Advice Request Install Apps on Android Phone without trackers

Please provide comments and solutions that are helpful to the author of this topic.

HarborFront

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Oct 9, 2016
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Going for the new Samsung S23 Ultra soon. I'm getting sick of trackers by Google, MS and others. If you want to block trackers you can use apps like Adguard for android, BlackFog Privacy, Blokada, TrackerControl etc. However, they create a virtual VPN (similarly for firewall app etc) which prohibits the use of a dedicated VPN app. So using those aforementioned apps is not the way to go since I'll be using an 'Always-On' VPN. And blocking trackers completely might affect the app's performance and, in the worst case, your phone as well.

The only best way I can see is the use of installed apps with no trackers. To prevent pre-installed apps from tracking you'll need to TOTALLY REMOVE them from your phone like using ADB and Fastboot. Simply forcing the pre-installed apps to stop or uninstalling them might not prevent them from tracking you, for they still have remnant files left behind.

So far, I use ClassyShark3xodus/Exodus to analyze the following apps. Note that no trackers now do NOT imply future app version(s) do NOT have trackers as well. For better privacy, one also needs to consider where it's based, browser extensions which connect to Google, whether supporting app to the main app has trackers, number of permissions needed, needs your phone number for the app etc

1) VPN.ac
2) IVPN
3) Mullvad VPN
4) AdGuard VPN
5) Calyx VPN
6) APKGrabber
7) ClassyShark3xodus
8) Exodus
9) TrackerControl
10) Device Info HW
11) LibreAV
12) LibreTube
13) F-Droid
14) VLC
15) Blokada 5
16) Blokada 6
17) Sticky Password Manager
18) BitWarden Password Manager (F-Droid) (based in USA)
19) Kiwi Browser (but adding extensions from Google Play Store will connect to Google)
20) Bromite Browser
21) Lock Screen
22) Total Commander
23) ZArchiver
24) Anti Spy Mobile Pro
25) NetGuard
26) DNS66
27) Aegis Authenticator
28) Authenticator Pro
29) Signal (based in USA)
30) Sync.com (based in Canada)
31) Tresorit (based in Switzerland)
32) Koofr Cloud Storage (based in Slovenia). However, the RCX-Rclone android app for Koofr Vault management has trackers
33) Cryptomator
34) ExpressVPN. Has trackers but it has an option to turn off sending of diagnostic data, crash reports etc
35) Yubico Authenticator

If you do have other apps of interest (without trackers) please do add here.


EDIT:- Removed andOTP Authenticator as developer is not maintaining and updating it
 
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Ashish1+1

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Nov 29, 2016
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I am not sure whether this helps but few of my colleagues who are skeptical about android OS have rooted their phones and installed Lineage OS for privacy but selective (security and privacy features ) have gone further by flash their Google Pixel to GrapheneOS.
 
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HarborFront

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I am not sure whether this helps but few of my colleagues who are skeptical about android OS have rooted their phones and installed Lineage OS for privacy but selective (security and privacy features ) have gone further by flash their Google Pixel to GrapheneOS.
Yes, you can do that. But it's troublesome.

If android OS has new firmware and/or security updates, what then? Are you going to unroot the phone, flash back to android OS, update/upgrade and then re-root the phone again?
 
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Ashish1+1

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Nov 29, 2016
55
Yes, you can do that. But it's troublesome.

If android OS has new firmware and/or security updates, what then? Are you going to unroot the phone, flash back to android OS, update/upgrade and then re-root the phone again?
That is true and in fact with the frequency in which android OS boasting feature updates with every version, growing awareness over privacy and security threats, explosion of loggers and trackers in ever increasing memory demanding apps tend to make any mid- segment phone sluggishly crawling market planned obsolescence.

I have always felt the pinch every passing year to ensure that the mobile purchases within my family remain relevant/ safe and secure without demanding replacement/ protection. :cry:
 

Stopspying

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Jan 21, 2018
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It might be worth considering that with slightly older phones an OS like Lineage may support updates for longer than you will get updates for Android.
 
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HarborFront

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Oct 9, 2016
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Updated the list of android apps with no trackers in post #1 for the privacy-conscious user

1) VPN.ac
2) IVPN
3) Mullvad VPN
4) AdGuard VPN
5) Calyx VPN
6) ExpressVPN. Has trackers but it has an option to turn off sending of diagnostics, crash reports etc
7) APKGrabber
8) ClassyShark3xodus
9) Exodus

10) TrackerControl
11) Device Info HW
12) LibreAV
13) LibreTube
14) Newpipe
15) F-Droid
16) VLC

17) Blokada 5
18) Blokada 6
19) Sticky Password Manager
20) BitWarden Password Manager (from F-Droid) (based in USA)
21) KeePassDX (from F-Droid)
22) Kiwi Browser (but extensions connect to Google)
23) Bromite Browser
24) NetGuard
25) DNS66
26) Google Authenticator (no security for access)
27) Aegis Authenticator (no PC app so syncing 2FA codes is not possible). Have fingerprint besides password for access. Need to backup 2FA codes externally
28) Authenticator Pro
29) Yubico Authenticator
30) Signal (based in USA)
31) Google Drive (not good for privacy, encryption keys kept on Google servers)
32) Sync.com (based in Canada) – Zero-knowledge provider, very slow
33) Tresorit Cloud Storage (based in Switzerland)
34) Koofr Cloud Storage (based in Slovenia). However, the RCX-Rclone for Koofr Vault management has trackers for its android app
35) Cryptomator (need to pay for android)
36) EDS Lite (use with Veracrypt on Windows, can only mount Veracrypt volume in app i.e. no external drive storage, no support for NTFS formatted volume)
37) RAR
38) ZArchiver
39) Total Commander

40) Anti Spy Mobile Pro
41) Tutanota
42) Lock Screen
43) Package Name Viewer (to view user/system packages for debloating using ADB commands)
 
Last edited:

HarborFront

Level 72
Thread author
Verified
Top Poster
Content Creator
Oct 9, 2016
6,134
Updated the list of android apps with no trackers in post #1 for the privacy-conscious user

1) VPN.ac
2) IVPN
3) Mullvad VPN
4) AdGuard VPN
5) Calyx VPN
6) ExpressVPN. Has trackers but it has an option to turn off sending of diagnostics, crash reports etc
7) APKGrabber
8) ClassyShark3xodus
9) Exodus

10) TrackerControl
11) Device Info HW
12) LibreAV
13) LibreTube
14) Newpipe
15) Droid-ify
16) VLC

17) Blokada 5
18) Blokada 6
19) Sticky Password Manager
20) Buttercup
21) Password Safe
22) BitWarden Password Manager (from F-Droid) (based in USA)

23) KeePassDX (from F-Droid)
24) Standard Notes
25) Kiwi Browser (but extensions connect to Google)
26) Bromite Browser
27) NetGuard
28) DNS66
29) Google Authenticator (no app lock) ++
30) Aegis Authenticator (no PC app so syncing 2FA codes is not possible). Have fingerprint besides password for access. Need to backup 2FA codes externally. (no app lock)++
31) FreeOTP (no app lock)++
32) FreeOTP+ (no app lock)++
33) Authenticator Pro (no app lock)++
34) Yubico Authenticator
35) Signal (based in USA)
36) Google Drive (not good for privacy, encryption keys kept on Google servers)
37) Sync.com (based in Canada) – Zero-knowledge provider, very slow
38) Tresorit Cloud Storage (based in Switzerland)
39) Koofr Cloud Storage (based in Slovenia). However, the RCX-Rclone for Koofr Vault management has trackers for its android app
40) Cryptomator (need to pay for android)
41) EDS Lite (use with Veracrypt on Windows, can only mount Veracrypt volume in app i.e. no external drive storage, no support for NTFS formatted volume)
42) RAR
43) ZArchiver
44) Total Commander

45) Anti Spy Mobile Pro
46) Tutanota
47) Lock Screen
48) Package Name Viewer (to view user/system packages for debloating using ADB commands)

Notes

a) ++ Items 29 to 33 come with no built-in app lock. You can use your phone’s App Lock feature to lock the app to prevent unauthorized access.



EDIT

Removed F-Driod and replaced by Droid-ify for item 15) due to security issues with F-Droid
 
Last edited:

HarborFront

Level 72
Thread author
Verified
Top Poster
Content Creator
Oct 9, 2016
6,134
Updated the list of android apps with no trackers in post #1 for the privacy-conscious user

1) VPN.ac
2) IVPN
3) Mullvad VPN
4) AdGuard VPN
5) Calyx VPN
6) ExpressVPN. Has trackers but it has an option to turn off sending of diagnostics, crash reports etc
7) APKGrabber
8) ClassyShark3xodus
9) Exodus

10) TrackerControl
11) Device Info HW
12) LibreAV
13) LibreTube
14) Newpipe
15) Droid-ify
16) VLC Media Player

17) Blokada 5
18) Blokada 6
19) Sticky Password Manager
20) Master Password
21) Buttercup
22) Password Safe
23) BitWarden Password Manager (from F-Droid) (based in USA)

24) KeePassDX (from F-Droid)
25) Standard Notes
26) Kiwi Browser (but extensions connect to Google)
27) Bromite Browser
28) NetGuard
29) DNS66
30) Google Authenticator (no app lock) ++
31) Aegis Authenticator (no PC app so syncing 2FA codes is not possible). Have fingerprint besides password for access. Need to backup 2FA codes externally. (no app lock)++
32) FreeOTP (no app lock)++
33) FreeOTP+ (no app lock)++
34) Authenticator Pro (no app lock)++
35) Yubico Authenticator
36) Signal (based in USA)
37) Google Drive (not good for privacy, encryption keys kept on Google servers)
38) Sync.com (based in Canada) – Zero-knowledge provider, very slow
39) Tresorit Cloud Storage (based in Switzerland)
40) Koofr Cloud Storage (based in Slovenia). However, the RCX-Rclone for Koofr Vault management has trackers for its android app
41) Cryptomator (need to pay for android)
42) EDS Lite (use with Veracrypt on Windows, can only mount Veracrypt volume in app i.e. no external drive storage, no support for NTFS formatted volume)
43) RAR
44) ZArchiver
45) Total Commander

46) Anti Spy Mobile Pro
47) Tutanota
48) Lock Screen
49) Package Name Viewer (to view user/system packages for debloating using ADB commands)

50) ClipboardCleaner
51) Clipeus
52) Lock App – Smart AppLocker (also for certain Samsung model phones with no built-in App Lock feature or with unsupported Samsung apps like S Secure and Secure Folder)

Notes

a) ++ Items 30 to 34 come with no built-in app lock. You can use your phone’s App Lock feature to lock the app to prevent unauthorized access.
b) If your phone do NOT have built-in App Lock feature you can use item 52) to app lock them
 
Last edited:

HarborFront

Level 72
Thread author
Verified
Top Poster
Content Creator
Oct 9, 2016
6,134
Updated the list of android apps with no trackers in post #1 for the privacy-conscious user

1) VPN.ac
2) IVPN
3) Mullvad VPN
4) AdGuard VPN
5) Calyx VPN
6) ExpressVPN. Has trackers but it has an option to turn off sending of diagnostics, crash reports etc
7) APKGrabber
8) ClassyShark3xodus
9) Exodus

10) TrackerControl
11) Device Info HW
12) LibreAV
13) LibreTube
14) Newpipe
15) Droid-ify
16) VLC Media Player

17) Blokada 5
18) Blokada 6
19) Sticky Password Manager
20) Master Password
21) Buttercup
22) Password Safe
23) BitWarden Password Manager (from F-Droid) (based in USA)

24) KeePassDX (from F-Droid)
25) Standard Notes
26) Kiwi Browser (but extensions connect to Google)
27) Bromite Browser
28) NetGuard
29) DNS66
30) Google Authenticator (no app lock) ++
31) Aegis Authenticator (no PC app so syncing 2FA codes is not possible). Have fingerprint besides password for access. Need to backup 2FA codes externally. (no app lock)++
32) FreeOTP (no app lock)++
33) FreeOTP+ (no app lock)++
34) Authenticator Pro (no app lock)++
35) Yubico Authenticator
36) Google Drive (not good for privacy, encryption keys kept on Google servers)
37) Sync.com (based in Canada) – Zero-knowledge provider, very slow
38) Tresorit Cloud Storage (based in Switzerland)
39) Koofr Cloud Storage (based in Slovenia). However, the RCX-Rclone for Koofr Vault management has trackers for its android app
40) Cryptomator (need to pay for android)
41) EDS Lite (use with Veracrypt on Windows, can only mount Veracrypt volume in app i.e. no external drive storage, no support for NTFS formatted volume)
42) RAR
43) ZArchiver
44) Total Commander

45) Anti Spy Mobile Pro
46) Tutanota
47) Lock Screen
48) Package Name Viewer (to view user/system packages for debloating using ADB commands)

49) ClipboardCleaner
50) Clipeus
51) Lock App – Smart AppLocker (also for certain Samsung model phones with no built-in App Lock feature or with unsupported Samsung apps like S Secure and Secure Folder)

52) Batch Uninstaller
53) Fast Uninstaller App
54) Signal with SMS/MMS support (by johanw666 from gthub.com) (based in USA)
55) Simple SMS Messenger (from Droid-ify)
56) Collabora Office 6.4
57) Brave Browser
58) DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser
59) MetaGer Search
60) Neeva Browser & Search Engine


Notes

a) ++ Items 30 to 34 come with no built-in app lock. You can use your phone’s App Lock feature to lock the app to prevent unauthorized access.
b) If your phone do NOT have built-in App Lock feature you can use item 51) to app lock them
 
Last edited:

HarborFront

Level 72
Thread author
Verified
Top Poster
Content Creator
Oct 9, 2016
6,134
Updated the list of android apps with no trackers in post #1 for the privacy-conscious user

1) VPN.ac
2) IVPN
3) Mullvad VPN
4) AdGuard VPN
5) Calyx VPN
6) ExpressVPN. Has trackers but it has an option to turn off sending of diagnostics, crash reports etc
7) APKGrabber
8) ClassyShark3xodus
9) Exodus
10) Device Info HW
11) LibreAV
12) LibreTube
13) Newpipe
14) Droid-ify
15) VLC Media Player

16) Blokada 5
17) Blokada 6
18) Sticky Password Manager
19) Master Password
20) Buttercup
21) Password Safe
22) BitWarden Password Manager (from F-Droid) (based in USA)

23) KeePassDX (from F-Droid)
24) Standard Notes
25) NetGuard
26) DNS66
27) Google Authenticator (no app lock) ++
28) Aegis Authenticator (no PC app so syncing 2FA codes is not possible). Have fingerprint besides password for access. Need to backup 2FA codes externally. (no app lock)++
29) FreeOTP (no app lock)++
30) FreeOTP+ (no app lock)++
31) Authenticator Pro (no app lock)++
32) Yubico Authenticator
33) Google Drive (not good for privacy, encryption keys kept on Google servers)
34) Sync.com (based in Canada) – Zero-knowledge provider, very slow
35) Tresorit Cloud Storage (based in Switzerland)
36) Koofr Cloud Storage (based in Slovenia). However, the RCX-Rclone for Koofr Vault management has trackers for its android app
37) Cryptomator (need to pay for android)
38
) EDS Lite (use with Veracrypt on Windows, can only mount Veracrypt volume in app i.e. no external drive storage, no support for NTFS formatted volume)
39) RAR
40) ZArchiver
41) Total Commander

42) Anti Spy Mobile Pro
43) Tutanota
44) Lock Screen
45) Package Name Viewer (to view user/system packages for debloating using ADB commands)

46) ClipboardCleaner
47) Clipeus
48) Lock App – Smart AppLocker (also for certain Samsung model phones with no built-in App Lock feature or with unsupported Samsung apps like S Secure and Secure Folder)

49) Batch Uninstaller
50) Fast Uninstaller App
51) Signal with SMS/MMS support (by johanw666 from gthub.com) (based in USA)
52) Simple SMS Messenger (from Droid-ify)
53) Collabora Office 6.4
54) RealCalc
55) Warden - For viewing trackers and loggers. To remove would require rooting the phone
56) App Manager - For viewing trackers. To delete trackers require rooting the phone or working in ADB mode
57) TrackerControl
58) Root Verifier
59) Mull Browser [as explained by its developer below Note c) regarding Glean and Sentry libraries reported as trackers]
60) Kiwi Browser (but extensions may connect to Google)
61) Bromite Browser
62) Privacy Browser
63) Brave Private Web Browser
64) DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser
65) Neeva Browser & Search Engine
66) MetaGer Search

Notes
a) ++ Items 27 to 31 come with no built-in app lock. You can use your phone’s App Lock feature to lock the app to prevent unauthorized access.
b) If your phone does NOT have built-in App Lock feature you can use item 48) to app lock them
c)
 
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