroid repo in [certain circumstances](https://gitlab.com/IzzyOnDroid/repo#are-apps-removed-from-the-repo--and-when-does-that-happen).
|
||||
|
||||
The [F-Droid](https://f-droid.org/en/packages) and [IzzyOnDroid](https://apt.izzysoft.de/fdroid) repositories are home to countless apps, so they can be useful places to search for and discover open-source apps that you can then download through other means such as the Play Store, Aurora Store, or by getting the APK directly from the developer. You should use your best judgment when looking for new apps via this method, and keep an eye on how frequently the app is updated. Outdated apps may rely on unsupported libraries, among other things, posing a potential security risk.
|
||||
|
||||
<div class="admonition note" markdown>
|
||||
<p class="admonition-title">F-Droid Basic</p>
|
||||
|
||||
In some rare cases, the developer of an app will only distribute it through F-Droid ([Gadgetbridge](../health-and-wellness.md#gadgetbridge) is one example of this). If you really need an app like that, we recommend using the newer [F-Droid Basic](https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.fdroid.basic) client instead of the original F-Droid app to obtain it. F-Droid Basic supports automatic background updates without privileged extension or root, and has a reduced feature set (limiting attack surface).
|
||||
|
||||
</div>
|
||||
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Reference in New Issue
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