Of Android 4.4.2 for Google Nexus removed a useful feature - Comments.UA - information portal

released this week by Android 4.4.2 update for Google Nexus devices lost functions that allow users to fine-tune the privilege with respect to access to the system from the installed applications

Such a move criticized Google in the nonprofit fund Electronics Frontier Foundation, tells «CyberSecurity» .

feature called Remote App Ops and it was first released in Android 4.3. It had an interface through which users can grant or revoke certain privileges in applications when working with them or fix them. Traditionally Android application provides Ljubo all privileges that it requires or does not provide it. Fine granulation privileges implemented in App Ops, this is exactly what many experts and advanced users waiting for the operating system.

According to experts, many applications, especially for free, are supplied with a variety of advertising libraries that help developers to fund the creation of the application. Very often silent about the applications available to them additional functionality, which requires access to user data and system information.

Last week Goldenshores Technologies, developer of the popular Android-applications, settled claims by the Federal Trade Commission United States, which argued that the company collected data about the location of users and share this information with advertising agencies, without notifying users. The company agreed to disclose what data the company disclose and seek permission for their distribution.

Although

App Ops present in Android 4.3, for him there is no direct access from users, it is activated when the user begins to work or install third-party application. However, users have to download third-party programs, such as Permission Manager or AppOps Launcher, from Google Play and work with the program.

Blog Electronic Frontier Foundation says that App Ops was a very useful feature, and it was a “tremendous help” in data security in Android. Organization also chided Google’s “lack of enthusiasm” for the protection of its users. “We conducted tests and can responsibly say that the functions App Ops in Android 4.4.2 is not” – says Peter Eckersley, CTO EFF. “Her disappearance – is disturbing news for Android. The fact that users no longer have control over the applications is a big hole in the security model of Android ».

According to him, EFF contacted Google to obtain clarification on the program and the company said that all this time App Ops was a pilot program and now work App Ops may damage the operation of some other programs. In the EFF say they believe the explanation Google «suspicious” and believe that could be useful to improve the work of development, instead of removing it from the system.

note that Google initially tried to remove App Ops from Android 4.4 KitKat, however, revealed the possibility of third-party developers to bypass the lock.