- cross-posted to:
- technology@beehaw.org
- technology@lemmy.ml
- cross-posted to:
- technology@beehaw.org
- technology@lemmy.ml
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Shouldn’t be an app. It should be a site accessible using vpn and private browsing with an appropriate browser. Nobody should have to worry about the Stasi finding the app on their phone regardless of the situation.
While this is true, most people are not so tech savvy, maybe giving an option to mask app Icon to user choice can help it hide better.
going to a website (not tech savvy enough for this) vs going to the settings on an app and select a new icon (yay anyone can do it)
While I agree, in this particular case I think it’s a good idea.
Can’t it be both?
Websites don’t support push notifications in a way that normies understand. They’re also generally unreliable. And these are time-sensitive matters.
Was curious so Iooked up the app’s site.
Apparently the devs claim they can’t release it on Android because “There’s no way to be anonymous on the play store”, but it’s even more impossible to be anonymous on the platform they’ve released. That’s how you know the developer is incredibly stupid and/or shady as hell- because they’ve never even heard of Fdroid?
Makes me think the app is a troll/trojan horse (not as in infection, trojan horse as in it has alterior motives)
The Drumpf crew “losing it” over the app just makes it more questionable. They love to create a firestorm so people talk about the thing “they definitely don’t want you to use!!” to get people to do things…
There’s no way to be anonymous on the play store
Aurora store.
I was quoting them but you’re right-or Fdroid ofc
This is a really good comment
Thanks. Remember to always question everything. Especially when that -something- sounds like BS.
they mentioned that its because push notifications require device id and that would make it easy to be tracked if aubpoenaed.
I’m not sure if this guy is just dumb or it’s a honeypot.
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As mentioned elsewhere, they don’t use device ID
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Android is the only platform that supports alternative push methods
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Apple knows everyone who downloads this app, which is subject to subpoena
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The gov has been collecting push notification data from both Apple and Google for a long time. It would be as simple as knowing when notifications went out and then comparing timestamps to figure out who is using the app.
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The app is closed-source
It would take significantly more mental energy on the part of the user but it would be far safer (which is extremely important in this specific case, as the dev agrees) to distribute through F-Droid and then use some other UnifiedPush implementation, as many Android apps already do. Anyone using this app is painting a huge target on their backs for the current authoritarian state.
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Push notifications though GMS don’t use the device ID; they use a generated GCM registration ID that occasionally rotates. Who knows what Google uses internally to associate GCM reg IDs to users, but to overly state that it uses device IDs is simply not correct.
I’m not suggesting push notifications are inherently secure because it’s impossible to make that determination from the outside. But their assessment is incorrect and the same privacy concerns apply to Apple.
I’m pretty certain push notifications have been shown to be grossly insecure actually…
Interesting, especially with GrapheneOS people shooting it down immediately to call them out on their baloney.
This gives honeypot vibes. IOS only with no way to access via browser?
They could try not being brown shirts. Problem solved.
I love the quote about how it is putting federal agents in danger…and I sort of think that they are doing that themselves.
Good, those agents are playing a dangerous game and you should know if you play with fire your going get burned. Its a matter of time before they try to kidnap the wrong person, and that person decides its better to die in America then it is to go to a camp then deported.
which is great for necessitating the need to give absolute militant power to police forces. It’s like… the PR of him having a ‘meltdown’ is for a reason or something.
PR for who? Who is on the fence about ICE?
Probably lots of people in red states. Farmers for instance, people who generally buy the Republican bullshit, but may personally rely heavily on immigrant workers. ICE puts them in a really tough position.
You’ve made a potential error in underestimating just how horrible some peoples’ lives are and how filled with hatred they are over that fact. This is really what drives so much of politics in the world–disgruntled people with no future who choose to hate others who have nothing to do with it.
Anyone have a link to the app/website? I’d like to follow some among honing my horn and warning folks.
Is this only on Apple? Kind of lame.
It is only for iOS. I haven’t found a similar app for Android.
This is IOS only owing to Android play store collecting a device identifier; the creator wanted complete anonymity
Quote from some other place people were discussing it. Unfortunately no source on it.
There are other stores besides the playstore…
It’s not about the store, it’s about the notification.
As mentioned in the Time article:
the app is not available on Android because it “requires a device ID in order to send push notifications, which requires a user account and a password.”
Good old firebase. Notifications are not entirely device local on android, or something like that.
There are ways around that
Its totally possible to send notification without having user account, see firebase.
You don’t need a user account or password to receive a push notification.
You just need to have the app installed. The app can be configured by the developer to receive push notifications.
And the developer needs a device ID for that. Which is their objection: https://www.iceblock.app/android
Thanks, but I’m not the developer of the app so that’s not really relevant for me.
i don’t think this other commenter was calling you out. i think they were just bringing up a point of discussion that’s relevant to the point you brought up
There is side loading, they can just release it on GitHub.
That’s not how push notifications on android work.
That doesn’t have anything to do with how you install the app.
It has to do with receiving notifications from the app in a privacy-preserving way. Unless the app is running with a server connection 24/7 (RIP battery life) you need to rely on the OS to deliver notifications.
It’s 1000% possible to use android apps without involving Google in any way.
Edited for further clarification. It’s not about Google, it’s about what Android needs to receive notifications: https://www.iceblock.app/android
It’s important to buy devices that respect your privacy.
Is it apple only? Would love it on my droid if it’s available.
Yep, and that will be it’s downfall, because Apple will take it down and there’s no way to install it without their rubber stamp.
Looks like just Apple now: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/iceblock/id6741939020
Ice and snowflakes always seem to go so well with one another.
I love how the Streisand Effect works. They just made this app the hottest thing out there.
It’s closed source, and the build and publishing pipeline isn’t transparent.
For me that makes this no different than a potential ICE honey pot
the honey pot for what? people who don’t like ice? that makes no sense
They could argue that attempting to track ICE is illegal, and all those using the app are to be arrested and tried for their crimes.
That expression LOL
Obstruction of whatever cops do, OK.
But usually it has nothing to do with justice.
Maybe they’re looking for pretense for more authoritarian action on digital services/internet. We already have a bill in process that opens the door for government censorship of the internet right? They could be priming the public to be ok with them stepping in to shut apps/sites down.
Secret police would probably have an interest in lists of people downloading an app tracking their movements no? Particularly if it was downloaded to a mobile tracking device they carry with themselves at most times.
no I honestly don’t know how this would help them
if they can track those who are against them, it’s easier to eliminate dissidents
Using the app becomes obstruction or terrorism. People who do that will also get sent to camps.
It seems far fetched but it’s really not. After all, nobody would step to stop either of those things from happening.
which is exactly what this whole ‘meltdown’ frame for the pr hints at. republicans know how to use publicity stunts to get what they want.
can’t even find “Joshua Aaron” on linked in or github. feels a little sus. my moneys on honey pot
Has to be shit is glowing
Haven’t followed it much (EU), can you elaborate who did what and what can be done potentially?
Haven’t followed it much
Oh lord, where do I even start? It’s an entire shit show. And not the usual political shit show. A really scary one that’s truly heartbreaking. I don’t even really feel safe talking about it
criminals dont like being tracked
dont they have site as well, just incase they decide to shut the apps.
How do they measure the difference between partial and full meltdowns?
it’s probably rated based on how dark his bronzer is that day.
It’s going to be filled with false warnings from MAGA idiots and trolls…
Sweet. I appreciate that their reaction has Streisand-effected this app into my awareness.
Twenty years ago tracking armed thugs in ski masks would have been called a public service.
if they’re worried about being tracked maybe they could do the easiest thing in the world which is not being complete shitheads?
