Google

Google planning to push updates to preloaded software even if you don’t log in

Facebook, Samsung apps, and a host of other things are found preloaded on most phones right out of the box. If you didn’t want to join Google in Android dominion over all, in the past they would never update.

That may be about to change, although you can opt out. The question is: would you want to opt out for any reason other than not trusting the already preinstalled software or a data plan restriction?

Several of these apps are capable of being triggered from web pages. Clicking a Facebook profile will bring up FB, clicking a link in an email will bring up porn spam, etc.

On the surface it seems a sensible move – even a never used app can be accessed by accident or design. If it’s accessed and has a vulnerability, you’ve got malware and virus time.

There exists an opt-out at the moment, and I think the default setting for Play is still download updates over WiFi only so we shouldn’t hear about anyone’s 1gb data plan being blown.

And it’s probably not like Google can’t just install something on your phone anyway.

What do you think?

[Android Police]
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Paul E King

Paul King started with GoodAndEVO in 2011, which merged with Pocketables, and as of 2018 he's evidently the owner. He lives in Nashville, works at a film production company, is married with two kids. Facebook | Twitter | Donate | More posts by Paul | Subscribe to Paul's posts

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