The discussion I stumbled upon, about this SSH app for Android, is really worrying. Will Google really manage to make it impossible to root your phone?

But there’s more to this, it’s more complicated. In the Big Picture, Google has every incentive to make these changes — they lead to more security, and they’re aligned with Google’s corporate goals as well.

  • When talking to users, Google will emphasize control over hackers.
  • When talking to stockholders, Google will emphasize control over users.

Edit: I disagree with “they lead to more security”. That’s not “security”, let’s not turn words upside-down.

  • Urist@lemmy.ml
    39·
    1 year ago

    That has to my understanding been Google’s project all along (making Android crappy that is). IIRC they bought Android, which due to utilizing the Linux kernel was GPL software. The solution was therefore to seperate Android from all the tools that make Android work, splitting core functionality away from the now AOSP and over to Google services. By abuse of market position we are now in the position where stuff like Google push services, safety net and etc are now basically forcing people into their ecosystem. It will not get better, as witnessed with the company’s attempts at making email and most sites on the internet dependant on their ecosystem as well.

      • Urist@lemmy.mlEnglish
        15·
        1 year ago

        To some extent you are of course right in that the underlying technology of Android has improved. What I was referring to was a design strategy aimed at crippling those who might want to present a Google-free Android alternative.

        EDIT: I also want to add that MicroG, though a great project, is to my knowledge not Google free and probably never can be.

          • Urist@lemmy.mlEnglish
            11·
            1 year ago

            From their main page:

            (…) privacy-caring users can reduce or monitor data that is sent to Google (…)

            From their dedicated Google connections page:

            In general, we obviously try to minimize the connections to Google, but some services strictly rely on them and would just not work without.

            I mean, sure you can ask for sources, but maybe take a little less aggressive stance when the information is so readily available. This took me way more time to write than you would have used looking it up yourself.

      • stravanasu@lemmy.sdf.orgOPEnglish
        1·
        1 year ago

        This is an interesting take. Could you share some resources or links to follow this line of reasoning more in detail? Especially resources that are somewhat “noob-friendly”. Cheers.

        • cwagner@lemmy.cwagner.me
          1·
          1 year ago

          What resources? I just don’t see things getting worse when The tools I use (I have barely ever used stock or unrooted Android and have been on Android since around 2010) have consistently improved, sometimes (like systemless root) even because of Google changes that broke old functionality. I also still don’t know where you get your “Will Google really manage to make it impossible to root your phone?” from, which does seem to have no relation to the (old) linked post at all.