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xiaomi and the privacy and security debate, a brand to trust? (linux.community)

submitted 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

15 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I've received a xiaomi phone as a present, a 2022 redmi 10c 220333QNY, but I've read in several sources that this is a brand that systematically eavesdrops everything the user does. There's also the fear they pass this information to the CCP, which, if you are a Taiwanese, Tibetan, Uighur or Hongkong democracy activist or a foreigner promoting multiparty democracy in China might be used to spy on you and incarcerate you.

Other brands, western if you want to call them that, might do the same, I don't know. That's why I ask these questions:

Are all phone brands the same, meaning they all eavesdrop on me and no matter what brand I use some personal information will end up in their servers?
If all brands are equally bad, what can a quite ignorant end user like me do to minimize the information transmitted to the manufacturer? I cannot even root this device and last time I tried getting rid of another phone's bloatware I bricked the device.
If some brands are better privacy wise, which ones?
Am I protecting my privacy if I don't use any default application and disregard any ad to use products from google and use exclusively f-droid?

I don't mind voiding the warranty and I wouldn't mind installing a FOSS OS on this redmi model, as I won't bank or pay taxes using this device, but I don't find anything that works. Suggestions welcomed.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago

I have been using Xiaomi Redmi Notes since version 7, currently I have version 13. Hardware is solid, fast, dependable and flexible. It comes with some bloatware but the new HyperOS is actually very open to turning off all possible privacy / tracking apps.

I rooted some of my previous phones but haven't the new one. For the price point, imo is the best option.

Make sure to check the supported bands of the device against your carrier 5G/4G bands or the phone has a hard time connecting.

If you are planning on rooting, set a Xiaomi account right away as it takes time to get unlocking code.