110

PSA: Nova Launcher added Facebook and Google Ads tracking (lemdro.id)

submitted 3 months ago by younesdz@lemdro.id to c/privacy@lemmy.ml

11 comments fedilink hide all child comments

cross-posted from: https://lemdro.id/post/35049920

The latest update for the popular Nova Launcher app includes Facebook Ads and Google AdMob.

Compare 8.2.4: https://reports.exodus-privacy.eu.org/en/reports/698198/

With 8.1.6: https://reports.exodus-privacy.eu.org/en/reports/673643/

From 2 trackers to 6 trackers. From 30 permissions to 36. And two of the "trackers" are for ad stuff, like Facebook Ads.

I believe the owner also changed. It's no longer Branch, but something called Instabridge Sweden.

top 11 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old

[-] extremeboredom@lemmy.world 17 points 3 months ago

Joke's on them, mine can't talk to a network.

[-] KickMeElmo@sopuli.xyz 8 points 3 months ago

Oh hey, I just noticed App Manager can apply that net policy. Neat, that's easier than how I used to do it.

[-] reabsorbthelight@lemmy.world 3 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Does this work on normal Android? I still have some phones on normal Android

[-] KickMeElmo@sopuli.xyz 2 points 3 months ago

Yes, but doing that part requires root.

[-] North@lemmy.org 2 points 3 months ago

Yes, it works for Android

[-] CocaineShrimp@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 months ago

Leaving this here: they've started putting in ads

[-] autonomoususer@lemmy.world -5 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Stop, stop, stop, hold up. Which libre software license text file was it released under, none? So, we never controlled it.

We saw what happened with Reddit and now this. Go check every app on your device for a libre license, now.

If they scam you like this a 3rd time, you deserve it, lmao.

[-] ExcessShiv@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 3 months ago

It got sold to a new company and the original dev left...they can just release it under a new license if they want, so whatever license it once was released under could be irrelevant when they did a new release/update.

[-] autonomoususer@lemmy.world -4 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Wrong, this cannot undo a libre release or block forks. We control libre software, not their time.

[-] ExcessShiv@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 3 months ago

Yeah but that means users need to go get a different launcher (technically, since it's a fork to a new project) than the one that they have installed. The already installed launcher will just continue with a new license.

[-] autonomoususer@lemmy.world -2 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Wrong, F-Droid official repos block this attack.

this post was submitted on 21 Jan 2026

110 points (98.2% liked)

Privacy

48254 readers

517 users here now

A place to discuss privacy and freedom in the digital world.

Privacy has become a very important issue in modern society, with companies and governments constantly abusing their power, more and more people are waking up to the importance of digital privacy.

In this community everyone is welcome to post links and discuss topics related to privacy.

Some Rules

Posting a link to a website containing tracking isn't great, if contents of the website are behind a paywall maybe copy them into the post
Don't promote proprietary software
Try to keep things on topic
If you have a question, please try searching for previous discussions, maybe it has already been answered
Reposts are fine, but should have at least a couple of weeks in between so that the post can reach a new audience
Be nice :)

Related communities

much thanks to @gary_host_laptop for the logo design :)

founded 6 years ago

MODERATORS