F-Droid - A Safer App Store for Android?

F-Droid is an alternate app store for Android. We'll talk about why F-Droid is different than an iOS Appstore or Google Play because there are things that the F-Droid project does that make their app store safer and better for privacy.

Then we'll do a comparison to see if using the F-Droid store will make an Android phone as safe as a Linux phone.

We'll also talk about some apps that I've found on F-Droid. If you have some apps that you've liked from fDroid store, please note it in the comments below so we all learn about it.

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I'm the Internet Privacy Guy. I'm a public interest technologist. I'm here to educate. You are losing your Internet privacy and Internet security every day if you don't fight for it. Your data is collected with endless permanent data mining. Learn about a TOR router, a VPN , antivirus, spyware, firewalls, IP address, wifi triangulation, data privacy regulation, backups and tech tools, and evading mass surveillance from NSA, CIA, FBI. Learn how to be anonymous on the Internet so you are not profiled. Learn to speak freely with pseudo anonymity. Learn more about the dangers of the inernet and the dangers of social media, dangers of email.

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[Tennouseijin]

In my experience, F-Droid apps are also often high quality compared to (free as in beer) Play Store apps. For example, I've tried dozens of free cookbook apps from Play Store, but couldn't find one that would satisfy me. Then I tried OpenRecipes from F-Droid, and it's exactly what I needed. Same with a meditation-tracking app, I've tried quite a few from Play Store, but Meditation Assistant from F-Droid proved superior.
Now, it's quite possible that commercial apps from Play Store offer better quality than free apps from F-Droid. However, what is clear is that Play Store is flooded with low quality apps, whereas F-Droid provides quality over quantity.

[Grey_World]

Technology can either be very good, or very bad depending on how it's used. There's such thing as too much connectivity.

Imagine storing your life into a device which you don't know in and out.

I subbed btw, good stuff to know.

[BellonyA]

Aurora Droid is F-droid repositories in a more searchable and friendly layout

[skatcat]

I generally use the emerald & simple apps collections. ACCA is also great for keeping your battery long lasting.

[tubbalcain]

Love F-Droid, it's my go to... for any app.

[opacity]

First apps I always install from F-Droid if the phone isn't root-able: Termux and a vnc client. Then from inside Termux: proot, bsdtar, and curl and then from there: TermuxArch and once that's done downloading and installing I can get whatever I want via pacman/the AUR and not deal with Android, can even run a full-on desktop environment. Ubuntu, Debian, Kali, Parrot, Alpine, Void, and Manjaro are all options, too. Really can't wait until my UBports Edition gets here from PinePhone so I can be totally done with Android, though.

[rayhanabbot]

Your explanation incredible Rob.... what a knowledgable tutoring and the method in which you make a layman understand technology . hats off to you ... 🙏🙏🙏👍👍

[thecentralscrutinizer]

Been using F-Droid for almost 2 years.... it just keeps getting better...

[RubenLopez-evst]

Hey, do you happen to have a guide on how to de-google a phone? I've been looking into rooting for a Galaxy S10 Snapdragon I'd love to de-google my phone not sure how to begin.

[ketzalkiawitl]

The dissonances of the intro and outro add a very nice touch

[TheRealFrankWizza]

Thanks for making all of these great videos!

[mushenji]

Great but there is somewhere you went wrong. Fdroid allows apps with proprietary libs but it warns the user before installation.

[yehonatan]

You can also have Aurora Droid which uses F-Droid repos

[nullvoid]

would you please make a video explaining what happens when you download an app on a non googled android that has trackers like firebase and doubleclick?
do these trackers only track in app telemetry, or does it limit the capability of these trackers?
could things like WiFi scanning happen if the app with trackers has permissions to use my network data?
also thanks for mentioning micro g i have never heard of it but im looking into it now.

[kamertonaudiophileplayer]

I happy I found your video, I have an open source Android app which is refused by Google to publish, so I hope anybody else will publish it.

[chrisxd]

I would love to see the Canon Connect app available in the FDroid store, or Aurora.

[mrdontmessaround]

Scarlet FD: notes
Email: Tutanota
Tracker control
Briar for messaging
Keepass for password management
Slim for facebook (If you want)

[not]

I may have missed it as I was watching/listening while working. But, can you explain the difference (if any) between installing an app that can be found on both the Google Playstore and F-Droid? Is it just that there is no guarantee that other malicious tracking hasn't been injected in the app within Playstore?

[zengetsuv]

Hey @Rob what do you think about the malware BlackRock, mostly found till now in 3rd party apps. Does F-droid, Aurora/MicroG having in the phone pose a risk?? Appreciate your comments on this. thanks.

[bluejeans]

First thank you for sharing such great videos. Have you produced a video that will explain, simply, how to use one of your programmed phones and how using appropriate apps. Not a techie but interested in protecting my privacy