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Re:Don't Download Apps by lsaferite on Wednesday November 26, 2025 @05:21PM (#46063028)
They really should just let me spoof all the permissions and associated data for apps if I don't want them to have the access.
Re:Don't Download Apps by Zak on Wednesday November 26, 2025 @06:02PM (#46063316)
Some time ago, I used a module for Xposed on Android called XPrivacy which did exactly that. Yes, creepy app, you can have my location. It's Antarctica.

It does look like Xposed has successors, but my current approach is to just be selective about installing apps.

Re:Don't Download Apps by lsaferite on Wednesday November 26, 2025 @06:58PM (#46063736)
I use netguard and forbid network access by default for all apps. Mildly annoying for apps that need network access as I have to approve, but it's worth it.
Re:Don't Download Apps by ghtbircshotbe on Thursday November 27, 2025 @08:12AM (#46068927)
The vast majority of apps need to use the network, at least sometimes. Eg turning network on to download podcasts then off to listen to them is annoying.
Re:Don't Download Apps by lsaferite on Thursday November 27, 2025 @09:44AM (#46069704)
Depends on what apps you are installing. I love denying access to the network for games. It removes almost all ads from them. Even beyond full deny access, NetGuard gives you a lot around the conditions in which an app can access the network. I'd prefer if I didn't have to do any of this and the OS was on my side though.
Re:Don't Download Apps by whs on Thursday November 27, 2025 @11:13AM (#46070613)
On an unrooted Android you could use App Ops to do some of that with Shizuku.

I assume they don't expose it to users because once most people start to do that apps would start to implement detections, like if it spoof your location to a certain area then that area will get you "permission denied" error anyway, or I believe some apps do check that if your contact book is empty it assume you didn't give the permissions. It'd become a lot of work to implement a convincing spoof for most permissions to be blocked.