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Android Developer Verification: Threat masquerading as protection

f-droid.org

71–80 of 793 posts

Re: Android Developer Verification: Threat masquerading as protection

#71
post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple's policies were established when you purchased the phone. Apps come through registered developers and their vetting. Google has changed the game on something you already own. I'm sure their lawyers have done their homework, but in some jurisdictions this is certainly actionable.

They already lost a lawsuit and were fined a hundred billion dollars in the EU for locking down Android. Maybe they think since they already lost once, they can't lose again.

hundred billion?

Re: Android Developer Verification: Threat masquerading as protection

#73
post #26

I'm still a little bit confused why the EU does not take action in this. This is definitely a monopolist overreach which has to be shutdown from the beginning

this is something the EU would love, it's part of the whole Transparency thing where you dox yourself to everyone

HNers (especially Americans) are super naive and think the EU is some bastion of freedom. no. it just wants to be a huge nanny state but in a wholesome way, where you can do whatever you want as long as it's approved

Re: Android Developer Verification: Threat masquerading as protection

#74

> How long before they designate all ad-blocking software as malware, block installation on all Android certified devices worldwide, and permanently designate all developers of this class of software as malware creators? Classic slippery slope fallacy. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slippery_slope History shows that when a "slope" appears... regulation steps in, technology evolves to solve the problem, or the culture…

"or the culture shifts to reinterpret the thing"

Yes. You see it already.

"Actually it is good that I can't run programs that haven't been approved by Google on my own device."

Re: Android Developer Verification: Threat masquerading as protection

#75
post #40
post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I tried. But then I didnt get access to essential services like banking and national resources.

Graphene OS user here. Almost all of the apps I tried work fine. All the banking apps I use work. Have you tried reaching out to the app developer or the service and explaining what Graphene OS is and asking them to support it? I was able to persuade one app to do it. [1] https://privsec.dev/posts/android/banking-applications-compa...

Problem is that all banks require a national centrale controlled service for login (BankID in Norway). And it is this service that I cannot get to work running GrapheneOS. It worked a couple of months ago, but not anymore. And all customer services and complaints are directed to your bank who 1) has no idea what i am talking about and 2) no control over BankID verification requirements.

Re: Android Developer Verification: Threat masquerading as protection

#76
post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What are talking about? Android Device Verification has nothing to do with what websites browsers can access.

It does with reCaptcha: https://www.androidauthority.com/grapheneos-google-apple-app...

Yes, Google could do a lot of things, in theory. Doesn’t mean they’re doing it.

Re: Android Developer Verification: Threat masquerading as protection

#77
post #64

I understand not being happy about what Google is doing, but it seems like F-droid can’t be trusted not to heavily spin things.

If the companies would keep their own word and never overreach maybe nobody would overreact. How many times did we hear in the past "It's just for..."

If companies play nice, people will stop making stuff up about them? I don’t believe that for a second, and it’s a poor excuse for making stuff up.

Re: Android Developer Verification: Threat masquerading as protection

#78
post #19

Android users need to switch to Graphene. Someone needs to create a Linux based mobile OS foundation - Google's domination is contrary to many large companies interests, and if Meta and many other such companies were approached, they may well donate large sums of money in their own strategic interests.

I wonder if it makes sense to create an independent hard-fork of AOSP in the future. But probably the only option to keep this somehow maintainable is to replace many android-specific components with other userspace linux components that are already well maintained (systemd, networkmanager, wayland)

Would this not require some control over the hardware? Which would be difficult for the FOSS community?

Re: Android Developer Verification: Threat masquerading as protection

#79
> In computing, a trojan horse or trojan is a kind of malware that misleads users as to its true intent by disguising itself as a normal program. [1]

Google is Trojans all the way down. What is the true intent of almost every Google product? Data harvesting.

Every single product is spyware of some kind. They've even managed trojanize TVs by subsidising manufactuers to ship their spyware.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trojan_horse_(computing)

Re: Android Developer Verification: Threat masquerading as protection

#80

What Google is doing is shameful. One of the promises of Android was being more open than the restrictive Apple ecosystem. Now that they reached penetration they do the switch - under the guise of security. Just let me do with my hardware what I want to do it. Let it be my responsibility to install whatever I want (and stop calling it "side-loading", as if I am doing something shady from the "side"). We need to resis…

This is worse than Apple. With Apple you knew where you stood day 1.
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