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To see Google track you in real time, disable Play Services
Hacker News ^ | 15may19 | Editorial staff

Posted on 05/15/2019 5:18:31 AM PDT by vannrox

In an attempt to de-Google my life, I recently disabled Play Services. Now, my Pixel 2 XL complains every time it can't "phone home."

Google wants to contact Play Services (itself a rootkit) every time you receive a call. You'll see the notification/complaint several seconds before the phone rings.

While driving with Maps, Google attempts to track you each time you enter a destination or cancel one as well as at regular intervals during your drive.

Play Services also tries to track me at random times for no reason when I'm not using the phone.

It tries to track you while listening to voicemail and the notification/complaint stops the voicemail playback every few seconds when it can't.

But perhaps the worst offense is that it tracks you as you scroll through your contacts. God help if you look up a phone number because, every few seconds as you scroll through your contact list, Play Services attempts to report it to Google.

I find this behavior reprehensible and I'm sorely looking forward to getting a Puri.sm or /e/ device.

Just for fun, try it for yourself by disabling the Play Services app and see how often Google is spying on you.


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: brother; google; privacybig
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1 posted on 05/15/2019 5:18:31 AM PDT by vannrox
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To: vannrox

Don’t. Use . Google.


2 posted on 05/15/2019 5:26:43 AM PDT by gibsonguy
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To: vannrox

I’ve had google play disabled for the better part of 3 years, and I don’t have those issues.


3 posted on 05/15/2019 5:27:59 AM PDT by Don W (When blacks riot, neighbourhoods and cities burn. When whites riot, nations and continents burn.)
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To: vannrox

Don’t have that app


4 posted on 05/15/2019 5:28:41 AM PDT by Nifster (I see puppy dogs in the clouds)
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To: gibsonguy
My Kyocera will not let me disable Google Play services. Permissions are:Body Sensors, Calendar, Contacts, Microphone, Phone, SMS, Storage.

They really are spying.
5 posted on 05/15/2019 5:31:02 AM PDT by farming pharmer
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To: vannrox

“While driving with Maps, Google attempts to track you each time you enter a destination or cancel one as well as at regular intervals during your drive.”

Isn’t that how driving with maps works?

How wan it place you accurately on a map if it doesn’t know where you are?


6 posted on 05/15/2019 5:33:50 AM PDT by FewsOrange
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To: vannrox

I have a newer phone. The Google Play “disable” button is dimmed out and not functional. Can’t turn it off.


7 posted on 05/15/2019 5:35:08 AM PDT by SERKIT ("Blazing Saddles" explains it all.......)
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To: SERKIT
I have a newer phone. The Google Play “disable” button is dimmed out and not functional. Can’t turn it off.

Same here.

8 posted on 05/15/2019 5:48:54 AM PDT by Ron H. (Gab.ai)
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To: akalinin
My Kyocera will not let me disable Google Play services. Permissions are:Body Sensors, Calendar, Contacts, Microphone, Phone, SMS, Storage. They really are spying.

It's just court ordered surveillance. ;-)

9 posted on 05/15/2019 5:49:22 AM PDT by Flick Lives
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To: gibsonguy

All Android phones use Google as they own it.
95% of server farms belong to Google.
This message was processed thru Google server farms.


10 posted on 05/15/2019 5:56:48 AM PDT by Zathras
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To: Flick Lives
My Kyocera will not let me disable Google Play services. Permissions are:Body Sensors, Calendar, Contacts, Microphone, Phone, SMS, Storage. They really are spying.

It's just court ordered surveillance. ;-)


I knew they'd catch up with me. Getting too dangerous in my old age!
11 posted on 05/15/2019 6:04:52 AM PDT by farming pharmer
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To: Ron H.
I have a newer phone. The Google Play “disable” button is dimmed out and not functional. Can’t turn it off.

Yep, the disable button for Google Play Services on my Alcatel 5041C is dimmed out as well (Dang!). I can't help but sensie a trend here!
12 posted on 05/15/2019 6:10:26 AM PDT by Trentamj
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To: vannrox

does onstar really track your vehicle? Or can it just find your vehicle at a certain moment?


13 posted on 05/15/2019 6:10:43 AM PDT by yldstrk (Bingo! We have awinner)
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To: FewsOrange

Google saves your position/time data on THEIR servers. Quite different from using say Garmin GPS, where the only device that knows where it is, is the device in your hand.

If you use Google Maps, check your “timeline.” Same on your phone as if you check it on a computer from the library. Your data is at goog.


14 posted on 05/15/2019 6:14:31 AM PDT by Cboldt
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To: Flick Lives

We don’t need no steenkin’ court orders. We aren’t the government, and you have no reasonable expectation of privacy.


15 posted on 05/15/2019 6:17:22 AM PDT by Cboldt
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To: akalinin
My Kyocera will not let me disable Google Play services.

Find somebody who knows, or learn for yourself, how to use adb.

16 posted on 05/15/2019 6:19:49 AM PDT by IndispensableDestiny
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To: vannrox

Please quit your abuse of the news forum with chat material.


17 posted on 05/15/2019 6:24:19 AM PDT by Admin Moderator
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To: IndispensableDestiny
Find somebody who knows, or learn for yourself, how to use adb.

Fairly computer literate, but I'm unsure of what 'adb' is.
18 posted on 05/15/2019 6:28:07 AM PDT by farming pharmer
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To: vannrox

For me tracking is a minor complaint,power it down, they do not call if you win the lotto, and you need to purchase a ticket.

All the crapware, just counted 54 icons, I use at most a dozen, ever.
Force stop and they return after a reset/power-down.

I want it simple!
A humongous snapping turtle, steps in front of my bicycle.
I want a picture. Bright sunlight, hard to see the screen, where is the camera icon???
This happened, by the time I find it, Mr turtle is gone.

About once a month, I promise to root it, but do not want to brick it.

I hate useless crapware hogging my screen.


19 posted on 05/15/2019 6:56:41 AM PDT by DUMBGRUNT ("The enemy has overrun us. We are blowing up everything. Vive la France!")
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To: DUMBGRUNT

You can set it up any way you like on an android device. All the other icons can be hidden.


20 posted on 05/15/2019 7:00:21 AM PDT by The Old Hoosier (Right makes might)
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