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De-centralization and open source was always the better way. Technology started on this path and the corporate powers have done everything they can to sabotage and destroy open tech.

The problem you are describing is not malware or viruses. They’re just the tools.

The problem is capitalism, which turns everything free into something on which a profit can be made

That's why Foss will always be better, and we need to support these developers. They also need to protect their software better from capitalist ghouls that will profit from it for free

Aggressive capitalism coupled with user ignorance is the main issue. The advice still remains don't install all this shit, but people growing uo with smartphones have bought in to this idea that it's reasonable for Google to spy on your every move, so why not every other app?

So many users have no idea how their devices work - even an inkling - now what apps do, how to keep devices secure and private, and what happens with their data. Business has taken advantage of that - people want things to "just work" so business use that as a way to abuse users and make every app a trojan horse for data mining.

Even Google, Apple etc privacy settings are bullshit - they're just figleafs of psuedo privacy that enable them as the platform makers to dictate the terms.

I switched away from Windows to Linux on PC, and I use FOSS alternatives on my Android device (even considering replacing android with FOSS system - difficult with some work essential apps unfortunately). But even if you stay on windows/android there are plenty of things users can do to protect themselves - they just don't know how or worse can't be bothered by the whole issue.

If there's anyone here that cares about their privacy and doesn't know this already:

If you have a choice between accessing the website through a browser and installing an app, use the browser. Browsers (typically) at least try to protect the types of information that gets sent, whereas there are much fewer restrictions (again, typically) for apps.

Everyone wants you to install apps because apps (typically) get access to much more data.

I spent 12 hours once downloading a limp bizkit song on dial up and it wasn’t even a limp bizkit song. I feel nostalgic for that kind of deception. It feels so quaint.

I think i read somewhere that the cia said they dont install bugs anymore because now ppl do that themselfs.

Yeah, when I was setting up my first smartphone there was a very weird moment where I had to go against a lifetime of training on laptops and desktop PCs and just immediately invite every single app to fuck me up the arse if I wanted it to function as anything more than an expensive telephone with a fancy screen. But invite them up my arse I did.

I got a new phone for the first time in a decade and Android keeps cheerfully telling me I'm opted-in to new horrifying layers of surveillance. 'We're gonna look at the first thing you click every time you install anything! Isn't that great?' Fuck off and die. 'But you'll get less relevant recommendations...' Don't recommend anything. 'Wow, you're gonna get such generic ads.' Where else did you hide ads, Google?!

For context: my previous phone is an LG. LG does not make phones anymore. That's how long I clung to something I'd largely unfucked. And every time it boots, to this day, it reminds me I need to agree to some licensing horseshit.

Plainly not.

Reminds me of that Futurama clip from over 20 years ago where Fry is on the internet and a literal mob of advertisements surround him.

It was considered best practice to never install anything

In what universe? You might as well never turn on your computer.

shit like this is why im going to eventually create my own little internet island.

Dw, i'm going to rule over it like a dictator, no democracy here :)

Bonzi buddy

by this logic AAVs equivalent for ads will come into existence in a couple years... maybe its already here.