DivestOS

DivestOS is an operating system based on the Android mobile platform. It is a soft fork of LineageOS that aims to increase security and privacy with support for end-of-life devices. As much as possible, it removes unnecessary proprietary Android components and includes only free-software.

DivestOS builds are signed with release-keys so bootloaders may be re-locked on many devices. An automated CVE patcher is used to patch the kernels against many known vulnerabilities.

DivestOS includes few default applications. F-Droid is included with options for selecting several custom F-Droid repositories as well. DivestOS supports using Orbot and Tor Browser as privacy-enhancing features.

History
The DivestOS project began in 2014, with the first properly signed builds being released in 2015.

The project is the work of one primary developer with contributions from numerous other developers.

Public release of DivestOS was announced on F-Droid forums in June 2020.

Supported devices
DivestOS primarily supports devices that have been supported by LineageOS.

History
In February 2022, TechTracker.in said DivestOS is one of few custom ROMs focusing on security and privacy, with monthly and incremental updates.

GNU/Linux.ch Linux and Freie Software News called DivestOS "relatively new and ambitious" and said it supports many devices, both newer and older.

DevsJournal called DivestOS 18.1 one of the best custom ROMs for the One Plus One phone.

DivestOS' Hypatia malware scanner for Android, and how to use their F-Droid repository, was reviewed by Gadget Hacks in March 2021. In November 2021, the Kuketz Security blog said Hypatia was the only malware scanner without tracking libraries of several they reviewed, but said its functionality was limited.

In March 2023, the 2022 Free Software Foundation Award for Outstanding New Free Software Contributor went to Tad (SkewedZeppelin), chief developer of the DivestOS project.

In a review in June 2023, the Kuketz Security blog said DivestOS "is so far the only custom ROM that has managed to fully document all network connections – at this point they deserve a lot of praise for it", and DivestOS "leaves an extremely privacy-friendly impression." He stated "DivestOS does not support Google Play Services," which must be taken into account, and the project is a "One-man army". He concluded DivestOS is not only for users with older devices, but also "those who value privacy and security (assuming they have an up-to-date device)".