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We need to demand more options on technology platforms! We cannot impose effective consumer pressure when we are forced to choose between two locked down App St

We need to demand more options on technology platforms! We cannot impose effective consumer pressure when we are forced to choose between two locked down App Stores which make it impossible to categorically prevent these kinds of malicious actions. How long do you think it would take for a "Little Snitch"-like application to pop up that firewalls location API access if the platforms were more open?

HKH2 4y ago
We clearly have options. On an Android phone, you can install F-Droid, and you can flash a custom Android ROM. You can even pay for a phone with those things already set up. Like it or not, people want convenience.
kelnos 4y ago
I mean, we have that: Android has plenty of alternative ROMs, many of which have Google services removed or otherwise sandboxed. But, overwhelmingly, people (myself included) do not choose to take this route, because they are much less user-friendly, and you lose functionality. Regarding "firewalling location API access", that's something that you get for default on both Android and iOS, no? Granted, there's no guarantee Google and Apple themselves are respecting those settings on their own platforms.
- nixpulvis 4y ago
  What I'm trying to say is that there should be significant pressure on companies like Apple and Google to take their successful and user friendly platforms and open them up so we can implement the functions we want without opting to replace the whole thing (rooted or jailbroken) ROMs.
  - lern_too_spel 4y ago
    You can do that right now with Android without root, including Little Snitch functionality.
    - nixpulvis 4y ago
      How?
      - lern_too_spel 4y ago
        Using the VpnService API. There are several apps to choose from, including https://f-droid.org/en/packages/eu.faircode.netguard/ https://f-droid.org/en/packages/eu.faircode.netguard/
chrismartin 4y ago
If you have (or are willing to buy) a compatible phone, GrapheneOS is as good as it gets in my experience -- pushes the envelope of usability and security more than any other mobile device OS yet. The sandboxed Google services compatibility layer (using device profiles) lets you have your privacy cake and eat proprietary apps when you need them, too.
deleted 4y ago
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HKH2 4y ago

We clearly have options. On an Android phone, you can install F-Droid, and you can flash a custom Android ROM. You can even pay for a phone with those things already set up. Like it or not, people want convenience.

kelnos 4y ago

I mean, we have that: Android has plenty of alternative ROMs, many of which have Google services removed or otherwise sandboxed. But, overwhelmingly, people (myself included) do not choose to take this route, because they are much less user-friendly, and you lose functionality. Regarding "firewalling location API access", that's something that you get for default on both Android and iOS, no? Granted, there's no guarantee Google and Apple themselves are respecting those settings on their own platforms.

nixpulvis 4y ago
What I'm trying to say is that there should be significant pressure on companies like Apple and Google to take their successful and user friendly platforms and open them up so we can implement the functions we want without opting to replace the whole thing (rooted or jailbroken) ROMs.
- lern_too_spel 4y ago
  You can do that right now with Android without root, including Little Snitch functionality.
  - nixpulvis 4y ago
    How?
    - lern_too_spel 4y ago
      Using the VpnService API. There are several apps to choose from, including https://f-droid.org/en/packages/eu.faircode.netguard/ https://f-droid.org/en/packages/eu.faircode.netguard/

chrismartin 4y ago

If you have (or are willing to buy) a compatible phone, GrapheneOS is as good as it gets in my experience -- pushes the envelope of usability and security more than any other mobile device OS yet. The sandboxed Google services compatibility layer (using device profiles) lets you have your privacy cake and eat proprietary apps when you need them, too.

deleted 4y ago

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