Scenario in short:
I’m trying to install LineageOS onto a spare phone that I have (redmi note 8T) Hoping to get a daily driver out of it. The installation process requires me to install Android11 to install lineage on top of /over that. Which afaik isn’t directly available outside of some websites that I’ve never heard of.
For safety’s sake: would the install of lineage wipe the install of Android11? Or could there still remain backdoors?
Lineage doesn’t archive old versions of theur downloads, unfortunately.
The only risk I see is where you’re getting Lineage from. Are they a reputable source?
Even then, how likely is it that an old version of Lineage, for an out of production phone, is a target for malware? Possible, sure. Likely? Seems like a lot of effort for a very small surface.