this post was submitted on 12 Nov 2023
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I guess there is no need to introduce what a Degoogled phone is (or a custom ROM without google services, like GrapheneOS is) and the Aurora Store is basically said in a crude way the Google Playstore but without the need to log in to your Google account, quite useful in my opinion.

At first, what really concerns me is to run the risk of violating Google's TOS by logging in with my Google account on the Aurora Store to access my purchased apps, but at the same time I think, since Android is Google's operating system, can't they also retaliate against people using a modified version of their OS? And I know that sounds especially stupid when your phone is your phone and not Google's, but we all know how companies like Google work.

I don't use Google services on my device, but I do use it as a secondary email that I don't want to lose, hence the question, I know I can create another email but I don't want to have so many email accounts.

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[–] [email protected] 31 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Nobody will be able to give you a definitive answer. Google's ways are unknowable. You are running the risk of losing your Google account by having a Google account.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago

Everyone calls you crazy for de-googling until they move and Google decides it doesn't like their new wifi and locks them out forever. 🀷

[–] [email protected] 21 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The question is not what Google does now but what it will do in 1month, 1quarter, 1year.

It has been years that more and more petty measures have been taken.

FWIW I would make a spare account

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

I sincerely consider that it would be permanent and without notice, because again, that's Google and that's how companies like Google work.

I will definitely get a spare account, thanks.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago

I have been using my google account with Aurora store for couple of years now. I also use degoogled phone (lineageos) with no problem

do with this information what u wish

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago

I'm running GrapheneOS and if Google locks me out of my device, which I bought from them, they're going to buy me a new apartment :P

Jokes aside, anyone running grapheneOS that gets their Google account banned should DM me. That's solid grounds for a lawsuit.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Realistically I've never been banned, rate-limited or affected when using Aurora. I would recommend at least using microG installation as well though. I suspect that phones that look most suspicious would be ones that never formally "logged into" Google Play Services normally as well, so make sure you've logged into your chosen Google account once with the phone in it's stock full OEM Google Play Services configuration.

Critically, Do Not Use the "Built in Anonymous Accounts" In Aurora! That's just painting a target on your backside and would probably make your device look even more suspicious to whatever AI is swinging the banhammer these days.

Setting up a fresh, new, Google account is critical. Then go about "hardening" the account by setting up TOTP 2FA and disabling all the unwanted tracking options in your Google Account page. You can even generate "app passwords" here that can work for logging into Aurora.

My advice to you is to use this one new Google account across any Google Services you need to log into. Do not just log into microG and Aurora with your new account! Throw it a bone and log into a Youtube page or some other Google Service like GMail every once in a while, even if you do so from the phone's browser only.

The more suspicious and single purpose the account appears to be; the less it blends in and could potentially be suspended by some wayward AI.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

Critically, Do Not Use the β€œBuilt in Anonymous Accounts” In Aurora! That’s just painting a target on your backside and would probably make your device look even more suspicious to whatever AI is swinging the banhammer these days.

But this is the whole thing about the anonymous accounts. What thing of yours are they going to ban? They don't even know you. There is nothing they can ban.

I'm sure they will ban the anonymous accounts often but the Aurora guys just keep adding more to the pool.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That's an interesting point of view and I will take it into account, but why not use my new Google account in Aurora?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I'm mentioning that it's a bad idea to Only use that account for Aurora Store and microG services.

You need to log it into a few other apps on the web too. This gives the account more "livelihood". Of course nothing you use the account for should be anything you care about; you just need to occasionally log into it through a browser and browse YouTube while pretending to be someone entirely different from yourself for a bit and check emails or compose a Google Doc, full of nonsense of course, for it.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

They will blacklist your device.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Google has made AOSP for years and never banned anyone for using it. They encourage you to tinker with the OS.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Have you looked at AOSP recently? Its mostly dead as basically all the core apps have been replaced with proprietary ones

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Yes but only if you use their Gapps packages unmodified or don't use their services at all. They don't look as kindly when it comes to microG and Aurora, or even ReVanced, and they still fight to make sure Google Pay doesn't work through SafetyNet and Play Integrity, and you'll only know at checkout too.

People have been banned for using Aurora. You can mess with the OS but they don't want you to mess with their apps and especially not if it affects how much money they make off you.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Like other comments suggested, don't take the risk, create a separate account.

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

Apparently people said that the Aurora Store accounts had been deleted so use an alt if possible

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 8 months ago)
[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Aurora yes, although unlikely, GrapheneOS no, because you're logging into the actual play store, not a 3rd party ripoff. Either way, whatever Google acct you're using for that shouldn't matter because it's not a "real" one, so being banned shouldn't be a concern regardless of how likely/unlikely it is.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Yeah, don't do this. People have had their Google accounts banned already for logging in, and I'm certain you don't want to be another one.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Regarding email you can use k9 email and set it up with your Gmail.

[–] [email protected] -2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Believe me, I also say Fuck Google, and I don't want to get into it but there are certain apps that I download from unofficial sources (πŸ΄β€β˜ οΈ) and I really like them and consider that they deserve my money, and the only way I have is to pay for them in the Google Playstore.

[–] [email protected] -3 points 1 year ago

just backup your account