Surveillance Report
Google's New Feature Threatens Privacy & Freedom!
Sep 16, 2024
Discover the implications of Android's new sideloading restrictions, which threaten user freedom and security. Dive into Facebook's alarming data scraping incident in Australia, alongside emerging threats in cybersecurity. Learn about air-gapped vulnerabilities and how data can be extracted through unconventional methods. Plus, explore the balance between security and customization in mobile operating systems. A discussion on innovative solutions for phone number privacy adds an empowering twist to the conversation.
24:08
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Quick takeaways
- Google's new sideloading restrictions threaten user freedom by limiting app installation options outside the Play Store.
- Facebook's scraping of public data in Australia highlights significant privacy deficiencies, contrasting sharply with GDPR protections in Europe.
Deep dives
Blocking Sideloading in Android Apps
Android apps are introducing the ability to block sideloading, which impacts users who prefer installing apps from outside the Google Play Store. This restriction has begun to affect apps such as Tesco and Chat GPT, where users attempting to sideload these applications are met with prompts urging them to download from the Play Store instead. These new measures employ Google's Play Integrity API, which assesses whether a device meets certain security criteria based on its operating system configuration. While developers can choose whether to implement this feature, many mainstream apps are likely to adopt it, potentially restricting user freedom and raising concerns for those who use custom operating systems.
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