this post was submitted on 21 Mar 2024

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Google Allows Creditors to Brick Your Phone (lemmy.world)

submitted 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) by MisterFrog@lemmy.world to c/privacy@lemmy.ml

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I installed NetGuard about a month ago and blocked all internet to apps, unless they're on a whitelist. No notifications from this particular system app (that can't be disabled) until recently when it started making internet connection requests to google servers. Does anyone know when this became a thing?

Edit 2: I bought my Pixel 6 phone outright, directly from Google's Australian store. I have no creditors.

Were the courts not enough control for creditors? Since when are they allowed to lock you out of your purchased property without a court order?

I don't even live in the US, so what the actual fuck?

Edit 1: You can check it's installed (~~stock~~ Pixel 6 android 14) Settings > Apps > All Apps > three dot menu, Show system > search "DeviceLockController".

I highly recommend getting NetGuard, you can enable pro features via their website if you have the APK for as low as 0.10€, but donate more, because it's amazing. You can also purchase via Google Play store.

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[–] Mnem667@sh.itjust.works 8 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Where did you buy your phone? What kind of phone is it?

[–] MisterFrog@lemmy.world 7 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Australia directly from the google store, Pixel 6.

[–] Mnem667@sh.itjust.works 5 points 8 months ago

In that case I would seriously contact Google, and either completely reflash either factory Android or one of the ALTs available.

[–] DerpDerpingtonIsHere@lemmy.world 8 points 8 months ago (3 children)

Get Shizuka, get it running by following a guide somewhere, install canta, remove it... Bang bang.

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[–] Trollception@lemmy.world 8 points 8 months ago (7 children)

Pixel 7 Pro reporting in. There is no DeviceLockController on my phone. Just installed the latest monthly updates a couple of days ago.

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[–] cupcakezealot@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 points 8 months ago (8 children)

i think they're just using the device administrator feature of android right? i know outlook does this if i connect to my work email

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[–] nothacking@discuss.tchncs.de 6 points 8 months ago (1 children)

It pings out to google constantly regardless of where you are. You should be able remove it with adb, or use an app like NetGuard to block it from acessing the internet.

[–] MisterFrog@lemmy.world 6 points 8 months ago (3 children)

NetGuard is how I discovered it even existed haha

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[–] pixelscience@lemm.ee 6 points 8 months ago

Not on my Galaxy S23+ from Google Fi

[–] coffeeClean@infosec.pub 6 points 8 months ago (1 children)

You can check it’s installed (stock android) Settings > Apps > All Apps > three dot menu, Show system > search “DeviceLockController”.

Is that just a “feature” of recent AOS versions? AOS 5’s triple dot menu has nothing like “show system”.

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[–] acetanilide@lemmy.world 6 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Thanks for sharing this OP. I turned on the notifications for my browser, and when I went on FB (thru firefox, not app) one of the connection notifications was to a website I went on once a few weeks or even a month ago. I knew it was creepy but damn.

I do have ublock origin but obviously that's not enough. I wish i could get rid of FB but there's 2 things i haven't been able to replicate elsewhere.

I'm just flabbergasted but wanted to say thanks.

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[–] Lucidlethargy@sh.itjust.works 5 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Interesting. It's not available in the US.

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[–] lemmyingly@lemm.ee 5 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (5 children)

Since when are they allowed to lock you out of your purchased property without a court order?

That's an oxymoron. Creditors have the ability to lock you out of a device you haven't paid for yet. Standard terms and conditions in B2C and B2B; you don't own it until you've paid for it in full.

Also locking you out of a device you don't own yet is cheaper than taking you to court.

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[–] scratchandgame@lemmy.ml 5 points 8 months ago

the phone world is fucked. Use a landline phone :)

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