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1. Embed this notice
   jack (jack@mastodon.sdf.org)'s status on Thursday, 06-Feb-2025 04:00:22 JST jack

   You remember #Apple scanning all images on your #mobile device?

   If you have an #Android #phone, a new app that doesn't appear in your menu has been automatically and silently installed (or soon will be) by #Google. It is called #AndroidSystemSafetyCore and does exactly the same - scan all images on your device as well as all incoming ones (via messaging). The new spin is that it does so "to protect your #privacy".

   You can uninstall this app safely via System -> Apps.

   https://developers.google.com/android/binary_transparency/google1p/overview

   • Embed this notice
     Rich Felker (dalias@hachyderm.io)'s status on Saturday, 08-Feb-2025 22:25:12 JST Rich Felker

     in reply to

     @jack Can you please clarify "has been automatically and silently installed (or soon will be)"? Google does NOT, a priori, have any mechanism to install arbitrary apps on your Android device. This would have to happen via a Google-vendored version of Android with an explicit backdoor, automated updates (which you can allow or disallow), or possibly via Play Store (which you would have to have installed/enabled).

   • Embed this notice
     Rich Felker (dalias@hachyderm.io)'s status on Saturday, 08-Feb-2025 22:26:19 JST Rich Felker

     in reply to

     @jack Also important: if you are someone affected by a means for Google to push shit like this, how do you block it *before* it gets installed? Uninstalling it after it's already scanned and exfiltrated your private data is not very satisfying...

   • Embed this notice
     Al (mral@mastodon.sdf.org)'s status on Saturday, 08-Feb-2025 22:28:39 JST Al

     in reply to

     @jack Its time to renew my project to de-google my phone. Its hard since I'm still in the US and most good phone are in the EU.

     any recommendation on a good phone to start with?

   • Embed this notice
     Rich Felker (dalias@hachyderm.io)'s status on Saturday, 08-Feb-2025 22:28:39 JST Rich Felker

     in reply to

     • Al

     @mral @jack If you want high-end, one of the premium models supported by GrapheneOS. If you're happy with anything decent that will run LineageOS or similar, Motorola is my go-to. Even stock, it's not heavily malware-infested, and they're super cheap. Mine I got for $125 3+ years ago is still very usable. Just check the specific model with compat list before buying.