OESF Portables Forum

Model Specific Forums => Cosmo Communicator => Cosmo Communicator - General Discussion => Topic started by: Shiunbird1 on January 10, 2022, 09:29:28 am

Title: My (almost) step-by-step Google-less setup for my Cosmo
Post by: Shiunbird1 on January 10, 2022, 09:29:28 am
Hi everyone,

IMEI recovery: https://www.oesf.org/forum/index.php?topic=36735.0

I spent well over 20 hours during the last days perfecting my setup, so I will share it with you step-by-step. I look forward to your feedback.

Starting point: fresh V19 Cosmo. DO NOT insert a SIM card or connect to Wi-Fi yet.
Create a V25 root SD (+ Gemian install if you wish).
At any point in time, if the Google Play Store updates itself, then start over. =)
Appendix 1 - Proper tuning for privacy:
- Keep Bluetooth off and don't have your phone auto-joining Wi-Fi networks, as it will keep broadcasting your list of favourite networks, and this can be used for tracking.
- Google Device Registration: even without ever signing into a Google account, if you enable push notifications, cross-checking the data between the applications can give your game away and be used for identification and cross-app tracking.

Appendix 2 - Booting from the SD slot later on:
- After installing and configuring everything I've mentioned above, I suddenly started getting "Red State" every time I tried to boot from the SD slot. To be able to install Linux later on, I had to boot into Normal mode, and then reboot. This way, I managed to get to boot from the SD slot again and get Linux up and running.

Appendix 3 - Blank IMEI at the end of everything:
- I couldn't get my data connection to work from Linux and, after a lot of troubleshooting, I gave up and rebooted into Android. To my surprise, both IMEIs were now blank. Very upset at the prospect of having to start everything over and re-flash using the process described here: https://www.oesf.org/forum/index.php?topic=36336.msg298321#msg298321 (https://www.oesf.org/forum/index.php?topic=36336.msg298321#msg298321), I decided to try to re-configure the IMEIs on the fly. It worked! Please follow the procedure described here: https://www.oesf.org/forum/index.php?topic=36735.0 (https://www.oesf.org/forum/index.php?topic=36735.0)

Appendix 4 - Location services:
I have downloaded Apple Wi-Fi, GSMNetworkLocationProvider, Mozilla Location Service, Radiocells.org and WiFi Location Service. I use the two last ones (I do most of my activities on foot, so I'm slowly cataloging the APs around), and Mozilla or Apple in case of urgent need.

Appendix 5 - My installed apps:
F-Droid:
org.adaway,51100,5.11.0
org.microg.nlp.backend.apple,20043,1.2.3
com.aurora.store,38,4.0.7
com.kgurgul.cpuinfo,40500,4.5.0
at.bitfire.davdroid,401000005,4.1-ose
org.fdroid.fdroid,1013051,1.13.1
org.fdroid.fdroid.privileged,2120,0.2.12
de.kaffeemitkoffein.feinstaubwidget,32,0.76
de.nulide.findmydevice,14,0.2.3
org.woheller69.gpscockpit,140,1.4
com.mendhak.gpslogger,119,119
org.gfd.gsmlocation,14,0.0.1.4
io.github.ismywebsiteup,11,0.1.1
com.android.launcher3,28,9
com.topjohnwu.magisk,23000,23.0
net.osmand.plus,409,4.0.9
org.microg.nlp.backend.ichnaea,20033,1.4.0
org.schabi.newpipe,981,0.21.15
com.nextcloud.client,30180190,3.18.1
com.termux.nix,66027,0.66_v0.2.7_nix
org.microg.nlp.backend.nominatim,20042,1.2.2
com.secuso.privacyFriendlyCodeScanner,21,3.2.0
org.openbmap.unifiedNlp,21,0.2.9
com.simplemobiletools.calendar.pro,212,6.17.0
com.maxistar.textpad,31,1.19.1
com.google.android.stardroid,1541,1.10.1 - RC1
org.tasks,111301,11.13
org.telegram.messenger,25269,8.4.2
com.termux,117,0.117
com.termux.api,51,0.50.1
com.google.android.gms,212658044,0.2.22.212658
org.videolan.vlc,13040207,3.4.2
org.fitchfamily.android.wifi_backend,42,1.1.13
org.wikipedia,50390,r/2.7.50390-r-2021-12-23
net.fabiszewski.ulogger,306,3.6

Aurora Store:
Brave
ebay
firefox
paypal
signal
skype

Your help required:
1. I come from the iOS world. How can I get the notifications set in an effective way? I get, for example, Telegram FOSS notifications fine on the CODI, but I can't even see whom they are coming from. I'd like to be able to filter what needs my attention on the CODI, and this is why I got this display.
2. Anyone who could explain me the whole thing of LEDison intercepting notifications from other applications? I don't seem to be able to get it to work.
3. What's the best backup strategy? I'd hate to have to re-do this whole setup.
4. Anything better than AdAway? Feedback on other applications I may consider?

Thanks for all the documents around. I've probably read this whole forum during the last 2 months. Here is my small contribution back, and I hope it helps someone.
Title: Re: My (almost) step-by-step Google-less setup for my Cosmo
Post by: Varti on January 10, 2022, 01:34:13 pm
Thanks a lot for your very detailed guide! For the questions after your guide, I suggest you to open at least one separate thread for them (or even better a separate thread for each question :) )

Varti
Title: Almost successfully did it, but perhaps still a problem with signature spoofing
Post by: forcella on March 05, 2022, 05:01:51 am
With the help of your instructions I almost managed to degoogle my cosmo.
I just needed to figure out that in order to update magisk you need to manually patch the root-boot.img as described here: https://www.oesf.org/forum/index.php?topic=36528 (https://www.oesf.org/forum/index.php?topic=36528).
I installed microG-Revived inside Magisk (https://github.com/nift4/microg_installer_revived (https://github.com/nift4/microg_installer_revived)), but I didn't find any F-Droid extensions for Magisk. Moreover, I could not do steps 17 and 18, as I couldn't locate the MicroG settings. Nonetheless, almost everything works, only some apps complain about missing Google Play Services (WhatsApp and MILES). I ran the Signature Spoofing Checker app, which says signature spoofing is not enabled. I guess this is the reason. Is it because of the skipped steps 12, 17 and 18?