It was updated twice in 2024, granted last update was in April. But once software is dialed, it shouldn’t need consistent updates. The website doesn’t reference anything about the project being abandoned either: https://www.openandroidbackup.me/

Guess if nothing else, it’s worked very well and hopefully will get updated in 2025. If not, ideally Graphene will have their own backup option here soon.

I’ve used Open Android Backup Companion from F-Droid for my GrapheneOS device for a while now. It’s pretty simple and straight forward, I definitely recommend giving it a go. You can select what files to backup or just back it all up.

The researchers believe it affects all VPN applications when they’re connected to a hostile network and that there are no ways to prevent such attacks except when the user’s VPN runs on Linux or Android.

Once again, Linux with a win!

CamScanner has multiple solid alts available, I like PDF Doc Scan a whole lot. The editing options are a step above CamScanner I’d even bet.

The EQ settings in VLC almost certainly are equal, if not superior, to HiBy.

I truly don’t need much for a photo editor on my phone. If you need to use all the bells and whistles with Snapseed, I’d much much rather use my PC.

Seperate User Profile > Work Profile 100%! A work profile is working in a different room at your house, while a different user profile is equal to having an separate office to go work in when it comes to data segregation.

Lynx Launcher > Free Nova Launcher for me without question. Lynx’s is super clean and the free settings are more than enough for detailed customization with zero trackers.

With ScreenMaster, I don’t see the need at all. More apps increase your attack surface area. My default works very well, I’ve never even thought about an additional app for screenshots.

If tech business hadn’t gone off the deep end acquiring tons of unnecessary data from every user in the name of profit, I’d be more willing to have forgone the years of research needed to be fully untracked digitally. That being said, convenience is no where even close to a good enough reason for me to use most these apps unfortunately.

Curious why you’d choose closed-sourced apps when there are phenomenal open-sourced options which accomplish the same tasks? The list of trackers for CamScanner alone is wild, I’d expect most of the others to be similarly invasive too.

Edit:

• Snapseed: 0 Trackers
• Glasswire: 0 Trackers
• 1DM+: No Exodus Report
• Accubattery: 6 Trackers
• AppOps: 2 Trackers
• Bouncer: No Exodus Report
• ACR Call Recorder: 2 Trackers
• CamScanner: 18 Trackers
• Clipboard Pro: 2 Trackers (cost $2.99)
• DiskUsage: No Exodus Report
• HiBy Music Player: 5 Trackers
• MiXplorer: No Exodus Report
• MX Player: 18 Trackers
• Nova Launcher: 2 Trackers [Lynx Launcher is a much better choice for this list]
• OfficeSuite: 12 Trackers
• RAR: 0 Trackers
• ScreenMaster: 4 Trackers
• SD Maid: 1 Tracker
• Wavelet: 0 Trackers

The blockchain’s use of decentralization is pretty much a security measure. If you want to rule out the blockchain entirely, you’d still need to address the immutable and transpartent components. Only using one block once published moving forward is quite different than the fediverse. Then there’s smart contracts too. It’s a massive improvement to various current online platforms, to say it’s merely decentralization is highly misleading.

Edit: So far, web 3.0 has yet to impress me and I’d be surprised if it does anytime soon. But blockchain tech is not simplistic and can be setup for anonymity as well.

Open camera over Graphene’s?

As of 2019, the swipe to delete was an option labeled “Back-word” but a name change was being discussed. There’s also an option to move the cursor after holding the space bar too, just not sure of the name but it should be somewhere in the settings.

I’ve used AnySoftKeyboard for ages as it’s infinitely customizable while also fully respects privacy. But it does take time to dial in every component. I give the Graphene keyboard a go every now and again, but AnySoftKeyboard is still my go to.