Privacy Nightmare: Delete Chrome from android phones

Has anyone deleted Chrome from their phone. I've search this forum and couldn't find a discussion about it.

"multiple high-level hacks of [the] browser"

https://www.the-sun.com/tech/4014419/google-chrome-delete-browser-now-heres-why-android/

The speaker in the video keeps mentioning an accelerometer. I'm unfamiliar with it though I just checked and my phone does have an accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass.

Thank you.

I don't see how an accelerometer could be used to track your location.  The GPS - yes.   The article (if you want to call it that) doesn't explain how an accelerometer can do it.

Another thing.  In  today's technical environment, any expectation of privacy is just wishful thinking.  You might as well accept that if they want to track you down, there is nothing that you can do about it short of throwing away everything in your life that is wireless.

Can anyone recommend another forum where I might be able to get an answer to my question? There doesn't seem to be much participation in this forum.

I apologize for the above statement. I was checking this thread with my phone and didn't see that a reply had been posted.

donaldsc wrote:

The article (if you want to call it that) doesn't explain how an accelerometer can do it.

What do you mean by this? The author is saying there are "multiple high-level hacks of [the Chrome] browser" and is saying to get rid of it on your phone.

Does he have a valid point, or is he over reacting?

Robert Zanatta wrote:

Implementation of Android varies between smartphone manufacturers. It might not be possible too remove. Or it may require routing the phone.

Disabling might need easier.

The question for me: is the threat as great as the author says?

I don't have a lot of tech savvy so I'm wondering if I should remove or disable Chrome on my phone?

People have to reconcile privacy with doing without Google's often best-in-class services. My main compromises have been:

• Limiting a Google account to a nonsense Gmail address with no commercial / credit card identity relationship - that also means getting paid apps from other sources than Google's Play Store or otherwise purchasing from Google;
• Deleting Google Search and other preinstalled Google apps not used and not requiring offline functionality: keeping Translate, Maps, and Chrome;
• Using Chrome as the only portal for all free Google services and a few other harmless logins with that Gmail address, and siloing "real me" identity accounts in Firefox (which seems to be ahead of the Chromium-based browsers with DoH and other privacy protections);
• Using ad blockers and cookie managers on both Chrome and Firefox
• Using Startpage (anonymized Google engine) as default web search (while other search engines offer good privacy, the bloody results are generally pathetic compared with Google's).

There are still things that trouble me, most importantly my (Canadian) ISP's cooperative relationship with Google's preinstalled Phone and Contacts apps. While the ISP's privacy practices are federally regulated, I have no confidence and never asked to have Google apps manage direct personal communications - but that seems unavoidable on Android these days (I do replace Google's Messages app).

Thank you everyone for your replies, which made the issue less ominous than the article I referenced. I do many of the things that have been suggested though I haven't removed Chrome.

I use Chrome very little on my phone, opting instead for Opera. I also use DuckDuckGo and Startpage, though occasionally I used Google search.

I do use adblockers

I2K4 wrote:

(I do replace Google's Messages app).

What do you use instead.

I have mixed emotions about keeping location services enabled and usually shut it off except if I use GPS. But because of my old age, I sometimes think I should keep it on at all times.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2021/11/06/stop-using-google-chrome-on-android-samsung-apple-iphone-and-windows-10-devices/

This sounds like it would happen on all the mobile platforms Chrome is installed on and not just Android? Probably, just keep patching Android OS and Chrome. Apple was mentioned.

Android patch levels

"Security patch levels of 2021-11-06 or later address all of these issues. To learn how to check a device’s security patch level, see Check and update your Android version.

Google releases at least two patch levels each month, and for November, they are 2021-11-01, 2021-11-05, and 2021-11-06.

For those who see an update alert marked as 2021-11-01, it means that they will get the following:

• November framework patches
• October framework patches
• October vendor and kernel

Those who see either 2021-11-05 or 2021-11-06 patch levels will receive all of the above, plus the November vendor and kernel patches.

Stay safe, everyone!"

Many Android phones aren't patchable. Android has two to three years of security patches for most Android phones.

fotografffic wrote:

Thank you everyone for your replies, which made the issue less ominous than the article I referenced. I do many of the things that have been suggested though I haven't removed Chrome.

I use Chrome very little on my phone, opting instead for Opera. I also use DuckDuckGo and Startpage, though occasionally I used Google search.

I do use adblockers

I2K4 wrote:

(I do replace Google's Messages app).

What do you use instead.

I have mixed emotions about keeping location services enabled and usually shut it off except if I use GPS. But because of my old age, I sometimes think I should keep it on at all times.

I bought Chomp SMS years ago on my first phone and got used to configuring it - it has good blocking functions and also imports Apple emojis for the one (young) emoji user I connect with. Messaging apps are many and depend on taste. If you want secure private messaging with someone else in particular, you might look at Signal : it's good because fully encrypted between two Signal users; Silence is similarly encrypted but receives ordinary SMSs in the same app, doesn't seem to be in active development.

I got concerned about Opera browser when the Scandinavian company was bought by a Chinese firm. It had offered a good free VPN by a (regulated) Canadian service, but the Chinese owners terminated that and went to an unidentified black box Chinese service - I'm not confident about what Opera does with user data. As a comparably sophisticated Chromium-based browser I would choose Vivaldi, that was based on the Scandinavian Opera. It works and syncs across PCs and Android, but I use Firefox as the alternative to Chrome for personal log ins, as I wrote.

(I don't enable Location on my main phone unless checking a map for some reason, and use my last phone without a SIM card for offline navigation in the car - that has GPS all the time but no network connection to anybody. That serves my purposes but can understand why many users want/need an online service connection all the time.)

fotografffic wrote:

I apologize for the above statement. I was checking this thread with my phone and didn't see that a reply had been posted.

Keep in mind also that this is a digital photography forum and not a smartphone software forum.   You may get more answers an a specific Android forum site.

I2K4 wrote:

fotografffic wrote:

Thank you everyone for your replies, which made the issue less ominous than the article I referenced. I do many of the things that have been suggested though I haven't removed Chrome.

I use Chrome very little on my phone, opting instead for Opera. I also use DuckDuckGo and Startpage, though occasionally I used Google search.

I do use adblockers

I2K4 wrote:

(I do replace Google's Messages app).

What do you use instead.

I have mixed emotions about keeping location services enabled and usually shut it off except if I use GPS. But because of my old age, I sometimes think I should keep it on at all times.

I bought Chomp SMS years ago on my first phone and got used to configuring it - it has good blocking functions and also imports Apple emojis for the one (young) emoji user I connect with. Messaging apps are many and depend on taste. If you want secure private messaging with someone else in particular, you might look at Signal : it's good because fully encrypted between two Signal users; Silence is similarly encrypted but receives ordinary SMSs in the same app, doesn't seem to be in active development.

I got concerned about Opera browser when the Scandinavian company was bought by a Chinese firm. It had offered a good free VPN by a (regulated) Canadian service, but the Chinese owners terminated that and went to an unidentified black box Chinese service - I'm not confident about what Opera does with user data. As a comparably sophisticated Chromium-based browser I would choose Vivaldi, that was based on the Scandinavian Opera. It works and syncs across PCs and Android, but I use Firefox as the alternative to Chrome for personal log ins, as I wrote.

(I don't enable Location on my main phone unless checking a map for some reason, and use my last phone without a SIM card for offline navigation in the car - that has GPS all the time but no network connection to anybody. That serves my purposes but can understand why many users want/need an online service connection all the time.)

Signal is harder to back up. It needs two phones. Restore is limited to:

https://support.signal.org/hc/en-us/articles/360007059752-Backup-and-Restore-Messages

"Signal messages, pictures, files, and other contents are stored locally on your device.

• If you have your old device, select the platform to transfer messages:
  • Android
  • iOS
  • Desktop
• Message restoration or account transfers are not currently supported, if you:
  • do not have your old device or lost your phone.
  •  cleared your phone.
  • uninstalled Signal on your iPhone or iPad.
  • accidentally deleted a message or chat.
  • switched between Android and iOS.
  • changed your number.
  • have a linked iPad or Desktop.

"

fotografffic wrote:

Has anyone deleted Chrome from their phone. I've search this forum and couldn't find a discussion about it.

"multiple high-level hacks of [the] browser"

https://www.the-sun.com/tech/4014419/google-chrome-delete-browser-now-heres-why-android/

That article has a lot of errors IMO. First they say delete G.Chrome, then they say use another browser. Which is it? Currently I use Brave whenever possible with DuckDuckGo searching, but sometimes apps will pop up Chrome. When I notice, I quit ASAP.

The speaker in the video keeps mentioning an accelerometer. I'm unfamiliar with it though I just checked and my phone does have an accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass.

Like others, I don't see how the accelerometer could be used much to invade privacy. It could tell if you were jogging, or playing bumper cars, etc. But it does not disclose location.

If you are very concerned with privacy, it would be better to buy an iPhone, though that also has its limitations.

Privacy violations change from year to year, but the frickin' credit reporting companies already lost most of our important information. Currently I'm getting really sick of solicitations for Medicare Advantage plans.

CAcreeks wrote:

Thanks for the info!

Currently I'm getting really sick of solicitations for Medicare Advantage plans.

Tell me about it! It's disgusting how often they push ads in our faces!

FWIW, I've disabled and never used Google Chrome on any Android device. I do use the more private ad blocking open source Bromite web browser app, which is a modded version based on Chrome. I also use the open source Foss browser which uses the installed Android WebView but is somewhat behind Bromite in features but is tiny app in comparison and uses fewer system resources other than the Android WebView app.

I recently uninstalled the disabled Google Chrome and most other Google and other unwanted apps from my Android 10 device by using the ADB uninstall method, which uses Android ADB, Windows PowerShell and Chocolatey. There have been Zero problems since. This process only uninstalls Google Chrome from the Android User (which is usually only you or the default user), so while the apps are  uninstalled from the apps list and so inactive, the apps or inactive apks are still in the system folder, which cannot be removed without rooing the device. This is locked so the device can be Factory Reset, or an app can be reinstalled by the user or Google Play Store. Only Root access can uninstall any app.

In my use, Google Chrome has never been used and never required with no problems and I customize every function of my devices that I can except using Root Access.

Cariboo wrote:

FWIW, I've disabled and never used Google Chrome on any Android device. I do use the more private ad blocking open source Bromite web browser app, which is a modded version based on Chrome. I also use the open source Foss browser which uses the installed Android WebView but is somewhat behind Bromite in features but is tiny app in comparison and uses fewer system resources other than the Android WebView app.

Where did you download Bromite browser? I cannot find it in Google's app store.

Mostly I use Brave. I'm satisfied with it as a browser, but do not like their business model.