Heads up for Android phone users: google installed a "security" app on your phone without your knowledge or consent, Android System SafetyCore, that scans and transmits photos you've taken. This is the textbook definition of malware. Go to Settings > Apps and remove it immediately. - ThreadSky

wizardhill.bsky.social • 83 days ago

Heads up for Android phone users: google installed a "security" app on your phone without your knowledge or consent, Android System SafetyCore, that scans and transmits photos you've taken. This is the textbook definition of malware. Go to Settings > Apps and remove it immediately.

Comments

barryryerson.bsky.social•83 days ago

From what I gather, it only scans photos that you receive, is device-only (so doesn't transmit them anywhere) and does so in order to blur potentially unwanted photos (such as nudes).

Whilst it seems benign, they could've told us first, and you can remove it.

https://www.howtogeek.com/google-is-not-scanning-all-the-images-on-your-android-phone/

wizardhill.bsky.social•83 days ago

I don't particularly think they should be given first access to images you receive, especially ones of a personal, sensitive nature, nor should they have installed something as invasive with zero notification. Also, given their track record, I just don't trust it!

barryryerson.bsky.social•83 days ago

All fair points, especially communication - I mean, how hard is it to just let people know what they're doing on our phone?

jorkelstrom.bsky.social•83 days ago

Joke's on them, my ancient and busted phone hasn't had more than 2-4% free space for years, so not even system updates can fit

wizardhill.bsky.social•83 days ago

The way to beat planned obsolescence is simply to get there before them

spacedinosaur2000.bsky.social•83 days ago

Un-installed, yikes

wizardhill.bsky.social•83 days ago

If anyone you know if having trouble finding it, search for it in the google play store, you can uninstall it from there, too. Shit's tricky.

spacedinosaur2000.bsky.social•83 days ago

I was lucky it was top of the apps section in settings so I could get rid of it

blenderbeetle.bsky.social•83 days ago

I don't see anything on mine. I wonder if Korea blocked it. I'll keep an eye out for it, thanks for the heads up~

wizardhill.bsky.social•83 days ago

Would recommend searching for it on the play store, I've seen people have problems finding it a number of different ways, but it can be uninstalled there too! It's a tricky little devil, be careful.

blenderbeetle.bsky.social•83 days ago

tried the phone search, app store search, system app section search, went over everything with my eyes and nothing. can't even find it in the app store, which is why I'm thinking South Korea may have blocked it

coldknees.bsky.social•83 days ago

I couldn't find it in the store either, I had to be given a link to it & then it showed it as installed, here; https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.safetycore

blenderbeetle.bsky.social•83 days ago

Thanks for the link. Its not on my device, thankfully

Comments

Posting Rules

Reply