This week, I came across a new "safe" mobile operating system, but I didn't jot down the details and now I can't seem to find it. It appeared to be quite recent, as they had a list of devices, many of which were still officially untested.
Having a secure operating system on our phones is crucial since we carry them everywhere, making them potential tools for data collection. A secure OS can help minimize vulnerabilities and limit the ability of apps to gather data.
Some time ago, I researched various options and found that there are many secure or open-source mobile operating systems available. Among them, Graphene OS seems to be the top choice among experts.
One common criticism is that it only supports Google Pixel phones. However, this limitation ensures that the operating system is thoroughly tested on those devices, allowing users to expect better performance compared to other systems that are designed for a wider range of devices but lack consistent testing. Additionally, Google Pixel phones are built with security in mind at the hardware level. While some people worry that Google may have a backdoor in the chip, which is likely true, it's nearly impossible to avoid all backdoors these days, so this risk may be acceptable.
I've also thought about getting an old flip phone because I find them appealing, especially those with sliding screens. The downside is that even WhatsApp has stopped supporting KaiOS, the operating system used by Nokia's new phones. Relying on SMS and cellular unencrypted phone calls feels nowadays challenging and insecure. In terms of hardware, the BlackBerry Torch would be my ideal phone, but it would need an Android-like operating system to support the essential communication apps I want.
I recently discovered an interesting physical keyboard phone that runs Android, and it seems possible to install LineageOS on it for added security. However, it still has numerous hardware sensors that apps could use to track user data, so it might not be the perfect secure phone, even if it could serve as a great basic device.