Google Warns of Microsoft SwiftKey Losing Access To Gmail on July 15 (bleepingcomputer.com) 37
Speaking of Google, the company is sending out warnings to Microsoft SwiftKey users that the keyboard will no longer be able to access the data in Google Accounts, including Gmail content, starting on July 15th. From a report: In an email, Google is telling SwiftKey users who have integrated the keyboard replacement with Gmail that the integration will no longer work on July 15th, 2019, unless SwiftKey complies with Google's updated data policies. When users install SwiftKey, they can personalize the keyboard by integrating it into email accounts such as Gmail. When integrating in other services, though, the app requests various permissions in how they can access the content in this service.
That's OUR data and you can't see it! (Score:1)
Google: why stop at being merely evil.
It's a keyboard (Score:5, Insightful)
Apparently the permissions statement says
"Don't request access to information that you don't need. Only request access to the minimal, technically feasible scope of access that is necessary to implement existing features or services in your application, and limit access to the minimum amount of data needed. Don't attempt to "future proof" your access to user data by requesting access to information that might benefit services or features that have not yet been implemented."
I get it, but a keyboard is basically the conduit to everything you type (duh). One way or the other it implicitly has full access to all the info you enter into any system. So what is the access it supposedly "doesn't need"?
I will mention that this is exactly why I avoid third-party software keyboards, like SwiftKey. Nothing against them specifically, but I don't want to grant that level of trust to an additional party.
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I will mention that this is exactly why I avoid third-party software keyboards, like SwiftKey. Nothing against them specifically, but I don't want to grant that level of trust to an additional party.
Doing nothing is not an option given Gboard is proprietary malware that sends information about what you are typing to Google.
Alternatives like AOSP and Anysoft keyboards are open source and malware free.
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Well, it really means access like network access. Keyboards may want to access to the In
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Well, it really means access like network access. Keyboards may want to access to the Internet - to obtain updated wordlists for completion suggestions, to personal email accounts to get contacts and such so when you start typing out a name, it can auto-suggest those as well.
But if that's something the keyboard actually does, then per the quoted terms, network access would be fine. It would only be a problem if SwiftKey asked for network access but didn't actually use it yet, on the theory that someday it might start.
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I use swiftkey and love it. But I've never given it gmail access. It can learn what it wants to as I type, doesn't need to scour 15 years of emails.
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any alternative is likely to lose access as well. (Score:2)
Maybe it's possible for you the shenigle a sideloaded install or something with admin rights.
I think this might be just in long term google removing the sms api? google f'ks with the androdi api's all the time way too much. they have in numerous occasions removed functionality without finishing up the functionality to replace the removed functionality.
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I have an android phone, chrome as main browser (I know, I know...). Just got a message from google that on July 15th 2019 a useful app I've had will likely be removed. "SMS Backup+" by Jan Berkel. https://play.google.com/store/... [google.com]
Ditto. They pretty much rubber stamped the denial it seems as well. An app with over 5 million downloads should get more consideration than that.
I'd say flood them with complaints but we all know how much Google cares about what people want as opposed to what they want to put in place.
The truly sad thing is that the app already follows the protocol for authentication that Google is demanding and does require mail and calendar integration. So there's no legitimate reason for not letting it keep access.
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Screw it. I'll just use Signal and maybe remember to archive my messages out of there every once in a while, or just use WhatsApp and depend on Facebook to Never Forget Anything.
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Someone please enlighten me (Score:2)
Why would a keyboard need to read my mail anyway? Shouldn't it be given access just to the current edit field and enter... text... in it?
And shouldn't it have access to the current edit field because... it can't -ing work without that?
I don't get what's going on here.
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Why would a keyboard need to read my mail anyway?
So it can run statistical analysis on your emails, yes even those you didn't type on the phone or the received ones, and use that data for better auto-correction and suggestions.
Really the same reason why it wants access to your contacts: suggest weird and unusual first names, surnames, foreign names, everything you wouldn't want to write wrong.
It really does make sense in a no-paranoia everybody-is-friends world.
Reality can be or not be the same, your choice.
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That makes sense, could actually be useful. Never tried a 3rd party keyboard so had no idea.
On the other hand... it does make me a little paranoid.
A turf war (Score:2)
"Under Google's new data policies, developers are required to only request permissions that they absolutely need. This is to prevent apps and sites from invading a user's privacy."
How dare Microsoft invade a user's privacy?!? That's Google's job...