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Tell HN: PayPal blocks GrapheneOS

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231–240 of 361 posts

Re: Tell HN: PayPal blocks GrapheneOS

#231
post #43

This is what really makes me question if I want to continue to use GOS, already some UK banks apps (which are app only) don't want to run. I'm considering switching back to stock as I can't be bothered to try to find hacks and workarounds for daily necessities.

Same experience in the UK, but it was the push that got me to switch from Lloyds to Nationwide if you're looking for another option. They're great, they even have offline 2FA methods as they send you a card reader for things like authing purchases or sign-ins. And the app still works :-)

I use revolut on a stock pixel 9, have been considering Graphene, but im worried about stuff like:

https://grapheneos.social/@GrapheneOS/117045625230764434

Re: Tell HN: PayPal blocks GrapheneOS

#232
post #8

I see this happen from time to time. Lately, almost all of the apps work fine on GrapheneOS. The best strategy is to keep writing the business once every two or so weeks that you can’t log in to and use the app. Don’t go too technical at first, because most of the time, the moment they hear things like “rooted” or “unofficial,” they just say your phone is the issue. To date, I was able to convince, or at least contri…

Would you mind elaborating a bit on your process ? Or share a few relevant exchanges, I've no clue how to start having this discussion.

That would make a great blog post

Re: Tell HN: PayPal blocks GrapheneOS

#233

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This seems likely to be cultural, possibly even microcultural. I know many adults who believe that splitting bills is a normal and reasonable thing to do.

Splitting bills, where each pay a part in the restaurant, fine. Splitting bills where one pays and the other sends him money, not.

Who is making these rules up? Why do you think they apply universally?

Re: Tell HN: PayPal blocks GrapheneOS

#234
post #8

I see this happen from time to time. Lately, almost all of the apps work fine on GrapheneOS. The best strategy is to keep writing the business once every two or so weeks that you can’t log in to and use the app. Don’t go too technical at first, because most of the time, the moment they hear things like “rooted” or “unofficial,” they just say your phone is the issue. To date, I was able to convince, or at least contri…

My backwards bank blocked my mobile app access after detecting Debugging was enabled in the system. Have to call them to unlock it. I could download that APK and disassembly it with an LLM in 20 minutes, but sure, a Debug mode prevents something.

Re: Tell HN: PayPal blocks GrapheneOS

#235

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> GrapheneOS is anti-user-freedom. This is a really, really poor-quality take. > complaints of this nature get inane drivel responses of "lol just fork Graphene" It’s a fork of AOSP, which you can just…use.

Uh, no. Shaming a "take" is just tone policing. Owners should own the hardware along with the software both. Its only since the smartphone era (2008) with locked down shit devices has this view changed. And people challenging this are somehow defective, tone policed, shamed, or likewise. GrapheneOS users are treated as 'rooted phones', at the exact same time tools that would attack and prevent corporate surveillance…

Nobody’s shaming you, reddit refugee.

It is a common userspace decision to lock things to userspace. It’s good hygiene.

If you want less-secure software, use AOSP or one of its many forks.

You’re not defective: you just have different needs and threat model,

and you’re harassing and degrading the public image of a project that’s opinionated in a very welcome way by folks in the security community - especially those who value stability and usability.

Re: Tell HN: PayPal blocks GrapheneOS

#236
post #214
post #142

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a German that never has encountered PayPal in the wild and doesn't have a Paypal account either, your narration requires elaboration to be believable.

I'm not doubting you but I have a hard time believing that, as I see it all the time. Sometimes restaurants even accept it if they don't take card and then ask you to send to their private PayPal account as a fallback. It's even part of many German memes around the German way of always splitting the bills, even if it's just < 5 euros.

What you are describing sounds like a weird alternative reality. I never heard of always splitting bills, either. But it's not exactly a homogeneous country. To the point everyone jokes that Bavaria isn't even German, for example.

Depending on which state you are in, your experience can be vastly different.

All the states used to be kinda independent two hundred years ago. Including having different currencies. Unification happened 1871. Bismarck and later Hitler kinda brought the nation together, but after losing two world wars national pride got frowned upon and having the iron curtain cut through the country didn't help in fostering a German identity, either. Reunification was only 36 years ago. Though, about a third to maybe half of the German territory remains lost after losing the wars. Instead we got the EU. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

It's always funny to see foreigners make fun of German supposed clichés that I never had any exposure to whatsoever, like Lederhosen, which is only a thing in Southern Germany.

Re: Tell HN: PayPal blocks GrapheneOS

#237
post #165

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Generally I think the issue is that there's a tension between your security vs Paypal's security (deliberate, motivated bad actors). Maybe an analogy could be about using metal detectors as a layer to reduce bank robberies. A gun in a good guy's hands is a good thing to prevent robberies. Guns in a bad guy's hands are a bad thing to prevent robberies. Paypal knows you have a gun but they don't know if you're a good g…

> Maybe an analogy could be about using metal detectors as a layer to reduce bank robberies. A more apt analogy might be game developers who demand admin rights so they can install a rootkit to detect "cheating".

They wouldn't do that if there weren't market demand. Competitive games lose their appeal when cheating becomes too prevalent.

Similarly, payment processors lose their appeal if they can't prevent people stealing your money, or spending stolen money on your products.

Re: Tell HN: PayPal blocks GrapheneOS

#238

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> GrapheneOS is anti-user-freedom. This is a really, really poor-quality take. > complaints of this nature get inane drivel responses of "lol just fork Graphene" It’s a fork of AOSP, which you can just…use.

Uh, no. Shaming a "take" is just tone policing. Owners should own the hardware along with the software both. Its only since the smartphone era (2008) with locked down shit devices has this view changed. And people challenging this are somehow defective, tone policed, shamed, or likewise. GrapheneOS users are treated as 'rooted phones', at the exact same time tools that would attack and prevent corporate surveillance…

> prevent corporate surveillance

Leave the abusive relationship with those entities. Don’t lay this at the feet of the GrapheneOS Project.

If you read their FAQ, you’ll see how limited the OS actually is in retaining your privacy if you still insist on using these providers that don’t respect you.

Said another way: stop trying to solve human problems with technical means.

and definitely stop trying to get others to do it for you for free.

Or, continue: I’m not a cop.

Re: Tell HN: PayPal blocks GrapheneOS

#239
post #102
post #8

I see this happen from time to time. Lately, almost all of the apps work fine on GrapheneOS. The best strategy is to keep writing the business once every two or so weeks that you can’t log in to and use the app. Don’t go too technical at first, because most of the time, the moment they hear things like “rooted” or “unofficial,” they just say your phone is the issue. To date, I was able to convince, or at least contri…

I had the same experience. Asked in an email why an important government app won't work on GrapheneOS, first without any technical details. Got the response that it's "because security". I sent some technical details and argued that they're denying service to their most security-conscious users. 3 months later the app started to work!

To be fair, governments might be much more receptive to the argument of not having to rely on (possibly foreign) megacorporations than a company like Paypal.

I'd wager that if it doesn't really hurt their bottom line to not support GrapheneOS, they won't really care.

Re: Tell HN: PayPal blocks GrapheneOS

#240

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> GrapheneOS is anti-user-freedom. This is a really, really poor-quality take. > complaints of this nature get inane drivel responses of "lol just fork Graphene" It’s a fork of AOSP, which you can just…use.

Uh, no. Shaming a "take" is just tone policing. Owners should own the hardware along with the software both. Its only since the smartphone era (2008) with locked down shit devices has this view changed. And people challenging this are somehow defective, tone policed, shamed, or likewise. GrapheneOS users are treated as 'rooted phones', at the exact same time tools that would attack and prevent corporate surveillance…

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