this post was submitted on 17 Sep 2024

89 points (98.9% liked)

technology

23281 readers

277 users here now

On the road to fully automated luxury gay space communism.

Spreading Linux propaganda since 2020

Rules:

1. Obviously abide by the sitewide code of conduct. Bigotry will be met with an immediate ban
2. This community is about technology. Offtopic is permitted as long as it is kept in the comment sections
3. Although this is not /c/libre, FOSS related posting is tolerated, and even welcome in the case of effort posts
4. We believe technology should be liberating. As such, avoid promoting proprietary and/or bourgeois technology
5. Explanatory posts to correct the potential mistakes a comrade made in a post of their own are allowed, as long as they remain respectful
6. No crypto (Bitcoin, NFT, etc.) speculation, unless it is purely informative and not too cringe
7. Absolutely no tech bro shit. If you have a good opinion of Silicon Valley billionaires please manifest yourself so we can ban you.

founded 4 years ago

MODERATORS

Jadzia_Dax@hexbear.net

blashork@hexbear.net

context@hexbear.net

EmmaGoldman@hexbear.net

SexUnderSocialism@hexbear.net

gaycomputeruser@hexbear.net

ZoomeristLeninist@hexbear.net

Fuck Google | Android 15 cracks down on sideloaded apps even harder to protect users (www.androidauthority.com)

submitted 1 month ago by OptimusSubprime@hexbear.net to c/technology@hexbear.net

12 comments fedilink hide all child comments

You heard me.

https://archive.ph/EmEYq

all 13 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old

[–] someone@hexbear.net 26 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Looking throught the changes, it seems all this isn't quite as awful as it sounds at first. It's more about requiring that apps-that-install-apps use the purpose-built API to do it, which was designed so that alternative app stores would be able to do things like easy installs, automatic updates, those sorts of things. I'd like to hear from the F-Droid folks give their thoughts on this.

[–] OptimusSubprime@hexbear.net 11 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Okay but here's the kicker:

If you have an alternative OS like GrapheneOS, you won't be able to side load there either.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/09/android-now-allows-apps-to-block-sideloading-and-push-a-google-play-version/

Google's Play Integrity API is how apps have previously blocked access when loaded onto phones that are in some way modified from a stock OS with all Google Play integrations intact. Recently, a popular two-factor authentication app blocked access on phones with modified firmware, including GrapheneOS, which aims to surpass the security of Android's stock system. Apps can call the Play Integrity API and get back an "integrity verdict," relaying if the phone has a "trustworthy" software environment, has Google Play Protect enabled, and passes other software checks.

Might look reasonable on it's face, but if I need to fix an app, or possibly get an app that was removed from Google Play, I'm blocked from that. What control I had over my Android phone is gone with Android 15, if I ever get that update. And switching to something else like GrapheneOS or Lineage, I'm blocked if I ever install GApps / GPlay.

Edit: grammar, clarity.

[–] CarbonScored@hexbear.net 4 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I mean, that's pretty bad. Only being able to use the API severely restricts the kinds of apps you can install, making a user controlling their own device significantly harder and massively strengthening the hold of the Play Store.

[–] Speaker@hexbear.net 19 points 1 month ago

I'm going to do the "bad take based on reading only the headline" thing:

Their accursed walled garden

Our holy user protection fence

[–] heggs_bayer@hexbear.net 7 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Second, these restrictions don’t apply to any third-party app stores for Android that utilize the operating system’s purpose-built API for installing apps. In fact, Android 15’s restrictions on sideloaded apps are merely an expansion of a security change introduced in a previous version, a change that has not materially impacted third-party app stores and can still be manually disabled by the user.

F-Droid should be unaffected, so this doesn't sound terrible TBH. Still hate Google though.

[–] kota@hexbear.net 7 points 1 month ago

I wonder if it's going to make installing the initial f-droid apk a huge pain though. Since normally you need to just download it in your browser and install it.

[–] beejjorgensen@lemmy.sdf.org 5 points 1 month ago

I like the legal antitrust approach to get them to stop this.

[–] LaughingLion@hexbear.net 5 points 1 month ago (1 children)

HARMONY OS GANG

[–] coolusername@lemmy.ml 5 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I have an OG huawei mate pro and the only thing wrong with it is that after an instagram update, video stories you post on instagram would look choppy. I wouldn't be surprised if they did it on purpose. i think i'm going to abandon instagram completely. the only thing that i would require from harmony os is for them to work with fingerprint authentication for banking apps. also, banks i use would need to collaborate with the huawei app store of course

[–] GaveUp@hexbear.net 3 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

These changes seem fine tbh, non-technical users genuinely have no reason to be side loading apps that can bypass everything. the average Android user probably doesn't even understand what an operating system is

Tbh it'd actually be nice if Android out the box could be as locked down as iOS but stay as modifiable as it is now so technical users can still easily open everything up and tinker with it

[–] BearOfaTime@lemm.ee 11 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Side loaded apps can't bypass anything more than play-provided apps.

Play still does all it's protection, annoyingly (even when you turn protection off).

Root is the only way to get around those protections (or using a ROM that doesn't have play installed).

[–] GaveUp@hexbear.net 2 points 1 month ago

I dont mess around with Android but from the article it seems like side loaded apps have easier access to OS APIs?

That's what I meant