this post was submitted on 27 Feb 2025
161 points (90.0% liked)

Technology

72338 readers
2827 users here now

This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.


Our Rules


  1. Follow the lemmy.world rules.
  2. Only tech related news or articles.
  3. Be excellent to each other!
  4. Mod approved content bots can post up to 10 articles per day.
  5. Threads asking for personal tech support may be deleted.
  6. Politics threads may be removed.
  7. No memes allowed as posts, OK to post as comments.
  8. Only approved bots from the list below, this includes using AI responses and summaries. To ask if your bot can be added please contact a mod.
  9. Check for duplicates before posting, duplicates may be removed
  10. Accounts 7 days and younger will have their posts automatically removed.

Approved Bots


founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Per one tech forum this week: “Google has quietly installed an app on all Android devices called ‘Android System SafetyCore’. It claims to be a ‘security’ application, but whilst running in the background, it collects call logs, contacts, location, your microphone, and much more making this application ‘spyware’ and a HUGE privacy concern. It is strongly advised to uninstall this program if you can. To do this, navigate to 'Settings’ > 'Apps’, then delete the application.”

(page 4) 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] Zier@fedia.io 0 points 4 months ago (1 children)

My question is, does it install as a stand alone app? Or is it part of a Google Play update chunk that you only find out after Play has updated? My system does not auto update (by design) so I'd like to know where it sources from.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] shortwavesurfer@lemmy.zip 0 points 4 months ago (3 children)

Not on mine, it doesn't. I don't use the Play Store. I don't have Google Play Services. And I don't have Google Apps installed. And I'm running Lineage OS. So, fuck you Google.

load more comments (3 replies)
[–] YarHarSuperstar@lemmy.world 0 points 4 months ago (3 children)

What about the "Android System Intelligence" app that someone else mentioned here? I just realized I have that one. It sounds like it has the capabilities to spy and maybe even more.

[–] catloaf@lemm.ee 0 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Well yeah, any part of the os has the capability to spy.

[–] YarHarSuperstar@lemmy.world 0 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

What do you mean by that? What I meant is that the functions, capabilities, and permissions it has could enable it to do so.

load more comments (1 replies)
load more comments (2 replies)
[–] 0x0@programming.dev 0 points 4 months ago (2 children)

Don't use Google Play. Prefer Obtanium, F-Droid or Aurora Store.

[–] bob_lemon@feddit.org 0 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Incidentally, Aurora Store is unable to find this particular app.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.ml 0 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Though just not using it makes no difference. You need to remove Play Store and Play services to orevent them from tracking you and managing your apps.

[–] 0x0@programming.dev 0 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Tracking maybe, but how is the Play Store managing my apps?

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] Event_Horizon@lemmy.world 0 points 4 months ago (1 children)

It didn't appear in my apps list so I thought it wasn't installed. But when I searched for the app name it appears. So be aware.

[–] Vikingofthenorth@lemmy.world 0 points 4 months ago (3 children)

How did you search for it? Search bar in settings?

[–] Event_Horizon@lemmy.world 0 points 4 months ago (1 children)

On my settings screen I have a search bar at the top

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] Ledericas@lemm.ee 0 points 4 months ago (1 children)

you can look it up on your app managment settings too, search for it there.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] viking@infosec.pub 0 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Play Store, it doesn't show in local search results, but they list it as installed.

[–] A_A@lemmy.world 0 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (4 children)

Even worse, i found this comment in the app store and it did the same on my device :

Installed automatically without my knowledge, no notification, only found it because of a friend's post, and even then, you only see it through a link, it doesn't come up in your app list or a search of the Google play store. I thought it felt like my battery was draining a little quicker too, which is apparently also something noticed in connection to having this app. Uninstalling.

The app can be found here :
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.safetycore
.

load more comments (4 replies)
[–] Harbinger01173430@lemmy.world 0 points 4 months ago (2 children)

Basically, ot scans all files and shit like an antivirus does on windows? Oks

load more comments (2 replies)
[–] zecg@lemmy.world -1 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

This is the stupidest shit, moral panic levels of miscomprehension. I mean, I was miffed and promptly removed safetycore because I don't mind seeing sex organs and don't want shit using battery for no reason, but wow ~~Forbes~~.

Edit: ok, the article is not so bad, just the shitty blurb from some forum reproduced here on Lemmy.

[–] _sideffect@lemmy.world -2 points 4 months ago (7 children)
[–] Albbi@lemmy.ca -1 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Why are you linking to a known Nazi website?

[–] _sideffect@lemmy.world -3 points 4 months ago

Because that's where I got the info from first? Grow up

load more comments (6 replies)
[–] TheGoddessAnoia@lemmy.ca -3 points 4 months ago (1 children)

True or not, one can avoid the whole issue by using your phone as a phone, maybe to send texts, with location, mike, and camera switched off permanently, and all the other apps deleted or disabled. Sure, Google will still know you called your SO daily and your Mom once a week (NOT ENOUGH!), and that you were supposed to pick up the dry cleaning last night (did you?). Meh. If that's what floats the Surveillance Society's boat, I am not too worried.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] sommerset@thelemmy.club -4 points 4 months ago (8 children)

Thanks. Just uninstalled. What a cunts

load more comments (8 replies)
load more comments
view more: ‹ prev next ›