Activist essentials

Some essential high Threatmodel privacy apps for Android, and some recommendations.

Following: Vanadium, Sentry, Duress,

Li
LinuxDogeList by LinuxDoge, last updated 
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  1. Keepass App for iOS (only standard 3 supported!)

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Mac
    KeePassium screenshot 1
    KeePassium screenshot 2
    KeePassium screenshot 3
  2. Desktop Operating systems

    The only transparent and private Operating Systems are Open source, so they are Linux, BSD, Android-based Desktops, ... not Windows or macOS, even though they say they are secure.

    High security: Tails, QubesOS + Whonix

    Normal security: Any common Linux Distribution with good Apps and some Hardening (Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian, SUSE, Manjaro, Arch, Deepin, ...)

  3. Tails icon
     Like

    Number 1, excellent privacy, security, anonymity

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Tor Browser
    • GNOME
    • Tor
    • Thunderbird
    Tails screenshot 1
    Tails screenshot 1
  4. Qubes OS icon
     Like

    Complex and very secure, based on containerizing everything to not leak any data

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Fedora
    • Xen
    Qubes OS screenshot 1
    Qubes OS screenshot 1
    Qubes OS screenshot 2
    +9
    Qubes OS screenshot 3
  5. Whonix icon
     Like

    integrated into QubesOS, can be run as a VM on other OSses too. Consists of 2 virtual machines, the Gateway, that only channels outgoing traffic to the Tor network, and the main virtual machine with all the data. They dont know anything more about each other, for security reasons.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Whonix Desktop Environment
    Whonix Workstation running on Ubuntu
    Whonix Gateway running on XFCE
  6. Fedora icon
     Like

    Lots of Variants, KDE, GNOME, Silverblue/Kionite are made for Flatpak use (Flatpaks are not yet ready to be called secure!), RockyLinux is also based on RedHatEnterprise Linux and replaces the former CentOS, which is more stable than fedora, no bugs, but older,

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Fedora 38
    Fedora screenshot 1
    Fedora screenshot 2
    +9
    XFCE spin
  7. Kubuntu icon
     Like

    KDE, LXDE, XCFE, standard GNOME desktops, then there is Linux Mint, the parent Debian, KDE Neon, Vanilla Linux and more, all Debian or even Ubuntu based

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Kubuntu 19.10 "Eoan Ermine"
    Kubuntu 20.10 "Hirsute Hippo"
  8. Android Variants

    GrapheneOS is the safest, it is optimized in many parts and the development focuses on security a lot. If you want to wipe your devices data on demand, it doesnt matter what custom OS you have, but it should be tracker-free.

    If the Bootloader is unlocked, people can wipe and reinstall your device. Shouldnt be easier to get your data though.

  9. Place 1, most secure mobile OS available

    Pro: very secure, relockable Bootloader, signed, hardened, lots of profiles, new updates (Android 13 currently)

    Con: you need to fund a tracking company (Google), no customization

    if you own a Pixel, get it! Installation is extremely easy (just 2 downloads and one klick on a script, if you dont use a Chromium-based Browser). Be careful about the security update span! https://grapheneos.org/faq#device-lifetime

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    GrapheneOS screenshot 1
    GrapheneOS screenshot 1
    GrapheneOS screenshot 2
  10. CalyxOS icon
     Like

    Place 2: Another AOSP fork, runs only on Pixel phones, less secure then GrapheneOS but more customizable. Relockable Bootloader.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Android
    Encrypted communications
    Tor Browser installed
    Download apps from F-Droid and Aurora Store
  11. DivestOS icon
     Like

    Place 3: Privacy optimized AOSP variant with relockable Bootloader and regular updates.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    DivestOS screenshot 1
  12. LineageOS icon
     Like

    Place 4: The most common custom ROM for Android, it is AOSP (Android Open Source Version) with minor additions. If you want fast network-based location, Google-services or Google-push, get "Lineage for microg".

    Dont install Google apps as system apps onto it, if you should really need them, they can be installed as normal apps from the Playstore.

    LineageOS is very customziable, but not very secure. The internet block for apps may be insecure. The Bootloader cant be locked, so anyone can wipe your device.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    Homescreen
    Notification Shade
    Settings
  13. Online Tools

    There are many tools you may use (a secure and private Browser!):

    Desktop: Librewolf, Firefox (After configuration), Brave (after Configuration), Tor-Browser

    Mobile: Mull, Bromite, Vanadium, Fennec, Tor-Browser

    iOS: Firefox, Onion-Browser (they have to use Safaris engine though)

  14. .onion adress, useful for creating a really secure (free) mail. Situated in switzerland. If you dont have to pay them, they cant know who you are.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Tor
    Proton Mail screenshot 1
    Proton Mail screenshot 1
    Proton Mail screenshot 2
    +9
    Proton Mail screenshot 3
  15. mailbox icon
     Like

    You can pay by cash, they are really focussed on privacy, transparency and security, situated in Germany though.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Online
    mailbox screenshot 1
    mailbox screenshot 1
    mailbox screenshot 2
    +3
    mailbox screenshot 3
  16. Riseup icon
     Like

    Mail provider, funded by Donations. In the USA though.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Tor
    Riseup screenshot 1
    Riseup screenshot 1
    Riseup screenshot 2
  17. CryptPad icon
     Like

    This is less convenient as Nextcloud, but you dont havr to trust the server provider

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • Self-Hosted
    • Cloudron
    Instance homepage
    Markdown slides app
    Code/Markdown app
    +7
    Whiteboard app
  18. Nextcloud icon
     Like

    If you have your own, this is a really comfortable solution. Only secure on an encrypted server with panic-mode (auto turning off)

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Snapcraft
    • F-Droid
    • Raspberry Pi
    • Cloudron
    • Docker Hub
    Simple and powerful file sync & share
    Simple upload even for people who don’t have Nextcloud
    Great Android & iOS apps to sync your files.
    +3
    Very easy theming
  19. Basics (Android)

  20. Droid-ify icon
     Like

    Way better F-Droid store. Lots of repositories preconfigured, new session installer method and fast downloads.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • F-Droid
    App-o-Rama:
Discoveries Await ??
    Fuel the Fun
Add your repo ??
    Install, Update, Manage...
All at one place!
  21. A customizable keyboard that has an integrated clipboard and the option to turn off user adaption at all. The keyboard can read everything you type, in every browser and messenger, so this is essential. Apps cant read the internal clipboard of Florisboard too, you have to activate it in the settings.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • F-Droid
    FlorisBoard screenshot 1
    FlorisBoard screenshot 2
    FlorisBoard screenshot 3
  22. Configurable through your internet settings. DONT USE GOOGLES PRECONFIGURED DNS! This is also the case on LineageOS!

    Otherwise every website you open will be processed by Google, of course this makes you transparent.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
  23. Extremely good Camera app, has a ton of features. You can configure GPS tag on images, but they still contain your device name so use it with Imagepipe / Scrambled Exif when sharing.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • F-Droid
    Open Camera screenshot 1
    Open Camera screenshot 1
    Open Camera screenshot 2
    +2
    Open Camera screenshot 3
  24. Browsers

    Firefox is the only common browser without a complete tracking company behind it. Prefer Firefox over Chromium-based ones, as Chromium breaks the liberty of the internet. In a dystopian future, if a site only works on Chromium, thats just how it is.

  25. LibreWolf icon
     Like

    If you dont know how to harden Firefox, just take Librewolf. It works normally, but all the nessecary security changes are already added.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • AppImageHub
    • Linux Mint
    • Arch Linux
    • Gentoo
    • Flathub
    • Fedora
    • Ubuntu
    • Debian
    • Homebrew
    • Chocolatey
    • OpenBSD
    Homeage
    Settings
  26. Fastest updates, and a good browser. Using the Arkenfox modifications and the Addon "NoScript", you can make it very secure. If you dont want to check changes and set settings manually, use Librewolf.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • BSD
    • iPad
    • AppImageHub
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • Samsung Galaxy Store
    • PortableApps.com
    • Haiku
    • Flatpak
    • Homebrew
    • Chocolatey
    • Gecko
    Firefox Desktop (Light Theme)
    Firefox Desktop (Dark Theme)
    Firefox iOS (Light Theme)
    +7
    Firefox iOS (Dark Theme)
  27. Mull icon
     Like

    Hardened Firefox mobile, very secure for what it can. Most private browser for mobile apart from Tor-browser, still pretty fast

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    • F-Droid
    Mull screenshot 1
  28. Desktop: Available for all Linux distributions, as a binary install and Flatpak. Integrated into Tails and Whonix.

    For Android you get it from the Guardian projects repo through Droid-ify. It is limited to what hardening you can apply to Firefox mobile, not as secure as Tor for Desktop!

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • OpenBSD
    • Tor
    Tor Browser screenshot 1
    Tor Browser 10.0.3 is now based on the new version of Firefox for Android.
    Tor browser for android alpha
  29. Bromite icon
     Like

    Based on Chromium, hardened for privacy. No addon support, no customizability, no expert configs, no custom search engines, but Tabs are isolated from each other, so it is more secure than Firefox mobile. Security vs. Privacy is the problem on Android at the moment.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • F-Droid
    Bromite screenshot 1
    Bromite screenshot 2
    Bromite screenshot 3
  30. "Tor Browser" for iOS. The only one you should use, there are a lot of duplicates! Doesnt allow video and audio because of Apple insecuritites.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • iPhone
    • iPad
    Onion Browser screenshot 1
    Onion Browser screenshot 2
  31. Messaging

  32. Send encrypted SMS like it was Signal! Only works on Android and if the partner uses the app too. A Fork of Signal, which supported that in the past. It got dropped, because SMS is not private at all, only the content is!

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Android
    Silence IM screenshot 1
    Silence IM screenshot 2
    Silence IM screenshot 3
  33. Element icon
     Like

    Very easy to use but powerful App for the Matrix protocol. Dont let it fool you, "matrix.org" is not "the Element server", there are hundreds, and you should choose one of them! https://joinmatrix.org/servers/

    Cost / License

    • Free Personal
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Matrix.org
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Cloudron
    Video calls for desktop and mobile
    Collaboration widgets
    Collaboration and screen sharing
    +1
    Connect with other apps
  34. Briar icon
     Like

    Awesome Messenger supporting Android and Linux (Flatpak). Works through Bluetooth too and has a lot of security features.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    Briar screenshot 1
    Briar screenshot 2
    Briar screenshot 3
  35. Session icon
     Like

    In theory very secure. At the moment you cant delete sent messages from the blockchain, so dont use it!

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • F-Droid
    Session screenshot 1
    Session screenshot 2
    Session screenshot 3
  36. K-9 Mail icon
     Like

    Secure easy to use mail client that can use PGP (OpenKeyChain) for encryption and signing

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • F-Droid
    K-9 Mail screenshot 1
    K-9 Mail screenshot 2
    K-9 Mail screenshot 3
  37. Easy to use PGP app. Import your private keys, encrypt and decrypt files and more.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • K-9 Mail
    OpenKeychain screenshot 1
    OpenKeychain screenshot 2
    OpenKeychain screenshot 3
  38. Security

  39. KeePassDX icon
     Like

    Keepass Password manager that even supports fingerprint and can fill out forms in most browsers. (Firefox based work). Very good interface. Allows easy strong password creation and management. You nedd a password manager!

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Android
    • F-Droid
    KeePassDX screenshot 1
    KeePassDX screenshot 2
    KeePassDX screenshot 3
  40. DroidFS icon
     Like

    Very easy creation of an AES encrypted drive, that you open with a password and store wherever you want. Has an inbuilt camera, media viewer and more. Importing files or folders automatically asks to delete them on the unencrypted storage.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Android
    • F-Droid
    DroidFS screenshot 1
    DroidFS screenshot 2
    DroidFS screenshot 3
  41. Encrypt your cloud backups. Theoretically allows usinf whatever provider you want as everything online is encrypted. Prefer an encrypted backup for double security though (like Mega)

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Homebrew
    • Chocolatey
    Cryptomator screenshot 1
    Cryptomator screenshot 1
    Cryptomator screenshot 2
  42. Anonymization

    Tools to hide you, your data, your traffic e.g. The best ones need root (or a custom Operating system) and may cause speed problems.

  43. Orbot icon
     Like

    Channel apps traffic through the Tor proxy. Doesnt have much sense if you use tracking apps like Instagram or login to accounts.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Orbot screenshot 1
    Orbot screenshot 2
    Orbot screenshot 3
  44. Mullvad icon
     Like

    Most trustworthy VPN provider with Monero ability and no email or phone number requirement.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • F-Droid
    • WireGuard
    • Tor
    • OpenWrt
    • Tomato
    • pfSense
    • DD-WRT
    Mullvad screenshot 1
    Mullvad screenshot 1
    Mullvad screenshot 2
    +10
    Mullvad screenshot 3
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