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this post was submitted on 29 Sep 2025
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Privacy
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So does that mean it will use blobs only if a person has Google Play? Honestly, I don't really understand the definition of blobs. Tracker code?
In my (limited) understanding of it 'blobs' are encrypted blocks of data that are distributed with apps in their APK. The app code internally will then have references to the blobs to indicate start and end locations in the blobs and usually a function that reference serves.
That means less for closed source apps, as they could contain any obfuscated code already - but open source advocates are very skeptical of arbitrary blobs, as they can be used to distribute anything - trackers or malicious code for instance. Their primary function in the Google App store seems to be to distribute signing certificates, encrypted keys and checksums that Google uses to verify the build version and that app is from the Play Store (Google calls this 'frosting' the app, going with their Android dessert theme).
So I have not checked, but I imagine the Signal direct-download APK would not have blobs as it's not been signed/'frosted' by Google.
See brief discussion below from IzzyOnDroid devs for additional terms if you're curious to research further.
https://gitlab.com/IzzyOnDroid/repo/-/issues/491