Your phone is about to stop being yours. — Starting September 2026, a silent update, nonconsensually pushed by Google, will block every Android app whose developer hasn't registered with Google, sign…
12d 19m ago by lemmy.today/u/sanitation in privacy@lemmy.dbzer0.com from keepandroidopen.org
Whenever a malicious app breaks or scammers get to you, its always through the google play store. Their shit isnt even safe to make this fucken claim about safety.
Right but its official, so its safe. That's what matters. Not whether it has malware or not.
But most importantly, some rich asshole will make some money this quarter and that’s all that matters
This is a nice list I'd consider for new phones.
- Murena (France) with /e/OS (France) on:
- Fairphone (Netherlands)
- Hiroh (USA)
- SHIFTphone (Germany)
- Teracube (USA)
- Punkt MC03 (Switzerland)
- Volla (Germany) with Volla OS or Ubuntu Touch (Germany)
- Jolla (Finland) with Sailfish OS (Finland)
- Purism Librem (USA, manufactured in the USA)
Purism is a grift, should be removed.
Many people are still waiting on phones they ordered years ago.
Oh! I've never heard of that one.
I pre-ordered a pair of the mobile phones. I eventually got them. They aren't very good, but I have them.
I'd say the most helpful thing they've done is lead the way on adapting Linux and its applications to display and be interactive on small touchscreens. Many people wanting to run Linux on a phone will have Purism to thank for making it viable. They made a lot of upstream contributions.
i got a fairphone from murena with /e/OS preinstalled recently. i love it so far, but theres a weird glitch where it will randomly switch timezones and only goes back when i restart it and some apps are a little broken.
the issues are relatively minor and its nice to have a phone i know i can plan to keep for a really long time. also the camera is so much better than my old phone. some people said its mid compared to other new phones but if i wanted a camera that nice id buy a real camera.
So, do I finally need to learn about GrapheneOS? What are other people doing?
Graphene is only of help (today) if you buy some shit from Google namely a Pixel. If you have another phone, step numero uno is always to learn what custom ROMs are available for your make and model.
Used Pixels are cheap and the money doesn't go to Google again.
It supports Google by making their reseller market strong. People will buy pixels knowing they will be of value on the reseller market thus strengthening the primary market.
That's the problem with buying a used Pixel.
On theory, yeah. I got a 512gb pixel 9 fold with a dead inner screen, the rest works fine, for $200. It's a good deal.
Probably depends on the market. Here where I live they are like Nintendo games: near-full price even when second-hand.
Used Pixels are often pretty misused and refurbished ones cost the same or even more than a new Pixel in my country... which is actually insane. Hopefully the new Graphene collab phone will be good.
I bought my Pixel 6 Pro refurbished and carrier unlocked and installed GrapheneOS. Pretty happy so far.
Graphene is by far the best. I highly recommend it.
Right now you need a Pixel to run it but soon you can get a Motorola that works with it.
Soon? Was there an update with a timeline? Last I saw it was only 'announced' And there's no ETA
I thought it was Early 2027 but I may have made that up!
This is why I'm happy about Motorola next year
With some luck I'll have time to put together my diy palmtop-esque machine, but we'll see if that works out.
I really hope the Motorola thing actually pans out. Based on the general state of things I’m done with both Apple and Google.
What about Motorola? 😯
They are going to start loading GrapheneOS on phones from the start
Fantastic! Thanks for explaining 🙏
Yeah same, I have no idea what's happening with Motorola...
They are partnering with GrapheneOS
I don't trust Motorola to make a phone that doesn't have numerous hardware backdoors. Motorola does a ton of work for both the US and Israel. If it sounds too good to be true than it probably is. I think the US/Israel gave Motorola a bit of cash to make backdoored hardware that's made specifically for a privacy hardened software.
I got a reply clarifying that theyre partnering with graphene. I figured I'd reply so you didn't miss it in the thread
Same here. And its not like we are overwhelmed with alternatives, too.
Things have taken quite the turn from the nexus era to now, dropping nexus for pixel felt so blatant too.
For anyone who hasn't heard, Motorola is partnering with GrapheneOS to release compatible phones in 2027.
I hope they push this out and spark the ire of the EU, who tells them to unfuck it or starts funding an alternative like Ubuntu Phones or something. That would be an amazing outcome.
Unfortunately, things have to get worse before they get better. It's how people learn.
Given who is winning european elections I wouldn’t hold my breath.
As I said, gotta get worse before it gets better. It's unfortunately how people learn.
I hope they push this out and spark the ire of the EU
probably will take a bit longer because it will happen in certain countries like Indonesia and Brazil first (i.e. not EU countries)--basically the countries with rampant apk scamming, unfortunately. I think this move is also partially forced by the government in those countries, but that's just my conspiracy hat talking, note that I'm also against this move and much prefer a scam education (I'm in Indonesia).
Apk scamming? What's that? People trying to get proprietary apps and getting scammed?
Some people aren't tech savvy, so let me start by saying that you should lower your expectations lol
The scam is basically scammer sending an .apk file saying that it's important file like invitation, important letter, tax letter, bank statement, etc. and that the victim has to install the app to proceed
The app then basically become a keylogger that steals passwords and PINs, or other kind of malicious act
That is indeed simpler 🤣 Thanks for explaining.
It'll be like Edge, where you can uninstall it in certain EU countries, but nowhere else. It won't really change anything on the grand scheme
My brother has ordered the Jolla phone, and I will too if it works out for him and works on American networks
I think they'll argue they're better than ios
And what are we supposed to do about it?
I made a goddamn prediction back in 2012 when Google was introducing the Nexus line of handsets. I FUCKING KNEW this "open platform" bullshit had it's days numbered.
These companies are fun when they're young, but they will ALWAYS turn on the consumer.
Adam Smith was right. Without ethics and morals, the system WILL crumble.
We have extremely moral billionaires preaching their theology in silicon valley, so it should all be fixed pretty soon.
@dudesss@lemmy.ca made a nice list of phones.
Ethics and morals are irrelevant when the entire economic paradigm is designed to reward whatever makes the most profit regardless of ethical considerations.
Wow, you knew in 2012 that finally in 2026 the days of Android phones are numbered, nice one.
I mean, 14 years isn't exactly a short time for something to turn shitty.
Buy an unlocked phone and tether a laptop to it, only use the phone for calls and sms.
pissed-tier: take it off on your taxes out of spite
Direct Link to Petition mentioned in Post
Remember Change.org is a for profit company, when they ask you to “chip in”, do not do that, if you wish to chip in donate to an advocacy org that fights stuff like this such as the Electronic Frontiers Foundation.
They won't let me because my email address is for my personal website... How stupid is that‽
Update... Apparently fuckoff@gmail.com is much more valid than admin@mydomain.com
Annoying, but not surprising.
What's going to happen to phones that already have 3rd party apps installed?
It'd be a stunningly idiotic move if they let you keep the ones already installed, but not let you update them - allowing security holes fixed by future versions to persist so you're wide open to exactly what they claim they're trying to prevent. More likely they'll use them as marketing for how "safe" Google is making you by repeatedly pointing out one at a time how they're blocking app "x" now that a security hole has been found on it.
The only reason I have an android is that the laundry app I'm forced to use runs through it. It's literally only still surviving because capitalism contrived a way to tie it to my basic needs.
Laundry... app?
It's exactly as stupid as it sounds. Landlord decided we need to pay through an app. My budget overrules my principles, and the local laundry mats are at least five times the price, so... Yeah.
Is it just an app to add money to an account or do you need to tap something? Could you run the app through bluestacks?
You add money to the app, then the app checks your location (for "reasons") and connects to the machine via bluetooth then you press start. I'm not confident about running it through other things, but I don't want to say it'd be impossible -- certainly not worth the hassle though. Eventually, I'll move and it won't be a problem after that.
It would probably work with a laptop. But yeah eventually you'll move. I just hate being vendor locked by things.
Buy a second hand pixel 8, 9, 10 pro, xl or not, based on your budget. I wouldn't recommend older. Then after loading GrapheneOS create a couple user profiles. While in this screen remove the ability of the profile to run in background. Use one of these sandboxed users as a Google phone. Install Google Play Compatibility through the graphene installer. Now you have a Google option. Some banking apps won't work, and the McDonalds app won't work. Google is then sandboxed and not running constantly. If you need a Google app, you can switch over. And without background profile running enabled Google services will completely closed when switching back. No reset needed, just like 3 seconds loading. If you install Wattz (fdroid) you can see the power draw reduced in nongoogle mode. The root profile can share apps, create and delete profiles. I guess one downside is you need to learn multiple login passwords. Also no tap to pay ever.
That's messed up. Wow. It's how they get you.
Good luck getting out of there.
Better than quarters.
I've been on both sides of it. I far prefer the quarters/physical cash over the app nonsense.
How the heck does that work? Do you need the phone to unlock the washing machine?
Yeah, there are no quarters. The app connects via bluetooth, but you also have to have location and data on. To be fair, quarters were a persistent pain with the banks not wanting to trade money if I didn't have an account, so ups and downs.
I live in an apartment with those kinds of laundry machines.
We have an option for people to buy a card and preload it with funds.
Do you have that option at least?
I'm not aware of any option like that. I also don't see an place for a card to be inserted.
You don't insert the card in the machines.
You tap the card like you would newer debit cards and Point of Sale (POS) machines.
I'd look into whether your apartment building could add that as an option, or if not, look into procuring the card that works with the laundry machine manufacturer and see if you can preload it somehow yourself.
If the manufacturer doesn't make those cards, you might try cards from other manufacturers to see if those work.
You can use android apps with many custom ROMs like graphene_os@lemmy.sdf.org and lineage_os@lemmy.world
Andromeda (on FuriOS) works amazingly; most apps run on it, including all þree of my bank's apps. I hear þe Ubuntu touch Android emulator works just as well.
I'd have upvoted the comment if it weren't for the pretentious bullshit presentation of its content.
september i get my jolla phone :))
Same here
Everyone happy about motorola and GOS scene, moto has been recently found out for some honey pot scam they were doing in people phone. So the brand we will be paying is not that good and is also just evil like Google
Is this the Honey scandal all over again? Motorola phones caught adding affiliate codes to Amazon orders
I have a motorola, absolutely no clue what anything else you wrote means.
Graphene OS has a partnership with Motorola for some phones that are supposed to be coming out. Apparently Motorola has been up to shenanigans though
But currently graphene only works on pixels iirc?
Well yes at the moment, but if I remember correctly the misunderstanding was regarding Motorola who is supposed to be producing some Graphene OS models in the near future
Until people fork and forget Google, they will always control Android.
Is this update going to affect older Android versions in phones that stopped receiving OS updates years ago?
And, if so, how do I disable all OS updates entirely?
Depends on your version, search for "update" in the settings area.
I'm on GrapheneOS on tablet and phone running mostly/exclusively open source, so not affected.
How does this work, can you install it on any android device or do you have to specifically get a graphene device? Can you run common apps from the play store if you choose?
For time being you're limited to Pixels. Some Motorola models in a year or two. Installation is a breeze. You can run completely Google-free or install Google Play services in a sandbox, so you could install them in a common shared or separate profile.
ironically, installation is only a breeze over a google chrome based browser. but it's not harder the other way either, just looks a little more complicated.
GrapheneOS only support Pixel devices.
Can you run common apps from the play store if you choose?
https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/10855-google-play-store-install
I think you can install Google Services (including Play Store) if you want, but there are alternative like Aurora Store that lets you download apps from Play Store without Google Services, but obviously you can't buy apps from it
the main concern is probably banking apps or some apps that require Google Play Services to run
Currently, graphene can only be installed on Pixel phones, but Motorola will be releasing phones that are compatible although I'm not sure when. Graphene runs a "sandboxed" version of the play store. You can get just about any Android app and your apps can't really talk to one another or to the play store. Occasionally you'll find an app that doesn't work. If you want more detail you can join the graphene OS discord. It's pretty quick & easy to install.
Fucking hell. I'm not joining discord for support.
That's fair. I'm sure there are other places to get info but there discord is where I've seen the most users in one place.
Will it effect free custom ROMs like lineage?
Not directly, but they've been making other moves to make life difficult for such users — such as significantly delaying releasing the open source parts they're supposed to, potentially leaving users on insecure versions for far longer.
Also things like trusted computing preventing things like banking apps from running on rooted OS
Its being pushed through the play services, so anything ROM based on AOSP without google will be unaffected.
We all love grapheneOS, but please stop buying Google Pixels to do it. It's such a contradicting action to first stuff googles pocket with even more money, and then be like "I am privacy conscious." Please spend your money on alternatives that will put the money to actually developing good alternatives like FairPhone.
Second hand and refurbished is a thing
How about putting your money where it will actually contribute to foss tech
Just don't buy them new, and it becomes far more ethical.
haven't rooted an Android phone in quite some time, but looks rooting is back on the menu
So what is the next fork here? I've been handcuffed to android/Google (phones/ tablets) for decades. I have a couple of iPads but they don't have cellular and don't fit in your pocket.
Graphene OS
Finding out whether the pushed update effects jailbroken android set ups like Lineage would be a next step. But it will be a lot of work to see if you can jailbreak all your devices.
This is the reason I've disabled automatic system updates since 2024.
Edit; annddd just bit the bullet, procured a Pixel, and installed Graphene. :)
it will not come with system updates, but with updates to the google play services package. you can't disable that. how else would they lock down most phones if manufacturers only supply updates for such a short time, if any.
How will prospective devs test apps they've been working on?
Enable developer mode. Like everyone else.
If I disable updates, will that prevent Android from uninstalling my 3rd party apk?
I don't think it will automatically uninstall sideloaded apps in your phone, it simply prevent sideloading from unregistered developers. There is an "official" way to circumvent it, doing it directly on the phone is a bit convoluted and require you to wait 24 hours, the other way need a PC and USB cable to install apps with adb--that one is just like usual.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/03/android-developer-verification.html
I wonder if f-droid will be able to function with only a 24 hour unlock. probably not.
The 24-hour wait time is once only
unless you choose the option to only unlock it for 24 hours. which, honestly, could make sense for the technically illiterate.
I use guests on Linux extensively. My IT has no idea which win OS I even run my outlook on...
I'd love a full VM Guest experience but android (or derivative) based. I've not found a way to do that.
I had another thought to just plonk a phone on my home network with a cheap cell provider. Then share that out VPN to all my subsequent devices (more phones, tablets, work computer) to access the screen. Then Alphabet could get stuffed. That phone would never know where I am physically. I don't use payment services etc.
- I did a search today(kvm control of a phone) and this popped up. Something that can control the phone out of the USB port. I need to think on this further... https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/glinet/comet-q
My partner went back to an pixel 7 so I'm going to take her pixel 8 and see about putting Linux or Graphene on it.
If it works well I'll put it on my pixel 8 and if her 7 pushes for an update then that will go Linux/Graphene
Sounds like android users need to go full Albania up in here
I didn't get the reference
YOU NO SEE KROG
I'm not here to downplay people's issues or the implications as to what the future holds, but how many here will be affected by these changes? I'm leaning towards buying a Fairphone the next time my phone breaks down, but these changes won't currently affect me as far as I know.