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Verizon To Force 'AppFlash' Spyware On Android Phones

Posted by BeauHD on from the tough-sell dept.

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."

6 of 120 comments (clear)

  1. Just install a 3rd party ROM on the phone by jonwil · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Just install a 3rd party ROM on the phone so you dont have to put up with this crap. Oh wait, its Verizon, they lock the phone down so you cant install 3rd party ROMs or remove their crapware...

    Why anyone would go with Verizon when they do this crap instead of going with a phone and carrier that doesn't do crap like this is beyond me.

    1. Re: Just install a 3rd party ROM on the phone by Desler · · Score: 5, Insightful

      In comparison to Verizon? Yes. By many miles.

    2. Re:Just install a 3rd party ROM on the phone by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      Just buy a Pixel from Google. They work on VZW. They weren't bootloader lock to start, and AFAIK they still aren't.

      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.

    3. Re:Just install a 3rd party ROM on the phone by Puls4r · · Score: 5, Interesting

      You don't understand the phone ecosystem. Android is FREE. Google makes very little money on Android. But they do make loads of money because of android - google play, all their apps, all their services.

      Google wants other folks to use Android. So being total dicks and dictating outlandish stuff will end up biting them in the ass.

      Look at what Samsung is the in the middle of doing. It scares the shit out of both Google and Qualcom. Samsung has an all-Samsung operating system now, has a replacement for Qualcom's processor that's made in house, and is quickly developing their own apps to replace most of googles. Very soon, the Number 1 manufacturer of phones is going to be able to step away from both companies. And that is really going to hurt Google and Qualcomm. That's why Google started making their own phone. They see the writing on the wall.

  2. Choose the samsung model(I'll explain why) by gl4ss · · Score: 5, Informative

    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.
  3. Who's to blame. by geekmux · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Dear Verizon,

    Fuck You.

    Oh, wait, how rude of me.

    Fuck You Very Much.

    I don't know who to blame more. Verizon, or their customer base who doesn't give a shit.

    Consumers, continue to enjoy your privacy ass-raping. You should enjoy it, because you support it.