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Play Store blocks AuroraStore, hurting GrapheneOS users

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Re: Play Store blocks AuroraStore, hurting GrapheneOS users

#271

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That can't be true? https://grapheneos.org/faq#hardware-identifiers > As of Android 10, apps cannot obtain permission to access non-resettable hardware identifiers such as the serial number, MAC addresses, IMEIs/MEIDs, SIM card serial numbers and subscriber IDs. Only privileged apps included in the base system with READ_PRIVILEGED_PHONE_STATE whitelisted can access these hardware identifiers. Apps targeting Android 1…

Play services isn't an "app", it's a highly privileged system service that has access to everything and some more.

yes, but not on GOS.

Re: Play Store blocks AuroraStore, hurting GrapheneOS users

#272
Aurora Store still works fine without the default enabled account sharing feature by creating an account for this purpose. Google hasn't blocked using Aurora Store as an alternate Play Store client. What's happening is that they're getting better at detecting and banning shared accounts. Account sharing was disallowed long before Aurora Store started using it as a way to bypass the need to make a Google account for the Play Store. Enforcement against account sharing has been increasing over time and we've been warning people they shouldn't rely on this continuing to work for years. It took longer than we thought it would to reach this point so our warnings were quite early.

GrapheneOS supports installing the standard Play Store app as a regular sandboxed app without special access. For people using sandboxed Google Play, we recommend the sandboxed Play Store for obtaining apps only published on the Play Store. That doesn't mean we recommend obtaining apps from the Play Store as the best option. We prefer people getting developer signed builds of apps, ideally through an app store with enforcement of standards such as a minimum API level and better enforced policies against abuse than the Play Store. Accrescent is very promising. There will hopefully be more serious Play Store alternatives to replace what it used to provide prior to them phasing out developer signed builds and beginning to gate access to apps.

On GrapheneOS, Aurora Store is mainly useful as a way to work around the Play Store having a way for developers to restrict their Play Store listing from devices not passing the Play Integrity device and strong integrity level.

Re: Play Store blocks AuroraStore, hurting GrapheneOS users

#273

> Aurora uses burner account for anonymous login. looks like their account pool is flagged This seems like it was destined to get banned somehow... and I don't think it means that the store itself is blocked, just the pool of accounts they (ab)use.

Google account sharing is disallowed by their terms of use. They're getting better at detecting and banning it. Aurora Store still works as a Play Store client but the approach they've been using to bypassing a need to create an account was destined to get blocked as you've said. We've been warning it would likely be increasingly blocked for years. It took longer than we expected to reach this point.

Re: Play Store blocks AuroraStore, hurting GrapheneOS users

#279

[flagged]

I wasn't aware GOS recommended AuroraStore.

We don't recommend the Play Store as a source of apps in general. For obtaining apps from the Play Store, we primarily recommend using our sandboxed Play Store feature. Aurora Store is mainly useful for working around Play Integrity API store listing restrictions.

Aurora Store can be used without the shared account feature. The shared account feature was on track to getting blocked for years and we've warned about it. Sharing accounts is against the Google terms of use and they've been ramping up their detection and banning of it. It's somewhat strange they allowed it to go on for so long. Aurora Store does still work as an alternate Play Store frontend since Google hasn't blocked that.

Due to Aurora Store bypassing the Play Integrity API store listing restrictions, they may decide to take steps to hinder it. It's a very easily bypassed way of using the Play Integrity API but it harms alternative operating systems.

Re: Play Store blocks AuroraStore, hurting GrapheneOS users

#280

[flagged]

It has nothing to do with GrapheneOS. It's a problem with Aurora Store's account default enabled sharing feature. Account sharing is against Google's terms of use and they're ramping up detection and banning for it. They aren't banning Aurora Store as a Play Store client and there's no connection to GrapheneOS which doesn't include Aurora Store in the OS or our app repository.
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