DeGoogle Yourself

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A community for those that would like to get away from Google.

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174

motivation to deGoogle: Creditors can lock your Android remotely if you are delinquent. (infosec.pub)

submitted 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) by coffeeClean@infosec.pub to c/degoogle@lemmy.ml

93 comments fedilink hide all child comments

The technical mechanism:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.devicelock

update

To be clear, I am not the OP who experienced this problem. I just linked them from here.

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[–] cyborganism@lemmy.ca 2 points 7 months ago (4 children)

You have a pixel phone. Just install Calyx OS on it.

[–] MisterFrog@lemmy.world 11 points 7 months ago (2 children)

Even if this would help (I'm OOP, and according to some commenters it's still installed on their phones running other OSes), I'm still outraged at the concept and the fact it's installed by default.

Plus, "just" installing a different OS is not a terribly mass-market friendly thing.

It should be regulated against by governments. The EU is slowly heading in the right direction. We're letting these tech companies do whatever the fuck they want to.

Most people don't have the time or knowledge necessary to make their digital lives entirely private.

This has "stop global warming by making personal choices" vibes to it.

I want privacy by default, and I'm not going to apologise for that.

[–] cyborganism@lemmy.ca 3 points 7 months ago

I agree with you 💯 percent.

[–] coffeeClean@infosec.pub 1 points 7 months ago

It should be regulated against by governments. The EU is slowly heading in the right direction. We’re letting these tech companies do whatever the fuck they want to.

I wonder if it already is illegal. Have you looked into that? Did they disclose this “feature” in any of the agreements or literature that came with the device so that you could return it for a refund? Maybe you have a good legal case here.

[–] Senseless@feddit.de 6 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I don't think that necessarily helps. I'm running GrapheneOS and "DeviceLockController" is installed there as well. From what I read, it's because it's part of AOSP.

I did take all permissions and from the system logs it reads that this app never has been used or tried to send anything to begin with.

[–] flora_explora@beehaw.org 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I'm running CalyxOS and cannot find this app. Is it listed among regular apps?

[–] Senseless@feddit.de 4 points 7 months ago (1 children)

No. It's a system app. Look for "DeviceLockController" or "com.android.devicelockcontroller"

[–] flora_explora@beehaw.org 1 points 7 months ago

Thanks, apparently not installed anyways :)

[–] coffeeClean@infosec.pub 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

To be clear I linked to someone else’s post. I don’t have the Pixel phone.

[–] cyborganism@lemmy.ca 1 points 7 months ago

Ah my bad. I thought I read you had a pixel phone.

[–] electricprism@lemmy.ml 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Is that the one that was the confirmed FedOp?

[–] cyborganism@lemmy.ca 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

What does that mean?

[–] electricprism@lemmy.ml 1 points 7 months ago

One of the "secure" android was a honeypot, can't remember the name. A false flag, a false beacon , a false sanctuary.