Nova Launcher added Facebook and Google Ads tracking • Hacker News Board

Re: Nova Launcher added Facebook and Google Ads tracking

#11

Post by garciansmith » Tue, Jan 20, 2026, 2:44 AM UTC

canthonytucci wrote: post #4

fireflash38 wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Any good alternatives people are using? I've used Nova for absolutely ages

Lawnchair is not as fancy but it works

Lawnchair is good. I just really want app drawer tabs, the only reason I've stuck with Nova.

Re: Nova Launcher added Facebook and Google Ads tracking

#12

Post by another_twist » Tue, Jan 20, 2026, 2:46 AM UTC

Nova drained my erstwhile Android phones battery. Not sure if this has gotten any better.

Re: Nova Launcher added Facebook and Google Ads tracking

#13

Post by rationalist » Tue, Jan 20, 2026, 2:52 AM UTC

Thankfully I am using GrapheneOS, so I never gave the app network permissions. I will look for a new launcher anyways now.

Thanks for sharing.

Re: Nova Launcher added Facebook and Google Ads tracking

#14

Post by flexagoon » Tue, Jan 20, 2026, 3:15 AM UTC

fireflash38 wrote: post #3

celsoazevedo wrote: post #2

For those still using Nova Launcher (custom launcher for Android), it seems that it's owned by a new company and the latest update comes with the Facebook Ads and Google AdMob SDKs and require extra permissions. 8.1.6: - Branch (analytics) - Bugsnag (crash report) 8.2.4: - Facebook Ads (advertisement) - Google AdMob (advertisement) - Branch (analytics) - Bugsnag (crash reporting) - Google CrashLytics (crash reporting…

Any good alternatives people are using? I've used Nova for absolutely ages

Kvaesito is a great search-focused FOSS launcher

Re: Nova Launcher added Facebook and Google Ads tracking

#15

Post by Abishek_Muthian » Tue, Jan 20, 2026, 3:20 AM UTC

fireflash38 wrote: post #3

celsoazevedo wrote: post #2

For those still using Nova Launcher (custom launcher for Android), it seems that it's owned by a new company and the latest update comes with the Facebook Ads and Google AdMob SDKs and require extra permissions. 8.1.6: - Branch (analytics) - Bugsnag (crash report) 8.2.4: - Facebook Ads (advertisement) - Google AdMob (advertisement) - Branch (analytics) - Bugsnag (crash reporting) - Google CrashLytics (crash reporting…

Any good alternatives people are using? I've used Nova for absolutely ages

I haven't used an android launcher over a decade, stock LineageOS launcher works well for me i.e. to open app drawer and to click on apps.

What do you folks use 3rd party launchers for?

Re: Nova Launcher added Facebook and Google Ads tracking

#16

Post by ipcress_file » Tue, Jan 20, 2026, 3:24 AM UTC

I'm still using an old version with the network access blocked. I'll use it until it stops working.

If anyone knows of another launcher with app drawer tabs, let me know.

Re: Nova Launcher added Facebook and Google Ads tracking

#17

Post by kenrick95 » Tue, Jan 20, 2026, 3:27 AM UTC

fireflash38 wrote: post #3

celsoazevedo wrote: post #2

For those still using Nova Launcher (custom launcher for Android), it seems that it's owned by a new company and the latest update comes with the Facebook Ads and Google AdMob SDKs and require extra permissions. 8.1.6: - Branch (analytics) - Bugsnag (crash report) 8.2.4: - Facebook Ads (advertisement) - Google AdMob (advertisement) - Branch (analytics) - Bugsnag (crash reporting) - Google CrashLytics (crash reporting…

Any good alternatives people are using? I've used Nova for absolutely ages

I switched to KISS Launcher several years back and had been loving it. I like the philosophy of search-based launcher. This way, if I don't actively search for an app, I won't be distracted into opening one

Re: Nova Launcher added Facebook and Google Ads tracking

#18

Post by Fej » Tue, Jan 20, 2026, 3:28 AM UTC

Do older versions of Nova have any security flaws which preclude using them?

I've been using this app for ages and it's been essentially feature-complete for several years. A part of me wants to switch launchers for no other reason than "it is supported and not tracking me", but it is possible for software to be finished, and I believe Nova falls into that category. If there's no meaningful vulnerabilities in it, there's really no reason for me to switch away, at least not immediately.

Re: Nova Launcher added Facebook and Google Ads tracking

#19

Post by Krutonium » Tue, Jan 20, 2026, 3:31 AM UTC

fireflash38 wrote: post #3

celsoazevedo wrote: post #2

For those still using Nova Launcher (custom launcher for Android), it seems that it's owned by a new company and the latest update comes with the Facebook Ads and Google AdMob SDKs and require extra permissions. 8.1.6: - Branch (analytics) - Bugsnag (crash report) 8.2.4: - Facebook Ads (advertisement) - Google AdMob (advertisement) - Branch (analytics) - Bugsnag (crash reporting) - Google CrashLytics (crash reporting…

Any good alternatives people are using? I've used Nova for absolutely ages

I'm using Evie Launcher, but a really old version from just before the developer shut down the project and later removed it from the store. If you look today, you'll find a fairly convincing imposter that loves spamming you with ads, from a different developer.

The APK is at least 6 years old now.

Re: Nova Launcher added Facebook and Google Ads tracking

#20

Post by yummybrainz » Tue, Jan 20, 2026, 3:32 AM UTC

kenrick95 wrote: post #17

fireflash38 wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Any good alternatives people are using? I've used Nova for absolutely ages

I switched to KISS Launcher several years back and had been loving it. I like the philosophy of search-based launcher. This way, if I don't actively search for an app, I won't be distracted into opening one

KISS launcher is excellent. I've been using it for years now and would never go back to any other style of launcher.

The only improvement I could imagine is supporting multiple screens of widgets (i.e. swiping left/right or scrolling up/down).

For folks interested in checking it out:

Website: https://kisslauncher.com/ Source: https://github.com/Neamar/KISS Store: https://f-droid.org/packages/fr.neamar.kiss/