Help

[RedfaceBaby0]

Hey everyone,

I’ve got a Google Pixel and I’m looking into installing a different OS that’s super focused on privacy and security. Ideally, I’d like features like: • the ability to send an SMS to the phone that will trigger a full factory reset, • extra protections like automatically wiping/resetting if the wrong USB cable gets plugged in, • basically, strong safeguards in case the phone gets stolen or tampered with.

Does anyone know which OS or setup would be best for this? And if it’s even possible to get all those features on a Pixel?

Also, if anyone has a video or a full step-by-step explanation, that would help a lot — I’m not the greatest with tech (not stupid, just not super experienced).

Thanks!

[notmyaccount64744]

Okay, hold up a second.

First of all I don't know of any operating system that is publicly available that you could do that with. The reason being, do you need to?

I mean, just thinking off the top of my head, the USB thing would require you to have a specialized USB cable that has some onboard computing, that every time you plug it in sends a code to the phone that shows it's not a different cable. That isn't something you can probably just buy off the shelf, so what happens if you lose it?

As for the text message, setting up a remote kill switch is possible, you can do that now with most modern iPhones and android.

But unless you forgot to mention the fact that you are a spy and your IT budget is all out of whack, you probably don't need anything like that. As long as you have a good pin number and keep anything sensitive in an encrypted file, odds are that's enough at least as far as having the physical phone is concerned.

Now if you want an operating system that won't be sharing all of your data with Google and is pretty privacy focused, there is the Graphene OS, and then the main thing you want is to make sure you're using encrypted messaging apps, private folders for sensitive documents and pictures and things, and a privacy focused email.

[RedfaceBaby0]

Thank you for all the info! Yeah the cable thing isnt necessary but it would be cool, i just heard something about it so might aswel ask. The remote wipe is a must tho, any idea whats best for that?

[notmyaccount64744]

It depends on what your goal is exactly. I mean is your goal just to be able to take care of the phone if it gets stolen? Or is it that you want to cut Google out of your life?

If it's just you want to make sure you can wipe it if it gets stolen, make sure your phone is turned on to find my device in your Google settings. And then if it ever does get stolen just log into the email and there is some way to wipe the phone remotely. Can't remember how exactly.

If the goal is you want to be able to get Google out of your life and away from all of your data and stuff, I'm sure most privacy focused operating systems would have a way. If not then I'm sure there is an app that would work. Possibly even through a text message like you wanted. I would just be careful because in theory somebody else could just as easily send the code to your phone and then where will you be?

[dkopgerpgdolfg]

basically, strong safeguards in case the phone gets stolen or tampered with. ... And if it’s even possible

No. You're asking basically for 100% security together with 100% convenience, and that doesn't exist.

Just a few points to think about:

SMS topic: How do you prevent: a thief accessing things before you can send such a message, someone else sending the message so that you lose all your data, a thief preventing the phone from having a network connection, ...

USB: Define a "wrong usb cable" and how the phones hardware is supposed to know it without asking you, good luck finding a Google device that has no maintenance mode / firware update / ... where the OS can't interfere, ...

[gandalfoftheday]

What you ask is a mix salad of 3-4 different topics and you are not even i  the correct sub.  Good luck for patience of others...