I wanted to get the community’s take on whether it’s worth using the Google Play Store instead of Aurora Store, given that Aurora Store hasn’t received an update in a year. As someone who values security and privacy, I find it unacceptable that Aurora Store hasn’t been updated for such a long time.
On the other hand, Google Play Store offers features like the app privacy report, which can help users make informed decisions about the apps they download. This feature is particularly important to me because I’m concerned about my privacy.
So my question is: do you think it’s worth using the Google Play Store despite its limitations? Or would you rather use Aurora Store, despite the fact that it hasn’t been updated in a year? I’d love to hear your thoughts and opinions on this topic. Thanks!
Usage of Aurora store is discouraged since it doesn’t support a number of security features. If you’re threat model allows the installation of Google Play, is say to go with that, or use Accrescent for better security.
I would only recommend using Google Play if you are on GrapheneOS which means that it is sandboxed. And only with an anonymous Google Account. Google can still do things like track which apps you install but the privacy implications of this are limited as far as I understand.
It is also better if you don’t install the sandboxed Google Services on your owner profile and just keep them separate if you can. In GrapheneOS you also have the option of ending a session when you are using a secondary user profile. Which will ensure nothing remains running in the background.
Sadly, my phone isn’t compatible with GrapheneOS. I have decided to use Google Play due to its better security, frequent app store updates, and the awesome data security section. I am not bashing other app store developers, as their work is impressive as is. It’s also worth noting that I haven’t left the privacy battle. I have taken mitigation steps to reduce Google Tracking such as using NextDNS to block built-in trackers, disabling all tracking on the MyActivity Page, and creating an ‘Anonymous’ Google account with little to no personal information. If there’s a new update to Aurora Store, I will consider switching to Aurora to take advantage of its features.