Hey dear smart community, I don’t use any Google products or services over 3 years now. Always had android and used fdroid. No apps for banking ( cash lover). Osmand for maps. Extremely happy to find this app for socializing with like minded people. Now I feel time has come to upgrade privacy and security and custom ROM phone. I am considering if getting pixel8 and installing GOS. The only issue is,that I have 0 (ZERO) knowledge about how to do it. I have looked many videos and read on websites how to do it,but I am so afraid that I will not be able. I don’t know if that is right to ask for assistance from people here,but I don’t feel like I am capable of doing so. Plus,I have samsung which I would like to prepare and give my friend to use. Unfortunately, that person in immersed to Google world ( internet banking apps ect). Do you think LineageOS could give more protection and same smooth usage of phone ? I will appreciate any suggestions how to custom ROM phones. Best wishes to all.
GrapheneOS is super easy to install if you do the browser method. The explanation kn their site may look longish but it’s always longer to explain something than to do it. Feel free to DM me of you get confused, but you won’t.
Most Samsung won’t allow you to unlock the bootloader so the Lineage angle is probably moot. If it is one of the few supported Samsungs, it does offer more privacy by not coming with Play Services. Assuming your friend doesn’t just sign into Google anyway, or is willing to make the transition to apps that don’t need Play Services for notifications. Also Lineage does not allow you to relock the bootloader, which is a substantial security security risk of someone gets ahold of your phone, which isn’t unrealistic in today’s world with rising fascism. So really, if he is not going to commit, it may be better to just leave stock Android on there.
GrapheneOS is both the pro enthusiast choice and the “set it up for your friend” choice because they can have sandboxed Play Services, sign into Google, and use the Play Store, and they’re still significantly better off privacy AND security wise than even iPhone, and virtually no different for someone used to Android. Especially if they use a dedicated google Account just for the phone. Of course, it may not be relevant to you in this instance if you’re giving him a Samsung.