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Android launches yet another way to spy on users with “Privacy Sandbox” beta

arstechnica.com

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Re: Android launches yet another way to spy on users with “Privacy Sandbox” beta

#91

Post by jqpabc123 »

boring_twenties wrote: post #80
thedriver wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>With hardware remote attestation there will no longer be any point in even owning an android phone anyway. Android is obviously inferior to iOS in every way but the whole point was you could have control over the machine and do whatever you wanted. Now apps will be able to verify that you "tampered" with the phone and will refuse to run, and since it's hardware cryptography it cannot be faked without massive effort.…

It won't become impossible to install a custom rom, it will simply become impossible to use many if not most popular apps. Android already provides a mechanism for apps to refuse to run on modified devices, it's called SafetyNet and is widely used for example by banking apps. Currently, it's usually possible to trick it, but with hardware attestation it will become practically impossible.

Yes, some banking apps do this.

The simple solution --- install the bank's web site as an app.

Go to the site, click the browser menu button (3 dots on Android or up arrow on iOS) and select "Add to Home Screen". You now have a link icon on your phone that looks and acts just like any other app.

Some banks (Chase for example) offer a "Progress Web App" which removes the browser interface elements so the causal observer can't even tell it's not a native app.

https://www.howtogeek.com/342121/what-are-progressive-web-ap...

Re: Android launches yet another way to spy on users with “Privacy Sandbox” beta

#92

Post by 2-718-281-828 »

jqpabc123 wrote: post #26
shmapf wrote: post #23

I've been staunchly on the Android side of the Android / iOS question, but this carry-on with refusing to block tracking like Apple has done is really making me consider switching.

No need to pay double or triple for hardware. There are lots of privacy focused alternatives that are Android based. Personally, I like e/OS: https://e.foundation/ You can buy a ready to use phone on their web site or you can install the OS on a compatible phone of your own. I have installed this on about 10 phones (all Motorola) for friends and family. Here is an example of one that I just put together as a Christma…

where did this come from all of a sudden? I thought I knew all the Android alternatives. why does this super polished website for this out of nowhere suddenly maintained technology give me strong [intelligence agency of your choice] vibes?

Re: Android launches yet another way to spy on users with “Privacy Sandbox” beta

#93

Post by bacchusracine »

fsflover wrote: post #72
bacchusracine wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>on my Librem 5 Sounds interesting. Goes and looks it up. >>From: $1,999.00 You must be joking...

>>From: $1,999.00 This is the cost of Librem 5 USA (made in USA) [0], not Librem 5 (made in China) [1]. Also, I preordered it for $600 a long time ago, and sometimes you can buy from resellers for a similar price [2]. [0] https://puri.sm/products/librem-5-usa [1] https://puri.sm/products/librem-5 [2] https://forums.puri.sm/t/librem-5-for-sale-eu-630-eur/19445

>>This is the cost of Librem 5 USA (made in USA) [0], not Librem 5 (made in China)

I suppose that helps a little. I seem to have incorrectly assumed that the USA model was intended for use in the USA, not simply assembled there. Still crazy expensive. For that price I'd expect it to come with a keyboard and mouse and replace my Thinkpad altogether.

Re: Android launches yet another way to spy on users with “Privacy Sandbox” beta

#94

Post by jqpabc123 »

2-718-281-828 wrote: post #92
jqpabc123 wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No need to pay double or triple for hardware. There are lots of privacy focused alternatives that are Android based. Personally, I like e/OS: https://e.foundation/ You can buy a ready to use phone on their web site or you can install the OS on a compatible phone of your own. I have installed this on about 10 phones (all Motorola) for friends and family. Here is an example of one that I just put together as a Christma…

where did this come from all of a sudden? I thought I knew all the Android alternatives. why does this super polished website for this out of nowhere suddenly maintained technology give me strong [intelligence agency of your choice] vibes?

This has been out there for years --- since 2018.

And check your vibe meter, it is acting up. The main person behind this was the creator of Mandrake Linux.

https://itsfoss.com/e-os-review/

Re: Android launches yet another way to spy on users with “Privacy Sandbox” beta

#95

Post by ufmace »

bacchusracine wrote: post #66
fsflover wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can run Android apps with Waydroid on my Librem 5, and I also get the benefits of a full desktop OS on my phone.

>on my Librem 5 Sounds interesting. Goes and looks it up. >>From: $1,999.00 You must be joking...

Well if you really want a phone that's secure and private, prove it by paying for it. Mass production and the ability to sell your data to advertisers means the stuff that does that will always be cheaper.

Re: Android launches yet another way to spy on users with “Privacy Sandbox” beta

#96

Post by hellojesus »

Maxburn wrote: post #75
JohnFen wrote: post #68

I have a bunch of issues with the "Privacy Sandbox", but my #1 issue is that it's called "Privacy Sandbox". That term implies that a sandbox is being used to preserve your privacy, when it is, in fact, a system designed for the opposite of that.

You really have to sit back and admire the marketing team that came up with this spin.

They just copied Congress.

Re: Android launches yet another way to spy on users with “Privacy Sandbox” beta

#97

Post by iforgotpassword »

madduci wrote: post #79
JohnFen wrote: post #68

I have a bunch of issues with the "Privacy Sandbox", but my #1 issue is that it's called "Privacy Sandbox". That term implies that a sandbox is being used to preserve your privacy, when it is, in fact, a system designed for the opposite of that.

After all the crap that Google put in Android, I still don't understand why some other alternative ecosystems like Ubuntu Phone or GrapheneOS or Mankato (PinePhone) aren't attractive for users and developers. What's holding everyone back? I understand that without users there won't be apps, but also without apps there won't be users, since they offer just the basics. Imagine if TikTok or WhatsApp have had an app for…

It is the Apps, and you perfectly summarized how it's a feedback loop. It wasn't the only reason why Windows phone failed, but it was one of them, even though Microsoft threw money at companies to at least have the most important apps available from pretty much day one. The app store still was pathetic and a lot of basic quality of life apps missing. And they kept going for what, 6 years before they announced they'll scrap it, and kept support going for another 4 years. Now imagine something new comes up, no matter how awesome the system is, no matter how well executed every move of the company behind it is: how much is a smartphone worth that doesn't have WhatsApp, Facebook, Google Maps, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, you name it. And no, the browser versions don't count.

Heck, you can just use lineage os without the Google services to get a taste of this. And that's a system where you still can get all the Apps with a tiny bit of effort, as long as they don't depend on the Google services. It sucks for the most part.

But really, since you asked, just try it. Get some used phone that's supported by lineage OS and challenge yourself to use it exclusively for a month. Or maybe for fun/hard mode, get a Lumia 950 and try that for a month.

Re: Android launches yet another way to spy on users with “Privacy Sandbox” beta

#98

Post by hellojesus »

mynameisash wrote: post #54
jszymborski wrote: post #37

Nonsense like this makes me happy to be on GrapheneOS.

I just tried GrapheneOS yesterday. Installation on my new phone was a breeze, but once I was in, there was... Nothing. The "Apps" app, which I assumed was an alternative to the Google Play store, had literally nothing except a link to install Google Play services. So I installed that and the Play store, which, due to GrapheneOS's sandboxing, was probably better than the stock Android. But it didn't even work well. Pl…

Sometimes you have to go into the installed app's settings and tell it to use standard android memory addresses. This recently fixed the Wells Fargo app for me which was hanging upon start.

I keep Google play services in a separate profile on grapheneos so that use it as minimally as possible.

Re: Android launches yet another way to spy on users with “Privacy Sandbox” beta

#99

Post by fsflover »

bacchusracine wrote: post #93
fsflover wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>>From: $1,999.00 This is the cost of Librem 5 USA (made in USA) [0], not Librem 5 (made in China) [1]. Also, I preordered it for $600 a long time ago, and sometimes you can buy from resellers for a similar price [2]. [0] https://puri.sm/products/librem-5-usa [1] https://puri.sm/products/librem-5 [2] https://forums.puri.sm/t/librem-5-for-sale-eu-630-eur/19445

>>This is the cost of Librem 5 USA (made in USA) [0], not Librem 5 (made in China) I suppose that helps a little . I seem to have incorrectly assumed that the USA model was intended for use in the USA, not simply assembled there. Still crazy expensive. For that price I'd expect it to come with a keyboard and mouse and replace my Thinkpad altogether.

You indeed can connect Librem 5 to any keyboard, mouse, and screen and use it as a desktop.

Re: Android launches yet another way to spy on users with “Privacy Sandbox” beta

#100

Post by 2-718-281-828 »

jqpabc123 wrote: post #94
2-718-281-828 wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

where did this come from all of a sudden? I thought I knew all the Android alternatives. why does this super polished website for this out of nowhere suddenly maintained technology give me strong [intelligence agency of your choice] vibes?

This has been out there for years --- since 2018. And check your vibe meter, it is acting up. The main person behind this was the creator of Mandrake Linux. https://itsfoss.com/e-os-review/

you're right ... I must have confused something. will check it out
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