Ive just startee getting into privacy, but i had a few questions.

  1. I havent switched operating system yet due to fear of losing my data. I have a lot of pictures, contacts and messages i dont want to go missing. I have a one plus and i really love it. I do not want a pixel phone. Is there a way i can maintain privacy without changing phones?
  2. If i delete google play services, will my phone not work correctly?
  3. I have been replacing my apps with open source apps, is that helpful?
  4. What vpn should i use? I have malewarebytes.
  • pandorabox@lemmy.worldOP
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    1 day ago

    Yikesss. Ill discontinue it. I definitely got a few viruses on my computer back in the day. And i sail the high seas from time to time, so i dont want to get any foolishness from that.

    I also do not update my device on time. Usually when i updaye my phone or windows computer, something be wrong with it for several weeks, so ive stopped updating them until it force updates. Do you why that is?

    • ☂️-@lemmy.ml
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      23 hours ago

      quality control on these updates are honestly on a downhill. especially on windows and some android manufacturers (looking at you, samsung).

      they are still necessary to keep your computing safe though, but you don’t need to install them immediatly. i usually wait a bit until they had time to retract them if they break something big.

      • pandorabox@lemmy.worldOP
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        12 hours ago

        Makes sense, i always ignore them until necesary. My cousin alwat told me to never let the computer update. Hes a programmer and i didnt know why.😭

        How often do they update another android distros like graphene and lineage? Like at similar intervals?

        • ☂️-@lemmy.ml
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          9 hours ago

          told me to never let the computer update

          probably beause sometimes, they sneak in stuff we may not want with updates. totally understand where hes coming from.

          graphene and lineage

          every few months, every few days, or every other day. depends on device.

          updating every few months or so is good enough for most people. alternative, open source software wont really come with garbage anyway, so no big deal.