Slashdot Mirror
Verizon To Force 'AppFlash' Spyware On Android Phones
saccade.com writes: Verizon is joining with the creators of a tool called "Evie Launcher" to make a new app search/launcher tool called AppFlash, which will be installed on all Verizon phones running Android. The app provides no functionality to users beyond what Google Search does. It does, however, give Verizon a steady stream of metrics on your app usage and searches. A quick glance at the AppFlash privacy policy confirms this is the real purpose behind it: "We collect information about your device and your use of the AppFlash services. This information includes your mobile number, device identifiers, device type and operating system, and information about the AppFlash features and services you use and your interactions with them. We also access information about the list of apps you have on your device. [...] AppFlash information may be shared within the Verizon family of companies, including companies like AOL who may use it to help provide more relevant advertising within the AppFlash experiences and in other places, including non-Verizon sites, services and devices."
No, seriously, hear me out.
1) Choose the samsung model
2) sign up for samsung MDM developer program.
3) get your free samsung mdm developer key.
4) write a small app to disable the package/firewall it.
5) profit? maybe if the subsidy from verizon was worth it. VERY DOUBTFUL.
or alternately buy package disabler or some other 1 dollar app that does _Exactly_this_. if you have ever wondered how some of these 1 dollar app disablers manage to do their thing without rooting, this is how. it's free to get the key to do it on limited amount of devices from samsung though, but it's stupid that you can't just approve it locally without signing up as a mdm developer with samsung(totally free, mind you).
or just use a different operator with byod and decent rates. you might have to move outside of usa to achieve this though.
Android has the facility for user to give permissions for apps to do device management, BUT there pretty much isn't a single manufacturer that ships phones where it works as you would expect. on samsung for example you need to use their special api to get permission from KNOX and then you ALSO have to have the permission given to the app by putting it as a device admin app).
*) there are some app packages on the samsung phones that ignore enabled/disabled setting. also none of the package managers on market currently let you disable specific activities/services of an app WHICH THE API LETS YOU TO DO(you can for example break youtubes ads by playing around with this). the samsung mdm api's also give you access to the built in firewall rules and a bunch of other stuff you would normally need to root your phone for.
world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
In the interests of clarity -- OP was pretty clear, but let's make it absolutely clear: if you buy a Pixel at a retail store (Verizon, BestBuy, WalMart, etc) -- you get a locked bootloader with no carrier lock. It will work on carriers other than Verizon. But it will have Verizon shitware on it.
You can only get both the "unlocked bootloader" and "no carrier lock" if you buy a Pixel directly from Google.
They do care. As soon as they found out about CarrierIQ (the very same functionality from the very same Telcos), there was an outrage and carriers were forced to removed it.
Anti malware is the biggest selling Windows app, people pay to remove the malware, and people moved away from Internet Explorer and its millions of toolbars.
Bonzai buddie died in 2004 more than a decade ago.
Most system apps can be disabled in Settings.
Go to Setting / Apps / AppFlash
Press the Disable button. It will appear where the Uninstall button normally appears, but for apps that cannot be uninstalled.