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

submitted 3 weeks 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.

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

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

[-] KickMeElmo@sopuli.xyz 8 points 3 weeks 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 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

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

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

Yes, but doing that part requires root.

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

Yes, it works for Android

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

Leaving this here: they've started putting in ads

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

Wrong, F-Droid official repos block this attack.

this post was submitted on 21 Jan 2026

110 points (98.2% liked)

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