Google Allows Creditors to Brick Your Phone - Infosec.Pub
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I installed NetGuard about a month ago and blocked all internet to apps, unless they’re on a whitelist. No notifications from this particular system app (that can’t be disabled) until recently when it started making internet connection requests to google servers. Does anyone know when this became a thing? Edit 2: I bought my Pixel 6 phone outright, directly from Google’s Australian store. I have no creditors. Were the courts not enough control for creditors? Since when are they allowed to lock you out of your purchased property without a court order? I don’t even live in the US, so what the actual fuck? Edit 1: You can check it’s installed (stock Pixel 6 android 14) Settings > Apps > All Apps > three dot menu, Show system > search “DeviceLockController”. I highly recommend getting NetGuard, you can enable pro features via their website if you have the APK for as low as 0.10€, but donate more, because it’s amazing. You can also purchase via Google Play store.
  • Blaster M@lemmy.worldEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    Don’t buy a phone on collateral credit (like from a cell provider that “gives” you a phone with service). If you must, ebay a phone and use paypal.

    If you can’t afford a $1200 phone by paying for it in “cash”, you need to aim lower.

  • IsThisAnAI@lemmy.world
    0·
    1 year ago

    Don’t buy a phone on random creditors that install this shit. This has nothing to do with Google.

    You going to ditch Linux because they support remote management too?

    • MisterFrog@lemmy.world
      0·
      1 year ago

      I’m OOP, I bought this phone outright. Google seems to be installing this on phones by default (the actual pattern based on people’s comments seems to be more recent phones, but not all have it).

      It’s even shipping within de-googled phones, at some base ASOP level (or the hardware, I dunno, not that knowledgeable), as some GrapheneOS use reported having it on their phones too.

      I’m pissed because: 1. It’s installed when it shouldn’t be, 2. Gives inappropriate power to creditors, which hurts the most vulnerable.

      • IsThisAnAI@lemmy.world
        01·
        1 year ago

        Imagine acting like having a $1000 phone is a right. If you didn’t want creditors shutting down your phone, pay for it. Apparently this is an undue burden these days.

    • coffeeClean@infosec.pubOP
      1·
      1 year ago

      beehaw.org defederated from lemmy.ml. And I don’t blame them. I actually try not to post to lemmy.ml or any of the Cloudflare-centralized nodes (lemmy.world, sh.itjust.works, lemm.ee, etc) but it slipped my mind when I posted here.

      (edit) sorry, i’m confused. I thought beehaw.org defederated from lemmy.ml, but both the post herein and the original are on lemmy.ml yet you can reach this one. So I’m missing something. I wonder if you are able to see infosec.pub-mirrored content and maybe the original community has no infosec subscribers? hard to say.