Meta/Facebook preinstalls an app called Meta Services (previously Facebook services) on a very large percentage of android devices (I’ve never used one without it) and while they claim it helps updates and synchronisation between different meta apps, it is very suspicious. Why preinstall it on devices of people who will potentialy never use a single meta app?

Go to your app list/app management and show system apps and find anything with the words “meta” or “Facebook” then turn off network access for those apps (if you can) and disable them. (eg. Meta app manager, Meta app installer).

https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/meta-services-an-android-app-or-not/

https://fixyourandroid.com/about/facebook-app-manager/

https://www.reddit.com/r/GalaxyS20FE/comments/ttmx4t/meta_services/

Edit: Looking around I have found several people complaining that this app is using their ram for 10 hours a day even though they don’t use anything Meta. That’s even more suspicious.

  • DishonestBirb@lemmy.worldEnglish
    23·
    1 year ago

    Shit like this is why I use a DeGoogled phone. Get a Pixel and install GrapheneOS or CalyxOS and use open source apps wherever you can, and sandbox any Google Play apps you have to use (banking, etc).

      • priapus@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        16·
        1 year ago

        I don’t think they were implying that it was. Pixel phones don’t have this, but they have loads of other methods of stealing your data. Ungoogled ROMs are focused on complete privacy, not just from google.

    • giant_smeeg@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      1 year ago

      I’ve always wanted to do this. How stable are these roms? Do all apps work without issue from google play?

      • drcobaltjedi@programming.devEnglish
        4·
        1 year ago

        Not the person you asked, but I run Calyx. It has microG services to impersonate google services. It works most of the time, but I have found a few apps that straight up don’t work since microG isn’t 100% viable yet.

        • giant_smeeg@lemmy.worldEnglish
          2·
          1 year ago

          Which apps and what do they rely on? I just need stuff like banking/email/browser/whatsapp(I know but it’s what everyone uses here).

          • drcobaltjedi@programming.devEnglish
            5·
            1 year ago

            If you use the aurora store it will tell you what apps require google services. My banking app works perfectly fine though I’ve heard others don’t so your milage may vary. Calyx came preinstalled with an email app which works fine, though f-droid has dozens of foss alternatives. Calyx also came preinstalled with chromium though I switched to fennec (firefox). I believe whatsapp works though I don’t have it installed nor will I.

      • CrypticCoffee@lemm.eeEnglish
        3·
        1 year ago

        I’ve not found issues on mine other than when I don’t share my location and need to manually input.I quite like that though.