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If you are using Grindr on Android, install and use NetGuard.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.faircode.ne...

https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard

NetGuard is an open source local VPN that allows you to block DNS lookups to prevent calls to 3rd parties, and it does not require root access.

Calls to all of the 3rd parties mentioned are blockable. Grindr does not need many domains to be operational to work, just their own domains (.grindr.com on 443, grindr.mobi on 443) and a couple of Google static domains like csi.gstatic.com on 443 .

Of course this does not prevent Grindr from rolling up the data and sharing that with 3rd parties, but the linked analysis suggests that this is all via the app making calls rather than the company selling it in bulk.



AFWall is a pretty user-friendly and configurable firewall. Let's you easily block apps from accessing the web.

https://github.com/ukanth/afwall


AFWall requires root, while NetGuard doesn't. Important distinction now that rooting affects ability to use features like Google Pay, Netflix (offline download), etc.


Rooted phone, no google services, and netflix downloads are just fine.


SafetyNet is a cat and mouse game. A lot of people don't have the patience for it.


I've been running Magisk since maybe August or September last year and I have not had a single issue with safetynet.

I have netflix installed (after rooting) without issue, and I use Android/Google pay practically every day along with another app that requires safetyNet without any issue at all.


I've never had a problem over months of using Magisk.


systemless root (su is in the bootloader), like supersu or magisk.


No android pay either.


I am a huge AFWall fan but this is not helping in this case. Grindr users want it to access the internet for matches. AFWall can not block hosts selectively.


I use dns66, how does this compare to netguard?

https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.jak_linux.dns66/


I've found Blokada to be much more configurable. Just switched from DNS66 to blokada today.

https://blokada.org/index.html

https://f-droid.org/packages/org.blokada.alarm/


I'll try it thanks for the links


A slightly off-topic related question.....does anyone know of an Android app that does not require root, that can find and kill (preferably configurable so it happens on boot) apps that run in the background?

For example, AirDroid - it is very useful occasionally but I don't use it 99% of the time, but it is still there running and killing my battery life. Perhaps I can better configure it, but that's not the point - I'd love to have a solution that puts me as the device owner back in control, I'd like to see what's running, I'd like to auto-kill things I don't want.


I think that's the purpose of Greenify.


Realistically, if they don't care about users data, what hinders them from collecting data on .grindr.com and grindr.mobi and sharing with third-parties?


Man, those features should be part of a system app in the stock Android ROMs. Privacy tools need more public exposure.




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