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Google knows where we are, and so do advertisers

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Re: Google knows where we are, and so do advertisers

#191

Post by GordonS »

tabs_masterrace wrote: post #57

The number of government requests for user information is actually scary: https://transparencyreport.google.com/user-data/overview So Google handed over info on 175k accounts in the last half of 2019 alone? It seems it's becoming common practice to routinely pull citizens data, without much of a warrant and without the target's knowledge. There used to be a thing called secrecy of correspondence, preventing governmen…

Wow, holy hell, that's orders of magnitude higher than I would have guessed even pessimistically!

Re: Google knows where we are, and so do advertisers

#192

Post by croh »

Mediterraneo10 wrote: post #18

One of the most disappointing changes in Android recently is that any network-assisted geolocation plugins must now be installed as a system app, not a user app. That means that even if you use LineageOS where most Google stuff has been stripped out, getting a GPS fix through network assistance still sends data to Google servers. Only a tiny minority of users are comfortable working with the command line and will ins…

Another worst thing about android is giving carte blanche to apps for accessing messages. Most of apps these days use OTP to validate phone number. To read OTP message automatically, they ask permission to access text-messages. I knew few of such apps who keep polling user's text-messages to server daily without user's knowledge.

Re: Google knows where we are, and so do advertisers

#193

Post by javierseballos »

cassepipe wrote: post #69
Mediterraneo10 wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, the LineageOS devs say that their project does not aim to completely de-Google the OS, only remove Google Play Services and some Google applications like Maps. Thus, geolocation, DNS and login portal detection in LineageOS still use Google's servers.

What about /e/ ? It's been a while I haven't heard about them.

And i think its for the best. This ROM is a joke: outdated, the store is full of outdated or non-original apps. Its a lack of respect for their users to market a device as secure with an unencrypted ROM with bootloader unlocked

Re: Google knows where we are, and so do advertisers

#194

Post by gundmc »

tabs_masterrace wrote: post #57

The number of government requests for user information is actually scary: https://transparencyreport.google.com/user-data/overview So Google handed over info on 175k accounts in the last half of 2019 alone? It seems it's becoming common practice to routinely pull citizens data, without much of a warrant and without the target's knowledge. There used to be a thing called secrecy of correspondence, preventing governmen…

"Without much of a warrant" doesn't make sense as a phrase. Either you have a warrant or you don't. You can take issue with the grounds for a warrant or the breadth, but that's up to a judge to determine. There's no sliding scale. It's binary - there is or is or not a warrant.

Re: Google knows where we are, and so do advertisers

#195

Post by bassman9000 »

raxxorrax wrote: post #39
Mediterraneo10 wrote: post #18

One of the most disappointing changes in Android recently is that any network-assisted geolocation plugins must now be installed as a system app, not a user app. That means that even if you use LineageOS where most Google stuff has been stripped out, getting a GPS fix through network assistance still sends data to Google servers. Only a tiny minority of users are comfortable working with the command line and will ins…

I always deactivate geolocation and I assume and hope it doesn't phone home to Google in that case. I still deactivate network if I don't need it. Android devices cannot really be trusted and it seems to be getting worse. Of course I am not using contact tracing either in this case, but I certainly won't allow Google to trace my location.

I assume and hope

It's sad we got the the point the customers are afraid their devices are selling them this badly, because you can't even tell if your settings have the effect you think they should have.

Re: Google knows where we are, and so do advertisers

#196

Post by jmnicolas »

bassman9000 wrote: post #195
raxxorrax wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I always deactivate geolocation and I assume and hope it doesn't phone home to Google in that case. I still deactivate network if I don't need it. Android devices cannot really be trusted and it seems to be getting worse. Of course I am not using contact tracing either in this case, but I certainly won't allow Google to trace my location.

I assume and hope It's sad we got the the point the customers are afraid their devices are selling them this badly, because you can't even tell if your settings have the effect you think they should have.

I installed GrapheneOS a few weeks ago. The first thing I said to someone that asked about it is "for the first time my phone isn't my enemy".

OK the second thing was "but I can't do almost anything with it :D "

Re: Google knows where we are, and so do advertisers

#197

Post by jmnicolas »

izacus wrote: post #55
Mediterraneo10 wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, the LineageOS devs say that their project does not aim to completely de-Google the OS, only remove Google Play Services and some Google applications like Maps. Thus, geolocation, DNS and login portal detection in LineageOS still use Google's servers.

Ugh, that's very disappointing then, I've always advised Lineage to people who wanted to deGoogle their phones :/

There's GrapheneOS if you have a Pixel 2+ or /e/ os for other phones.

Re: Google knows where we are, and so do advertisers

#198

Post by jmnicolas »

xwolfi wrote: post #131
Mediterraneo10 wrote: post #18

One of the most disappointing changes in Android recently is that any network-assisted geolocation plugins must now be installed as a system app, not a user app. That means that even if you use LineageOS where most Google stuff has been stripped out, getting a GPS fix through network assistance still sends data to Google servers. Only a tiny minority of users are comfortable working with the command line and will ins…

I have a Huawei without Google, and I can do geolocation, maybe you could try that too ? If you use google for search and huawei for map, they can't cross reference to each other since they're forbidden to talk to each others. I actually feel so much better without all the google stuff, weird no?

I would be astonished if Huawei didn't have any spywares on their phones! Unless they fear the level of scrutiny they'll receive by the West.

And even if the OS isn't spying, the apps you install can spy, albeit less effectively.

Re: Google knows where we are, and so do advertisers

#199

Post by jmnicolas »

srtjstjsj wrote: post #107
aboringusername wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't actually consider that a problem, in fact, it's a feature and not a bug. You should assume your every interaction within the world is logged, your every tap, click, spoken and unspoken words. And act in accordance, there can a camera watching you, or a mic picking up your bigoted rant. You can (I love miley cyrus) add fake data to your posts, misdirect AI tools, and throw them off the scent if you wish. You g…

> add fake data to your posts, misdirect AI tools This wastes your time and provides no value. Your fake data is insignificant noise compared to your real data signal.

Yes it's all about the metadata. And let's not forget:

> We Kill People Based On Metadata (Michael Hayden former NSA boss)

Re: Google knows where we are, and so do advertisers

#200

Post by bassman9000 »

jmnicolas wrote: post #196
bassman9000 wrote: post #195

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I assume and hope It's sad we got the the point the customers are afraid their devices are selling them this badly, because you can't even tell if your settings have the effect you think they should have.

I installed GrapheneOS a few weeks ago. The first thing I said to someone that asked about it is "for the first time my phone isn't my enemy". OK the second thing was "but I can't do almost anything with it :D "

Many people would be fine with the trade-off _if they knew they have to/they could take it_.

Google and the likes have made it very difficult for you to be even aware that was an option.

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