Google 'Formally' Bans Stalkerware Apps From the Play Store (zdnet.com) 32
Google has updated its Play Store rules to impose a "formal" ban on stalkerware apps, but the company has left a pretty huge loophole in place for stalkerware to be uploaded on the official store as child-tracking applications. From a report: Stalkerware is a term used to describe apps that track a user's movements, snoop on calls and messages, and record other apps' activity. Stalkerware, also known as spouseware, is usually advertised to users as a way to discover cheating partners, track children while outside their homes, and as a way to keep an eye on employees at work. The primary feature of all stalkerware apps, regardless if they're intended to be used on smartphones or laptops, is that these apps can be installed and run without the device owner's knowledge, operating in the operating system's background. Over the past decade, the Play Store has hosted hundreds of applications that fit into the stalkerware category. Google, which has intervened to take down stalkerware apps when they've been pointed out by security researchers, has usually avoided making public statements on the topic.
Google is removing itself? (Score:4, Insightful)
If it's removing stalkerware from its store, does that mean it will remove itself since Alexa records one's activities? And their browser? Are they removing that as well considering the stalking it does? Google mail since it snoops on your message?
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> We will bankrupt ourselves in the vain search for absolute security. -- Dwight D. Eisenhower
We won't bankrupt ourselves in the vain search for absolute security. -- Tibet
Dalai Lama wins?
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Re: Google is removing itself? (Score:2)
Only google gets to stalk you, the rest get in the way.
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If it's removing stalkerware from its store, does that mean it will remove itself since Alexa records one's activities?
Alexa is an Amazon product. so.... no?
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Yup, my mistake. Should have been Google Assistant.
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Well played sir, you are correct. The judges would have also accepted:
Weird, Facebook is still on my phone; are they grandfathering existing stalker ware?
Crap, I can't see when my wife is coming home!
Oh, that was nice of them; what a trustworthy company.
Re: Google is removing itself? (Score:2)
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does that mean it will remove itself since Alexa records one's activities?
Alexa is owned by Amazon not Google.
If you install this on your spouse's phone (Score:5, Insightful)
You are the problem in your relationship. No buts.
But if they're chea-
No law in civilized nations grants you exclusive rights to someone's body.
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Adultery is a crime in many US states, but one may argue that the US isn't a civilized nation.
And even in countries where it is not a crime, it can be a civil offense.
So let's rephrase it: No law in civilized nations should grant you exclusive rights to someone's body.
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It's one of those laws that are never enforced (hasn't been for like 40-50 years) and would be kicked off the books if someone tried to enforce it nowadays.
Re: If you install this on your spouse's phone (Score:2)
Yes it is. Divorce courts in many states routinely refer to adultery laws when making legal decisions.
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You are the problem in your relationship. No buts.
But if they're chea-
No law in civilized nations grants you exclusive rights to someone's body.
Depending on the wording it could be argued that the wedding vows are a verbal contract, and if there is a prenup then it may be explicitly laid out in actual contract. so while the law my not compel you to have sexual relations with someone is may disallow you form doing so.
as to the ethics there of well thats another story.
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As if that meant anything (Score:3, Insightful)
Thanks to the ability of people to easily install apps from sources besides Play, stalkerware can still easily be added to any Android device...
That is the world people seem to want to bring to iOS users. Resist the siren call to weaken platform security.
this is not about privacy, this is competition... (Score:3)
Understand that banning "... apps that track a user's movements, snoop on calls and messages, and record other apps' activity..." is a way of destroying competition, not protecting your privacy.
Google ITSELF does all of those things, CONSTANTLY.
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I don't think so. These types of apps aren't reporting to FB for advertising purposes, they report back to another user. That's a whole different market than the one Google's in
What about legit trackers? (Score:2)
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But in an update to its Developer Program Policy today, Google said that all apps that track users and send their data to another device must include an "adequate notice or consent" and show a "persistent notification" that the user's actions are being tracked by the app.
Sounds pretty reasonable to me. If the person agrees to being tracked, then this requirement shouldn't be much of a problem.
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All the things. (Score:3, Insightful)
Google Maps? (Score:3)
My wife and I share each others' locations on Google Maps, so either of us can see where the other is. I hope they don't take this capability away, because we both find it very useful. (It sends periodic "Just want to make sure you know you're sharing your location with ..." emails, so it's nothing covert.)
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Don't worry. They don't apply the ban on their OWN apps, just getting rid of the competition.
What took so long? (Score:2)
Seriously, how was this not done a decade ago? Is this somehow morally questionable? This doesn't strike me as a shades of grey issue. This also isn't a MDM issue. What took so long?
Better approach (Score:2)
It would be easy for Google to simply provide centralized control of device apps.
For example, a better solution would be for me to be able to setup a new device as a managed device under my account, with my kid's account as the active user account. Then I can log in and push a tracker app onto the device that can't be removed by my kid.
This approach doesn't require shady app hiding. It instead addresses the real world concerns parents have without creating conditions ripe for abuse by other people.