Activist essentials

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

Following: Vanadium, Sentry, Duress,

Li
LinuxDogeList by LinuxDoge, last updated 2022-11-27
  1. KeePassium icon
     Like this app

    Keepass App for iOS (only standard 3 supported!)

    • ...
    KeePassium screenshot 1
    KeePassium screenshot 2
    KeePassium screenshot 3
  2. MacPass icon
     Like this app

    Native Keepass App for MacOS

    • ...
    MacPass screenshot 1
  3. 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, ...)

  4. Tails icon
     Like this app

    Number 1, excellent privacy, security, anonymity

    • Linux Distro
    • FreeOpen Source
    • Linux
    • Electrum
    • Tor Browser
    • GNOME
    • Tor
    • VeraCrypt
    • Thunderbird
    • ...
    Tails screenshot 1
  5. Qubes OS icon
     Like this app

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

    • ...
    Qubes OS screenshot 1
  6. Whonix icon
     Like this app

    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.

    • ...
    Whonix Desktop Environment
  7. Fedora icon
     Like this app

    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,

    • ...
    Fedora 38
  8. Kubuntu icon
     Like this app

    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

    • ...
    Kubuntu 19.10 "Eoan Ermine"
  9. 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.

  10. GrapheneOS icon
     Like this app

    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

    • ...
    GrapheneOS screenshot 1
  11. CalyxOS icon
     Like this app

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

    • ...
    Encrypted communications
    Tor Browser installed
    Download apps from F-Droid and Aurora Store
  12. DivestOS icon
     Like this app

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

    • Mobile OS
    • FreeOpen Source
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • ...
    DivestOS screenshot 1
  13. LineageOS icon
     Like this app

    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.

    • Mobile OS
    • FreeOpen Source
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • ...
    Homescreen
    Notification Shade
    Settings
  14. Resurrection Remix OS icon
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    Another Android variant.

    • ...
    Personalizations

So much to customize! Don't get lost in the plethora of options
    Advanced Quick Settings

Quick settings toggles made even more quicker and useful
    Gesture Controls

Experience your device in a new way with custom gesture controls
  15. 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)

  16. Proton Mail icon
     Like this app

    .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.

    • WebMail Provider
    • FreemiumOpen Source
    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Tor
    • ...
    Proton Mail screenshot 1
  17. Mailbox.org icon
     Like this app

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

    • ...
    Dashboard online office. Powered by Open-Xchange
  18. Riseup icon
     Like this app

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

    • ...
    Riseup screenshot 1
  19. CryptPad icon
     Like this app

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

    • Word Processor
    • FreemiumOpen Source
    • Self-Hosted
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • ...
    Instance homepage
  20. Nextcloud icon
     Like this app

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

    • Cloud Storage Service
    • FreeOpen Source
    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • F-Droid
    • Cloudron
    • ...
    Simple and powerful file sync & share
  21. Jitsi Meet icon
     Like this app

    Another encrypted Videochat

    • Video Calling App
    • FreeOpen Source
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Apple Watch
    • F-Droid
    • ...
    Jitsi Meet screenshot 1
  22. BigBlueButton icon
     Like this app

    Encrypted Videochat

    • Web Conferencing Tool
    • FreeOpen Source
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • Chrome OS
    • Self-Hosted
    • Google Chrome
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • Chromium
    • Mozilla Firefox
    • ...
    Webcam
  23. Basics (Android)

  24. Droid-ify icon
     Like this app

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

    • App Store
    • FreeOpen Source
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • F-Droid
    • ...
    Droid-ify screenshot 1
    Droid-ify screenshot 2
    Droid-ify screenshot 3
  25. FlorisBoard icon
     Like this app

    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.

    • ...
    FlorisBoard screenshot 1
    FlorisBoard screenshot 2
    FlorisBoard screenshot 3
  26. MullvadDNS icon
     Like this app

    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.

    • ...
  27. Open Camera icon
     Like this app

    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.

    • Camera App
    • FreeOpen Source
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • F-Droid
    • ...
    Open Camera screenshot 1
  28. 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.

  29. LibreWolf icon
     Like this app

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

    • Web Browser
    • FreeOpen Source
    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • AppImageHub
    • Linux Mint
    • Arch Linux
    • Gentoo
    • Flathub
    • Fedora
    • Ubuntu
    • Debian
    • OpenBSD
    • ...
    Homeage
  30. Mozilla Firefox icon
     Like this app

    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.

    • Web Browser
    • FreeOpen Source
    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • BSD
    • iPad
    • AppImageHub
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Haiku
    • Flatpak
    • Homebrew
    • Chocolatey
    • Gecko
    • ...
    Landing page
  31. Mull icon
     Like this app

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

    • ...
    Mull screenshot 1
  32. Tor Browser icon
     Like this app

    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!

    • Web Browser
    • FreeOpen Source
    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • OpenBSD
    • ...
    Tor Browser screenshot 1
  33. Bromite icon
     Like this app

    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.

    • Web Browser
    • FreeOpen Source
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • F-Droid
    • ...
    Bromite screenshot 1
    Bromite screenshot 2
    Bromite screenshot 3
  34. Onion Browser icon
     Like this app

    "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.

    • ...
    Onion Browser screenshot 1
    Onion Browser screenshot 2
  35. Messaging

  36. Silence IM icon
     Like this app

    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!

    • ...
    Silence IM screenshot 1
    Silence IM screenshot 2
    Silence IM screenshot 3
  37. Element icon
     Like this app

    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/

    • Instant Messenger
    • FreemiumOpen Source
    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Matrix.org
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Cloudron
    • ...
    Video calls for desktop and mobile
  38. Briar icon
     Like this app

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

    • ...
    Briar screenshot 1
    Briar screenshot 2
    Briar screenshot 3
  39. Session icon
     Like this app

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

    • ...
    Session screenshot 1
    Session screenshot 2
    Session screenshot 3
  40. K-9 Mail icon
     Like this app

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

    • Email Client
    • FreeOpen Source
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • F-Droid
    • ...
    K-9 Mail screenshot 1
  41. OpenKeychain icon
     Like this app

    Easy to use PGP app. Import your private keys, encrypt and decrypt files and more.

    • FreeOpen Source
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • K-9 Mail
    • ...
    OpenKeychain screenshot 1
    OpenKeychain screenshot 2
    OpenKeychain screenshot 3
  42. Security

  43. KeePassDX icon
     Like this app

    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!

    • ...
    KeePassDX screenshot 1
    KeePassDX screenshot 2
    KeePassDX screenshot 3
  44. DroidFS icon
     Like this app

    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.

    • FreeOpen Source
    • Android
    • F-Droid
    • ...
    DroidFS screenshot 1
    DroidFS screenshot 2
    DroidFS screenshot 3
  45. Cryptomator icon
     Like this app

    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)

    • Cloud Storage Service
    • FreemiumOpen Source
    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Homebrew
    • Chocolatey
    • ...
    Cryptomator screenshot 1
  46. Aegis Authenticator icon
     Like this app

    2FA, secured by a password, unlockable by fingerprint

    • ...
    Aegis Authenticator screenshot 1
    Aegis Authenticator screenshot 2
    Aegis Authenticator screenshot 3
  47. 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.

  48. InviZible Pro icon
     Like this app

    Like Orbot but way more complex. Allows DNSCrypt and I2P proxying too.

    • ...
    InviZible Pro screenshot 1
  49. Orbot icon
     Like this app

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

    • VPN Service
    • FreeOpen Source
    • Mac
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • ...
    Orbot screenshot 1
    Orbot screenshot 2
    Orbot screenshot 3
  50. Mullvad icon
     Like this app

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

    • VPN Service
    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • F-Droid
    • WireGuard
    • Qubes OS
    • Tor
    • OpenWrt
    • Tomato
    • IPFire
    • pfSense
    • OpenVPN
    • DD-WRT
    • ...
    Mullvad screenshot 1
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This list was created by LinuxDoge Aug 19, 2022 and was last updated Nov 27, 2022. The list has 54 apps.

You can create your own lists from our large database of apps either for your own sake or if you want to share some great apps with other people.


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