DeGoogle Yourself

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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] 2 points 8 months ago (4 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 11 points 8 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.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 months ago

I agree with you 💯 percent.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 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.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 8 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.

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

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

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

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

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago

Thanks, apparently not installed anyways :)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago

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

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

Is that the one that was the confirmed FedOp?

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

What does that mean?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago

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