This was Likely Recently Auto-Installed on your Phone.

[silentknightowl@slrpnk.net]

If you're using Google messages, they're definitely already doing so

[dreamlandlividity@lemmy.world]

Honestly, if the app was open-source so we can check it does not leak data, I would probably have no issue with it.

Making it a separate app makes sense if google wants to allow other apps to re-use the code. No reason to have the same functionality bundled into each app separately.

And the feature, as long as it is configurable, seems useful.

The auto-install is bad but understandable. As far as I am aware, there isn't and easy way to mark an app as a dependency of another app so it gets automatically installed only when needed. This should be fixed but auto-install for all is not terrible temporary solution. This does not apply when the app is closed source and may steal your data.

[tidesphere@lemmy.world]

Doesn't appear to be on my phone or in the Google play store

[korhaka@sopuli.xyz]

Why would I need any of that, its only used for calls or SMS when I am out of the house. Anything important I can do on Linux.

[biggerbogboy@sh.itjust.works]

If I had a nickel for every time I reported a pervy corporation to the ACCC, I’d have two nickels– which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice.

[biggerbogboy@sh.itjust.works]

It also showed up on my android 11 Reno z

[kbobabob@lemmy.world]

Good ole Phineas and Ferb

[rubberelectrons@lemmy.world]

There's dozens of us.

[grumpyduckling@sh.itjust.works]

.-.. .- ..- .--. .... ...

[onyxjet@lemmy.world]

That's a mistake on my end. Feel free to cross post it there or share if if you want.

[appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com]

Ot did on my phone (Ger Pixel 7 Pro)

[dion_starfire@lemm.ee]

Do you have Google's Messages app installed? If it actually does what they claim on the tin, maybe it was only installed on phones with the Messages app installed?

[lumiluz@slrpnk.net]

I don't, so maybe that's the reason?

[benjaben@lemmy.world]

Thanks for pointing this out, I had no idea. Removed it and left a review complaining.

[jballs@sh.itjust.works]

I don't understand why they'd make this a separate app and not a configurable setting in Messages.

[unclegrandpa@lemmy.world]

so it will be able to restrict the messages you send....and cut off those it does not like?

and if in a year, no anti trump opinions are allowed.....we won't even be able to complain to our friends?

[dinkledorph@lemmy.world]

Infrastructure to give Google system wide control over what content you can and cannot view.

[patatahooligan@lemmy.world]

As far as I know, the apps are not intercepting the text messages for passcodes. The messages have a specific format and a hash to indicate which app they are targeting. It is up to the messages app to read the message and to forward the code. This design should not need to give the apps any access to your messages.

[qqq@lemmy.world]

There are definitely good, non malicious reasons to have it as a separate app and that should actually be preferred. Off the top of my head:

• Separation of permissions - it only has the permissions it asks for instead of every permission messages has
• It can be disabled/removed without disabling messages
• it can be reused by other applications if that's a desirable feature