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Google urges Android phone users to switch off Wi-Fi calling

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Re: Google urges Android phone users to switch off Wi-Fi calling

#41

Post by dangus »

At this point I'd have to say that Wi-Fi calling is a dead feature, putting this particular issue aside.

I just don't see the benefit in 2023. It made sense back when cellular networks were less mature. It also made sense when it could cut down on your wireless bill.

But all you have to do is walk out of your house while on a phone call and realize how much the feature is degrading overall reliability.

The LTE network on my phone has less downtime than my home Internet. Heck, for some people their LTE network is faster than their home network.

I'm struggling to figure out where Wi-Fi calling is helpful. On a cruise ship?

Re: Google urges Android phone users to switch off Wi-Fi calling

#42

Post by arsome »

jeffparsons wrote: post #24
arsome wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Honestly, unless it's a remote, worm-grade exploit or you're a high value target, you can probably just stop caring about software updates. Your threat model might be different but I don't get out of bed for anything but RCE personally, let alone spend a penny.

Well, I use a web browser on the phone. Chrome et al. are still receiving updates for my phone, but I'm guessing they use some system components that are not receiving updates? So my main worry is something like an ad network loading an exploit. You don't need to be a high value target to get caught in an extremely wide net like that. (Yes, I know: get a better ad blocker, etc. — I'd rather have fewer weak links, tho…

Not really - Android has for many versions now been updating the embedded webview component via play services.

Re: Google urges Android phone users to switch off Wi-Fi calling

#43

Post by ryukafalz »

mikepurvis wrote: post #21
arsome wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Honestly, unless it's a remote, worm-grade exploit or you're a high value target, you can probably just stop caring about software updates. Your threat model might be different but I don't get out of bed for anything but RCE personally, let alone spend a penny.

I guess, but it sure is nice that on Apple hardware you generally don’t need to worry about doing this calculus because they deliver updates in a timely manner to even five year old devices. It bums me out that them doing this hasn’t been effective in shaming everyone else into following suit.

The iPod Touch Gen 7 lasted just under 3 years from release. They may be better than many others but I just got bit by that one.

Re: Google urges Android phone users to switch off Wi-Fi calling

#44

Post by jeffparsons »

parker_mountain wrote: post #11
cidergal wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That wasn't what they asked though.

Maybe, but they were looking for a phone that'll last a long time, and I hope my answer makes them reconsider. The Android OS-updates situation is seriously dire, and it seems very difficult for Google to fix.

Thanks. I don't mind that you didn't address my question directly, because this is all relevant food for thought.

Every year I'm more disappointed by Google on pretty much every front. They really do seem to have jumped the shark.

If I do decide to upgrade...

Unfortunately I can't stand iOS. No kidding, I'd rather have a Nokia 5110. I've tried repeatedly, thinking "I'm just not used to it", but there's too much about the design philosophy that I find actively obnoxious. Strangely, I don't have this problem with macOS.

Maybe I can find another Android vendor with a better support policy, or if none of them are any good then just suck it up and buy the very newest of whatever to at least push the planned death of my device back a couple more years.

I'm getting a bit sick of this treadmill. I don't buy the defence some people offer that it's too much work to support the older devices. Having a security-only backports release series for old devices would be _trivial_ compared to the enormous piles of money Google sets on fire for shits and giggles on a daily basis. It's planned obsolescence, plain and simple.

Re: Google urges Android phone users to switch off Wi-Fi calling

#45

Post by ceejayoz »

dangus wrote: post #41

At this point I'd have to say that Wi-Fi calling is a dead feature, putting this particular issue aside. I just don't see the benefit in 2023. It made sense back when cellular networks were less mature. It also made sense when it could cut down on your wireless bill. But all you have to do is walk out of your house while on a phone call and realize how much the feature is degrading overall reliability. The LTE networ…

I have minimal cell signal in my house. It’s a godsend.

Re: Google urges Android phone users to switch off Wi-Fi calling

#46

Post by arsome »

prophesi wrote: post #26
arsome wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Honestly, unless it's a remote, worm-grade exploit or you're a high value target, you can probably just stop caring about software updates. Your threat model might be different but I don't get out of bed for anything but RCE personally, let alone spend a penny.

With a cursory search I found CVE-2021-0316. This one's just for bluetooth, but it's an RCE with no user interaction discovered in 2021. Pixel 2 had its last security patch in November 2020.

Yes, it exists, but is it actively exploitable? A cursory search turns up no working exploit code. Given modern exploit mitigations many theoretical vulnerabilities turn out to be nothing-burgers, as far as I can see there's certainly no worm running around popping phones with it.

For sure, if you're paranoid or a high-value target, update, buy a new phone. But normal users don't need to care unless there's actually something on the line.

Re: Google urges Android phone users to switch off Wi-Fi calling

#47

Post by mayama »

97s wrote: post #14

I am not sure I understand this. I have a S22 Galaxy Ultra. I do not see anywhere in my settings to turn on or off wifi-calling. Did we already get an update disabling this? I have googled this for about 10-15 minutes now and none of the results match anything to do with my screen settings.

Is wifi calling even supported in your phone? Some carriers disable it.

Re: Google urges Android phone users to switch off Wi-Fi calling

#48

Post by readthenotes1 »

dangus wrote: post #41

At this point I'd have to say that Wi-Fi calling is a dead feature, putting this particular issue aside. I just don't see the benefit in 2023. It made sense back when cellular networks were less mature. It also made sense when it could cut down on your wireless bill. But all you have to do is walk out of your house while on a phone call and realize how much the feature is degrading overall reliability. The LTE networ…

any international travel.

i'm in the bahamas now and had a nice conversation with someone who won't install whatsapp. 6 months ago I was in Colombia and was able to take care of some banking problems back home.

Plus, texts are delivered and sent while you're away.

(And...I do know people in the US who are in cell weak spots that wifi calling solves)

Re: Google urges Android phone users to switch off Wi-Fi calling

#49

Post by Grazester »

jeffparsons wrote: post #4

Well, this was an awkward way to realise my phone hasn't been receiving security updates for years. Apparently Google quietly dropped support for it? The phone is otherwise in excellent condition. Any recommendations for a good third party OS that still supports Pixel 2?

How was this quiet? This is usually published by Google and other web sites when security updates have needed on the Pixel Phones. Given you're a HN user I assume you are fairly tech savvy and knew when you bought your phone it was only going to get security and system updates for 3 years.

Re: Google urges Android phone users to switch off Wi-Fi calling

#50

Post by aesh2Xa1 »

jeffparsons wrote: post #4

Well, this was an awkward way to realise my phone hasn't been receiving security updates for years. Apparently Google quietly dropped support for it? The phone is otherwise in excellent condition. Any recommendations for a good third party OS that still supports Pixel 2?

You could try using DivestOS. Your device is supported on the latest builds, and that OS targets security.

However, DivestOS might be very different from the stock OS from Google. You might consider using LineageOS with Google Apps (MindTheGapps) if so.

* https://divestos.org/pages/devices#device-walleye

* https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/walleye/

* https://mindthegapps.com/

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