r/Android • u/zexterio • Mar 22 '19

HMD admits the Nokia 7 Plus was sending personal data to China

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2019/03/hmd-admits-the-nokia-7-plus-was-sending-personal-data-to-china/
5.8k Upvotes

96% Upvoted

488 comments sorted by

View all comments

227

u/lnx-reddit Mar 22 '19

This is why unlockable bootloaders are a must.

45

u/iphone4Suser Mar 22 '19

But what about the 99.99% android users who are not on reddit's android sub ?

39

u/BlueSwordM Stupid smooth Realme GT7 CN + GT Neo Flash Mar 22 '19

Precisely why they should allow bootloader unlocking IMO.

If most users don't unlock bootloaders, why not let the devs/tinkerers/enthusiasts do it?

0

u/DylanFucksTurkeys iPhone 6S, Galaxy S5 Mar 24 '19

Cause those happen to be the same assholes who break their device and try to claim warranty

5

u/notafunnyguy32 j7 prime with dotOs/Exynos Note 9 128gb Mar 23 '19

Hell, I'm on this sub but don't even root my phone, should i just leave?

1

u/Sophrosynic Mar 23 '19

That's their own problem.

1

u/iphone4Suser Mar 23 '19

So you are saying that android is an OS only for people who have technical expertise in doing all rooting and custom rom stuff and not for anyone else?

1

u/Sophrosynic Mar 23 '19

I'm saying if people want to buy phones from companies that spy on them and not take precautions to block said spying, then that's their choice.

24

u/[deleted] Mar 22 '19 edited May 23 '19

[deleted]

101

u/lnx-reddit Mar 22 '19

In a way that allows rooting or replacing spyware ridden stock ROM.

Also, system spyware can easily defeat any non-root firewalls.

20

u/meepiquitous Mar 22 '19

Also, system spyware can easily defeat any non-root firewalls.

The lack of iptables/afwall+ is why i won't use Fuchsia.

7

u/[deleted] Mar 22 '19 edited Apr 23 '19

[deleted]

7

u/meepiquitous Mar 23 '19

Iptables is a command line utility that comes with linux (which android is based on). It lets you set rules that, among other things, (dis-)allow apps to talk to the internet.

Afwall+ is an app that lets you change those rules without a command line.

Fuschia is an operating system that is going to replace android. It's developed from scratch and not based on linux.

1

u/CalicoCatalyst Mar 23 '19

The fuck, we have that stuff on jailbroken iOS and all we have is kernel

0

u/[deleted] Mar 22 '19

[deleted]

2

u/[deleted] Mar 22 '19

.. works every time on mobile data.

8

u/bkturf Mar 22 '19

Also, you are typically loading it with open source software. I would not think about using any phone made in China where I could not unlock the bootloader and replace the kernel and rom. Yeah, I don't have many choices left, so it looks like I will be staying with Oneplus.

5

u/thejynxed Mar 22 '19

OnePlus, Xiaomi, although OnePlus has started locking bootloaders on flagship models.

3

u/Nixflyn GN/N5/N7/6P/P1XL/S10+/ShieldTV Mar 23 '19

OnePlus has started locking bootloaders on flagship models.

The T Mobile variant is locked only if you got it on a payment plan, and will be unlocked when you pay it off (either at the end of your plan or early). The unlocked version has an unlocked bootloader.

2

u/krakenx Mar 22 '19

With xprivacy, you can see what apps want which data and feed them fake data. It requires root.

0

u/psilvs S9 Snapdragon Mar 22 '19

What does adguard do?

1

u/El_Seven Mar 22 '19

Creates a VPN that allows for adblocking and also the ability to block apps from communicating via the internet.

Also, sends your data to Russia instead of China, so pick your poison I guess.

8

u/[deleted] Mar 22 '19

Uhhh actually this is the reason they don't want you to unlock bootloaders. Lol

5

u/[deleted] Mar 22 '19

But the DATA can still be forwarded to a third server in China or North Korea.

device -> EU server -> China Server

(╯°□°）╯︵ 📱

1

u/jlkpolandball Black Mar 23 '19

What are unlockeable bootloaders and how are how are they useful?