Privacy invasion making me want to switch to Ubuntu... Help

[Nate Hogue]

Guys I'm done! I love technology but they have gone about 10x over what I can tolerate of my every thought being recorded, tracked, etc etc etc.

I'm smart enough to understand that he who has the most information will eventually hold all the money too but damn!!! My Turbo 2 goes so far as to change app settings back after I shut them off. I am tired of fighting with it.

The only logical solution I came up with is to run Ubuntu OS for now. I thought it wouldn't be a huge task to get done but after reading articles and watching videos on all the steps, I'm confused and frustrated.

What I would like to know is this...

Can my Turbo 2 run Ubuntu? If so, what's the simplest process to do so. I can't afford to pay someone smarter than me or to buy a new device.

Help is very much appreciated!

 

[kramer5150]

Curious... shouldn't you first try and figure out what apps or www sites are causing this?... target that first, otherwise the same thing will happen again from the same sources. Regardless of the OS.

Why do you think its the OS causing this and not the apps, app permissions, www sites or www streaming sites?.... just curious. If you managed to download a virus or mal-ware from one of the above it could present itself as an OS problem.

my .02.

 

[smvim]

...Can my Turbo 2 run Ubuntu? If so, what's the simplest process to do so. I can't afford to pay someone smarter than me or to buy a new device.

You're probably thinking of Ubuntu Touch, which is currently in limbo. Canonical just recently announced it will stop development on its smartphone OS. It might be picked up by independent developers, might not so you might want to wait and see how things go.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubuntu_Touch
Canonical Kills off Ubuntu-Based Smartphone, Tablet Projects - Focus on Desktop, Server, and Cloud | MobiPicker

Otherwise in the time being you might want to look into installing a firewall app on your Turbo 2. Take a look at NetGuard. It's a nice, non-root firewall that will give you granular control over which apps can selectively get any online access via your WiFi or your mobile data connectivity.
https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...?id=eu.faircode.netguard&hl=en&token=Iw4QtW4Q

 

[Nate Hogue]

I would think you should at least try and figure out what apps or www sites are causing this in the first place... target that first, otherwise the same thing will happen again. Regardless of the OS.

Why do you think its the OS causing this and not the apps, app permissions, www sites or www streaming sites?.... just curious. If you managed to download a virus or mal-ware from one of the above it could present itself as an OS problem.

my .02.

Based on your response, either I did a HORRIBLE job communicating my point in the post OR you just didn't understand at all what I was trying to say. Either way, not productive

 

[Nate Hogue]

You're probably thinking of Ubuntu Touch, which is currently in limbo. Canonical just recently announced it will stop development on its smartphone OS. It might be picked up by independent developers, might not so you might want to wait and see how things go.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubuntu_Touch
Canonical Kills off Ubuntu-Based Smartphone, Tablet Projects - Focus on Desktop, Server, and Cloud | MobiPicker

Otherwise in the time being you might want to look into installing a firewall app on your Turbo 2. Take a look at NetGuard. It's a nice, non-root firewall that will give you granular control over which apps can selectively get any online access via your WiFi or your mobile data connectivity.
https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...?id=eu.faircode.netguard&hl=en&token=81trDNM5

Thanks for the info... Surely I'm not the only one who realizes what Apple, Microsoft, and Google are doing. There's got to be an option for those of us who believe in personal privacy.

 

[belodion]

[Also posted here:] https://forums.androidcentral.com/showthread.php?t=787080]

 

[kramer5150]

I'm sorry I was a little rude there... I meant no harm and I certainly was not trying to insult you or anything like that.

My sincerest apologies.

You mention apps automatically changing permissions and settings... as far as I know Android doesn't do things like that unless its "under the influence" of mal-ware, virus or a really bad app doing it rogue in the background. So I was just wondering how an OS change will solve this, if its not the OS that is the cause.

No you are not the only who realizes our personal information really isn't "ours". I completely agree another option would surely be appreciated.

 

[belodion]

(OP, I don't think that the post you refer to was meant to be unhelpful....it certainly doesn't read that way to me. kramer5150 strikes me as a courteous member who always thanks other members for their replies.)

 

[smvim]

Thanks for the info... Surely I'm not the only one who realizes what Apple, Microsoft, and Google are doing. There's got to be an option for those of us who believe in personal privacy.

Consumer smartphones, no matter which platform, are by design and intent primarily focused on sharable information, privacy being a lot further down the list priorities. If privacy is a must and you still need a mobile phone, a better option these days is still a less feature-rich flip-phone.

 

[Nate Hogue]

Cant imagine what makes you think I have not used anti spyware, malware, virus, etc software to try and fix the problem. You say that you didn't know that Google and other softwares can take access anytime they want to your settinys and change them. You need to go read the permissions and the privacy statements more thoroughly and you will see for yourself.

Also to the guy who says he thinks you were being productive and helpful... I don't care what you think, i am only interested in a solution to the issue not how you feel about it. That's the point of the post. Thanks

 

[hallux]

Maybe this is the device for you? https://www.silentcircle.com/products-and-solutions/devices/

 

[Almeuit]

Also to the guy who says he thinks you were being productive and helpful... I don't care what you think, i am only interested in a solution to the issue not how you feel about it. That's the point of the post. Thanks

Let's not go down that road. Everyone is allowed to comment and he simply stated what he felt about Smartphones and how they work -- Telling others to basically go away isn't how we do things here.

Thanks .

 

[Golfdriver97]

Can you elaborate on what settings are changing? In which apps? This may not necessarily be an OS issue but a developer one.

As far as Ubuntu touch....It used to be only available for a small selection of devices. I don't think it would be available for the Moto.

As for Ubuntu and privacy, it isn't much better. Canonical said they would focus more on privacy.
http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2016/01/ubuntu-online-search-feature-disabled-16-04

Sure that's the desktop/laptop version, but mobile is a fork of the base OS anyway.