DeGoogle Yourself

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

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

submitted 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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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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[–] [email protected] 4 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I don't think any of the major (I know someone will probably come in here and tell me about some tiny provider that's only in like 2 states that does) US carriers that do phones on secured credit, they default to unsecured credit. Maybe, they have an alternative plan for people with not so great credit, but I doubt it.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Someone in the original thread said this swindle does not apply to the US. Though I’m a bit surprised.. it’s the first place where I would expect this to happen.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

The US carriers install their own software loads onto phones they sell, with similar functionality, they don't need to use this mechanism.