A community for those that would like to get away from Google.
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One thing you can do :
Interesting, I was using https://rethinkdns.com/ until now, I guess NetGuard is a more straightforward approach to blocking?
Up to you. Netguard does need a local VPN connection on the phone to work, so if you would need some VPN app to run there's a problem. Netguard blocks network access per app (with choice for enabling/disabling WiFi and/or Mobile Data per app) which I think is cool. And it is an open source app available via F-Droid.
Rethink is very similar: uses a VPN connection too, and allows blocking per app, is available on F-Droid
Anyway, the interface of Netguard seems a bit easier to use
You can use wireguard configuration with rethink DNS
Nope. Best cause of action is buy a google pixel and put grapheneos on it.
You can try uninstalling as much Google crap as possible using the Universal Android Debloater
Then perhaps use a firewall like NetGuard in whitelist mode, to only allow selected apps to access the internet
As an additional layer of security, you can use NextDNS with the No Google blocklist, and block all connections to Google servers in DNS. If you need to access specific things like YouTube, you can whitelist them.
just gonna say , rethink combines both a firewall and a DNS blocker .
Interesting, I was using https://rethinkdns.com/ until now, I guess NetGuard is a more straightforward approach to blocking?
if I understand correctly the rethink app does also work as a firewall , so no . I've also found netguard to be less intuitive and to have a less readable UI .
if you are just using rethink as a DNS provider however then netguard (or the rethink app) can allow you to have more granular control over specific apps .
I see, thanks
You can't degoogle without using a ROM that degoogles. Google has built itself into the Android operating system by default and replacing it is non-trivial, like using a ROM with microG.
As another commenter mentioned, though, you can partially degoogle in other ways.
Partial degoogling isn't an option for me. Thank you for the reply though. I didn't know Google had something inside the OS except like the regular system apps
You can degoogle some phones without root, assuming they have support from a good custom ROM (the classic example being GrapheneOS on a Pixel). You'll need to look up what ROMs are available for your particular phone, and if you're lucky then there'll be a good one which doesn't require too much hackery to install.
If you're unlucky and there's nothing for that device then you probably can't fully de-google it, but you can still improve the situation by avoiding any Google apps and services. This could be by using adb as you suggest, or by managing the network as the other comment suggests, or just by using alternatives.
It all really depends on your threat model and whether or not it's worth buying a new device just for this!
@GolfNovemberUniform In redmi turn off miui optimization then you can use the app called disable manager from f-droid to disable most of the apps. After disabling turn on the miui optimization.
The second phone is not a Redmi. Ain't no way I'm using a Redmi without a custom ROM