I'm working on cleaning out and resetting my phone. Can I simply use the Samsung browser (and Aurora Store) to avoid logging in to Google at all? (I don't need email on my phone)
Just wondering if there's some unforeseen problem or risk with doing that.
I'm using my "backup" phone (same model, from eBay) to save some of my data and settings before I factory reset my phone to clear out the 15G of "other." I'd like to try avoiding Google products.
Trying Samsung browser on the backup phone, and next to no pages will load. Just white page. Tried mstdn.social. Some news pages will load. Pieces of some pages will load, like the Reddit banner for example.
Obviously it can't be "clear your cache" as it's a new device. Enabled java & cookies.
I am posting fron the "backup" phone, not signed in to Google, but now using Chrome as Samsung wouldn't show any websites.
I wanted to avoid Google products entirely including Chrome but maybe "not signed in" is at least a little better?π€·π»ββοΈ
OH WAIT WAIT WAIT, I think I found them. But GEEZ. What a labyrinth it has been.
And now, no idea which release I'm supposed to download.
No wonder people who are not tech-oriented get sucked into consumer monetized surveillance crap.
It's taking me hours upon hours upon days of exploring, re-inventing the goddamn wheel, and having to teach myself reams of stuff JUST to reach for pieces of a Google-free phone. π
But I did it!! I'm in! Got Aurora Store up and running. So that when I restore my phone from THIS phone, I'll have Aurora Store available on it without having to go through more Google crap.
*Link β¬οΈ for anyone wanting to go straight to that page (SKIP OVER ads in middle and go to bottom where there are folders. I selected "Release" folder and used uppermost listed apk):
Okay well this sucks to learn, as I was simply trying out the recommended F-Droid: π₯
My phone is refusing to install the downloaded F-Droid apk no matter what I do π
Update: Oh ho ho, you know what. I was accidentally using my soon-to-be reset phone, that is still logged in to Google. Instead of its clone backup, that is NOT logged into Google. Guess what happened when I tried installing it on the Google-less backup clone. That's right, it installed ASAP. π―
Okay, I now have installed F-Droid, Aurora Store, Firefox, DuckDuckgo, on my restore clone phone (running on wifi).
Both Brave and Vivaldi can't be installed on my phone (presumably too old), and Samsung Browser opens and navigates but doesn't display pages.
I think the only thing left is to grab some bookmarks and pages I frequent. Maybe delete some bulky message threads?
It took me hours to go through all my pages and bookmarks and make sure I grabbed it all (posted some interesting ones on here). Then I had to install Chrome on my desktop 
just to get all those bookmarks synced. But now I have imported them to Firefox and can uninstall Chrome again.
But first! Factory reset my phone!
And then Smart Switch the backup clone phone onto it! And then not sign into Google because I have a lot of alternate functions set up to use!! 
Try logging out of Google.
Restart
Try again
I am so sorry it is giving you so much hassle! I appreciate you live blogging the process, since I probably need to do it myself
Did you ever get Samsung internet working?
I've never heard of Aurora store before your threads. I think f-droid is the standard non Google place to get apps?
It was easy to download, although iirc, even going through the website might require google play store. Maybe that's why you're not using it?
I think I do everything without logging in? The Google store is always asking me to login but there's a thing you can click to skip it
My phone now, is logged in to Gmail
@NilaJones @_L1vY_ I just saw this thread no idea if this helps but
I use brave on both my phones, or Vivaldi (or other browsers). I dont use chrome at all ever.
I use Kmail to get my gmail but it means at least I avoid any AI and don't give google any gmail tracking. I use Msilspring on my Mac or PCs.
I use Fdroid for some apps, they work fine
I dont use any G docs at all. Or G drive at all except for back up. Will be changing that too asap.
This may be useful, or not!
Thanks, I will give all a try at this point, as long as I can get into my social media and do some searches π
Thanks for these tips!
I currently use Firefox, thinking about switching to waterfox
@_L1vY_ Same with me, Mother Bones. But either way, They can identify the phone in any way they want. Because it all comes down to whether it is useful to you. And, if it is, that's all that matters... Those phone carriers can try to sell their BS to someone else...
-Have a great weekend.
@_L1vY_ Install the duckduckgo browser. I have it on all my phones.
As a bonus, turn on the feature to block (most) application tracking.
Application tracking seems to have problems if you flip between wifi and cell data the odd time, in which case turn it off and then turn it back on (the usual fix).
Oh good, now we get to find out if Google Play works when you are not signed in to Google!
No, I backtracked and went to Aurora Store website, and downloaded Aurora Store directly from there. Then I downloaded DDG from Aurora.
ππ
I just want the browser available when I restore my (current) phone from this backup, so it can be one of the ones I try out on there to see how I like them. You won't have to be responsible for its performance!
@NilaJones
I just tried using Google Play on the not-signed-in phone, and there is no skip option. It requires a sign-in to get in.
Backing up and trying a different route to get Vivaldi!
Take a look at vivaldi. They are still using the common android platform, but so far seem very good on security.
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