I’ve received a xiaomi phone as a present, a 2022 redmi 10c 220333QNY, but I’ve read in several sources that this is a brand that systematically eavesdrops everything the user does. There’s also the fear they pass this information to the CCP, which, if you are a Taiwanese, Tibetan, Uighur or Hongkong democracy activist or a foreigner promoting multiparty democracy in China might be used to spy on you and incarcerate you.

Other brands, western if you want to call them that, might do the same, I don’t know. That’s why I ask these questions:

  • Are all phone brands the same, meaning they all eavesdrop on me and no matter what brand I use some personal information will end up in their servers?

  • If all brands are equally bad, what can a quite ignorant end user like me do to minimize the information transmitted to the manufacturer? I cannot even root this device and last time I tried getting rid of another phone’s bloatware I bricked the device.

  • If some brands are better privacy wise, which ones?

  • Am I protecting my privacy if I don’t use any default application and disregard any ad to use products from google and use exclusively f-droid?

I don’t mind voiding the warranty and I wouldn’t mind installing a FOSS OS on this redmi model, as I won’t bank or pay taxes using this device, but I don’t find anything that works. Suggestions welcomed.

  • OsrsNeedsF2P@lemmy.mlEnglish
    12·
    15 hours ago

    Xiaomis are quite hackable. You can install LineageOS to be safe from any potential spyware.

    • infeeeee@lemm.eeEnglish
      1·
      3 hours ago

      I looked it up for op, this is a lowest end redmi, so no custom roms exist for this unfortunately.

    • catloaf@lemm.eeEnglish
      61·
      12 hours ago

      Well, not 100% safe. They still control firmware in the radios and such. And they could include a separate processor that just listens to what you’re doing and sends it over the cell radio.

      • infeeeee@lemm.eeEnglish
        2·
        3 hours ago

        Did you wrote this from your libreboot laptop? As what you wrote is unfortunately true for all devices.

  • Xanza@lemm.eeEnglish
    6·
    14 hours ago

    So here’s the thing. The phone was made by a company in another country that has to follow that countries laws. But that only extends to the stock OS.

    Just unlock the bootloader, root it, and install whatever on it. IIRC Xiaomi phones are pretty open platform wise, and are compatible with a wide array of ROMs. I’ve personally been using LibreMobileOS recently and I really like it–but unfortunately that seems to be one of the few Redmi models they don’t support yet. lol

    • MrTolkinghoen@lemmy.zipEnglish
      2·
      12 hours ago

      Yes but, have you ever rooted a Xiaomi device. it’s VERY hard. not impossible, but very hard. Requires iirc a 28 day waiting period, and you can only do one per year. (I imagine they enforce by phone number) Here’s a guide I found with a quick google search, it requires running their super sketchy windows only utility, etc… etc… https://www.reddit.com/r/PocoPhones/comments/1bsb2ce/how_to_root_your_phone_whatever_your_xiaomi_phone/

      And yes, everything you have read is true about how bad it is. Did you know by default every app is set to debuggable? it’s something the OS does, and no, you can’t turn it off from the apps perspective. The whole system is just not secure, by design.

  • Marthirial@lemmy.worldEnglish
    3·
    13 hours ago

    I have been using Xiaomi Redmi Notes since version 7, currently I have version 13. Hardware is solid, fast, dependable and flexible. It comes with some bloatware but the new HyperOS is actually very open to turning off all possible privacy / tracking apps.

    I rooted some of my previous phones but haven’t the new one. For the price point, imo is the best option.

    Make sure to check the supported bands of the device against your carrier 5G/4G bands or the phone has a hard time connecting.

    If you are planning on rooting, set a Xiaomi account right away as it takes time to get unlocking code.

  • infeeeee@lemm.eeEnglish
    2·
    14 hours ago

    That’s a redmi 9c if that model number is correct. No official lineage support, but there are a lot of interesting roms on xda: https://xdaforums.com/c/redmi-9c.10999/

    This seems good, official, gapps is optional: https://xdaforums.com/t/rom-12-1-official-nusantara-project-4-5-unified-for-redmi-9a-9c-9-activ-garden-sinila-updated.4374805/

    Afaik if you replace the rom they cant really do much. Also MIUI or whatever they call it nowadays is the worst android experience i’ve ever used.