It seems that the motherboard is dead, and that it’s a common issue with the 5a and I “should’ve known better,” despite it being impossible to find decent information on phones these days.

I got it because it was the last Pixel with a headphone jack, and because it had good official LineageOS support. But I compromised: giving up the SD slot was tough for me, and now that I’ve been burned by not having one (I typically auto-backup my Signal history and other things to the SD card) I don’t want to get another phone without it.

But the landscape seems bleak. The vast majority of phones that are officially supported by LineageOS are Pixels. It’s impossible to find easy information on which phones have non-official LOS ROMs. Search results are useless these days, and I also keep running into an issue where after researching a phone for half an hour I discover that it has some arcane process to unlock the bootloader that doesn’t always work, and the forum posters imply that the purchasers “should’ve known better.” I’m just at my wit’s end.

If anyone can suggest something that has decent deGoogled ROM support with the following features, I’d be very grateful:

  • OLED screen (a must-have for my photosensitivity)
  • SD card slot
  • I am willing to give up the headphone jack in order to expand my options
  • K0W4L5K1@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    7 months ago

    It doesnt unlock the bootloader or root your phone. Which is the most important security your phone can have. While any that root your phone leave it wide open to maid attacks

      • K0W4L5K1@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        7 months ago

        OK not sure about that will do some reasearch myself, but a photo of them saying they did it in a YouTube video is a weird piece of proof

        But my point is that grapheneOS doesnt require the bootloader to be unlocked or root the phone which itself is the main defense in your phone from those attacks so unless others dont unlock the bootloader they are just worse for that reason alone. From 2022 but still relevant Article on bootloader and rooting

        • TheAnonymouseJoker@lemmy.ml
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          7 months ago

          Quoting madaidan immediately tells how much you know about security. I have a lot of criticisms about that idiot.

          • K0W4L5K1@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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            7 months ago

            OK I didnt really quote him just linked an article he wrote and yeah I have some too but the article is still relavent info and you have not said anything useful or given me information to help prove your point and change my Mind I’m willing to hear the other side. So instead of attacking me. Why not attack the idea?

              • K0W4L5K1@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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                7 months ago

                Thanks I will look into those more as well new to reddit and Lemmy. But who are you why should I trust you as well? Just wondering these are your write ups is all

                I dont really get your last paragraph and again I didnt quote shit just sent you one fucking article . and I agree madaidian has some very intense views but. I’m not saying use grapheneOS over another customOS. From what I’ve read of your write up so far. I should just use stock OS because none of this changes the fact of bootloader security and root

                • TheAnonymouseJoker@lemmy.ml
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                  7 months ago

                  I founded r/privatelife many years ago to combat the privacy nonsense spouted on Reddit, and to combat the favouring of Apple and western Big Tech companies that western moderators did themselves and also allowed to flourish. Then I made c/privatelife on Lemmy as a mirror. I write guides for smartphone hardening, Linux/Windows computing, threat modelling, activists, and have written a few dozens of micro guides.

                  Currently, I am moderating c/privacy and c/technology on Lemmy.ml, and head my c/privatelife community.

                  You quoted madaidan, one of the biggest idiots who has been collectively shat on by r/Linux and many people who know the grifting he does. He loves his Windows and MacOS and shits on Linux, claiming insecurity, and does the 4chan meme unironically where he declares security of software and OSes based on programming languages it has been written with.

                  • K0W4L5K1@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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                    7 months ago

                    I am new to android safety and honestly the world of the internet drama I have always kept to myself but recently needed to get into this and there’s mountains of data fighting for both sides. Sorry for being standoffish just tired of bs as well and sifting through years of articles and shit. What’s your take om hackliberty.org?

                  • K0W4L5K1@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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                    7 months ago

                    Cool thank you for being civil. I will start following your stuff and reading your write ups I see the issues with him but then I would like your input on the bootloader and root even with madadians crazyness that makes sense IMO that the bootloader and root are most important for security. I’m look at the Sudo arguments for linux as an example