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Popular Google Play store apps are abusing permissions and committing ad fraud

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Re: Popular Google Play store apps are abusing permissions and committing ad fraud

#71
post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Its too bad its still flakey at updating apps. I've been using it for a few apps for many years, and I'd say easily half of app updates simply fail for non-obvious reasons. Its been this way across multiple devices and countless versions of Android, so I'm left to believe the problem is with F-droid itself.

I also heavily heavily hate the idea that they sign everything, the app stores must not be trusted. They should only be signing over packages already reproducibly compiled.

Why? Isn't that how signatures of any Linux distro work too? The packager signs the package not the developer.

Re: Popular Google Play store apps are abusing permissions and committing ad fraud

#72
post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Web apps can't use GPS like an app can

Im generally not a fan of web apps but this is incorrect. https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/Geolocation

can't see anywhere mentioned geofencing.

Re: Popular Google Play store apps are abusing permissions and committing ad fraud

#73

It's not just ad fraud, they've been copying information like whatsapp phone number, reddit username, telegram username etc. https://www.reddit.com/r/miband/comments/8eqtve/why_did_mifi...

As far as I know (and can find online) DU group and Xiaomi are unrelated. However, this is a really interesting discovery in it's own right. I am a Xiaomi phone owner and have the App MiFit. Would it be possible for me to reproduce what you have found? and if so, how can I do so?

https://www.reddit.com/r/miband/comments/8eqtve/comment/dxxj...

Re: Popular Google Play store apps are abusing permissions and committing ad fraud

#74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Im generally not a fan of web apps but this is incorrect. https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/Geolocation

can't see anywhere mentioned geofencing.

That also applies to the comment I replied to.

Re: Popular Google Play store apps are abusing permissions and committing ad fraud

#75
To consider the versions of Chinese apps uploaded to Play is already much cleaner and toned-down than their China versions.

DU Group is an affiliate of Baidu, which has been using ads like "Click a button to boost your signal 5X stronger" to harvest users. It's common and unfettered in China, since they are all watchdogs of the party.

Re: Popular Google Play store apps are abusing permissions and committing ad fraud

#76
> Ad fraud is simply the norm in China

Why is that? I can't even imagine what's going on at the meetings leading up to implementing ad fraud in what I presume is a normal company otherwise and not a bunch of gangsters. Is it morally OK to do this in China for some reason?

Re: Popular Google Play store apps are abusing permissions and committing ad fraud

#77

the locked in store model has completely failed. both for ios and android it is a terrible experience compared to PC. you are stuck with only the search tools the hardware maker gives you, often designed in a user hostile way (ios brings up ads) and no way to bail out to a different store. as well the monoculture leads to a race to the bottom with garbage programs shoving their way to the top via misleading a dishone…

> compared to PC

How is Steam or Windows Store any different? How do you install apps/games on PC?

Re: Popular Google Play store apps are abusing permissions and committing ad fraud

#78
Has anyone ever gone to jail for this? Oh, you committed massive fraud and stole millions of dollars? We’re just going to tell you not to do that anymore... in what world would they NOT incessantly scam the system with these completely asymmetric incentives?

Re: Popular Google Play store apps are abusing permissions and committing ad fraud

#79
post #51
post #2

> As noted earlier in this thread, I didn't go looking for Chinese developers for this story. But if you go hunting for permissions-abusing apps, this is where you might end up. … https://twitter.com/CraigSilverman/status/111862075124903936...

Cheaper labor, I suppose. I bet Eastern Europe is also represented.

Are chinese really cheap labor though? Their tech companies are quickly eclipsing that of western companies.

I don't think it's fair to say it's just a cheap labor thing.

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