Programs

Desktop

/pix/tech/tmux.png
ncmpcpp, lf, & newsboat in tmux.

I use LARBS with Luke Smith’s dotfiles. See my extended programs list for more, & the Artix installation page.

In my Termux dotfiles, I have tmux & fzf substitute for dwm & dmenu.

Phone

/pix/tech/homescreen.png
My homescreen; mpv, MuPDF, &c. hidden.

Fossify has other apps for phone calling, texting, contacts, alarm clock, &c. I use Lawnchair for a launcher, but its purely decorative.

If you must install a proprietary app, quarantine it with Shelter.

If you can’t—or plain won’t—use the command line, these may be useful:

I use old Google Pixels, currently a Pixel 2. They’re easy to flash & list for cheap on eBay—I purchased mine for around $50. Pixel 1 was the last model to have an audio jack, but I don’t see many listings. Get a good case & screen protector. To block most radio signals, wrap the phone in at least three layers of tinfoil.

Newer laptops often have the Intel’s Management Engine backdoor. For phones, the SIM card seems an analogous backdoor, so avoid using one. Use a burner phone instead. Pixels are supposed to isolate the baseband by which the SIM accesses the rest of the hardware, though I’m unsure what model began to do so. Keep airplane mode on.

General privacy & security advice:

To disable the rotation pop-up, run via ADB or as root:

settings put secure show_rotation_suggestions 0

Termux

Arch Linux’s pacman can be used. Install Termux:API so programs can use the clipboard & open files in apps.

How to stop Android from closing Termux.

To make backups:

tar -cp /path/to/files | gpg -e -r your@email -o output.gpg

How to use GPG keys.

De-bloating

Use Magisk to de-bloat system apps by making a module to overlay a blank file or directory over the system app’s APK. See my script for creating one. If the device boot-loops, go into safe mode by pressing volume-down while booting (Pixels only it seems), disables all modules. Universal Android Debloater has information on what the different system apps are.

To see where an app is located, run:

cmd package path app

De-Bloater may be useful if you insist on using an app rather than the command line.

DNS

Open the Settings app:

If you’re using a VPN or proxy, then the DNS should be resolved with it. If an app is configured to use a proxy with SOCKS5 (e.g. Fennec), it will ignore the system DNS.

Termux by default uses Google DNS in its etc/resolv.conf, so be sure to change it too. Takes an IP address, e.g. Quad9:

nameserver 9.9.9.9

Captive Portal

Disable Google connections, run via ADB or as root:

settings put global captive_portal_mode 0 # or 1 to enable
settings put global captive_portal_use_https 0 # or 1 to enable
settings put global captive_portal_http_url about:blank
settings put global captive_portal_https_url about:blank
settings put global captive_portal_fallback_url about:blank
settings put global captive_portal_other_fallback_urls about:blank

Or replace about:blank with a captive portal server.

NTP

Use NTP Pool instead of Google, run via ADB or as root:

settings put global ntp_server pool.ntp.org # or about:blank to disable

Tor

Remember to configure apps to use Tor as proxy: socks5://localhost:9050.

F-Droid has Tor mirrors, make sure to use them: Settings → Proxy → ☑ Use Tor

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Linux · Android · Technology