wrappers for famous apps
from m4th1337@lemmy.world to privacy@lemmy.ml on 18 Apr 14:55
https://lemmy.world/post/28392890

i use GrapheneOS since December 2024 without even sandboxed google play services. the only non open source and not safe apps on my phone are instagram, messenger, telegram, whatsapp, tiktok, snapchat and i want to get rid of them but i wanna see the content from people on these apps. are there any wrappers for privacy, for these apps, such as aeroinsta for instagram (i already use it) in order to use them but protect my data at the same time? šŸ˜­

#privacy

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Xanza@lemm.ee on 18 Apr 15:07 next collapse

  1. Not open source doesnā€™t mean ā€œnon-safeā€ā€“thatā€™s a pretty dangerous and completely incorrect characterization
  2. The apps you list are literally the most non-safe services you could have possibly listed
  3. Thatā€™s not what a wrapper is, I think you mean front-end
  4. Using the services at all means your data isnā€™t protected, no matter which front-end you use the service collects your data, not the application you use

If you want to take your privacy seriously, then stop using these services. Itā€™s the service themselves that arenā€™t privacy respecting, not the application in which you use to interface with themā€¦

m4th1337@lemmy.world on 18 Apr 15:09 next collapse

thank you a lot

Xanza@lemm.ee on 24 Apr 19:57 collapse

You got it. Seems like a few people disagree with what I said, but for the vast majority of cases what Iā€™ve said is objectively true. Iā€™m sure you can find an instance or two where itā€™s not, so take it with a grain of salt.

bloubz@lemmygrad.ml on 18 Apr 19:29 next collapse

Youā€™re wrong on one thing though. A good portion of tracking either takes place in the client or is enabled on the endpoint.

Armand1@lemmy.world on 18 Apr 19:56 collapse

Well, thatā€™s not necessarily true.

Some apps, alongside providing their core functionality, such as messaging, also collect a lot of information from all the permissions they are granted on your device.

Think for example constant location tracking or collecting your contacts, as I believe Facebook Messenger does.

It could be possible to provide a front-end that blocks certain requests or spoofs information.

Of course, that doesnā€™t stop them from collecting information you directly provide to them by using the service, such as profile information, direct messages, interactions etc.

I suppose you could use these services as a skulker which doesnā€™t have an account (or a semi-anonymous one) whilst denying all permissions and providing as little information as possible. Itā€™s not wholy black and white.

That said, I do recommend not using these platforms at all if you can. Use alternative platforms that provide similar services. Lemmy vs Reddit is a good example.

Itā€™s just not always practical advice for everyone, given that some people have jobs that require social media, or have no other means of contacting some relatives and friends.

marauding_gibberish142@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 18 Apr 15:45 next collapse

You canā€™t protect your data if you use those apps. Pick one.

anon5621@lemmy.ml on 18 Apr 15:48 next collapse

About telegram at least replace ur client with fdroid version which have removed GMs dependencies

bloubz@lemmygrad.ml on 18 Apr 19:27 next collapse

Matrix client on a server with bridges to your proprietary chats

Zak@lemmy.world on 18 Apr 22:28 next collapse

Instagram and Tiktok are usable in a web browser, though they do want you to make an account.

DrunkAnRoot@sh.itjust.works on 23 Apr 00:12 collapse

id say use the soical media in a browser and if u dont need a account use it over tor and all the people on telegram,messanger and whatsapp tell them about the privacy concerns with these apps and try and get them to move to simplexchat or matrix (especially if you self host) so theres no real drawback because they dont require any info of yours to work

m4th1337@lemmy.world on 23 Apr 00:18 collapse

thank you!