Google’s ‘Secret’ Update Scans All Your Photos
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Per one tech forum this week: “Google has quietly installed an app on all Android devices called ‘Android System SafetyCore’. It claims to be a ‘security’ application, but whilst running in the background, it collects call logs, contacts, location, your microphone, and much more making this application ‘spyware’ and a HUGE privacy concern. It is strongly advised to uninstall this program if you can. To do this, navigate to 'Settings’ > 'Apps’, then delete the application.”
It didn't appear in my apps list so I thought it wasn't installed. But when I searched for the app name it appears. So be aware.
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Even with the latest update from Samsung, I am not seeing this app. My OnePlus did get it with the February update and I had to remove it.
I'm on an ASUS and it didn't appear in my app list, but when I searched in my settings list it did. So maybe it's something similar for you.
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Is there any indication that Apple is truly more secure and privacy conscious over Android? Im kinda tired of Google and their oversteps.
The short answer is: Apple collects much of the same data as any other modern tech composite, but their "walled garden" strategy means that for the most part only THEY have access to that info.
It's technically lower risk since fewer parties have access to the data, but philosophically just about equally as bad because they aren't doing this out of any real love for privacy (despite what their marketing department might claim)
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The app can be found here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.safetycore
The app reviews are a good read.
The 5 star reviews are whack
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I just un-installed it
Anyone know what Android System Intelligence does? Should that be un-installed as well?
First result of DDG search, explains it quite well: https://www.androidauthority.com/android-system-intelligence-3325187/
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Contacts are overrated.
New os, who dis?
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New os, who dis?
Niko, it's your cousin, Roman. LETS GO BOWLING!
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I switched over to GrapheneOS a couple months ago and couldn't be happier. If you have a Pixel the switch is really easy. The biggest obstacle was exporting my contacts from my google account.
LineageOS is amazing as well. Especially since it covers many devices
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I'd that what's killing my fucking battery like crazy lately?
I'm curious about this. I've got a Pixel 6 and noticed that the battery started going to shit about a month or so ago? I couldn't find an install date for SafetyCore, but it was listed in my apps. I've uninstalled it now. It'll be interesting to see if that was causing it.
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I switched over to GrapheneOS a couple months ago and couldn't be happier. If you have a Pixel the switch is really easy. The biggest obstacle was exporting my contacts from my google account.
GrapheneOS — an Android security developer — provides some comfort, that SafetyCore “doesn’t provide client-side scanning used to report things to Google or anyone else. It provides on-device machine learning models usable by applications to classify content as being spam, scams, malware, etc. This allows apps to check content locally without sharing it with a service and mark it with warnings for users.”
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It didn't appear in my apps list so I thought it wasn't installed. But when I searched for the app name it appears. So be aware.
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Looks like more of a chance of false positives happening and getting the police to raid your home to confiscate your devices. I don't care what the article says I know Google is getting access to that data because that's who they are.
Just for verifying accuracy and improving the product.
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Tracking maybe, but how is the Play Store managing my apps?
- Updates them for you
- Scans them for you
- Removes ones for you if Google (often correctly) deems them to be threats to your device
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Even with the latest update from Samsung, I am not seeing this app. My OnePlus did get it with the February update and I had to remove it.
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Per one tech forum this week: “Google has quietly installed an app on all Android devices called ‘Android System SafetyCore’. It claims to be a ‘security’ application, but whilst running in the background, it collects call logs, contacts, location, your microphone, and much more making this application ‘spyware’ and a HUGE privacy concern. It is strongly advised to uninstall this program if you can. To do this, navigate to 'Settings’ > 'Apps’, then delete the application.”
Thanks for bringing this up, first I've heard of it. Not present on my GrapheneOS pixel, present on stock.
I suppose I should encourage pixel owners to switch from stock to graphene, I know which decide I rather spend time using. GrapheneOS one of course.
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Play Store, it doesn't show in local search results, but they list it as installed.
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Thanks for bringing this up, first I've heard of it. Not present on my GrapheneOS pixel, present on stock.
I suppose I should encourage pixel owners to switch from stock to graphene, I know which decide I rather spend time using. GrapheneOS one of course.
I've looked into it.l briefly. Did you have any issues switching? I'm concerned about how some apps I need would function.
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Per one tech forum this week: “Google has quietly installed an app on all Android devices called ‘Android System SafetyCore’. It claims to be a ‘security’ application, but whilst running in the background, it collects call logs, contacts, location, your microphone, and much more making this application ‘spyware’ and a HUGE privacy concern. It is strongly advised to uninstall this program if you can. To do this, navigate to 'Settings’ > 'Apps’, then delete the application.”
Seriously…. Why do people continue to buy their products? They’re seemingly one of the most invasive security risks one could be involved with.
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Seriously…. Why do people continue to buy their products? They’re seemingly one of the most invasive security risks one could be involved with.
why, what do you recommend? I mean you have just disclaime the whole android ecosystem, and the only other alternative is Apple, which is questionable if it's better
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Seriously…. Why do people continue to buy their products? They’re seemingly one of the most invasive security risks one could be involved with.
why, what do you recommend?
I mean you have just disclaime the whole android ecosystem, and the only other alternative is Apple, which is questionable if it's better.
and this would have even applied to my fairphone!
would have, if I didn't get rid of google services the day I got it.
