ForgottenFlux

ForgottenFlux, 1 year ago

One option is QKSMS

Another is Connect You

Fossify Messages (fork of Simple SMS Messenger) should be released on F-Droid sometime soon.

ForgottenFlux, 1 year ago

Android’s Messages, Dialer apps quietly sent text, call info to Google

Google’s Messages and Dialer apps for Android devices have been collecting and sending data to Google without specific notice and consent, and without offering the opportunity to opt-out, potentially in violation of Europe’s data protection law.

According to a research paper, “What Data Do The Google Dialer and Messages Apps On Android Send to Google?” [PDF], by Trinity College Dublin computer science professor Douglas Leith, Google Messages (for text messaging) and Google Dialer (for phone calls) have been sending data about user communications to the Google Play Services Clearcut logger service and to Google’s Firebase Analytics service.

“The data sent by Google Messages includes a hash of the message text, allowing linking of sender and receiver in a message exchange,” the paper says. “The data sent by Google Dialer includes the call time and duration, again allowing linking of the two handsets engaged in a phone call. Phone numbers are also sent to Google.”

The timing and duration of other user interactions with these apps has also been transmitted to Google. And Google offers no way to opt-out of this data collection.

ForgottenFlux, 1 year ago

Apps are typically removed from the IzzyOnDroid repository if they are later added to the main F-Droid repository. While that makes sense (since the goal of that particular repository is to host apps before they’re accepted into the main F-Droid repository), it can leave you with installed apps which no longer receive updates.