If you're interested in boosting your privacy and security, these ROMs are worth trying.
While the kernel, browser, and other aspects of the operating system aren’t as privacy and security-hardened on LineageOS, it should still offer a meaningful upgrade over your phone’s default state. Almost every major Android smartphone manufacturer makes devices that can be made to work with the ROM. For Windows users, hold down the Shift key and click 'Restore' to force iTunes restore custom. For those new to this, launch iTunes, select your phone on the left sidebar hold down the Alt/Option key and click on restore. The list of officially supported smartphones is far longer when it comes to LineageOS. Here is the instruction: For most iPhone users and regular jailbreakers, selecting a specific IPSW file is a routine task. Nevertheless, if you own a smartphone that is not supported by either CalyxOS or GrapheneOS-consider installing LineageOS without Google apps or even microG. However, compatibility is a sore downside for these privacy-focused operating systems, given the complete lack of development for smartphones from other manufacturers. CalyxOS does support a couple more smartphones, namely the Mi A2 and second-generation Pixel phones. The only catch with both these operating systems is that they can only be installed on Google’s recent Pixel smartphones. It receives monthly security updates, which is slower than GrapheneOS-but still far better than certain manufacturers. However, if you’re not willing to sacrifice as much usability, CalyxOS with or without microG installed offers the perfect middle ground between convenience and privacy.
Related: Why You Should Install a Custom ROM Since GrapheneOS is designed to be used without microG, it provides a minimal compatibility layer for apps to continue functioning even in the absence of Google-related services. This is an important feature if you’re in a foreign country, for example, and you’d like to keep your location hidden from local carriers. This means that your device cannot communicate with the outside world when you toggle airplane mode. What this means is that almost every aspect of the operating system is optimized to keep out attackers.įor instance, if you install GrapheneOS on a Google Pixel device, the system is capable of completely disabling cellular radio transmission on a hardware level. It not only includes everything that CalyxOS does, but also adds features such as a hardened browser and kernel. This heavy emphasis on privacy and security is taken one step further with GrapheneOS, which has far more development work put into it.
While you can install microG if you’d like, the entire operating system is usable without Google services.įinally, CalyxOS includes support for Android Verified Boot, a part of the Android OS that ensures all executed code on the device comes from trusted sources. Your personal data can also be backed up at any time, with strong encryption to boot.