Quote:
Originally Posted by Renate
If you look at any app you'll see a ton of analytics.
A lot of it is third party packages that they threw in, Google stuff, crash analytics.
There's not much getting around it. It's whack-a-mole.
I have always just kept WiFi off on all my readers.
(I don't wear a tin foil hat though.)
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Well, yes and no. What I will write is only valid for myself, just let it be clear that I am not trying to make it a point valid for everybody.
Indeed, you are right, most of the apps delivered with stock firmwares as well as apps from the PlayStore are stuffed with trackers et send tons of statistics of our usage data or device info over Internet.
Is it common, yes. Is it normal or acceptable? That's up to everyone's sensibility. I do not accept it.
Data leaks is a lost cause today. Do we then have to accept it and live with it, without trying to limit the leak? I don't think so. I won't ever agree to facilitate the life of personal data suckers. Again, that's a personal choice.
There are alternative solutions.
First, have the ability to choose a stock ROM that does NOT spy on you. I have ported DeGoogled Android ROM's to several phones in the past, even changing the connectivity check addresses to some trusted servers. When doing so, I have monitored several stock ROMs (Samsung, Google, etc...) through PiHole. And none of them used to call home as often as my Boox device does. That's why I say, Boox calls home way too often for me.
Second, is Boox legitimate in calling home. They might be... But when with at least Garmin, Microsoft, Google, Samsung and OnePlus stock ROM's of OS (I couldn't speak for others) leave you some choice on what you agree to share with them, Boox does not. Their privacy contract is a "Take it or don't use our devices". Meaning that once you've spent some money to buy their device, you have no choice but to live with it or return your reader. This is, to my opinion, taking customers in hostage.
Third, you don't need to keep using apps that are stuffed with trackers. The project Exodus Privacy helps you choosing apps that do not spy on your by listing trackers before you install an app.
When using F-Droid, you have open source apps with, for most of them, no trackers.
For the apps available on the Google PlayStore only, Aurora store is a great alternative with integrated Exodus reports.
Finally, ClassyShark3xodus can scan your installed apps to let you identity which app has integrated trackers.
So yes... Installing mostly F-Droid apps make your device " dumber", my wife keeps complaining that my phone is not as easy to use as hers. But at least I have some more privacy and a much greater battery life.
Again, I understand that most of the people are fine with stock ROMs. I just personally don't want to easy life of companies who live not only with the money we spent buying their device, but who also suck continuously our personal data.
While for calling home for the sake of cloud synchronization or updates check, when I do not have a cloud account or don't ask for update, the device should not do it (or at least not once every 2 to 5mn).