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Google has a secret browser hidden inside the settings

matan-h.com

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Re: Google has a secret browser hidden inside the settings

#281

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> How would network restrictions help, there is WiFi at friends houses / everywhere. > > If you don't want your kids to connect to things then don't let your kids have devices that connect to things.

Comment said the restrictions belong on the network being connected to, which is useless when you can connect else where. Yes not giving your kids access to a device is one option; parental controls are another. I'm not sure either will work entirely, but that's another point.

And locking down the primary device a kid has access to creates the lure of the forbidden; that won't last any longer than their access to another device without those restrictions. That also creates an environment where if they do find something they really ought to be able to talk an adult about, they can't talk to a parent about it because they'll be in trouble (and get their friends in trouble).

One of the widely studied aspects of child psychology is how to instill guidelines that last even when they're elsewhere without any enforcement other than self-enforcement.

Re: Google has a secret browser hidden inside the settings

#282
post #262
post #247

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I definitely didn't use the open dialog in Notepad to run other executables at the library.

WinPopup LAN messenger!

I was a student at a boarding school in the 90s that left WinPopup installed. I quickly found it and taught the whole campus. They tried to remove it but we had backups by that point. Then we found the teacher access internet proxy which had none of the student restrictions and shared it with everyone via WinPopup… I told the staff when I graduated.

Re: Google has a secret browser hidden inside the settings

#283

mmm my kids *will* use this if they find out about this. What would be a way to find out if they did? Does this leave any trace?

If they use it often, then the Settings app will have a longer screen time compared to normal usage I'd guess.

Here's the fun thing- it doesn't! If I remember correctly, the only place you can see that something's going on is if you check foreground data usage for Google Play Services

Re: Google has a secret browser hidden inside the settings

#284
post #143
post #72

This guy's experience reporting a bug to Google reminds me of mine: Me: Here's a bug in Google Sheets that exposes deleted content to third parties. Google: Not a bug. Working as expected, closing issue. Me: Really? I was personally harmed by this bug while using the application. Google: Actually, it is a bug but it's a longtime known issue, therefore you are not eligible for bug bounty. Closing issue.

That is, to a T, almost identical to my experience reporting a vulnerability to Google too. Me: Here's a bug in Gmail that allows spoofed email to scrub DKIM failures and appear legitimate Google: "Won't fix (Intended Behavior)" Me: Really? Google intends to allow spoofed email to appear legitimate in its interface? Google: Actually, it's a known issue

But it was known, the second time.

Re: Google has a secret browser hidden inside the settings

#285
post #10

Google's increasingly cavalier attitude towards security is concerning: 1) Kids WILL use this to bypass parental / school controls as soon as they learn about it 2) In some contexts (especially as high-stakes test settings, but also some military/prison/finance/medical/legal/etc. settings) this IS a direct security risk 3) Given the embedded browser is not secure, if a lot of kids do this, it WILL lead to someone exp…

> Given the embedded browser is not secure, if a lot of kids do this

Sounds like a parenting issue, not a software issue.

Re: Google has a secret browser hidden inside the settings

#286

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why does it have to be news? Someone wanted to share what they found, that’s what personal blogs are for. Nothing more.

Well, that neither news or “secret”. Nice find though

It probably was news for many of HN readers. Hidden would be a right term, I suspect that English isn't Matans native language

Re: Google has a secret browser hidden inside the settings

#287
post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> If you don't want your kids to connect to things then don't let your kids have devices that connect to things. This is not an option as school, at least in my region, requires devices directly since 4th grade and indirectly even earlier for homework. Devices move between networks so having controls directly on the device is helpful. Your argument seems like arguing that there should be no local access permissions o…

> Your argument seems like arguing that there should be no local access permissions on files and just let the network handle everything. Quite the contrary. Your local files are given to you by your local device. It's up to your local device to ensure that those files are properly access controlled. But things on your network are given to you by your network. It should be up to your network to ensure that those thing…

> If school requires things then school should provide things

They do. What’s your point?

My point is that parental controls are useful because kids must use devices. So protecting kids while using those devices is important.

Re: Google has a secret browser hidden inside the settings

#288
post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a parent, it’s concerning to me. It’s funny how I never thought it would be an issue but kids have real impulse control issues and devices are super easy to spend too much time on and contribute to negative mental health. Screen time controls don’t solve this, but they help a little bit as part of many other things to help people learn about how to self regulate.

When I was a kid we managed to hack into my school's lab's computers to install Doom and Warcraft II. Good times.

What’s funny is so did I. So I’m definitely a hypocrite in restricting what I was not restricted in doing.

Re: Google has a secret browser hidden inside the settings

#290
post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That is, to a T, almost identical to my experience reporting a vulnerability to Google too. Me: Here's a bug in Gmail that allows spoofed email to scrub DKIM failures and appear legitimate Google: "Won't fix (Intended Behavior)" Me: Really? Google intends to allow spoofed email to appear legitimate in its interface? Google: Actually, it's a known issue

I wonder if you can string it further. You: We are OK to publish a blog post about it then, right? Google: ...

Alteration:

I've written the blog, and I'm going to publish it on...

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