🦊 helloyanis 

I found this great samsung spyware (I assume), I present to you : Samsung news!!
https://galaxystore.samsung.com/detail/com.samsung.android.app.spage?cId=000006738177

For an app that's just supposed to tell you the news :
- It comes bundled with the phone
- It auto connects you to your samsung account
- You can't uninstall it, or even disable it (usually only critical system apps that break your phone if disabled do this)
- In the app info the only permission it shows is notification
- However looking at the app package's info shows it also has permissions to see all installed apps, read and edit settings, run on phone startup and start stuff in the background
- Uninstalled it with root, my phone works flawlessly

Well, that's just 1 app I took a look at. There can be many more simillar ones! I really should install a custom OS
@soatok @xanthe @sebsauvage
#privacy #android #samsung

Jul 28, 2025 at 11:29amWeb
Show threadEyeshineJul 28, 2025

@helloyanis @soatok @xanthe @sebsauvage Strange, I was just able to uninstall it normally. No longer shows in the UI, nor the apps list, for me. (Have not rebooted yet)

S24 Ultra (not rooted)
One UI v7.0
Android 15

Show thread🦊 helloyanis Jul 28, 2025
@eyeshine It must change depending on your model I guess
Show threadRandomJul 28, 2025
@helloyanis @soatok @xanthe @sebsauvage And worst, it fills your phone with news
Show threadBeckyJul 28, 2025

@helloyanis I want to root my tablet made by same mfr.. but they lie to the os.

Give you the option to unlock boot loader, but doesn’t honour it. >.<

Show thread🦊 helloyanis Jul 28, 2025
@Beckydog Strange, it worked for me, how did you try to unlock it?
Show threadBeckyJul 28, 2025
@helloyanis oh, sorry. Didn’t mention it’s a tablet, and I mistook the name, not Samsung, rebranded Nokia thing
Show threadBeckyJul 28, 2025
@helloyanis
Overall? Total fail on my part Xd
Show threadNimono | Solenze SystemJul 28, 2025
@helloyanis Do you have any recommendations on how one can remove this kind of stuff from their phone, and stop it from reinstalling? I'd love to pare my phone down to the absolute basics I need/use, without all these forced built-in apps I'll never have interest in using
Show threadlatsssJul 28, 2025

@nimonomiyoa
Most of the apps can be disabled with ADB. There are some debloating scripts around that do it automatically, but they're usually pretty aggressive and can break something, so better to do this manually.

Or I'd suggest installing LineageOS if your phone supports customs - it has pretty much minimalistic set of applications. Even Google services are optional and are not included by default.
@helloyanis

Show thread🦊 helloyanis Jul 28, 2025

@latsss @nimonomiyoa You can either root your current rom, install a custom rom like lineageOS or uninstall some (but not all) by using ADB, probably the best option for most people because the other 2 wipe your data.

https://xdaforums.com/t/uninstall-any-apps-via-adb-no-root.3738105/

[Uninstall any apps] via adb [No ROOT]

How to uninstall system app or any app without having rooted? 1) Connect your phone via USB 2) Turn android debugging on 3) Go to android shell using $ adb shell how to remove apps now use this command now pm uninstall -k --user 0...

XDA Forums
Show threadSorroJul 28, 2025

@helloyanis @latsss @nimonomiyoa i personally use an app called "canta" from f-droid for that

still requires a usb connection to a pc, but you can see the names of the apps and a community-made description of what it does, so i find it more intuitive than just looking at package names. It also supports bringing back the app, so i think it's a good option

Show threadAtkelarJul 28, 2025
@helloyanis @soatok @xanthe @sebsauvage what are the odds that they claim that "all these extra permissions are just for bug reporting and statistical purposes"? I recall the "MS Authenticator" app that wanted full file system permissions... And what came of the possibility for the user to just turn off these permissions? I mean: you can "ask" for anything, sure, but why do I have to accept "all or nothing"? *sits in a corner to write a rant on his own*
Show threadrexiJul 31, 2025

@helloyanis @soatok @xanthe @sebsauvage

lovely hardware design, yet absolutely flawed thanks to wild-wild-west digital nonsense, that #Samsung knows **won't** be questioned in America.

No rules for corporate giants at all in the privacy realm.

Nokia thanks you for making them look reasonable.

Show thread🦊 helloyanis Jul 31, 2025
@rexi The best way is still installing a custom private rom on your phone. Incidentally, one of the most compatible phones to do that are pixel phones which are bloated with Google native apps lol