this post was submitted on 09 Dec 2024
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Privacy
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That's correct, but not the reason grapheneOS chooses only pixel phones. It's the level of hardware security features.
Also unlockable and presumably has well working builds. It's not just graphene, but just about every Android project it there that's best supported on pixels. Other manufacturers have a crazy variety of locking schemes and required tools. Each one is a nightmare to support.
For GrapheneOS, it's primarily that it's re-lockable. That's why other unlockable phones aren't supported.
The GrapheneOS install process sets new OS signing keys so you can lock the phone again and get full verified boot. However, most manufacturers haven't implemented this feature.
Yes, that cuts the list down even more.
What do you get, app/feature wise for verified boot vs. Play integrity app? Does it increase the amount of apps that work on it?
No, Play Integrity intentionally checks if it's a Google-approved key. Android itself has an API to check verified boot and gives info on the signing key - most devs just want to know verified boot is working.
I feel Play Integrity has a short life ahead of if competition authorities realise how exactly it works. "Anti-competitive" is the first thing policy-minded folks think when I explain the API to them.
Hope you're right, because it basically spells the end of customizing.
I would guess that it allows to detect tampering if you have to give your phone to the security officers and they do or don't do something with it without you present. I heard of such occurrences on the border, but this happens in other places and countries, too. Not sure if locked bootloader would help, though