nullagentFeb 8, 2025

Major privacy alert for Android users.

https://mastodon.sdf.org/@jack/113952225452466068

@jack #Privacy #Android #cybersecurity

jack (@[email protected])

You remember #Apple scanning all images on your #mobile device? If you have an #Android #phone, a new app that doesn't appear in your menu has been automatically and silently installed (or soon will be) by #Google. It is called #AndroidSystemSafetyCore and does exactly the same - scan all images on your device as well as all incoming ones (via messaging). The new spin is that it does so "to protect your #privacy". You can uninstall this app safely via System -> Apps. https://developers.google.com/android/binary_transparency/google1p/overview

Mastodon @ SDF
Show threadGrapheneOSFeb 8, 2025
@nullagent This isn't an accurate description of what that Google Mobile Services component does and how it's integrated into the OS.
Show threadjonny (good kind)Feb 8, 2025
@GrapheneOS @nullagent honestly i can't imagine a group that has more direct knowledge of this while still being directly antagonistic to google that i would want to hear more from about what this is/how this works, if you had the time
Show threadd@nny disc@ mc²Feb 8, 2025
@jonny @GrapheneOS @nullagent i've been forwarding people to this post to tell them we probably don't need to sound the alarm but would love to have something more specific to point to regarding what this added module does
Show threadGrapheneOSFeb 8, 2025

@hipsterelectron @jonny @nullagent

Here's a thread on what it is:

https://grapheneos.social/@GrapheneOS/113969399311251057

It's tiring going through endless news cycles of fake privacy and security threats and we don't really have the energy to deal with it more than that.

We're dealing with ongoing attacks on GrapheneOS on X by several different charlatans/scammers and we've been focused on dealing with that rather than writing about something like this. Threw together a quick thread about what it is though.

GrapheneOS (@[email protected])

The functionality provided by Google's new Android System SafetyCore app available through the Play Store is covered here: https://security.googleblog.com/2024/10/5-new-protections-on-google-messages.html Neither this app or the Google Messages app using it are part of GrapheneOS and neither will be, but GrapheneOS users can choose to install and use both. Google Messages still works without the new app.

GrapheneOS Mastodon
Show threadjonny (good kind)Feb 8, 2025
@GrapheneOS
I've said it before and I'll say it again, really appreciate what you do.
Show threadchuckwalla, esq
@jonny @GrapheneOS same. i think jonny's mentioning it a while back is how i came to know about it and it has been great. i use the alpha channel to try to help spot any issues, and there has been nothing for me to report. great work and it is appreciated.
Feb 9, 2025 at 12:17amWeb