Liberating Mobiles

Introduction

Majority of the modern day devices be it TV, Mobiles, Smart Watch, etc., come with a pre-loaded software called "Google Android". With the surveillance capitalist model of data platforms, the surveillance capitalist giants and their minions collect an overwhelming data from these devices we own. With many historical revelations, we have known that these surveillance capitalist giants have been indulging in mass surveillance for the benefit of their interests.

The giants with their tentacles in media have been trying to convince that Privacy is impossible and that we have to beg them for privacy features. The primary reason for this kind of subjugation is because the software is Proprietary. For example, the Google Android installed in your mobile is not free software. The AOSP whose code is public has been combined with the Proprietary Google Software before installing in the devices (and sometimes combined with the Proprietary software from the OEMs).

Privacy will only be possible with free software. And Privacy is a collective effort and not a individual interest.

This can be achieved in parts by:

• Remove Propreitary Google Applications
• Replacing Google ROM with Custom De-googlified ROM

Remove Propreitary Google Applications

Prerequisties

1. Your PC with ADB preinstalled.
2. Your 'Android' device with ADB debugging switched on and connected to your PC with a suitable USB cable.

Procedure

1. Open your terminal and run adb devices . You should be able to see your device on the list.
2. Now run adb shell
3. Now run the below command to remove the application. Replace the <Package Name> with the respective package name from the table below:

pm uninstall -k --user 0 <Package Name>

App Name	Package Name
Google Play Store	com.android.vending
YouTube	com.google.android.youtube
Google Maps	com.google.android.apps.maps
Google Duo	com.google.android.apps.tachyon
Google Play Music	com.google.android.music
Google Play Videos	com.google.android.videos
Google Play Games	com.google.android.play.games
Google Play Books	com.google.android.apps.books
Google Chrome	com.android.chrome
Google Docs	com.google.android.apps.docs.editors.docs
Google Photos	com.google.android.apps.photos
Google Drive	com.google.android.apps.docs

Remove Proprietary Google OS

Introduction

An Android System is very similar to Debian or any other freedom operating systems.

General Procedure

1. Pre-requisites

  1. A desktop/laptop with ADB and Fastboot installed.
  2. A data compatible USB cable [Beware of cables that only support power!] for the device you want to liberate.

2. Search for custom Recovery for your device.
3. Search for a supported custom ROM for your device in device specific forums on forum.xda-developers.com.
4. Unlocking phone boot-loader

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Click on About Phone
  3. Tap 5 times on the build information(number). You will get a message saying "Developer settings enabled."
  4. Now go back to Settings and go to Developer Options (mostly will be in System options/ you can search for it)
  5. Enable OEM unlocking and USB debugging.
  6. Now, Connect your phone to the system. There will be a popup on the mobile asking for USB debugging. Click Allow.
  7. Open terminal in system and enter
                                       adb reboot fastboot

  8. Now, your mobile will go into a fastboot mode. Now, In your system terminal, run the following command  
                                       fastboot oem unlock

  Note: This method will not work for all devices. Some devices need additional steps to accomplish this step. Please refer next sections for device specific steps to unlock bootloader.

5. Install custom ROM into the Device and your are good to go.
6. Setup your backed up applications.

Different Mobiles and Unlocking

Mobile Manufacturer	How to Unlock	Difficulty
Asus	asus unlockin tool,cmd	easy
Pixel	cmd	easy
Oneplus	cmd	easy
HTC	htcdev.com
Aquaris	cmd	easy
Huawei	paid ,cmd
Leeco	cmd	easy
Lenovo	cmd	easy
LG	cmd	medium
Moto	cmd	medium
Nokia	dedicated phones have different method,standard method,cmd - paid	easy

Alternatives

Category	Service / Application	Proprietary Alternative	Freedom Alternative
Social Media	Facebook	Frost	Fedilab(account in fsmi.social)
	Twitter	Twidere, TwidereX	Fedilab(account in fsmi.social)
	Instagram	Barinsta	Fedilab(account in pixelfed.social)
	Reddit	Slide	Dawn for Reddit
	Google Mail		K-9 Mail
Entertainment	Youtube	Newpipe
Instant Messaging	Telegram	TelegramFOSS, Nekogram	Element with matrix server account
Apps Catalogue	Google Playstore	Aurora Store	F-Droid
Utility	Google Chrome	Bromite, IceCat Mobile

References

1. https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/info-android-device-partitions-and-filesystems.3586565/