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Google will allow only apps from verified developers to be installed on Android

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Re: Google will allow only apps from verified developers to be installed on Android

#772

Post by avhception »

pimterry wrote: post #769
arielcostas wrote: post #765

Meaning to use your device you need to have a contractual relationship with a foreign (unless you are in the US) third party that decides what you can or cannot do with it. Plus using GrapheneOS is less of an option every day, since banks and other "regulated" sectors use Google Play Protect and similar DRMs to prevent you from connecting from whatever device you want. Client-side "trust" means the provider owning th…

I think Play Integrity is the fundamental issue here, and needs to go. That's the crux of the issue. Allowing apps to say "we only run on Google's officially certified unmodified Android devices" and tightly restricting which devices are certified is the part that makes changes like this deeply problematic. Without that, non-Google Android versions are on a fair playing field; if you don't like their rules, you can i…

Banks seem to actually "want" Play Integrity. At least they act like it. I bet they would like for normal online banking on user-controlled devices to completely go away.

Re: Google will allow only apps from verified developers to be installed on Android

#775

Post by mouse_ »

ozim wrote: post #737
medhir wrote: post #407

Every day we stray farther from the premise that we should be allowed to install / modify software on the computers we own. Will once again re-up the concept of a “right to root access”, to prevent big corps from pulling this bs over and over again: https://medhir.com/blog/right-to-root-access

Tell that to all those assholes that are making malware and scamming society on billions. Most of users are not able to keep themselves safe in the internet - they want to install all kind of crap without thinking too much. All of this is companies making it possible that average Joe could just click links, install any kind of crap and still be somewhat secure.

Take away all these freedoms and users will still get scammed. It doesn't help and it's not the real point.

Re: Google will allow only apps from verified developers to be installed on Android

#776

Post by markus_zhang »

cedilla wrote: post #565
tgma wrote: post #503

The funny thing is Stallman started his fight like half a century ago and on regular days Hacker News shits on him eating something off of his foot and not being polished and diplomatic, and loves practical aspects of Corporate Open Source and gratis goodies and doesn't particularly care about Free Software. On this day suddenly folks come out of the woodwork advocating for half baked measures to achieve what Stallma…

Stallman actively hurts the cause with his behaviour. I'm not only talking about his eccentricities, but also the adversarial and combative language. Yes, Amazon is trying to swindle us, but few people will be convinced of that when you start your argument by calling the kindle an "Amazon swindle" every time, directly implying that anyone who has one is an idiot or even malicious. Yes, it's unfair that someone can be…

To put my thoughts into one sentence: You can't fight the system within the system.

Re: Google will allow only apps from verified developers to be installed on Android

#777

Post by flntzr »

This is disheartening.

I feel as an Android user, you've always had to put up with a more incoherent overall experience compared to iOS but received some additional freedom in return.

In recent years, Google has been steadily eroding their end of the bargain.

I wonder where that will leave them in the long term. Short term, I think restricting side loading will reduce piracy and drive sales of their subscriptions. Long term though, I wonder what will set Android devices apart from iOS for the average user, apart from being offered at different price points.

It feels they're playing themselves into a position where they're more directly competing with Apple, ultimately restricting themselves to lower price devices and lower margin sales. As far as walled gardens go, I personally prefer Apple's and I assume most people do.

Re: Google will allow only apps from verified developers to be installed on Android

#778

Post by gonzalohm »

arielcostas wrote: post #765

Meaning to use your device you need to have a contractual relationship with a foreign (unless you are in the US) third party that decides what you can or cannot do with it. Plus using GrapheneOS is less of an option every day, since banks and other "regulated" sectors use Google Play Protect and similar DRMs to prevent you from connecting from whatever device you want. Client-side "trust" means the provider owning th…

What's even the point of all the bullshit with Google play protect if in the end I can access my bank from a web browser. That stupidity is protecting no one

Re: Google will allow only apps from verified developers to be installed on Android

#779

Post by goku12 »

ozim wrote: post #737
medhir wrote: post #407

Every day we stray farther from the premise that we should be allowed to install / modify software on the computers we own. Will once again re-up the concept of a “right to root access”, to prevent big corps from pulling this bs over and over again: https://medhir.com/blog/right-to-root-access

Tell that to all those assholes that are making malware and scamming society on billions. Most of users are not able to keep themselves safe in the internet - they want to install all kind of crap without thinking too much. All of this is companies making it possible that average Joe could just click links, install any kind of crap and still be somewhat secure.

> Tell that to all those assholes that are making malware and scamming society on billions.

And then? I don't know how many times I've downloaded APKs, including obviously malicious ones by accident. But not once has it ever been installed - not even when it was deliberate. The only way I ever 'sideloaded' anything is using 3rd party stores (just fdroid and aurora in my case), which themselves had to be installed via ADB after enabling developer mode. If you have that much skill, you're almost surely skilled enough to understand the security implications of sideloading and choose wisely.

And there are far worse malware available on play store than anything on fdroid repositories, if anything at all - anonymous or not. I hope you remember the SimpleMobileApps fiasco. People who installed it from fdroid were safe from the malicious update, but those who did it from play store were not, when the entire suite was turned into a spyware overnight. Not to mention the tea and boxscore apps scandal. Neither would have made it into fdroid. Google cares the least bit about security, if that isn't clear from the spyware tht each new android phone comes bundled with.

In all, Google's claim of security here is deceptive and farcical. The actual target is going to be the patched apps like revanced, root access software and anything else similar that allows the savvy user to escape the unfair and arbitrary limitations imposed by Google. The ultimate target is the users' pockets. This entire discussion is full of people reaffirming that conclusion. But scapegoats will be found and sacrificed regardless. Let's just not for once. Google deserves the atmost and undiluted contempt and condemnation for their greed and their willingness to erode consumer rights that underlie such dishonestly worded hostile and unilateral decisions.

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