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Asus refunds Zenfone buyer for failing to provide bootloader unlock tools

androidauthority.com

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Re: Asus refunds Zenfone buyer for failing to provide bootloader unlock tools

#111

Post by 0xcde4c3db »

Fire-Dragon-DoL wrote: post #83
ravenstine wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is rubbish. I'm running GrapheneOS and have left my bootloader unlocked, and there's no app that has refused to work. The only caveat is some of them need Google Play services. No, I am not rooted, but my last phone was rooted and there might have been one or two apps out of dozens that wouldn't work with root even with Magisk trying to hide the root status. Using a custom ROM is easily one of the beat choices I…

What are the downsides with GrapheneOS? I had a few problems with root (Netflix and banking apps) but would love my privacy. My main reason for root is the firewall to block outgoing connections from apps that are not supposed to do it

It's really a downside of the Google app ecosystem and not GrapheneOS per se, but apps requiring higher levels of integrity per Google attestation (Play Integrity/SafetyNet) generally won't work. Intentionally breaking apps on "untrusted" configurations is basically the point of that feature, and GrapheneOS does provide the relevant services, but would need to be specifically enabled by the app developer.

Re: Asus refunds Zenfone buyer for failing to provide bootloader unlock tools

#112

Post by vidarh »

nebulous1 wrote: post #89
ravenstine wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is rubbish. I'm running GrapheneOS and have left my bootloader unlocked, and there's no app that has refused to work. The only caveat is some of them need Google Play services. No, I am not rooted, but my last phone was rooted and there might have been one or two apps out of dozens that wouldn't work with root even with Magisk trying to hide the root status. Using a custom ROM is easily one of the beat choices I…

Do you use a banking app? Last I read depending on the type of check used some apps can still be problematic.

Yeah, my bank app both did not work with rooted phones, last I checked, and they also appear to whitelist phone models or something - at one point I had an uncommon mid-range Chinese phone and I had to contact support to have them approve my phone.

Re: Asus refunds Zenfone buyer for failing to provide bootloader unlock tools

#113

Post by iggldiggl »

ktosobcy wrote: post #74
franga2000 wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It sure isn't what it used to be, but if you buy the right phone and make a few moderate compromises, it's still a great option. Installing crDroid on my OnePlus 9 Pro took half an hour, another half to install Magisk Delta with a few modules. The universal dark mode alone (Xposed module "DarQ") is worth the effort, but also the ability to clone apps, have proper clipboard sync, make full-system backups and customise…

Eh... that's why I'm pondering going back to OnePlus (after short affair with Samsung for the past 2 years) because it's somewhat annoying not being able to tweak stuff... Alas, it's also annoying that some dumb banks (I'm looking at you ING Poland) consider rooted device as "insecure" but thay have no problem if I open a bank page using admin/root account on the computer)

> I'm looking at you ING Poland

Hmm, funnily enough at least a few years ago German Ing-Diba didn't care about rooted phones. I switched banks at some point though, so I have no idea whether that's still true.

Re: Asus refunds Zenfone buyer for failing to provide bootloader unlock tools

#114

Post by luuurker »

DoneWithAllThat wrote: post #12

The article casually refers to Asus breaking “their promise” but nothing in the rest of the article suggests Asus ever promised anything of the sort. That they used to provide the tools wasn’t a promise. Did they ever advertise or up-front communicate that these tools would be made available and maintained?

Asus even used to send free phones to developers over at XDA Developers so they could create custom ROMs and stuff like that, so that excuse doesn't work for them.

Re: Asus refunds Zenfone buyer for failing to provide bootloader unlock tools

#115

Post by Pannoniae »

ijijijjij wrote: post #108
xjwm wrote: post #107

I just sent feedback to ASUS expressing my concern at the loss of bootloader unlocking. I have 2 perfectly good cell phones that are e-waste now, simply because the vendor stopped issuing patches, and the bootloader can't be unlocked to use LineageOS. I bought a Zenfone recently because I thought I'd be avoiding that issue. If they don't fix this, I won't be buying another one. ASUS CEO contact page: https://www.asus…

[flagged]

I think GP meant two other devices (not from asus) where the vendor doesn't patch and the bootloader is locked.

Re: Asus refunds Zenfone buyer for failing to provide bootloader unlock tools

#116

Post by erinnh »

eganist wrote: post #104
iforgotpassword wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So I guess next thing we need is someone sueing the fucking banks that do that. Mine luckily doesn't because I explicitly use an old phone with LineageOS, the banking app, and nothing else on it for online banking. It's arguably way more secure than using your main phone with a bazillion other Apps installed and online at all times.

How would that stick? You can just sign into the bank via your web browser in the case of a nonfunctional app. The apps just give you added security assurances beyond using the web. "The app can't function in a low security environment, but complainant is free to use the web client in such event." case dismissed (obviously an oversimplification, but the point stands)

This is definitely not the case everywhere.

Where I live the app is 100% needed because it’s the „second factor“ in the login process.

Re: Asus refunds Zenfone buyer for failing to provide bootloader unlock tools

#117

Post by FerretFred »

mnw21cam wrote: post #82

> This has set a basic precedent I would note that technically the small claims court in the UK does not set precedents. That would be the function of a higher court.

Hard to believe that it actually reached the Small Claims Court, let alone succeeded! Well done that person!

Re: Asus refunds Zenfone buyer for failing to provide bootloader unlock tools

#118

Post by The_Colonel »

erinnh wrote: post #116
eganist wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How would that stick? You can just sign into the bank via your web browser in the case of a nonfunctional app. The apps just give you added security assurances beyond using the web. "The app can't function in a low security environment, but complainant is free to use the web client in such event." case dismissed (obviously an oversimplification, but the point stands)

This is definitely not the case everywhere. Where I live the app is 100% needed because it’s the „second factor“ in the login process.

There has to be a fallback like SMS and/or automated call.

Re: Asus refunds Zenfone buyer for failing to provide bootloader unlock tools

#119

Post by jiminymcmoogley »

nebulous1 wrote: post #89
ravenstine wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is rubbish. I'm running GrapheneOS and have left my bootloader unlocked, and there's no app that has refused to work. The only caveat is some of them need Google Play services. No, I am not rooted, but my last phone was rooted and there might have been one or two apps out of dozens that wouldn't work with root even with Magisk trying to hide the root status. Using a custom ROM is easily one of the beat choices I…

Do you use a banking app? Last I read depending on the type of check used some apps can still be problematic.

For UK banks on my Graphened Pixel 6a I can use the apps for HSBC, First Direct, Barclays, NatWest, RBS, Co-Operative Bank and Metro Bank with no issues, and have only had trouble with the Lloyds Bank app as of an update from maybe 2-3 months ago which throws an error saying they've detected I'm using a jailbroken/rooted device

Re: Asus refunds Zenfone buyer for failing to provide bootloader unlock tools

#120

Post by ijijijjij »

Pannoniae wrote: post #115
ijijijjij wrote: post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

I think GP meant two other devices (not from asus) where the vendor doesn't patch and the bootloader is locked.

even if it is different companies, not sure if it makes a difference... it just encourage bad practices.

AKA.... don't look at the small picture.

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