Google Will Extend Permission Auto-Reset Feature To Older Android Versions (therecord.media) 21
Google announced plans today to port its Permission Auto-Reset feature from Android 11 to older versions of its mobile operating system, as far back as Android 6. From a report: Launched last fall, the Permission Auto-Reset feature works by automatically withdrawing user permissions from an app that hasn't been opened and used for a few months. "Starting in December 2021, we are expanding this [feature] to billions more devices," Google said today. "This feature will automatically be enabled on devices with Google Play services that are running Android 6.0 (API level 23) or higher." Exempt from this new feature will be device admin apps and enterprise apps where the permissions have been fixed through a general enterprise policy.
ok but Google is missing one glaring detail (Score:2)
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Clearly you misunderstood TFS. No vendor update will be needed. The feature will be enabled through Google Play Services. It's understandable if you've chosen to install LineageOS for microG or something, but anyone who actually has Google Play Services on Marshmallow or higher is going to be able to get this. You don't even have to have a Google account to get the update; just use Aurora Store. [f-droid.org]
Fix the feature first! (Score:5, Interesting)
Some apps are broken by this feature. For example, my phone notified me recently that it removed location permissions from Google's "Find Device" app, soundly defeating the purpose of the app -- and solely because I had not needed to use it in months. Google/Android earned an F for effort there.
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You simply don't understand how the feature works. You have it turned on in the location settings of the phone. It sends you location to google all the time. It does not store the location in the "find device" app; that app just contacts the cloud. When you use "find device" and click "Allow" once, it will all work.
You get an F both for understanding, and effort.
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I have Google Location History turned off. That means that when I go to the Find My Device web page, Google sends my phone a push notification to wake up the app, asking it to report its location. That will fall if the app doesn't have location permission.
As usual, you are full of baloney.
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Sounds like a bug, precisely that app is exempt from this feature as an administrative app.
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Sounds like an issue with your manufacturer's version of Android. I have a few Android devices, two on Google's official versions and one on Lineage, and none of them have had this problem.
Still, it's nice to see that Google is still updating Android 6, a 6 year old operating system.
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My phone is a Pixel 3a XL running Google's stock Android. That's why I blamed Google for the problem.
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Huh. It hasn't affected my Pixel XL or Pixel 5.
That's not a bug?! (Score:2)
WTF Google!
Hmmm (Score:2)
It sounds like a good thing overall.
This is, sadly, where we're at with regular ol' consumer-grade security stuff in 2021- implementing things to limit the Bad Guys when they infect your phone with their shitty malware.
This would have been a hilarious thing to predict back in 1990 or so.
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This would have been a hilarious thing to predict back in 1990 or so.
Nobody would have even believed that eventually people would be that willing to install random apps off the internet!
It's not actually as bad now as would have predicted...
wrong headed thinking once again (Score:2)
Propeller heads at google missing the boat again, apps used in rare important or emergency situations will be zapped. I picked my apps, I want and need them.
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Propeller heads
Another moron who hates nerds, doesn't understand software, comments frequently on slashdot.
Why would you be "zapped?" You had to click "Allow" again? What sort of "emergency" would require an app? Are you worried some spyware you installed will ask the owner of the phone's permission for something?
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You are the ignorant one, the list of things disabled per app isn't consistent, nor are apps consistent in informing users what was revoked, they become crippled and can't function properly.
Educate yourself before spewing your ignorance.
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And they will continue to function. Please engage your one remaining braincell before posting.
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No, many won't because the list of things disabled isn't consistent, and the apps don't consistently tell the user what was disengaged. This has caused problems. Learn the issues before shooting your ignorant virtual mouth off.
Microsoftism at it's finest (Score:1)
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Just because you didn't ask for something doesn't mean others didn't. Stop pretending to speak for the world.