The AchieVer Posted March 16, 2019 Share Posted March 16, 2019 Android Q to get a ton of new privacy features Coming to Android Q: MAC address randomization, new location data permission popup, no more clipboard sniffing. Google's upcoming Android version, currently referred to only as Android Q, will arrive later this summer with a trove of privacy enhancements. Details about these new additions have been revealed earlier this week after Google published blog postsand new Android support pages for Android Q following the release of a first beta version earlier this week. Below are all the privacy-focused features that are expected to land in the stable version of Android Q at the end of August. ACCESS TO CLIPBOARD DATA Android apps can no longer access the Android operating system's clipboard data unless they are in focus (running in the foreground aka on screen). Apps can access clipboard data while in the OS background if they are also the default input method editor (IME) --aka the default keyboard apps. MAC ADDRESS RANDOMIZATION ON BY DEFAULT Google introduced MAC address randomization in Android 6.0, but devices broadcast a random MAC address only when the smartphone would initiate a background Wi-Fi or Bluetooth scan. Android Q devices will now transmit a randomized MAC address by default, at all times, and for all communications. Despite security researchers proving that they can still track devices with randomized MAC addresses, supporting this feature will reduce the efficiency of some data harvesting and user tracking operations. REMOVING EASY ACCESS TO NETWORK DATA Android Q will also remove the /proc/net function that gives out information about the device's network state. App developers have other alternatives, but those are safeguarded by permissions, menaing the free lunch for some data harvesters is over. REMOVING EASY ACCESS TO DEVICE DETAILS Similarly, starting with Android Q, Google will also require app developers to request a special permission before they can access what the OS maker calls "non-resettable device identifiers" --device IMEI and serial number. NON-RANKED CONTACT DATA Google has also decided that Android Q will stop tracking contacts based on the frequency of interaction. Any app that received the permission to access the user's contacts will only get non-ranked contacts going forward. MORE CONTROL OVER LOCATION DATA Probably one of the coolest features that will be included in Android Q is the new permissions prompt for accessing location data. Starting with the next Android release, users will be able to give apps access to location data all the time or only when the app is in focus (in the foreground). Source Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Google's upcoming Android version, currently referred to only as Android Q, will arrive later this summer with a trove of privacy enhancements. Details about these new additions have been revealed earlier this week after Google published blog postsand new Android support pages for Android Q following the release of a first beta version earlier this week. Below are all the privacy-focused features that are expected to land in the stable version of Android Q at the end of August. ACCESS TO CLIPBOARD DATA Android apps can no longer access the Android operating system's clipboard data unless they are in focus (running in the foreground aka on screen). Apps can access clipboard data while in the OS background if they are also the default input method editor (IME) --aka the default keyboard apps. MAC ADDRESS RANDOMIZATION ON BY DEFAULT Google introduced MAC address randomization in Android 6.0, but devices broadcast a random MAC address only when the smartphone would initiate a background Wi-Fi or Bluetooth scan. Android Q devices will now transmit a randomized MAC address by default, at all times, and for all communications. Despite security researchers proving that they can still track devices with randomized MAC addresses, supporting this feature will reduce the efficiency of some data harvesting and user tracking operations. REMOVING EASY ACCESS TO NETWORK DATA Android Q will also remove the /proc/net function that gives out information about the device's network state. App developers have other alternatives, but those are safeguarded by permissions, menaing the free lunch for some data harvesters is over. REMOVING EASY ACCESS TO DEVICE DETAILS Similarly, starting with Android Q, Google will also require app developers to request a special permission before they can access what the OS maker calls "non-resettable device identifiers" --device IMEI and serial number. NON-RANKED CONTACT DATA Google has also decided that Android Q will stop tracking contacts based on the frequency of interaction. Any app that received the permission to access the user's contacts will only get non-ranked contacts going forward. MORE CONTROL OVER LOCATION DATA Probably one of the coolest features that will be included in Android Q is the new permissions prompt for accessing location data. Starting with the next Android release, users will be able to give apps access to location data all the time or only when the app is in focus (in the foreground). Source
mp68terr Posted March 16, 2019 Share Posted March 16, 2019 Let's hope that old phones will benefit from this Q-privacy features too through custom ROMs... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiliarou Posted March 17, 2019 Share Posted March 17, 2019 They already do with xposed or magisk modules for most of the features described above. Looking forward to MAC address randomization which will give unlimited "free internet" time (like in hotels or planes). Iphone has this since ages (for once they have a useful feature before Android)... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debebee Posted March 17, 2019 Share Posted March 17, 2019 xposed or magisk modules only work for rooted phones.. So stock android with these features are always welcome.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mp68terr Posted March 17, 2019 Share Posted March 17, 2019 7 hours ago, tiliarou said: They already do with xposed or magisk modules for most of the features described above. Now trying lineageos 14.1 on an old Galaxy s4; do you mean that simply finding/adding such modules will bring Q-features? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator DKT27 Posted March 19, 2019 Administrator Share Posted March 19, 2019 On 3/17/2019 at 12:44 PM, tiliarou said: They already do with xposed or magisk modules for most of the features described above. Say, if you are expert in Magisk modules, can you mention some good ones by starting a topic here. Coming back to the topic, I personally am concerned about some of them. Privacy is good, but customization should not be completely compromised. Still, a lot the changes are very good there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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