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.

  • UristEnglish
    16·
    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.

      • UristEnglish
        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.