Consider developing a Google-free version.
Answered
One of the first recommendations from any privacy advocate is ridding oneself of HUGE datamining companies like Google, Facebook, etc. Having MySudo rely upon Google Play Services and the Play Store to function compromises the privacy of it's users.
MySudo currently only works through the utilization of Google Play Services. Android does not equal Google, however. Any phone that uses a different version of android (CopperheadOS, GrapheneOS, LineageOS, etc.) cannot use MySudo, since it heavily relies upon Google for it's services.
There are ways MySudo could me made cross-platform while maintaining privacy of users (check how Mullvad VPN does it for a shining example). This would allow for much better portability of MySudo services (i.e., iOS user, but want to switch to Android? No problem, since now the account itself isn't then tied to those platforms.).
Would this mean more account-management on the part of MySudo? Yes. Would it allow those who try to minimize their Google fingerprint to also use that app? Yes. Would it allow for better account portability? Yes.
Please consider it. Privacy advocates everywhere would thank you.
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Official comment
Hopefully the following 2 posts help with your desire not to rely totally on Google services.
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Personally, I'm a fan of router-based VPN interventions, so my phone doesn't realize its going over a VPN when you're at home. The less you HAVE to install on your phone, the better (MySudo is worth installing, but once they get a Progressive Web App going and use mobile RTC for web-based outbound calling [has it's own privacy implications], that'd be seriously cool!).
Obviously on-the-go that doesn't work, so yes, if your carrier snooping on your traffic is part of your threat model, use a VPN (or better yet Tor Browser if you aren't concerned about speed) when you're away from home. The thing I like about Mullvad is they support WireGuard, which because of its MUCH smaller codebase than OpenVPN, is much easier to audit and verify there aren't bugs in it). I can also get WireGuard speeds MUCH faster than ANY OpenVPN provider, which is a big bonus if you're streaming any sort of media.
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Also, why does MySudo post videos to Youtube? https://mysudo.com/2020/05/group-messaging-in-mysudo/ Why can't they be posted somewhere else?
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Hey guys! Fortunately, I recently found OpenPhone and it works flawlessly on CalyxOS -- it should run just fine on other ROMs that have microG as well. Not sure about ROMs without microG like GrapheneOS though but you're free to test it out and post your results on Techlore's Plexus CSV!
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Absolutely agree! That would be great idea, so our cross-platform development (https://develux.com/cross-platform-mobile-app-development) could reach new level!
Best regards,
Nick Cooper -
There really needs to be some method of using MySudo on more privacy oriented Android ROMs. It sounds like there are MySudo competitors that work on ROMs without Google Services. I am a SudoMax user, but as much as I love it, I use it for privacy. If there is no plan or timeline for if/when this will be a feature, I will have to leave MySudo for the same reason I came to it: concerns over privacy. I really, really, hope this will be changed in the near future.
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Created an account just to echo this need. Bazzell is great to have as an advocate of your product but I'm sure there are many who, like me, have been standing by for Android-based payment options not tied to Google Play. Considering the content of Anonyome Labs' blog is 90% privacy-related you're at best not practicing what you preach--or at worst hypocritical in your go-to-market.
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As previously mentioned, we have users running MySudo successfully on CalyxOS which uses MicroG services (comes installed by default). Incoming calls, message notifications etc work with these services. See Getting MySudo to work on CalyxOS.
We have not tried MicroG services with GrapheneOS as yet, however would love to hear from the community if anybody has been successful in installing / configuring MicroG services on GrapheneOS and getting MySudo to work with these. 😁
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For people who use DeGoogled android phones (Graphene OS, Calyx OS, Lineage, /e/) MySudo will not work. I was hoping to stay with MySudo but had to go with another service. Once MySudo can get this working on phones without Google Services I and my small business employees will be back to MySudo. Until then, please get this working!
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