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update: Mention MTE in Google Pixel and GrapheneOS recommendations (#3137)
Signed-off-by: Jonah Aragon <[email protected]> Signed-off-by: fria <[email protected]> Signed-off-by: Daniel Gray <[email protected]>
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docs/android/distributions.md

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---
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meta_title: "The Best Android Operating Systems - Privacy Guides"
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title: "Alternative Distributions"
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title: Alternative Distributions
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description: You can replace the operating system on your Android phone with these secure and privacy-respecting alternatives.
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schema:
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[:octicons-home-16: Homepage](https://grapheneos.org){ .md-button .md-button--primary }
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[:octicons-eye-16:](https://grapheneos.org/faq#privacy-policy){ .card-link title="Privacy Policy" }
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[:octicons-info-16:](https://grapheneos.org/faq){ .card-link title=Documentation}
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[:octicons-info-16:](https://grapheneos.org/faq){ .card-link title="Documentation" }
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[:octicons-code-16:](https://grapheneos.org/source){ .card-link title="Source Code" }
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[:octicons-heart-16:](https://grapheneos.org/donate){ .card-link title=Contribute }
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[:octicons-heart-16:](https://grapheneos.org/donate){ .card-link title="Contribute" }
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</div>
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GrapheneOS supports [sandboxed Google Play](https://grapheneos.org/usage#sandboxed-google-play), which runs Google Play Services fully sandboxed like any other regular app. This means you can take advantage of most Google Play Services, such as push notifications, while giving you full control over their permissions and access, and while containing them to a specific [work profile](../os/android-overview.md#work-profile) or [user profile](../os/android-overview.md#user-profiles) of your choice.
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[Google Pixel phones](../mobile-phones.md#google-pixel) are the only devices that currently meet GrapheneOS's [hardware security requirements](https://grapheneos.org/faq#future-devices).
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[Google Pixel phones](../mobile-phones.md#google-pixel) are the only devices that currently meet GrapheneOS's [hardware security requirements](https://grapheneos.org/faq#future-devices). The Pixel 8 and later support ARM's Memory Tagging Extension (MTE), a hardware security enhancement that drastically lowers the probability of exploits occurring through memory corruption bugs. GrapheneOS greatly expands the coverage of MTE on supported devices. Whereas the stock OS only allows you to opt in to a limited implementation of MTE via a developer option or Google's Advanced Protection Program, GrapheneOS features a more robust implementation of MTE by default in the system kernel, default system components, and their Vanadium web browser and its WebView.
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GrapheneOS also provides a global toggle for enabling MTE on all user-installed apps at :gear: **Settings****Security & privacy****Exploit protection****Memory tagging****Enable by default**. The OS also features per-app toggles to opt out of MTE for apps which may crash due to compatibility issues.
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### Connectivity Checks
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By default, Android makes many network connections to Google to perform DNS connectivity checks, to sync with current network time, to check your network connectivity, and for many other background tasks. GrapheneOS replaces these with connections to servers operated by GrapheneOS and subject to their privacy policy. This hides information like your IP address [from Google](../basics/common-threats.md#privacy-from-service-providers), but means it is trivial for an admin on your network or ISP to see you are making connections to `grapheneos.network`, `grapheneos.org`, etc. and deduce what operating system you are using.
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docs/mobile-phones.md

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title: "Mobile Phones"
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title: Mobile Phones
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icon: material/cellphone-check
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description: These mobile devices provide the best hardware security support for custom Android operating systems.
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</div>
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## Purchasing Advice
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## General Purchasing Advice
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When purchasing a device, we recommend getting one as new as possible. The software and firmware of mobile devices are only supported for a limited time, so buying new extends that lifespan as much as possible.
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Secure Elements like the Titan M2 are more limited than the processor's Trusted Execution Environment used by most other phones as they are only used for secrets storage, hardware attestation, and rate limiting, not for running "trusted" programs. Phones without a Secure Element have to use the TEE for *all* of those functions, resulting in a larger attack surface.
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### Hardware Security
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Secure Elements like the Titan M2 are more limited than the processor's Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) used by most other phones as they are only used for secrets storage, hardware attestation, and rate limiting, not for running "trusted" programs. Phones without a Secure Element have to use the TEE for *all* of those functions, resulting in a larger attack surface.
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Google Pixel phones use a TEE OS called Trusty which is [open source](https://source.android.com/security/trusty#whyTrusty), unlike many other phones.
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The installation of GrapheneOS on a Pixel phone is easy with their [web installer](https://grapheneos.org/install/web). If you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself and are willing to spend a bit of extra money, check out the [NitroPhone](https://shop.nitrokey.com/shop) as they come preloaded with GrapheneOS from the reputable [Nitrokey](https://nitrokey.com/about) company.
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The Pixel 8 series and later supports ARM's Memory Tagging Extension ([MTE](https://developer.arm.com/documentation/108035/0100/Introduction-to-the-Memory-Tagging-Extension)), a hardware security enhancement that drastically lowers the probability of exploits occurring through memory corruption bugs. The stock Pixel OS allows you to enable MTE for supported apps through Google's Advanced Protection Program or via a developer option, but its usability is quite limited. [GrapheneOS](android/distributions.md#grapheneos), an alternative Android OS we recommend, greatly improves the usability and coverage of MTE in its implementation of the feature.
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### Buying a Google Pixel
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A few more tips for purchasing a Google Pixel:
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, meaning that the longer use of the device the lower cost per day.
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- If the Pixel is unavailable in your region, the [NitroPhone](https://shop.nitrokey.com/shop) can be shipped globally.
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The installation of GrapheneOS on a Pixel phone is easy with their [web installer](https://grapheneos.org/install/web). If you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself and are willing to spend a bit of extra money, check out the [NitroPhone](https://shop.nitrokey.com/shop) as they come preloaded with GrapheneOS from the reputable [Nitrokey](https://nitrokey.com/about) company.
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## Criteria
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**Please note we are not affiliated with any of the projects we recommend.** In addition to [our standard criteria](about/criteria.md), we have developed a clear set of requirements to allow us to provide objective recommendations. We suggest you familiarize yourself with this list before choosing to use a project, and conduct your own research to ensure it's the right choice for you.

docs/os/android-overview.md

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- Not allowing app installation outside the Google Play Store, the OS vendor's app store, or via [`adb`](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_Debug_Bridge)
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- Mandatory automatic device scanning with [Play Protect](https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/2812853?#zippy=%2Chow-malware-protection-works%2Chow-privacy-alerts-work)
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- Warning you about unverified applications
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- Enabling ARM's hardware-based [Memory Tagging Extension (MTE)](https://developer.arm.com/documentation/108035/0100/Introduction-to-the-Memory-Tagging-Extension) for supported apps, which lowers the likelihood of device exploits happening through memory corruption bugs
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### Google Play System Updates
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