Google Allows Creditors to Brick Your Phone - Infosec.Pub
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I installed NetGuard about a month ago and blocked all internet to apps, unless they’re on a whitelist. No notifications from this particular system app (that can’t be disabled) until recently when it started making internet connection requests to google servers. Does anyone know when this became a thing? Edit 2: I bought my Pixel 6 phone outright, directly from Google’s Australian store. I have no creditors. Were the courts not enough control for creditors? Since when are they allowed to lock you out of your purchased property without a court order? I don’t even live in the US, so what the actual fuck? Edit 1: You can check it’s installed (stock Pixel 6 android 14) Settings > Apps > All Apps > three dot menu, Show system > search “DeviceLockController”. I highly recommend getting NetGuard, you can enable pro features via their website if you have the APK for as low as 0.10€, but donate more, because it’s amazing. You can also purchase via Google Play store.
  • IsThisAnAI@lemmy.world
    0·
    6 months ago

    Don’t buy a phone on random creditors that install this shit. This has nothing to do with Google.

    You going to ditch Linux because they support remote management too?

    • MisterFrog@lemmy.world
      0·
      6 months ago

      I’m OOP, I bought this phone outright. Google seems to be installing this on phones by default (the actual pattern based on people’s comments seems to be more recent phones, but not all have it).

      It’s even shipping within de-googled phones, at some base ASOP level (or the hardware, I dunno, not that knowledgeable), as some GrapheneOS use reported having it on their phones too.

      I’m pissed because: 1. It’s installed when it shouldn’t be, 2. Gives inappropriate power to creditors, which hurts the most vulnerable.

            • IsThisAnAI@lemmy.world
              0·
              6 months ago

              Which is why I bought my phone. See, my pixel doesn’t have remote management. Shocking how that works when you don’t choose to rent the phone.

              • RogueBanana@lemmy.zipEnglish
                0·
                6 months ago

                I also paid full price and bought it from an official store with no connection to any carriers. Installed grapheneos and can confirm it is still present, whether anyone can use it is not is irrelevant if your putting shit in my phone that could potentially harm me. And you seem to take some kind of weird moral ground thinking people who default on a payment can have their phone which is a necessity in this era, turn into a brick if they choose to. You’re lucky you can afford to but be more empathetic to those who can’t.

                • IsThisAnAI@lemmy.world
                  0·
                  6 months ago

                  Nobody needs a pixel. There are plenty of phones far more inexpensive than pixels lol. I NEED A PIXEL TO LIVE!