I am on GrapheneOS, but this concerns Android as a whole. From the options of Fdroid and GitHub (Obtainium) which is the safest way to install an app?

From the GrapheneOS forums, I see many people recommending GitHub over Fdroid as it is straight from the source. I know its true, but if a developer adds a ‘not-so-safe’ piece of code or introduces tracking, Obtainium would automatically update my app without letting me know about the changes. But from what I have seen from Fdroid they usually pause or cancel the update or app if these changes were to take place (Example, Simple Gallery or Mull for Android).

So I am confused. Whom should I trust more, Fdroid with their own app builds or the Developers on GitHub?

Also I have seen that Obtainium when used with a VPN to fetch app updates, will get rate limited by GitHub. Also I don’t really like GitHub as a code repository, with their tracking and rate limiting. I don’t know if Fdroid tracks user.

  • artyom@piefed.socialEnglish
    1·
    2 days ago

    It doesn’t have to be, but it should be.

    I can trust an app to provide the needed functions, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t also perform other functions that I don’t need or want, and may potentially be malicious. And that can be literally any app that you haven’t personally reviewed the code and compiled.