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Who_GNU t1_j9md3ta wrote

It's a good thing they don't allow other stores to be installed through theirs, otherwise we wouldn't get the high level of safety that the Google/Apple duopoly provides us.

I've been using F-Droid, which surely most be exposing me to far more risk, with its clear warnings when any applications have capabilities that could limit my privacy.

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stealthmodeactive t1_j9ni8fv wrote

Ya but also most that stuff is open source and the actual android package lets you know what permissions are going to be used.

Open up a web browser you found on fdroid and it prompts for permission to always listen to audio? Well it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that probably isn't a wise decision.

Also probably nobody is going to read the source code, but you can...

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[deleted] t1_j9o0h71 wrote

[deleted]

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stealthmodeactive t1_j9o2is3 wrote

Whoa settle down.

I said probably nobody will read it but you can. Not sure what's ignorant about that. There's so much junk on any app store you make it sound like people are just reading all the source code of everything all day. A perfect example is OpenSSL. And heart bleed

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heartbleed

My second paragraph shows you don't know what you're talking about. Most people are going to jam that "allow while using app" permission. So sketch web browser app could just be listening 24/7, or only when it needs. Maybe microphone isn't the best example since most phones have an indicator these days. But it will apply across other types of permissions. Once you allow Snapchat to read your contacts so you can "find who else is using snapchat", you think it stops there? Or are they always scanning your contacts without you knowing, just silently monitoring for updates?

You're lashing out at both a user and an advocate for FOSS. But to not admit its potential weaknesses is ignorant.

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