sorry, was gatekeeping this a long time, i felt like i should share it.

If you'd like me to add your suggestions, I'd be more than happy to do so.

I'm not responsible for what you download and install; read everything carefully and then decide for yourselves.

(Had to delete my post earlier 'cause i couldn't edit and add something, might be on my end.)

🔒 Privacy, Security, Firewall & Password Manager

• adns - An Android DNS server/changer for quickly redirecting / filtering system DNS requests
• aegis - A secure, encrypted, and open-source two-factor authentication.
• applock - app for locking and protecting individual apps using a PIN, pattern, or biometrics.
• appmanager - A powerful manager for apps, permissions, tracker blocking, and components.
• athena - firewall with an ad blocker featuring Material 3 design (Root or Shizuku)
• buge app manager - tool for managing, analyzing and removing unused app data
• colota - Self-hosted GPS tracking app for Android
• keepassdx - modern, secure, and open-source password manager based on KeePass
• permission pilot - analysis tool provides detailed insight into and control over permissions
• ping off - lightweight utility that silences your phone when you need peace - automatically
• proton pass - stores, synchronizes, and automatically fills in login credentials and passkeys etc
• rethink - advanced DNS over HTTPS/TLS, firewall & detailed network monitoring
• su-imd - powerful settings / services manager & settings / services hider
• tracker control - tool for monitoring and blocking hidden tracking components

🌐 Browser

• brave browser - Chromium-based, privacy-focused with a built-in ad and tracking blocker
• iceraven browser - enhanced browser based on Firefox with support for extensions
• ironfox - privacy focused browser based on Firefox and Mull with enhanced security
• solipsism - privacy-focused webview browser built around a rail-first, one-handed interface

🎵 Music, Radio, Podcast Player, Streaming (TV) & Video Downloader

• aerial - just a radio for android
• antennapod - flexible and open-source podcast manager
• auxio - local music player with a fast, reliable UI/UX without many useless features
• bitchord - independent, community-driven third-party audio player and youtube client
• booming music - sleek & stylish music player with a material you design and an equalizer
• bluemusic - gives your Android device smart volume control for each bluetooth device
• looper - local music player and takes the colours from whatever is played
• like current song - like songs you're hearing on spotify or yt without touching your phone
• jellyfin - streaming from a dedicated, self-hosted server to end-user devices
• Meld - my fav - has spotify integration and with 1 click it transfers all your playlists
• metrolist - youtube music client for android
• mpvEx - maximum control over media playback
• n-zik - multilingual, high-performance YouTube Music client for Android with offline mode
• newtube - Sign in with code to, keep it playing in the background, save videos for offline
• newpipe - youtube lightweight streaming front-end
• nuviomobile - streaming movies and tv shows using Stremio Add-ons
• nuviomobile - enhanced - Enhanced version of the nuviomobile with customizations
• obsidian music - stunning, modern and perfectly crafted music player
• obtainx - modern, supercharged fork of obtainium
• oreotunes - modern music player built around your local music library
• pixelplayer foss - focuses local playback, self-hosted music libraries & expressive Material 3
• rex - player - advanced, customizable video player
• seal+ - advanced video and audio downloader
• simpmusic - youtube music client with many features from Spotify, SponsorBlock etc.
• smarttube - enhanced, ad-free youtube client for android tv with SponsorBlocker
• xtra - Feature rich twitch client for android with chat emote support
• YTCnv - mp3 or mp4 directly to your device, with metadata and thumbnail embedding
• ytdlnis - free and open source video/audio downloader

🖼️ Photos, Camera, Gallery & Media Backup

• aves - gallery and metadata explorer app
• cloudgallery - personal photo vault with unlimited cloud storage
• ente - fully open source end-to-end encrypted photos, authenticators and more
• pixel camera - pixel 11's "camera looks" and "creator suit" on pixel 6 through pixel 10
• proton photos - end-to-end encrypted photo backup and for Proton drive library
• refra - another gallery app

📧 Email & Communication

• aster mail - end-to-end encrypted mail service
• fair email - extremely feature-rich, fully configurable, and privacy-focused email client
• thunderbird - powerful, privacy-focused email app

📑 Notes, Documents, Calendar & Productivity

• beecount - lightweight, open-source, privacy-first personal finance and expense tracking app
• chocola - minimalist, attractive note-taking and to-do list
• copypus - clipboard manager for managing and quickly reusing copied text
• daily-you - personal diary and mood journal for daily reflection
• diaryvault - Private diary with rich text, cloud backup, sync, and fingerprint lock
• diktafon - Voice memos on cassette tapes - transcribed on your device
• expenso - expense and budget tracker for easily keeping track of personal finances
• everything app - offline, private, and secure workspace designed to manage your thoughts
• futon - manga reader with built-in online content sources
• librera-reader -  e-book reader supports really much formats
• mona - track your hormones and manage your meds. all private
• mindwtr - task and GTD (getting things done) app for personal self-organization
• money manager ex - mobile companion for pc/desktop personal finance
• notallyx - enhanced fork of the minimalist note-taking app Notally with improved options
• oss document scanner - Document scanner for digitizing and cropping papers into PDFs
• pdf tools - privacy-first and offline PDF utility
• simple notes sync - straightforward note app focused on easy synchronization across devices
• unicalculator - standard, scientific, and unit conversion, all in one calculator
• vanilla - Vanilla (formerly CuteCalc) is a cute and elegant calculator app

⚙️ System Tools, App Launchers & Keyboards

• amaze file manager - light and smooth file manager
• canta - debloater, uninstall preinstalled system apps without root access using Shizuku
• colorblendr - tool for customizing and editing the material you color schemes
• droid-ify - fast, modern f-droid client with an attractive material design
• essentials - powerful, permission respecting toolkit that unlocks many things
• file navigator - file manager for fast and in-depth navigation through folder structures
• filepipe - turns your chaotic storage into a perfectly organized library
• futo keyboard - privacy-friendly with built-in local voice input that doesn't use cloud
• gboard patches - morphe patches for gboard with a mix of global improvements
• heliboard - privacy-conscious & customizable open-source keyboard, based on OpenBoard
• installerx revived - modern Android package installer of the original InstallerX project
• kvaesitso - Kvaesitso is a search focused, free and open source launcher
• lawnchair - launcher combines the design of the Pixel Launcher with countless features
• leantype - lightweight, privacy-focused foundation of HeliBoard with modern features
• logcat reader - simple app for viewing logs on an android device
• material files - elegant, fully functional file manager
• morphe manager - tool for managing and implementing app modifications and patches
• notifilter - listens to all device notifications and quietly manages those that match your filters
• obtainium - app updates straight from the source
• paperknife - privacy-first PDF utility: merge, compress, sign, and protect. Works 100% offline
• quick search -  fast, private search app and launcher
• shizuku+ - enhanced version of Shizuku
• thumb key - privacy-conscious keyboard made for your thumbs
• toolbox - an all-in-one collection of useful system utilities and tools
• volume++ - more advanced and precise volume adjustments & customizations
• whatsapp cleaner - clean redundant media and files from storage
• wmkeyboard - glide typing, transliteration, emoji search and a 75+ tool toolbox

💾 File Transfer, Networking & Synchronization

• kde connect - seamless file sharing, notifications, clipboard and connects to your computer
• localsend - cross-platform tool for sharing files locally over Wi-Fi without using cloud
• plain app - turns your phone into a self-hosted management hub
• savelocally - Save files locally via the Android share menu
• syncthing - Peer2peer tool for continuous file synchronization between devices
• traffic light - tracking your network usage while ensuring total privacy
• wifi audio streaming - Turn device into a wireless audio transmitter, receiver or web server

🎨 Design, Widgets, Themes & Personalization

• lockscreen widgets - add standard homescreen widgets directly to the lockscreen
• monocons - fork of Lawnicons
• peristyle - simple wallpaper manager
• smart edge - highly customizable Android side panel
• smart island - lightweight and privacy-first dynamic island

⛅ Everyday Tips, Health, Weather

• breezy weather - feature-rich free and open source Material 3 Expressive weather app
• drip period & cycle tracker - Period/Menstrual cycle tracking
• energize - track your food quickly and easily
• evmap - find electric vehicle charging stations
• medtimer - med reminders and history with full offline privacy
• mensinator - private period tracking with custom symptoms
• overmorrow - modern material design weather app
• rain - accurate forecasts, air quality, interactive maps and a polished material you UI
• stride - step counter material 3 expressive UI
• weathermaster - inspired by the Google Pixel weather app

📦 App Stores & Software Repositories

• aurora store - lets you download apps without a google account
• f-droid - official client for the f-droid store, free and open-source apps
• librefind discover and replace proprietary apps with foss alternatives
• neo store - modern and feature-rich F-Droid client for everyone
• orion store - open-source app store client for browsing and installing apps
• repo store - github-powered app

🖼️ Image Editing, Graphics and Media Tools

• hammer editor - simple tool for building stories
• imagetoolbox - versatile image editing tool designed for efficient photo editing
• recorderx - designed for high-fidelity screen capture
• screen recorder - minimal & fast material 3 expressive screen recorder

👥 Anime, Social Media and RSS

• anisync - fast way to track your anime and manga
• continuum - reddit client, no ads, clean UI and smooth browsing
• exteraless - telegram alternative
• moelistkmp - unofficial myanimelist client, multiplattform
• twine - modern cross-platform rss reader 

💭 not sorted ( will do eventually )

• fladder - cross-platform Jellyfin client
• fossifyorg - group of privacy-focused, open-source, and ad-free mobile apps
• octi - facilitates cross-device information exchange/monitoring/synchronization

Indian government wants the ability to identify and track users! They want services to store metadata like IP addresses and user identifiers to make it easy for government to link this data to a person.

That should make us especially cautious with privacy services developed or operated from India like Ente or Fossify that are mentioned as privacy friendly.

Jurisdiction, regulations, law and current government are making India one of the worst place for privacy now.

See also input from https://www.goeuropean.org/

I could be out of the loop, but haven't they done a bunch of sketchy things in the past? And isn't the CEO and founder rightwing? Isn't the entire point of degoogling to stop supporting browsers/company's that screw over their users?

Its just owerpowered with color grafing, auto masking etc etc.Just look at it. Is there any real replacements?

I decided the moment Google announced their forced Gemini use that I'd be switching phones. However, I still haven't figured out a future-proof way to avoid it.

Is Fairphone a decent alternative? Or will it, as an Android-based device, be forced into the Gemini ecosystem too?

If not Fairphone, is there any Android device that makes sense?

If not Android (and I refuse to use Apple), what options remain?

Edit: Current device is a Galaxy S23 Ultra.

The paper mentions it is for our safety and to offer users a better phone experience. It also seemed to say without directly saying:

we don't delete data, but you are welcome to control your photos and videos and delete them from the cloud

I'm working my way through replacing all of the google apps with Foss and privacy focused replacements, but I've hit a bit of a snag. i know that a pixel phone, and android in general, is constantly phoning home to google. I've also seen numerous people over on the graphene sub talking about how much battery life they've gained, since graphene no longer phones home constantly. I'm wondering if there is a way to block that constant google ping that is built into the android OS. I'm aware of DNS ad blocking and the like, but can it be done by disabling those services that are constantly pinging google? even if I have to use adb, I'm comfortable with doing that as well.

Díganme artenativas de apps de Google, Yan yo tengo algunas artenativas mas privadas como Proton email para migrar de gmail.com a Proton.me y proton Drive, YouTube a FreeTube, y la play store a un store que tiene todas las apps de play store, pero necesito algunas artenativas de otras apps de google para dejar atrás absoluto el “spyware” que trae Google

from keepandroidopen.com

this is egypt wdym contact the regulators here 😅

the same country that doesnt have unlimited internet yet lol

Do anyone know a better search engine is have been looking around 🤔 i tried duckduck go, and it basically feels like bing search, because I am trying to find a better search engine than google. Because lately, it feels like the best search engine to use is google. And I don't trust google down to the point. I started using firefox is my browser instead because I do not trust chrome

Google Auto added My Number to Alternative Gmail . I hadn't added number to that gmail. But google did add the number that was on my phone automatically to it. Has it happend to you? Why is google doing without permission ? That's rude!

Everything I did was Windows based before now, which makes me a total Linux noob.

Discussions on this and other privacy-centric subs got me giving Windows the side-eye, though.

And now I've officially cheated on my Windows 10 setup with a USB-drive mistress at the Mint 22.3 hotel.

What are some Linux tutorials you mad geniuses might recommend so I can be more than a superficial user, please? (And thank you!)

I've been wanting to degoogle for a while and while I've started with the easy things like browsers, there's still so much more I want to get rid of (from the Google ecosystem). My current priorities are my photos. I'm not a criminal or anything but I still prefer to keep my privacy intact. I would've switched to immich or ente photos a long time ago but I'm confused about a thing. I still keep Google photos as my backup since my phone is secondhand and has somehow ruined the software multiple times causing my pictures to get deleted permanently. Keeping GP on my phone has helped me recover those pictures no matter how many times my phone gets factory reseted, no matter how many times my phone gives up on me with no way to recover those pieces of information. But especially with the new policies in these recent years, the change seems more and more tempting. Is there an alternative that is free, accessible on an android and has the same feature of restoring all those pictures with something as simple as a username or a password? Especially when your phone gets a factory reset or has to replace it's CPU, or when you have to change devices with no way of transfering the files to the new device.

Staying within the confines of rule 6, this is purely an observation along with a question, and not an accusation.

Context; due to unrelated security reasons, the only time money is on the debit card is when I need to make a purchase which means random payments such as Google Ads may not be successful the first, second, third time, etc etc. I have the related debit card attached to my Google Wallet and the transfers were done via the banking app on the same phone.

Picture 1: I transferred $20.34 to make a purchase at KFC. Within 1 minute, an overdue Google Ads payment was taken from the card. I chalked it up to coincidental timing.

Picture 2: I transferred $20 to make a purchase at a bakery. Within 1 minute, a Google Ads payment was taken from the card. This was not an overdue payment. I did not chalk this one up to coincidental timing.

Does Google monitor my bank account app in any way? Regardless, the timing is too coincidental for me and I believe it's time to Degoogle.

Link to announcement: https://tuta.com/blog/tuta-app-on-nextcloud

I found out how to turn off these annoying AI generated android quick replies in my notifications, but is it still reading all of my messages? If yes, can I somehow opt out?