147
Google wants to make stolen Android phones basically unsellable (www.androidauthority.com)
submitted 2 months ago by baatliwala@lemmy.world to c/android@lemdro.id
44 comments fedilink hide all child comments
all 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[-] saltesc@lemmy.world 48 points 2 months ago

Call your carrier to blacklist the IMEI. Done.

It has always worked this way, well before the smartphone era.

The only way to overcome is to find a country the phone works with and has carriers not part of the blacklisting networks. Doesn't make for a very practical resale market...

So, now that's out of the way, what control is Google actually trying to sneak in then?

[-] BaroqueInMind@lemmy.one 5 points 2 months ago

Some carriers/MVNOs won't allow that request (Fi, Orange, US Cellular, etc.)

[-] atrielienz@lemmy.world 4 points 2 months ago

That assumes it's attached to a carrier. I had a phone stolen out of the mail.

[-] Korhaka@sopuli.xyz 1 points 2 months ago

I wonder how few people do this these days

[-] saltesc@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago

Apparently most

[-] Luffy879@lemmy.ml 45 points 2 months ago

And how does it detect if something is „Stolen“ again?

[-] Maeve@kbin.earth 13 points 2 months ago

Spyware. Tracking. Extensive databases. Sneakily active mics and cameras. SIM cards requiring phone numbers tied to government issued ID. Security cameras. Smart home. Facial recognition. Fingerprints. Been incarcerated? DNA.

[-] EarMaster@lemmy.world 6 points 2 months ago

You could just read the article. It is pretty straightforward and doesn't require any spyware or profiling as others have suggested.

load more comments (1 replies)
[-] Dorkyd68@lemmy.world 27 points 2 months ago

While this sounds good. It's not, at all

[-] LoveSausage@discuss.tchncs.de 11 points 2 months ago

Assumed as much without opening article

[-] psud@aussie.zone 8 points 2 months ago

It's good for the common user who's happy to use all Google services and can remember (or has written down) their credentials.

It's absolutely useless for those out of the Google ecosystem

It's annoying through to disastrous for people supporting other peoples' phones

load more comments (1 replies)
[-] ICastFist@programming.dev 21 points 2 months ago

Here's a better idea: how about NOT making phones such stupidly high value items where thieves can access your bank account, make an instant loan and steal that, too?

[-] atrielienz@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago

On the other hand I like that my phone does those things and don't want it to be sellable in the event that someone decides to steal it.

[-] absquatulate@lemmy.world 12 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Smartphones are common targets for thieves because they contain valuable personal data and fetch high prices on second-hand markets. To protect this data, Android includes theft protection features that lock down a stolen phone. While thieves might try wiping phones they intend to sell, Android already has robust protections against unauthorized factory resets. Google announced today that these factory reset protections will become even more powerful later this year.

Self-contradicting much?

These justifications are pointless anyway, everybody knows that google and only google has the right to rummage through your data.

"We will not allow you to reset the data until we can confirm that the data is yours"

[-] Luffy879@lemmy.ml 7 points 2 months ago

If you want security and at the same time want to be able to identify your device if stolen, just scratch your name into the back. Or paint it with a marker. Or whatever

[-] shortwavesurfer@lemmy.zip 12 points 2 months ago

Only if you're willing to accept Google spy services and all that shit on AOSP, this stuff doesn't work.

[-] db2@lemmy.world 10 points 2 months ago

Apple can't even do that and they have total control of the hardware as the only manufacturer.

[-] Ulrich@feddit.org 8 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Google has hardware they control. Other OEMs can choose to make it available. It's up to them to implement.

[-] db2@lemmy.world 4 points 2 months ago

That wasn't the point.

load more comments (3 replies)
[-] kionite231@lemmy.ca 6 points 2 months ago

Fuck you google

[-] chemicalwonka@discuss.tchncs.de 6 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

If they don't implement the screen lock authentication on AOSP is total useless for private systems like GrapheneOS

[-] blinfabian@feddit.nl 4 points 2 months ago

hello based department? i'd like to report Google

this post was submitted on 14 May 2025
147 points (99.3% liked)

Android

19830 readers
97 users here now

The new home of /r/Android on Lemmy and the Fediverse!

Android news, reviews, tips, and discussions about rooting, tutorials, and apps.

🔗Universal Link: !android@lemdro.id

💡Content Philosophy:

Content which benefits the community (news, rumours, and discussions) is generally allowed and is valued over content which benefits only the individual (technical questions, help buying/selling, rants, self-promotion, etc.) which will be removed if it's in violation of the rules.

Support, technical, or app related questions belong in: !askandroid@lemdro.id

For fresh communities, lemmy apps, and instance updates: !lemdroid@lemdro.id

💬Matrix Chat

💬Telegram channels / chats

📰Our communities below

Rules

  1. Stay on topic: All posts should be related to the Android OS or ecosystem.

  2. No support questions, recommendation requests, rants, or bug reports: Posts must benefit the community rather than the individual. Please post to !askandroid@lemdro.id.

  3. Describe images/videos, no memes: Please include a text description when sharing images or videos. Post memes to !androidmemes@lemdro.id.

  4. No self-promotion spam: Active community members can post their apps if they answer any questions in the comments. Please do not post links to your own website, YouTube, blog content, or communities.

  5. No reposts or rehosted content: Share only the original source of an article, unless it's not available in English or requires logging in (like Twitter). Avoid reposting the same topic from other sources.

  6. No editorializing titles: You can add the author or website's name if helpful, but keep article titles unchanged.

  7. No piracy or unverified APKs: Do not share links or direct people to pirated content or unverified APKs, which may contain malicious code.

  8. No unauthorized polls, bots, or giveaways: Do not create polls, use bots, or organize giveaways without first contacting mods for approval.

  9. No offensive or low-effort content: Don't post offensive or unhelpful content. Keep it civil and friendly!

  10. No affiliate links: Posting affiliate links is not allowed.

Quick Links

Our Communities

Lemmy App List

Chat and More

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
ijeff@lemdro.id
ladfrombrad@lemdro.id
Paradox@lemdro.id
multimoon@lemdro.id
mikestevens@lemdro.id
Devgard@lemmy.world
limerod@reddthat.com
Netrunner@lemdro.id