Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Pixel Security

security.googleblog.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 152 posts

Re: Pixel Security

#21

Post by indiv0 »

Klathmon wrote: post #16
jc4p wrote: post #13

Just FYI in case anyone is considering buying a Pixel: I strongly urge you not to. http://kasrarahjerdi.com/2016/11/dont-buy-anything-made-by-g... They have no Google provided support, if you drop the phone and break it your only option (if you didn't buy the third-party warranty upsell) is to take it to a repair shop. I called the ones near me, none had seen or touched the device before. Don't spend $800 on a phone…

Is that a common thing? Being able to send your device back to the manufacturer for user inflicted issues for repair? I can't say I've ever done that with any product ever...

In the article, the author says that other companies (Samsung, Apple) do support that, but for a fee. It seems reasonable to expect Google to also provide that service.

Re: Pixel Security

#22

Post by unknownsavage »

jc4p wrote: post #13

Just FYI in case anyone is considering buying a Pixel: I strongly urge you not to. http://kasrarahjerdi.com/2016/11/dont-buy-anything-made-by-g... They have no Google provided support, if you drop the phone and break it your only option (if you didn't buy the third-party warranty upsell) is to take it to a repair shop. I called the ones near me, none had seen or touched the device before. Don't spend $800 on a phone…

It's funny, I'm this exact same boat. My pixel died a little after two week (which is the requirement to get a return). I filled out their warranty claim thing, and >48 hours finally got a response, which is a trouble shooting guide. I replied that I tried all that stuff, and had to wait another 2 days for another response (asking for information I already gave).

I'm extremely disappointed. I thought with their whole advertising of "24 hour support" they identified customer support as a weakness of theirs, and are trying to remedy it. Nope.

BTW in your case, you can probably just buy a new screen: http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/google-ubreakifix-pixel/

Re: Pixel Security

#23

Post by jc4p »

mrbill wrote: post #18
jc4p wrote: post #13

Just FYI in case anyone is considering buying a Pixel: I strongly urge you not to. http://kasrarahjerdi.com/2016/11/dont-buy-anything-made-by-g... They have no Google provided support, if you drop the phone and break it your only option (if you didn't buy the third-party warranty upsell) is to take it to a repair shop. I called the ones near me, none had seen or touched the device before. Don't spend $800 on a phone…

I don't know of any phone vendor that offers a warranty against accidental damage (that doesn't cost extra). By the way: "Google and uBreakiFix offer walk-in repairs for Pixel and Pixel XL" http://www.androidauthority.com/google-ubreakifix-repairs-pi...

I called the uBreakiFix in Denver: "we've never seen that phone before, but yeah I think I could fix it".

I'm not upset that they don't have an accidental damage warranty, I'm upset that I can't send it to them and pay them the $100/$200/$300 or whatever it is directly for _them_ to fix it, not some random dude who's never seen the Pixel before.

Re: Pixel Security

#24

Post by Klathmon »

tdkl wrote: post #14

Google security is so strong, they'll even lock you out of your own account when changing cities, with no chance to get it reinstated : https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/5dif8j/psa_google_...

Somehow I feel we aren't getting the whole story there...

Why would they ask for identification then close it after he provides correct identification?

Re: Pixel Security

#25

Post by Klathmon »

jwtadvice wrote: post #20

Given recent news about mass surveillance, it's important to note that Pixel's security model does not and can not seek to protect your data for use for private messaging, conversation with attorneys, for journalists, or to organize for political reasons. If you are interested in a communications device that can be used for any of these things, Pixel's security model will not cover you and you will need to look for a…

Why are you posting a very similar comment multiple times?

Re: Pixel Security

#26

Post by davemel37 »

tdkl wrote: post #14

Google security is so strong, they'll even lock you out of your own account when changing cities, with no chance to get it reinstated : https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/5dif8j/psa_google_...

http://www.slashgear.com/pixel-phone-flipping-scheme-googles...

Looks like Google is reinstating accounts.

Re: Pixel Security

#27

Post by jwtadvice »

Klathmon wrote: post #25
jwtadvice wrote: post #20

Given recent news about mass surveillance, it's important to note that Pixel's security model does not and can not seek to protect your data for use for private messaging, conversation with attorneys, for journalists, or to organize for political reasons. If you are interested in a communications device that can be used for any of these things, Pixel's security model will not cover you and you will need to look for a…

Why are you posting a very similar comment multiple times?

The two comments have significantly different content.

For those curious here is the other comment in question: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12982502

Re: Pixel Security

#28

Post by Klathmon »

indiv0 wrote: post #21
Klathmon wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is that a common thing? Being able to send your device back to the manufacturer for user inflicted issues for repair? I can't say I've ever done that with any product ever...

In the article, the author says that other companies (Samsung, Apple) do support that, but for a fee. It seems reasonable to expect Google to also provide that service.

I guess Apple is one example I've used before, so I take back my previous statement there.

Still, I feel like that's a silly reason to advise people never buy the phone. Especially when they do provide an "insurance" policy with a "blessed 3rd party".

Re: Pixel Security

#29

Post by jonathankoren »

tree_of_item wrote: post #11
jwtadvice wrote: post #4

Pixel/Google does not motivate a threat model under which to evaluate or understand their design and marketing promises, but we can take a hint from "protects your data if your phone falls into someone else's hands." - Namely thefts of opportunity. Unlike other phone manufacturers, Google does not promise potential customers that your data will be protected from Google, it's partners and from law enforcement and mass…

How would Google protect its customers from law enforcement and mass surveillance programs? The government can just force them to do whatever and issue a gag order to keep them quiet. Apple is just putting on a show with their tough security rhetoric, they can't resist the US government if they really want some data.

Apple is doing more than putting on a show. They've actively trying to build ML products that don't involve sending everything back to the mothership ala Google, FB, etc., but rather store and execute on the local device. (The efficacy and user experience of these products remains to be determined.)

From a security standpoint, Apple wouldn't have anything to turn over, because they never had it to begin with. Google et al, hoover up everything the least bit interesting.

Re: Pixel Security

#30

Post by setq »

jc4p wrote: post #13

Just FYI in case anyone is considering buying a Pixel: I strongly urge you not to. http://kasrarahjerdi.com/2016/11/dont-buy-anything-made-by-g... They have no Google provided support, if you drop the phone and break it your only option (if you didn't buy the third-party warranty upsell) is to take it to a repair shop. I called the ones near me, none had seen or touched the device before. Don't spend $800 on a phone…

Definitely!

I was burned by this and Motorola before as well here in the UK. The official repairers are just about as awful as you can get. Half the screen stopped working after a month. The official repairer cocked up the handset further and claimed water damage and sent me an invoice for £138 (handset price was £159 new) holding the handset to ransom. This was when Google/Motorola were the same company in theory.

A letter was sent back suggesting that they can insert the invoice in a body orifice of their choice and send it back now or it'd be small claims court. It arrived 5 days later by courier. Proximity sensor was dicky, so it went back again. That took a month.

Paying for an Apple product is almost worth it for the service. I prefer to go without either though.

Post reply on HN