I assume that anything is spyware unless proven innocent, especially on mobile where surveillanceware is effectively the whole purpose for the platform's existence.
Are Xiaomi browsers spyware? Yes, they are (2020)
91–100 of 505 posts
Re: Are Xiaomi browsers spyware? Yes, they are (2020)
#92I recently bought a Xiaomi phone (Poco m3) for development. I was shocked to learn that in order to enable USB debug mode in developer settings, I needed to BOTH : 1) make a Xiaomi account with and 2) insert a SIM card to the device (!) Is that not insane? Other people seem to think so too: https://android.stackexchange.com/a/186052 Apparently the only alternative to this is rooting the device, which may break it.
I bought a Poco X3 NFC about a month ago, and also was confronted with the Xiaomi account signup request when I tried to enable USB debugging.
For me this was enough of a reason to send the device back, but I started fiddling around and ended up being able to use USB debugging without an Xiaomi account. I don't remember how I managed to do this, I think I had to disable a specific MIUI optimization. No ADB had to be used for this. I think it was this https://android.stackexchange.com/a/185876
I'm also pretty sure that I did not insert a SIM card at that point, because I was still using the device-to-be-replaced on that and the following days.
I think it's just a lot of tactics which they use in order to push you to create an account, but ultimately it's not required.
That being said, I really despise their MIUI, all their modifications. Everything about it attempts to make you use their products, even if Google's apps are already installed.
For me, the Android experience which the Pixel devices give you are all I want. Even Motorola's minor enhancements are something I don't want on a new phone.
Re: Are Xiaomi browsers spyware? Yes, they are (2020)
#93Chinese browser collects your data? Spyware. American company collects your data? $1,400,000,000,000 valuation. This reminds me of how we call Russian billionaires "oligarchs" but we just call American billionaires...billionaires.
> This reminds me of how we call Russian billionaires "oligarchs" but we just call American billionaires...billionaires.
Seriously, this is what you're going with?
Russigan oligarchs are people who just straight out stole national assets from the Soviet Union/Russia, with the help of the current ruler. There's a relatively clear definition:
Re: Are Xiaomi browsers spyware? Yes, they are (2020)
#94Earlier quoted context omitted.
1.) Xiaomi worth billions of dollars, not 1.4 trillion, but way more than most companies. 2.) People call out Google all. the. time. There's an article here weekly about dumping Google, finding alternatives, praying for antitrust regulation, etc. 3.) We don't commonly call billionaires who live in the middle east, china, and other non-western countries "oligarchs", do you know why? Why are you so upset about Xiaomi g…
>1.) Xiaomi worth billions of dollars, not 1.4 trillion, but way more than most companies. They're referring to Alphabet's (Google) market cap, not Xiaomi's.
Pretty clear that GP understands this, since his next point specifically addresses Google. I think he's saying that Xiaomi is also a big company, albeit less big. Seems like a fair point.
Re: Are Xiaomi browsers spyware? Yes, they are (2020)
#95ARE YOU FN KIDDING ME:
Anything from CCP is pyware - especially when the FN namesake is XI Jinpooh.
Re: Are Xiaomi browsers spyware? Yes, they are (2020)
#96I truly don't understand, from a security and privacy perspective, why would anyone outside of China would voluntarily choose to run closed-source software from a company that's subject to domestic laws and regulations in China. The MSS is no joke. https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=china+mss... This is the same reason that Zoom is banned at my workplace and many other partner companies. You've actual…
> The second is that Xiaomi, as a company with that collected data resident in China on its servers, is obliged to provide a pipeline for a copy of their database to the MSS upon request.
If you're anywhere near any scene you might consider not liked by the current government (which surely also includes journalists and the likes), your domestic agencies are a far bigger threat than the MSS, as long as you don't choose to go to China - and even then, you're probably fine, unless you're fighting against the Chinese regime in particular.
And yes, the patriot act and the NSA are no joke. It's not like subpoenas are never head of (and the EU is, at least in parts, not much better).
Re: Are Xiaomi browsers spyware? Yes, they are (2020)
#97Earlier quoted context omitted.
i can't remember the last time i felt fear expressing my beliefs on my phone here in the USA so you tell me
Sure unless you are someone whos beliefs actually matters like a reporter and the CIA hacks your car driving assistance or you are found dead by suicide of two shots in the head.
...and the goalposts shift
Re: Are Xiaomi browsers spyware? Yes, they are (2020)
#98Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'm sure that a Chinese citizen would see the NSA as an equal or greater threat. The difference from my perspective is that as a citizen of a NATO country with a functioning democracy, I'm highly unlikely to be rounded up by my government and put in a prison or concentration camp for expressing my political opinions or religion. You only need to look at the past several years of news from Hong Kong and the Uyghur/Xin…
I'm not 100% sure from your comment whether you're making out that: (a). China is bad (yes, known) (b). The US is not quite as bad (debatable but for the sake of argument lets agree that this is true) (c). The US is benign My comment was only refuting the 3rd supposition. I'm not sure if you actually believe this is true. Though terms such as "country with a functioning democracy" make me think you might...
> My comment was only refuting the 3rd supposition. I'm not sure if you actually believe this is true.
The country is an imperfect union. Although the country attempts at every turn to work towards "A more perfect Union"; clearly we have similar issues that other countries do.
In a comparative analysis, OP was merely saying the US is head and shoulders above a country that suppresses freedom of speech, eliminates political dissent and the people who promote freedom and sends them away to actual concentration camps under the guise of "re-education".
Re: Are Xiaomi browsers spyware? Yes, they are (2020)
#99I truly don't understand, from a security and privacy perspective, why would anyone outside of China would voluntarily choose to run closed-source software from a company that's subject to domestic laws and regulations in China. The MSS is no joke. https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=china+mss... This is the same reason that Zoom is banned at my workplace and many other partner companies. You've actual…
Same could be said for countries outside of the USA buying US tech equipment.
That's not true, because US companies are allowed to export E2E technology in products. Chinese companies are not given the same leeway. All Chinese messenger clients are not encrypted and are fully surveilled. That is not true for US messenger clients.
Re: Are Xiaomi browsers spyware? Yes, they are (2020)
#100Chinese browser collects your data? Spyware. American company collects your data? $1,400,000,000,000 valuation. This reminds me of how we call Russian billionaires "oligarchs" but we just call American billionaires...billionaires.
I don't grant your premise that the U.S. government's level of access to Google data is the same as the Chinese government's access to Xiaomi's. I also don't grant that the two governments are equivalent threats to privacy. You would need to demonstrate both of those things for me to be on board with your argument.
But, the point I actually want to make is that this implies that people aren't concerned with Google's use of their private data, which I think is demonstrably not true, given that they've got multiple open lawsuits against them over it.