Developer | The Calyx Institute |
---|---|
OS family | Unix-like (Android) |
Source model | Open source with proprietary components[citation needed] |
Update method | Over-the-air (OTA), ROM flashing |
Package manager | APK-based |
Platforms | arm, arm64 |
Official website | calyxos |
CalyxOS is an operating system for smartphones based on Android with mostly free and open-source software. It is produced by the Calyx Institute as part of its mission to "defend online privacy, security and accessibility."[1]
CalyxOS preserves the Android security model, using Android's Verified Boot system of cryptographic signing of the operating system, and running with a locked bootloader,[2][3] partly thanks to an installer that guides the user through the process of unlocking and then re-locking the bootloader.[4]
The Calyx Institute annual reports[5] state CalyxOS was publicly launched during their 2018–2019 fiscal year. Inspiration included Tails and Qubes OS, and goals were said to be "completely open source", removing proprietary Google tracking, and including apps Tor, Signal and CalyxVPN for increased privacy.[6]
CalyxOS supports Pixel phones Pixel 3 and newer.[7] In April 2022, CalyxOS announced Android 12L for testing on Fairphone 4, and OnePlus 8T, 9, and 9 Pro.[8] However, in May 2022, CalyxOS announced OnePlus builds were pulled because of a bootloader "relock issue".[9] As of July 2022, according to CalyxOS the OnePlus relock issue had not been resolved.[10]
Software
name |
Feature(s) | Notes |
---|---|---|
Aurora Store | Alternative to the standard Google Play Store | Aurora Store uses the same standard catalog of apps and installs apps directly from the Google servers to phone.[11][12] CalyxOS gives Aurora Store special privileges so that app updates can be automatically installed. |
Chromium | FOSS web browser | Bromite fork, succeeded DuckDuckGo mobile browser as the default web browser in June 2022.[13] |
F-Droid | Repository of FOSS applications for the Android platform | CalyxOS gives F-Droid special privileges to streamline app updates, installs, and uninstalls.[11][14] |
MicroG | FOSS implementation of proprietary Google Play Services | Some apps dependent on Google Play Services may not work with MicroG, use of MicroG is optional.[11][15] |
Organic Maps | Navigation app with privacy | Privacy-focused navigation app for driving, hiking, and cycling. Search for locations and navigate without a cell phone signal. [16] |
Seedvault | Encrypted backup and restore application for Android | The Calyx Institute sponsored development of SeedVault [17] and an annual report states they "debuted SeedVault" during their 2019-2020 fiscal year.[18] |
Signal | Encrypted calling/messaging app | Free, privacy-focused messaging and voice talk app, preinstalled as messaging app in CalyxOS.[11][21] |
CalyxOS ships with MicroG as an open-source alternative to the Google Mobile Services, including Mozilla Location Services as an optional replacement to the location services provided by Google, but gives the user the option to disable microG and its location services.[22]
In October 2020, Moritz Tremmel reviewed CalyxOS.[23] A month later, Tremmel explained why he preferred CalyxOS over LineageOS.[24] A year later in September 2021, Tremmel further explained how CalyxOS was different from other ROMs because it did not require as much "fiddling".[25] Rahul Nambiampurath, writing for MakeUseOf in March 2021, termed CalyxOS, "[one of the] best [Android] ROMs for privacy ... offers the perfect middle ground between convenience and privacy".[26] In August 2021, Android Authority wrote CalyxOS "puts privacy and security into the hands of everyday users."[27]
In 2022, the book c't Sicher ins Netz: How to block out monitors and attackers, said "CalyxOS is one of the youngest custom ROMs, it will only celebrate its second birthday in summer 2022. With a built-in Datura firewall, VPN and Cloudflare DNS, Calyx promises more security than some other mobile systems."[28]
In 2023, CalyxOS was the one alternative phone operating system recommended by Carey Parker in the book "Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons".[29]
In a review in February 2023, the Kuketz Security blog said CalyxOS "offers a coherent overall package that should give users who want to (strongly) reduce their dependency on Google a good start" and said the integrated Datura Firewall works well. However, it criticized some previous delayed security updates and said the website does not "quite match what the present analysis revealed" regarding the information given to Google.[30]