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Android Developer Verification: Threat masquerading as protection

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Re: Android Developer Verification: Threat masquerading as protection

#341
post #334

Would this also be a strategy to get all Android users to have a Google account? Once you are locked in to using Google's Play Store then can then require login to even install apps. I don't have a Google account. I never will. If I am required to get one to use my phone(Fairphone4, eOS) then I will cease using the phone. There is nothing in my life that requires me to have an Android phone.

Governments plan to use google play for government services. It is just a matter of time before it is required for you to use it.

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48730729

More and more sites require you to use it be it github, or even fdroid (via gitlab).

Re: Android Developer Verification: Threat masquerading as protection

#343

I think the most fun part with Google is that if some wayward algorithm decides it doesn’t like you, along with nuking your app and developer account it will probably nuke your 20 year old gmail, your kids Google Drive accounts, your wife’s YouTube premium, the Adsense account of some company you worked for in 2008, and disable your Nest cameras. And you’ll never reach a human to sort it out.

[deleted]

Re: Android Developer Verification: Threat masquerading as protection

#344
post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How? I don't see the address published. They can sue you and Google will give your address to the court, clearly. But swat? Send packages? How?

Don’t know about US, but in EU you legally have to publish your address and it will be shown on the store page if your app has ads or in-app purchases.

I see. I looked at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.faircode.em... and saw nothing.

I can see why your address is shown if you offer something for sale. Ads, that puzzles me.

Re: Android Developer Verification: Threat masquerading as protection

#345

Earlier quoted context omitted.

iOS can be used without an account. iPhones can be acquired outside of Apple. The EU has the alternative App Store option that doesn’t require an Apple account.

But I can't use my Norwegian BankID unless I have an apple store or play store account. This is required for every aspect of society. Heathcare, banking, taxes, driving, using my debit card online. They removed SMS 2FA options recently, the only non-tech monopoly method is a 2fa codebrick that's getting harder and harder to acquire (there are new ridiculous facial ID and passport scanning requirements, run by a priva…

What Norway has sounds pretty crazy to me. If I am reading this correctly, Trump can disable the entire Norwegian healthcare system by calling Apple and Google and having them block BankID.

Re: Android Developer Verification: Threat masquerading as protection

#346

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.

If you go back far enough, the original iPhone didn’t even promise to give you the ability to install apps.

Re: Android Developer Verification: Threat masquerading as protection

#347

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Over the long term, we definitely need something like Linux phones. I find it bizzarre by how little companies support this mission of Linux phones.

It's not Linux phones that we need. We already have alternatives, like graphene and other AOSP forks. We need corporations and governments to stop locking down and gatekeeping vital software to closed ecosystems. A Linux phone doesn't help me when my government's 2FA system (BankID) only runs on Android and IOS phones and can only be acquired with an app store account.

[flagged]

Re: Android Developer Verification: Threat masquerading as protection

#348

Earlier quoted context omitted.

AFAIK you can still install any random APK but the process will require enabling developer mode and one time 24 hour wait period. But the problem is many stupid Apps check that developer mode is on and refuse to work.

> many stupid Apps check that developer mode is on and refuse to work Do you have some examples? I have developer mode enabled and have never seen any apps complaining (and I have used a lot of different banking apps).

Almost all banking apps in my country do this, absolutely ridiculous on their behalf obviously

Re: Android Developer Verification: Threat masquerading as protection

#349
post #334

Would this also be a strategy to get all Android users to have a Google account? Once you are locked in to using Google's Play Store then can then require login to even install apps. I don't have a Google account. I never will. If I am required to get one to use my phone(Fairphone4, eOS) then I will cease using the phone. There is nothing in my life that requires me to have an Android phone.

Banking has slowly been transitioning in this direction as they close brick and mortar places. I'd have to drive 20 minutes to cash a check (which is still sadly common in the US in certain industries).

Re: Android Developer Verification: Threat masquerading as protection

#350

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Over the long term, we definitely need something like Linux phones. I find it bizzarre by how little companies support this mission of Linux phones.

It's not Linux phones that we need. We already have alternatives, like graphene and other AOSP forks. We need corporations and governments to stop locking down and gatekeeping vital software to closed ecosystems. A Linux phone doesn't help me when my government's 2FA system (BankID) only runs on Android and IOS phones and can only be acquired with an app store account.

I'm not familiar with that system. Here in the US I can go to the bank and do anything I need personally with an ID. Is that not doable where you are?
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