Cool, cool. Do mini PCs come with an OS preinstalled? And what are some good wireless keyboard brands?

Oh sweet! So, let’s say I install MAX on the mini PC; will it show up as a clickable app on the TV or will I always have to use the PC to click on things/start shows/etc?

They don’t seem to accept books in .pdf form, any solution?

I also had another question. I’ve tried to get my parents to use NextDNS, but they think it’s blocking too many sites (like "sponsored websites) so they don’t use it. I wonder if I should use a DNS on my router at all because I don’t want my visitors to get blocked from any sites, or is there a way to configurate NextDNS so it doesn’t block those sponsored sites?

Furthermore, what are the consequences of using a VPN and DNS on a router AND your phone (different locations, etc)?

I was gonna make this exact same post, only in a couple of months lol. Can vouch for MullvadVPN being good. My favourite music players are Gramophone and Metro. I haven’t managed to figure out how to use KeePassDX, though, and how to import passwords from ProtonPass.

Is it necessary to use PiHole if I already use NextDNS? Do I need PiHole to configurate NextDNS if I want all the ads gone on each device connected to the Wi-Fi?

Solid advice. I already know what brand is good in my area (Bahnhof), and I’ve enjoyed using Mullvad and NextDNS, so I already know what VPN and DNS I’m comfortable with.

I’ve always been a bit confused about the exact purpose of PiHole, what it is and such, but I’ll have to read up on it and see if it fits my needs.

? I’m a European Pixel user.

Is ProtonPass okay?

I’m glad there are other GOS users out there with only one profile and Play services. I tried out multiple profiles, and even though there might be benefits to it, it was just too inconvenient and inefficient for me. Hopefully Google doesn’t steal all my device contents though lolz

Yup. Bought a secondhand 7a for ~$250. Maybe I should have looked for an 8, but honestly I don’t think the 7a is too bad all considered.

Thanks for the answer. My sensor permission is on for all apps, naturally, but I wasn’t sure if this was safe or privacy-invasive, so your comment definitely helped clear things up! Do you think it’s a good idea to leave the permission on for all apps?

Maybe a stupid question, but what is the difference between sensors and location permission?

Excuse my ignorance, but why not use your own G account?

Thank you for sharing this. Honestly, right now, I simply don’t feel a need to use profiles for my apps. I understand some people claim I probably should considering I use both FOSS and Google apps, but I’m just getting started with this whole privacy thing and I don’t feel like rushing. Using only one profile probably isn’t the absolute worst thing you could do, eh?

the privacy benefits of Graphene OS are ESPECIALLY impactful if you’re using invasive apps. The whole point of setting up all of the extra sandboxing, storage limits, network restrictions, yadda yadda yadda, is specifically for people who might need or want to still leverage some apps from bigger, less trusted providers.

Honestly, this resonated with me very well. This excerpt alone motivates me to keep using and committing to GOS because it just makes sense. Now, I don’t know the technical aspects of these kinds of things, but I imagine using Facebook Messenger on GOS is preferable to using it on a regular iPhone. Perhaps. Meh, whatever, I like the feel of GOS and its community, so I suppose it doesn’t matter that much.

I have heard Aurora is more insecure and you can risk getting your Google account blacklisted or banned using it. Do you have any experience with this or know how common it is?

Do you know if it’s safe to download banking apps from third party stores (in this case Aurora)?

I’m more curious about the privacy aspect of using Aurora over Play, especially considering since I will be logged into my G account.

What is the main difference between using Play Store and Aurora store (logged in with your Google account)?