this post was submitted on 27 Feb 2025
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Google’s ‘Secret’ Update Scans All Your Photos (www.forbes.com)
submitted 1 day ago by ad_on_is@lemm.ee to c/technology@lemmy.world
237 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Per one tech forum this week: “Google has quietly installed an app on all Android devices called ‘Android System SafetyCore’. It claims to be a ‘security’ application, but whilst running in the background, it collects call logs, contacts, location, your microphone, and much more making this application ‘spyware’ and a HUGE privacy concern. It is strongly advised to uninstall this program if you can. To do this, navigate to 'Settings’ > 'Apps’, then delete the application.”

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[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 32 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

Forbes states that there is no indication that this app can or will "phone home".

That doesn't mean that it doesn't. If it were open source, we could verify it. As is, it should not be trusted.

[–] Armand1@lemmy.world 7 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

That would definitely be better.

[–] FauxLiving@lemmy.world 4 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

The Graphene devs say it's a local only service.

Open source would be better (and I can easily see open source alternatives being made if you're not locked into a Google Android-based phone), but the idea is sound and I can deny network privileges to the app with Graphene so it doesn't matter if it does decide to one day try to phone home... so I'll give it a shot.

[–] Armand1@lemmy.world 8 points 16 hours ago (2 children)

God I wish I could completely deny internet access to some of my apps on stock android. It's obvious why they don't allow it though.

[–] xspurnx@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 15 hours ago

Check out Netguard. It's an app that pretends to be a VPN client so most of your traffic has to go through it - and then you can deny/allow internet access per app. Even works without root.

[–] coolmojo@lemmy.world 2 points 16 hours ago

You can, if you root your phone. Unless it is not a thing anymore.