GrapheneOS – The Most Secure & Private Android OS

What is GrapheneOS?

GrapheneOS is an Android-based, security-hardened, privacy focused, mostly free and open-source, mobile operating system for selected smartphones. It is focused on privacy and security, and is compatible with several Google Pixel smartphones.

Using a modern smartphone comes with some privacy and security concerns. GrapheneOS aims to solve some of those problems. It’s a custom version of Android that puts privacy and security above all else.

History of GrapheneOS

The main developer, Daniel Micay, originally worked on CopperheadOS until a schism between the co-founders of Copperhead Limited. After the incident, Micay transitioned to work on GrapheneOS, which was announced in 2019.

How Is GrapheneOS Different from Android?

Although GrapheneOS is based on Android, the two are still different from one another. One major difference is that GrapheneOS is completely de-Googled. That means no Google Play Store, no Google Chrome, no Google Maps, and all the other apps and services that Google offers. You might wonder why would an OS completely leave Google out when lots of people rely on its services. Well, this is all part of the project’s efforts to offer its users the most robust privacy and security possible; adding Google and its prying eyes into the equation would hinder them from achieving that. Essentially, no Google means no tracking, which ultimately means more privacy and security.

Another notable difference is the lack of a default app store. When you first open a GrapheneOS phone, it’ll only have a few default apps. These include a messaging app, a camera app, and Vanadium, which is the OS’s own Chromium-based browser. But you can easily expand your selection of apps by downloading the F-Droid APK from f-droid.org and downloading the apps you need there. Now, do keep in mind that GrapheneOS doesn’t have Google Play Services, so apps that need Google Play Services to run might not work properly on a GrapheneOS phone.

Other than those two things, using a GrapheneOS phone doesn’t feel that different from using an Android phone. This OS pretty much has the same user interface as any other Android device, and it operates the same way. If you can use a regular Android phone, you’ll surely be able to use GrapheneOS with no significant issues.

Georg Pichler of Der Standard, and other news sources, quoted Edward Snowden, saying on Twitter, “If I were configuring a smartphone today, I’d use Daniel Micay’s GrapheneOS as the base operating system.

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