Omg can you imagine running spyware voluntarily?
I foresee a lot of people that would rather China spy on them than the US.
I doubt any of those people are from China.
Wyden’s letter cited a “tip” as the source of the information about the surveillance. His staff did not elaborate on the tip
Not saying you’re wrong, but that’s not an issue with the OS, it’s an issue with how push notifications work and how companies deal with requests for data.
It’s not spyware…. It’s crap. Like SMS is crap.
As with any Android OEM, Windows, iOS, MacOS, social media, navigation apps, artificial intelligence, entertainment services, …, …, …
Unfortunately we live in a world where no spyware is basically impossible if you don’t want to be left out of society. It’s possible to use Linux and Firefox and to stop using social media and maps apps and search engines, but it starts getting old real quick not being able to talk to friends and family
Weird way to agree, but also be a cunt, …, …
So, everyone using a smartphone in 2024? If it’s not China, it’s the US or other gov, or ISP or VPN provider and the list keeps growing. They are all tracking you and it’s foolish to believe otherwise. And even if you have a dumb phone that can also track you, on top of all the cameras in public areas or sattelite imagery.
Tracking and spyware are two different things.
How?
The terms “tracking” and “spyware” both refer to methods of monitoring and collecting information from users. However, they have different connotations and uses.
Tracking is usually used for collecting data about user behavior, preferences, and activities, primarily for marketing, analytics, or personalized content delivery through cookies, pixels, or scripts in websites and apps. Users are sometimes made aware of tracking and can often opt-out or limit the extent. It is generally a “legal practice,” (I say loosely) and is widely used by “legitimate businesses.”
Spyware, on the other hand, is designed to secretly monitor and collect information from user devices without consent. This can include sensitive data like passwords, financial information, personal conversations, physical location, penis size, just making sure you read this. It can be installed through deceptive means such as phishing, software bundling, or exploiting security vulnerabilities. The user is typically unaware of spyware being run on their devices. It is considered malicious and illegal, unless you are a multibillion-dollar company haha. It’s often associated with cybercrimes, unethical surveillance, and government fuckery.
So, while they are pretty similar and have some crossover, ultimately they are different. Although, some malicious tracking can be done without your device being compromised at all, like GPS triangulation.
