I recently asked the /c/Android community what information Google has access to on stock Android, assuming the user is not using any Google apps, and was told Google has full “unstoppable” access to the entire device, including Signal messages, the microphone, duckduckgo search history and anything displayed on the screen at all times.
Does this mean that encrypted messaging is essentially pointless to use on Android? I’m a newb here so go easy on me.
Google has the capability to read everything that you can read on an Android phone, unless you have taken steps to remove all Google-controlled components that have system-level privileges. Last time I checked, this included Google Play Services, which are installed by default on most Android phones.
Note that messengers with end-to-end encryption, like Signal, cannot protect against an adversary with full access to your device.
This is part of why people de-Google their phones, which usually means replacing the entire OS with something like LineageOS or GrapheneOS.
So just to confirm the answer to my question question: Its pointless to use encrypted messaging on an Android device?
People in the field would love to bust Google for this so it’s a safe bet that they are actively looking for Google to log or transmit what you type in the keyboard in every app. The fact that the news hasn’t broken that Google is logging this info is important. It means in the realm of possibility it’s not impossible but it is unlikely.
Still it’s safer to assume all of your communications on stock android are being tracked or spied on.
The same way you assume a weapon is loaded. Better safe than sorry.
No, because it still stops everyone else from reading your messages.
So just to confirm the answer to my question question: Its pointless to use encrypted messaging on an Android device?
Of course not. End-to-end encrypted messaging protects against eavesdroppers in transit. It’s an opaque envelope.
(Edit: Keep in mind that Google is not the only potential eavesdropper out there.)
What it cannot do is protect a message from someone reading over your shoulder when you write a message or open an envelope. On mainstream Android, that could be Google, if they choose to abuse their system-level access. On iOS, it could be Apple. And so on.
Those companies might be eavesdropping on sent/received messages already, either at a large scale or in a minority of cases, or regionally, or they might not be doing it at all… yet. But they have the capability. You’ll have to decide for yourself whether that risk is acceptable.
End-to-end encrypted messaging protects against eavesdroppers in transit.
But if the ENDS are both compromised… I wish there were more/better custom ROMS out there. Hopefully Linux Phone gets some love.
Currently, no (other than the microphone). Android apps are sandboxed and the Signal app encrypts its data so it isn’t readable from the outside. There is however a real concern if using keyboards with predictive text, because the keyboard knows what you’re typing into Signal.
Android apps are sandboxed
FWIW, they’re not sandboxed from google play services:
The Play Store Services process has access to your precise location at all times, the motion sensors, networks, hardware identifiers (including IMEI), contacts, passwords, the entire storage space, call logs, access to other apps’ data, and more.
Accordingly, google would have access to the Signal data on your phone. However, I don’t know whether the encryption would provide a measure of protection against google. GrapheneOS by default does not use google play services, and provides a sandboxed version for people who need the functionality.
but the sandbox is controlled by google, of course. They might need to snoop on your app for “accessibility reasons” (no pun intended)
I will leave just this info here
Technical Data
Subject of Investigation: Google Play Services
Number of Permissions: 277
Operating System: Android 4.4.2 and aboveList of Permissions
3.1. Automotive Systems Control
Access to data and control of vehicle components via Android Auto/CarPlay:
- Power windows
- Tire pressure monitoring system
- Rearview mirrors
- Power system
- Mileage data
- Central door locking
- Driving mode management
- Seat adjustment
- Vehicle speed data
- Lighting system (headlights)
- Battery
- Climate control
3.2. User Interface Manipulation
- Embedding into application activities
- Application substitution
- Application icon modification
3.3. “Chimera” Component
System component of undetermined purpose.
3.4. SMS Management
Complete control of text messaging functions:
- Sending messages
- Receiving messages
- Reading messages
- Creating messages
3.5. Root-Level System Privileges
Complete device control at root-access level.
3.6. Application Data Access
- Access to all activities
- Ability to embed into activities
- Access to contacts
3.7. USB Management
Control of USB connections and data transfer.
3.8. Identifier Access
Access to all system and user device identifiers.
3.9. Screen Lock Management
Disabling keyguard (screen lock system).
3.10. Mail Services Access
- Access to email
- Access to voicemail
3.11. Network Function Management
- Enabling/disabling network interfaces
- Background data download
- Modification of network settings
3.12. Wi-Fi Management
- Access to saved Wi-Fi passwords
- Wi-Fi password transmission
3.13. Audio Recording
- Microphone audio recording
- “Capture audio hotword” function (keyword capture)
- Continuous audio stream monitoring for hotword detection
3.14. Geolocation
Complete control of location functions:
- Location determination by all available methods
- Independent enabling/disabling of geolocation services
- “Allocate aggressive” mode (aggressive resource allocation for location determination)
3.15. Payment Information Transmission
Sending payment data without specified recipient restrictions.
3.16. Camera Control
Access to device camera.
3.17. Telephony Function Management
- Making calls
- Access to call history
- Control of telephone connections
3.18. Permission Management
Manipulation of other applications’ permissions:
- Permission backup
- Permission sharing
- Permission revocation
- Permission restoration
3.19. Device Lock Management
- Device locking
- Device unlocking
- Password protection bypass
3.20. Biometric Authentication
Complete control of biometric identification systems:
- Fingerprint scanner
- Facial recognition (Face ID)
3.21. Notification Management
Manipulation of system notifications:
- SMS notification substitution
- Call notification modification
- Messenger notification modification
3.22. Telephony Function Access
- Access to telephony module
- Call management
3.23. Bluetooth Management
Control of Bluetooth connections.
3.24. Security Key Management
- Encryption key substitution
- Password reset
Google Play Services is one of many pre-installed Google system components. A standard Android installation contains 30-50 additional Google applications with similar or complementary permission sets.
Someone at Google could hear what a device’s microphone is picking up at all times?
Simple answer is no but…
Stock android, like all commercial OS is inherently spyware. Google does have access to it and in theory could do anything, but that is only “in theory” because as far as we know stock android does not come with keyloggers and data exfiltration tools, it spies on you in the way of “telemetry” meaning that Google decided that certain data is useful and so they “anonymize” it and collect it, this data can be: wifi networks, location, phone usage, and more.
So in theory it is possible that stock android either already has spyware to collect personal app data that no one ever noticed (very unlikely) or that google will push an update with such software (somewhat unlikely)
Now if you use other Google apps, especially gboard and google assistant, you are definitely sharing SOME amount of peesonal text with google.
The reality is that you should consider your threat model, which means to consider what kind of risk you are willing to take and what kind you are willing to make a change to avoid. It is perfectly reasonable to say that you are not willing to use gboard or google assistant, but you are willing to use the stock android, understanding that you are sharing some data with Google, but most likely no app data (such as your texts in Signal)
Same thing about choosing a messenger. WhatsApp is made and managed by Meta, a company that lives off of user data. So even though WhatsApp claims (and seems to really be) end to end encrypted, you can still be sure that Meta is collecting everything they can, which probably means: who you are texting, how much, at what time, how much you use the app, location, and much more. Signal is open source and managed by a non-profit that does have a good track record, and because ut is open source you can also choose a different client (like Molly) which further reduces the Signal Foundation’s hold on your chats (if you fear that) So you could say that because all of your friends use WhatsApp you are willing to accept that Meta will collect a bunch of data on you, or you could decide that you are not okay with that data collection and therefore choose Signal. It is up to you. In any case, E2EE is a must as it protects you from unauthorized access from hackers.
Think lower level. They own your device keyboard, so they can technically read whatever you type. Whether they send that to the mother ship, I don’t know, but it’s a risk. That’s one example, but same holds true for anything low level, like mic, camera, etc.
