Sylvia5d ago

RE: https://chaos.social/@grote/116257002625921666

I quote boosted this before focusing on the 24h delay, but the worst part is having to enable developer options.

Fairphone: Settings -> About phone -> Build number (7 taps)
Samsung: Settings -> About phone -> Software information -> Build number (7 taps)

Given the steps differ per device it is impossible for any third party app store to give clear instructions. To top it off, the first 3 taps give *no feedback* at all.

Even worse, some apps refuse to run on devices with dev mode enabled.

Arthur Bárbaro5d ago
Show threadSylvia

Google obviously knows how user unfriendly it is to enable developer mode and how this will effectively make it impossible for the vast majority of non-technical users to access any third party app stores. This is as malicious as malicious compliance to EU law goes. I cannot think of a more aggressive roadblock they could have put up, even forcing some to choose between third party app stores like #FDroid or #IzzyOnDroid and banking apps.

There is no doubt about it, this is not about safety.

Mar 20 at 8:31amWeb
Show threadSylvia5d ago
Keep in mind, enabling developer mode is just *ONE* of the many steps. This whole process is made as difficult and with as much friction as they possibly could. No third party app store could guide most users through this successfully.
Show threadIzzy5d ago

@SylvieLorxu And there I thought developer mode was discouraged for "standard users":

"Developer modes expose features of the mobile operating system (MOS) that are not available during standard operation. An adversary may leverage a vulnerability inherent in a developer mode to compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of DOD sensitive information. Disabling developer modes mitigates this risk."

(Tenable Audit: https://www.tenable.com/audits/items/DISA_STIG_Google_Android_15_COBO_v1r2-AirWatch.audit:3722d2c6e738b1955d48f57783163430)

So, this is about security? LMAO…

GOOG-15-007400 - Google Android 15 must be configured to disab...

Audit item details for GOOG-15-007400 - Google Android 15 must be configured to disable developer modes.

Show threadSamantaz Fox5d ago

@IzzyOnDroid @SylvieLorxu Oh, so I wasn't too paranoid by disabling developper settings when they're not needed. It's quite obvious when presented like that, but I wasn't aware that it changed how the operating system works (I thought it only exposed sensitive options).

Thanks for pointing it out!

Show threadErwin5d ago

@SylvieLorxu They surely know. Its called "developer mode" for good reasons; it shouldn't be used in normal occasions.

Them putting any feature behind this mode is a clear sign they don't regard it as a feature that should be used at all.

Show threadPeter Bindels5d ago
@odd @SylvieLorxu Not to mention the decade long backlog of websites saying "if somebody tells you to activate developer mode to install software they're being dishonest" because that used to be true, and you'll have people and LLMs giving bad advice in that regard for the next decade at least.
Show threadIzzy5d ago
@dascandy @odd @SylvieLorxu THAT shit is already happening. I was standing next to a person trying to get their phone's storage (connected via USB) to show up on a PC, which it didn't. They asked their favorite LLM for advice, which tried to guide them through enabling developer mode – as first advice! (hint: a simple reboot of the phone solved the issue).
Show threadĞÖKÜ👻👻™5h ago
@SylvieLorxu Google wants to make it complicated so normal user avoid to install 3rd party app or store. That's why putting this advance flow feature behind the developer mode. More than 50%of android users don't know about developer mode. They never used it.
Show threadSylvia4h ago
@GOKUSHRM Exactly. It's not about safety, it's about finding a new way to try to kill non-Google app stores after the EU forced them to open up a bit. Malicious compliance at its best.
Show threadĞÖKÜ👻👻™4h ago
@SylvieLorxu why not Google also place this advance flow feature behind the developer mode for their own play store? If he do it thn I'll be ok with 3rd party store restrictions too.
Show threadĞÖKÜ👻👻™4h ago
@SylvieLorxu I think we need to educate users to use custom roms more & more. Iwas thinking if someone could make an universal apk to unlock all vendors bootloader thn that would be a game changer for android community. After that anyone can install any 3rd party store or app without Google restriction