242

submitted 2 years ago by Sleuth@lemmy.world to c/android@lemmy.world

27 comments fedilink hide all child comments

This crap is completely unacceptable.

The app has 10M+ downloads, and is already filled with ads as it is. I DO NOT want and WILL NEVER want ads as push notifications.

I'm quite sure this isn't allowed on the playstore according to the Play Console Help page. Which states:

Ads must not simulate or impersonate the user interface of any app feature, such as notifications or warning elements of an operating system. It must be clear to the user which app is serving each ad.

And shows this picture:

I now consider GPS Speedometer malware, immediate uninstall.

all 30 comments

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[-] WaywardFlock@sh.itjust.works 48 points 2 years ago

For simple apps like that I usually check out F-droid see if any open source versions exist. Might not be as feature rich but there's two GPS speedometer apps on there

Status Bar Speedometer (Display your current speed as notification) https://f-droid.org/packages/ch.rmy.android.statusbar_tacho/

Blue Square Speedometer (Simple speedometer & GPS viewer) https://f-droid.org/packages/net.nhiroki.bluesquarespeedometer/

[-] BarrierWithAshes@kbin.social 34 points 2 years ago

When it comes to android apps I always look for open source stuff first. Literally just save the headache of dealing with bot-reviews, ads in app, etc.

[-] Sleuth@lemmy.world 18 points 2 years ago

Thanks for the reccs. I don't need it to do much more than give me my speed so these'll work great!

[-] SmugBedBug@lemmy.iswhereits.at 5 points 2 years ago

Yeah, this seems like a sketchy way of pushing adds. I'm fairly sure ads shouldn't be pushed in the notification tray.

Your last statement is probably the safest route.

[-] dustojnikhummer@lemmy.world 3 points 2 years ago

Wish fdroid at least tracked app installs (clicking of the download button)

[-] Lanthanae 42 points 2 years ago

Bahaha are you kidding me?

This is so egregiously annoying that it's almost funny. Hopefully the app gets taken down for breaking PlayStore TOS.

[-] Anti_Weeb_Penguin@lemmy.world 32 points 2 years ago

Serious question, why are you using an app called "gps speedometer"? Anyway, this is why i always download apps from F-Droid.

[-] Contend6248@feddit.de 11 points 2 years ago

This is the way, for every flashlight type of app, F-Droid or nothing. The Play Store is riddled with this easy malicious apps.

[-] 666dollarfootlong@lemmy.world 5 points 2 years ago

Could be their cars' speedo is broken or very inaccurate?

[-] Anti_Weeb_Penguin@lemmy.world 8 points 2 years ago

I thought the app was to enhance the GPS connection i'm so dumb 💀💀💀

[-] citable6704@midwest.social 6 points 2 years ago

Ooh! Maybe for a bike courier or something!

[-] Tempiz@sh.itjust.works 26 points 2 years ago

Yep that’s an uninstall and 1 star review for sure.

[-] marciealana@lemmy.world 20 points 2 years ago

You can always deny it the priviledge of giving you notifications...

[-] SmugBedBug@lemmy.iswhereits.at 14 points 2 years ago

Yeah, this seems like a sketchy way of pushing adds. I’m fairly sure ads shouldn’t be pushed in the notification tray.

Your last statement is probably the safest route.

[-] Sadly@kbin.social 14 points 2 years ago

I think this is outrageous and I fully support uninstalling this app and leaving a bad review.

However, if you really cannot go without this app, android has a very easy-to-use notification control system. Depending on the app, you may even be able to only turn off ad-notifications while keeping all the other proper notifications working. Just long-press on any notification from the app to access the settings

[-] Album@lemmy.ca 13 points 2 years ago

Did you report the app?

[-] Sleuth@lemmy.world 12 points 2 years ago

I'm trying but I keep getting "Error loading workflow. Please try again in a few minutes".

[-] olorin99@kbin.social 12 points 2 years ago

Ahhh selective server errors, my favourite.

[-] cursive@kbin.social 12 points 2 years ago

Got the same ad this morning. Instant uninstall.

[-] UprisingVoltage@feddit.it 12 points 2 years ago

That app is definitely malware, be careful when donwloading stuff!

If you want an additional layer of protection I strongly suggest using a private DNS like Nextdns.io or adguard-dns.io, which are basically system-wide adblockers. Less ads and less risks to your privacy/security.

If you end up using them I strongly suggest enabling only the regional lists and the OISD list, nothing else (since too many lists could slow down your navigation and/or block stuff you need)

[-] PtitSerpent@kbin.social 5 points 2 years ago

And if you like tinkering with things, you can install a Pi-hole on a local Raspberry.

[-] Berserker@programming.dev 11 points 2 years ago

Trash practices. That's a horrible abuse of the user.

[-] ghostblob@sh.itjust.works 9 points 2 years ago

r/assholedesign, or maybe c/assholedesgin instead

[-] Devgard@lemmy.world 8 points 2 years ago

Flag as Inappropriate on the app store and review it 1 star or 2 star to avoid mass deletions due to brigading

[-] dustojnikhummer@lemmy.world 5 points 2 years ago

Just fyi, Google Maps has a GPS speedometer, but you need to nagivate somewhere

[-] M_Reimer@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago

I use a firewall app. Netguard in my case. And apps which clearly should not need internet access are blocked there. Usually makes a lot of apps ad free as they fail to download ads.

this post was submitted on 15 Jun 2023

242 points (100.0% liked)

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