[HN Gopher] Android phones are sending significant amount of use...
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       Android phones are sending significant amount of user data with no
       opt-out [pdf]
        
       Author : giuliomagnifico
       Score  : 32 points
       Date   : 2021-10-11 16:52 UTC (6 hours ago)
        
 (HTM) web link (www.scss.tcd.ie)
 (TXT) w3m dump (www.scss.tcd.ie)
        
       | autoexec wrote:
       | Last I checked the default keyboard samsung installs on their
       | phones was collecting what you typed and sharing/selling that
       | data with third parties. I try not to store or access any
       | personal information on my cell phones when i can avoid it, but
       | at a certain point, just having one is enough to seriously
       | compromise your privacy. Strong regulation with real sharp teeth
       | is the only thing that can fix this situation.
        
         | nimbius wrote:
         | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.dslul.open...
         | 
         | OpenBoard is a 100% foss keyboard based on AOSP, with no
         | dependency on Google binaries, that respects your privacy.
        
           | autoexec wrote:
           | Once I realized what samsung was doing I switched to
           | AnySoftKeyboard and I'm pretty happy with it. It's got a lot
           | of options.
           | 
           | https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.menny.android.anysoftkey.
           | ..
        
             | ignoramous wrote:
             | One may replace the keyboard, but the underlying "input
             | method" framework is still under OEM's (in this case,
             | Samsung's) control: That is (afaik), they could key-log
             | just fine regardless of whatever keyboard one may install /
             | use.
        
         | SV_BubbleTime wrote:
         | There are lines in the sand, and a default key logger sending
         | data to undisclosed third parties should be a pretty easy one
         | everyone can agree on.
        
           | atatatat wrote:
           | This isn't the sort of news that wins on people's Facebook or
           | Instagram feeds.
        
       | kop316 wrote:
       | Skimming through the article, they compare a few ROMs from
       | significant phone manufacturers, LineageOS with Google Play, /e/,
       | and Stock Android.
       | 
       | It seems that LineageOS has GApps installed and /e/ does not
       | (presumably since they use MicroG?), so it is looking like for
       | LineageOS, it's really Google Play leaking this data.
        
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       (page generated 2021-10-11 23:01 UTC)