A custom ROM allows you to extend the life of your Android phone, but does it come with risks in 2024 and why isn't it more popular?

I am surprised that Google spends so much time tackling custom ROMs via it’s Play Integrity API. If only they paid that much attention to say, curating the Play Store more, it had be much better for everyone

  • daq@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
    52·
    16 days ago

    Does anything related to money work on GOS? Bank apps, check deposits, credit card apps, nfc payments? Any other apps/features disabled by Google?

    Seems like a huge sacrifice for perceived privacy improvement.

    How is this significantly different from using vanilla Android without signing into any Google accounts?

    • FoolHen@lemmy.worldEnglish
      5·
      16 days ago

      Payments don’t work, because of the play integrity api. But the bank apps that I use do work, even though they didn’t in my previous phone that was running a custom ROM with magisk to hide the tampering. GrapheneOs supplies their signatures so that app developers can support it, but I imagine not all will.

      For me it has been a great experience so far. Installation was easy and fast, the privacy settings are great and almost everything works for me just fine. I had a couple of issues that was able to fix by searching for it on their forums, which is quite active

        • FoolHen@lemmy.worldEnglish
          3·
          16 days ago

          Nfc payments. Google pay doesn’t work. I believe any other doesn’t work either but Im not 100% sure. I never used them

          • Noxy@yiffit.netEnglish
            1·
            16 days ago

            Oh right, those. I honestly completely forgot that’s a thing. And is a fair point, even tho I just use physical cards I totally understand the convenience and security benefits of token based payment systems like that

    • Noxy@yiffit.netEnglish
      1·
      16 days ago

      Two credit union apps work fine, venmo and paypal work fine. YMMV with other financial institutions but it’s not been a problem for me so far.

      To answer your last question, there’s way too many differences for a lemmy comment, so I suggest reading their features page for a broad overview: https://grapheneos.org/features

      One feature that’s closest yo your question, though:

      Google Play receives absolutely no special access or privileges on GrapheneOS as opposed to bypassing the app sandbox and receiving a massive amount of highly privileged access.

      • daq@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
        1·
        16 days ago

        I read it and I think I understand why people are using it, but just to clarify your Google play example: you still can’t use it without being signed into Google account, right? Is your concern what the app does while it’s not running? Because it feels like they’ll still collect the same amount of info once your sign in to install the apps.

        Do you you try to use F-droid for most things?

        • Noxy@yiffit.netEnglish
          2·
          16 days ago

          It’s unfortunately really not that simple. But for a short answer, I use Aurora Store for anything I can’t get from F-Droid., and even tho I have the Google Play Store installed (as some apps require it for stuff like notifications or location) I’m not ever signed into it and I don’t use it to install or update apps

    • Mossheart@lemmy.caEnglish
      1·
      15 days ago

      I tried to use Graphene and bailed because none of my banking apps played nicely. Good luck if you try!