Force installed app
from NahMarcas@lemmy.ml to privacy@lemmy.ml on 16 Aug 12:48
https://lemmy.ml/post/51457768

About 3 days ago my phone installed without warning this app, I just removed with no problems, maybe you shoult see if you have too

#privacy

threaded - newest

Shameless@lemmy.world on 16 Aug 13:12 next collapse

Thanks! Looks as though I also had the same. I’ve only been able to disable it for now

Kirk@startrek.website on 16 Aug 14:03 collapse

I don’t even have a “disable” option…

Tippy@sh.itjust.works on 16 Aug 16:11 collapse

Imagine being an Admiral Patrick alt and being upset about an invasive app forcing itself onto your device and user experience without permission

Kirk@startrek.website on 16 Aug 18:45 collapse

Ok I’m imagining it now what

Goodlucksil@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 16 Aug 13:44 next collapse

It was also on mine

rockSlayer@lemmy.blahaj.zone on 16 Aug 14:04 next collapse

I was only able to disable it

gedfromgont@piefed.ca on 16 Aug 14:05 next collapse

I can only remove updates, not the actual app.

SirEDCaLot@lemmy.today on 17 Aug 06:28 collapse

I was able to disable but not uninstall it…

turbowafflz@lemmy.world on 16 Aug 14:10 next collapse

I don’t seem to have it but I had this"Android System Key Verifier" I just removed

<img alt="1000059797" src="https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/9aeeeb01-3e93-4ddb-a1c2-b7d5412e8cff.jpeg">

zikzak025@lemmy.world on 16 Aug 14:28 collapse

That one is also safe to remove, but that one is a bit older and is apparently just for verifying contacts in E2EE messenger apps. Smells like spyware to me but Google provided no more context in the description than that so I’m not inclined to trust it.

Just be aware that it will likely bring itself back without notice, either in system updates or just pushed by the Play Store.

Valarie@lemmygrad.ml on 16 Aug 14:18 next collapse

i didnt get it as of now

pedroapero@lemmy.ml on 22 Aug 22:11 collapse

me neither. I have Play Store disabled (using Aurora instead); Play Protect also, not sure if it helps.

Midnight1938@reddthat.com on 16 Aug 15:34 next collapse

It keeps installing itself

RobotToaster@mander.xyz on 16 Aug 15:50 next collapse

We used to call software that installed things without permission a Trojan horse.

Forbo@lemmy.ml on 16 Aug 16:31 next collapse

Graphene user, I highly recommend it to everyone I can.

leviathan@feddit.org on 17 Aug 00:18 next collapse

LineageOS user… here as well

MrKiosc@reddthat.com on 17 Aug 06:16 collapse

Is there a mega thread explaining the main Android alternatives and their installations? Graphene looks like the best one but a google pixel is way too expensive for me and I don’t have the specs to compile Calyx (I dont remember if it was calyx but one of them had a guide recommending mimimun 16/500GB)

RFKJrsBrainworm@sh.itjust.works on 17 Aug 16:48 next collapse

Pick up an old used unlocked pixel on swappa and boom you’re good. I think I picked up a 6 about a year ago for 100. It’s great

MrKiosc@reddthat.com on 18 Aug 04:14 collapse

I really want to buy a used one but I don’t have a trusted local refurbisher and even then it would cost me at least 300 dollrs because of third world shenanigans

RFKJrsBrainworm@sh.itjust.works on 19 Aug 12:20 collapse

I’ve used swappa for years back to my galaxy8. Great way to get a cheap unlocked phone…much cheaper than phone insurance if your okay with a phone two years old.

CreativeCider@feddit.org on 17 Aug 16:53 collapse

Bought a refurbished 9Pro and put Graphene on it. I feel better how and at the fraction of the cost of a new one

pirate2377@lemmy.zip on 17 Aug 03:53 collapse

Nah, use Ubuntu Touch instead…in about a year when it’ll hopefully be usable and have more apps

Jolteon@lemmy.zip on 17 Aug 07:34 collapse

Haven’t people been saying that about every linux phone OS for decades now?

RandomLegend@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 17 Aug 10:12 collapse

At this point the daily usable linux phone feels like fusion energy. Always just a few years away

umbrella@lemmy.ml on 16 Aug 17:01 next collapse

no google play services here.

so no weird apps installing themselves on my phone.

dsilverz@catodon.rocks on 16 Aug 13:15 next collapse

It was suspiciously easy for me to uninstall it, too. I didn't even need adb. I wonder if uninstalling this would break things systemwide.

Needless to say I also turned off the "Google Play Protect".

Any info on whether there's a risk that this uninstalling would risk breaking things?

(I'd love to have a Linux phone or something similar; unfortunately I can neither afford one due to unemployment nor I could have it getting to me through the customs without being flagged by Brazilian telecommunications regulatory agency complaining about how it lacks a license to operate around here)

!privacy@lemmy.ml

hexagonwin@lemmy.today on 16 Aug 17:52 collapse

if youre stuck on stock rom theres a program called Universal ADB Debloater that has premade lists of bunch of safe to remove bloatwares and removes/disables them thru adb

dsilverz@catodon.rocks on 16 Aug 18:29 collapse

I'll check it, but... Doesn't this risk rendering internet banking (for context, Brazilian banking) and government apps refusing to function? Last time I threatened to simply turn on developer mode (so to use things such as adb), gov.br stopped working for me (and it's basically the 2FA app through which I'm expected to have access to public healthcare appointments, driver's license, electoral/voter ID, etc).

!privacy@lemmy.ml

hexagonwin@lemmy.today on 16 Aug 19:03 collapse

wtf, if it’s sensitive enough to warn for developer mode, this could indeed cause issues :/

FoxAlive@lemmy.zip on 16 Aug 22:23 collapse

I try not to worry too much about it but it really feels like there is a ticking clock on getting some form of collaboration going to a android/Linux really phone going. More and more I have been internalizing that ticking clock.

Everything is slowly in the process of getting locked down and requiring verified accounts on verified spyware operating systems.

Ai is kind of the DRM for what used to be free access to information. Ever sense google and openai bought reddits api rights we can’t use third party apps, and now its to the point you can’t access content without being logged in and using the app. And in some countries you can’t even use your account without a ID linked to it.

I can’t watch YouTube on newpipe or other open source projects without having to switch my IP every few hours. Reddit and YouTube is where most google searches end up in. I could be locked out of basic internet functions, and information completely. Trying to force me to filter my information through an ai that’s always tracking me and all my meta data ends up with palantir creating profiles on me.

In the united States we are fine for now but given how the rest of the world is looking I imagine our time is coming sooner rather than later. Googles captcha is only going to work on verified android hardware in the future so they are building up literal gates to anyone who doesnt comply.

I’m the stupidest person in the world and I don’t like the pressure I feel for how little this issue is addressed when it feels like it should be of immediate concern. I had much more faith that there where plenty of actually smart people working towards this, and when you really get into it, there’s only handfuls of people and they’re really fragmented.

hexagonwin@lemmy.today on 17 Aug 06:05 collapse

yeah i think we’re all mostly feeling similarly

Krudler@lemmy.world on 16 Aug 18:12 next collapse

Weirdly it’s not installed on my pixel 9. I shudder every time this piece of shit updates.

I know I should install graphene and I will but right now my life is a fiasco and I just can’t undertake the slightest risk that an essential won’t work. I’ve been installing custom roms since the PDA days so it’s not that.

artyom@piefed.social on 16 Aug 18:38 next collapse

Its not the PDA days anymore. They’re not ROMs anymore. Its a very easy and painless operation. Just plug it in and click some buttons in the browser.

Although it does involve restoring the system so…just make sure everything is backed up!

RQG@lemmy.world on 16 Aug 20:28 collapse

I installed graohene on a pixel 9a some weeks ago. Zero prior knowledge. Never done any ROM phone stuff. Its just following a tutorial and clicking some buttons in a browser and on the phone. Like 20 mins or so?

Krudler@lemmy.world on 16 Aug 21:35 collapse

Please spare me your enthusiasm, I cannot bear any risk that my banking app won’t work or anything else along those lines.

You’re not really listening.

I know what I’m doing, I’m just not going to do it rn because I’m smart enough to know better.

MrKiosc@reddthat.com on 17 Aug 06:18 collapse

If I remember correctly the google sandboxing should make up for that, though I’d suggest finding someone with your exact problem

DanVctr@sh.itjust.works on 16 Aug 18:31 next collapse

Just disabled it and uninstalled all updates, thanks for the heads up

RandomLegend@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 17 Aug 10:13 collapse

It will be installed again, don’t worry

Untamed_Star@lemmy.blahaj.zone on 16 Aug 19:23 next collapse

what does it do?

JakenVeina@midwest.social on 16 Aug 19:38 next collapse

Name would suggest it’s part of the upcoming developer verification feature. The one that will prevent installation of any app from a developer not registered with Google, without jumping through some extra hoops.

Zacryon@feddit.org on 17 Aug 01:39 collapse

PlayStore description says:

Android Developer Verification is a Google system service that protects users on certified Android devices by validating the identity of developers for apps installed from the internet. By ensuring every app is linked to a verified developer, this service provides an essential layer of security for your device.

This is likely part of Google’s attempt to close down Android and strengthen its monopoly and data harvesting mania.

blindbunny@lemmy.ml on 16 Aug 20:02 next collapse

I was on mine thanks pixel 9

VeganCheesecake@lemmy.blahaj.zone on 16 Aug 20:14 next collapse

I use Graphene, if you can, you should also use a custom rom.

On stock Android, Google has System privileges. If they want to do anything, they don’t need to install an app visible to the user. Whatever this is, it probably has some kind of purpose. The problem isn’t the app, but running an OS that the manufacturer has full control over.

Texas_Hangover@lemmy.radio on 16 Aug 20:17 next collapse

Mine had that app too. It didn’t try to do anything yet though, my firewall would have caught it.

Fierro@piefed.social on 16 Aug 20:34 next collapse

Fuck, I just deleted it, should’ve disable it like I did with android safety core, now I’m sure at some ppint it will get reinstalled and I won’t notice it or remember to check

CCMan1701A@startrek.website on 17 Aug 02:27 next collapse

On my pixel 7, i see it listed as beta, but not sure how to disable. Can only remove updates.

khanas1f@lemmy.world on 17 Aug 03:03 next collapse

You won’t achieve anything by uninstalling this. Google will just implement this at OS level in future OTA updates anyways or simply reinstall it again because they have that deep level of privilege on Android. You gotta jump ship and leave the Android all together, get Graphene or some other custom ROM.

vathecka@lemmy.radio on 17 Aug 16:29 collapse

Reccomendations for bootloader unlocked phones?

RFKJrsBrainworm@sh.itjust.works on 17 Aug 16:47 collapse

Swappa and buy a pixel

vathecka@lemmy.radio on 17 Aug 20:24 collapse

I have a pixel but its verizon and I cant unlock the bootloader. Its paid off but verizon refuses to unlock phones

KssioAug@piefed.zip on 18 Aug 22:16 collapse

Just disabled it with Shizuku + Canta. Hopefully it’s enough.