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Samsung embeds IronSource spyware app on phones across WANA

smex.org

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Re: Samsung embeds IronSource spyware app on phones across WANA

#21

Post by hedora »

boramalper wrote: post #13
andrewflnr wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or just don't get Samsung? I guess I don't know for sure that my phone brand doesn't do anything similar, but it at least hasn't hit the news yet.

> AppCloud—pre-installed on Samsung’s A and M series smartphones. Samsung’s A and M series smartphones are their cheapest models so their buyers probably cannot afford better phones. I don’t know of any other brands selling in the region with similarly priced models that have better privacy practices than Samsung either—they’re all the same at that price point I’m afraid.

Looking around, you can get an A series or unlocked iPhone 13 new from a prepaid mvno for $0.

A refurbished iPhone 13 is $300 on amazon, which is close to the cheapest M ($250). I can’t find new 13’s for sale except via budget carriers.

(Sent from my 12 mini which is better than all that followed it: $200-ish for excellent condition, refurbished.)

Re: Samsung embeds IronSource spyware app on phones across WANA

#22

Post by averysmallbird »

the-anarchist wrote: post #15

As this post is trending quicker and more than I would have expected it to, I would like to add to this story: It appears to be a similar case across the MENA region. While the SMEX post primarily focuses on WANA, it is possible to find other reports (e.g. [1]) from the MENA region that describe similar practices by Samsung. There, however, the stories talk about "Aura", rather than "AppCloud". [1] https://www.morocc…

Same same. SMEX is based in Lebanon — (S)WANA is an obnoxious term that’s going around for MENA.

Re: Samsung embeds IronSource spyware app on phones across WANA

#23

Post by the-anarchist »

eddythompson80 wrote: post #16
the-anarchist wrote: post #15

As this post is trending quicker and more than I would have expected it to, I would like to add to this story: It appears to be a similar case across the MENA region. While the SMEX post primarily focuses on WANA, it is possible to find other reports (e.g. [1]) from the MENA region that describe similar practices by Samsung. There, however, the stories talk about "Aura", rather than "AppCloud". [1] https://www.morocc…

What is the difference between WANA and MENA. Sounds like the same territory

Yes, but, no. It's one of these things where multiple terms mean the same thing but then again come from different times/areas and, upon closer inspection, mean different things. But they're the same. But not really. [1]

A.k.a. I tried to be as politically correct and cite the term used by the respective reporting. The main point I was trying to bring across was that apparently there are two apps involved, not only a single one.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_East_and_North_Africa

Re: Samsung embeds IronSource spyware app on phones across WANA

#24

Post by userbinator »

making it nearly impossible for regular users to uninstall it without root access, which voids warranties and poses security risks

Stop parroting the corporate propaganda that put us into this stupid situation in the first place. Having root access on devices you own should be a fundamental right, as otherwise it's not ownership.

Re: Samsung embeds IronSource spyware app on phones across WANA

#25

Post by a012 »

hysan wrote: post #14
grishka wrote: post #8

The "unremovable" part is inaccurate. While you can't completely remove it because it resides on the system partition, you most probably can still disable it with an adb command: adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.package.name This command is very powerful as it works for any app, even those that have "disable" greyed out in the settings. I disabled the Galaxy Store on my S9 this way for example.

> "unremovable" > you can't completely remove it Maybe my English isn’t very good but that sounds like the definition of unremovable.

[flagged]

Re: Samsung embeds IronSource spyware app on phones across WANA

#26

Post by bigyabai »

hedora wrote: post #21
boramalper wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> AppCloud—pre-installed on Samsung’s A and M series smartphones. Samsung’s A and M series smartphones are their cheapest models so their buyers probably cannot afford better phones. I don’t know of any other brands selling in the region with similarly priced models that have better privacy practices than Samsung either—they’re all the same at that price point I’m afraid.

Looking around, you can get an A series or unlocked iPhone 13 new from a prepaid mvno for $0. A refurbished iPhone 13 is $300 on amazon, which is close to the cheapest M ($250). I can’t find new 13’s for sale except via budget carriers. (Sent from my 12 mini which is better than all that followed it: $200-ish for excellent condition, refurbished.)

You're better off getting a preowned Pixel to flash with a secure ROM in this scenario. Getting an iPhone won't help if you if later down the line Apple decides to push an OTA update that forces the same functionality. A Pixel won't protect you from every vulnerability, but it goes much further towards stopping these sorts of attacks than the iPhone does.

Now hey, I won't suggest that Apple would stoop as low as Samsung has here. But discerning customers might not want Tim Apple's phone if he's been cozying up to a crusty politician that can remember to stay for dinner but can't recall his name.

Re: Samsung embeds IronSource spyware app on phones across WANA

#27

Post by anonymars »

boramalper wrote: post #13
andrewflnr wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or just don't get Samsung? I guess I don't know for sure that my phone brand doesn't do anything similar, but it at least hasn't hit the news yet.

> AppCloud—pre-installed on Samsung’s A and M series smartphones. Samsung’s A and M series smartphones are their cheapest models so their buyers probably cannot afford better phones. I don’t know of any other brands selling in the region with similarly priced models that have better privacy practices than Samsung either—they’re all the same at that price point I’m afraid.

In my case I wanted a damn SD card slot. And more than 2 years of security updates.

Re: Samsung embeds IronSource spyware app on phones across WANA

#28

Post by perching_aix »

userbinator wrote: post #24

making it nearly impossible for regular users to uninstall it without root access, which voids warranties and poses security risks Stop parroting the corporate propaganda that put us into this stupid situation in the first place. Having root access on devices you own should be a fundamental right, as otherwise it's not ownership.

Didn't we backslide hard enough at this point that it is now architecturally ensured that there is a security downside to rooting? Prevents verified boot for example, since the attestation is tied to said corporations, and not you.

Re: Samsung embeds IronSource spyware app on phones across WANA

#29

Post by anonymars »

akersten wrote: post #7

In my experience, Samsung is a label that means "stay far, far away." From the Galaxy Note fiasco to my microwave to my dishwasher to ... Probably at least three other products before I learned my lesson. I even refuse to buy QD-OLED monitors out of indignation that Samsung makes the panels. Maybe I'm alone but maybe one day we'll boycott lousy companies out of business.

In favor of what? The Android ecosystem is pretty lousy. Which manufacturers allow you to easily migrate to a new phone (Samsung has Smart Switch) and have, let's say, 4+ years of security updates?

Genuine question.

In my case I also wanted an SD card slot so it was slim slim pickings indeed. (And still there are some misfits who insist that there is no such thing as progress!)

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