Until a few years ago, any app you installed on an Android device could see all other apps on your phone without your permission.

Apparently Android apps (even in current Android versions) can check for the presence of other Android apps by listing the apps they want to check for in their manifest file. Nothing stops them from listing dozens or hundreds of other apps, and some do exactly that. Up til Android 11 they didn’t even have to list the other apps in the manifest. Then Google “tightened” things to be almost as bad. Dumb move, Android.

  • solrize@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
    31·
    4 days ago

    I have gotten by without usng bank apps of any sort. Maybe they are better than I realize and I don’t know what I’m missing, but that’s just as well.

    • WheelchairArtist@lemmy.worldEnglish
      5·
      3 days ago

      i also just use the website instead of their super restrictive “for security” apps that add no value. It is none of their business what is going on on my rooted phone. but i’m also a fossil cause i’m using a computer

    • JayGray91@lemmy.zipEnglish
      2·
      3 days ago

      Banks here have forced to use their app as part of the MFA step now. So if a bank app is being extra shit, I’m sure going to close it if it’s non essential.