I am a Tasker enthusiast and when I can automate something simple on my phone I like to. I set a simple task to turn off WiFi when my home network is not detected so my phone doesn’t scan and report my location to businesses. However, this functionality is now nonexistent and the developer has to ask people not to one-star their app because it doesn’t work. My phone is my phone and killing my ability to use it as such for whatever security theater Google is playing at is why I root my device. Anyone else still rooting for similar reasons?

  • Valon_Blue@sh.itjust.works
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    26 days ago

    And now, even when your WiFi is off they still turn it on to “help with location tracking.” And they’re talking about taking away the ability to turn Bluetooth off.

  • beSyl@slrpnk.net
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    26 days ago

    I use macrodroid instead, though I have also paid for Tasker.

    I just find macrodroid much easier to use. I learned to use Tasker, than was not using it for a few months, went back to it to implement something and god damm, what a horrible UI. I had forgotten how to use it. Decided to try macrodroid and it is just so beautiful and easy…

  • plz1@lemmy.world
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    26 days ago

    How does it detect your home wifi if it has turned off wifi? I don’t know Android, but the logic there seems odd. Are you using location services to drive it?

    • Shepy@feddit.uk
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      26 days ago

      You’ve misread that. When he leaves his home network, he has it switch off wifi to prevent it being picked up by other networks. Probably has it being switched back on by cell tower / similar location option

      • plz1@lemmy.world
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        26 days ago

        I don’t think I did. I just assumed it would be impossible to detect the home network automatically once WiFi was automatically switched off. Unless off isn’t actually off. Or the “auto on” part was location based.

        • Tja@programming.dev
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          25 days ago

          You are right, that is impossible, but it isn’t what they are doing.

          They are turning it back on either manually or by some other method (cell tower for instance). This automation seems to be to just turn it off.

      • dumbass@leminal.space
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        26 days ago

        Just have your WiFi turn back on when you get back to your home, you can do location based stuff with tasker, I used to have it on my old phone and made it turn my phone on silent and turn off the WiFi when I got to work, but as soon as I got home it put my phne back to normal.

  • MerchantsOfMisery@lemmy.ml
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    24 days ago

    People still use Tasker? That makes me smile. I remember using it way back in the day and it was just incredible seeing the things other people came up with. Tasker allowed for so many features that took iOS and Android years to implement.

    • circuscritic@lemmy.ca
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      26 days ago

      Security and Privacy are not the same thing.

      Stock Google is absolutely a hit to ones privacy, but LineageOS is a often big hit to device security.

      If you don’t have a Pixel, and therefore can’t use GrapheneOS, check and see if your device is compatible with DivestOS.

      However, neither will offer root support for reasons that both devs have decent write-ups explaining within each project’s documentation.

      I do realize that not everyone places security above all other factors when deciding on their smartphone OS, but I think they should be aware of the trade-offs so they can make an informed decision.

      • Possibly linux@lemmy.zip
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        26 days ago

        Lineage OS is in fact not terrible for security. Other than a unlocked boot loader I have not seen anything wrong with it.

        As for Divest OS is has all the same issues as Graphene OS.

        • Emotet@slrpnk.net
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          26 days ago

          Why do you keep stating blatantly false info as facts when it is obvious that you’re knowledge of the topic at hand is superficial at best?

          In this comment thread alone you’ve stated that:

          • to avoid “Google Android”, one should use Lineage OS (?)
          • Apps on Lineage are some kind of separated on Lineage OS and not abandonware (??)
          • Lineage OS is not terrible for security, because you haven’t found anything wrong with it besides that small little, insignificant detail of an unlocked bootloader (???)
          • DivestOS has “all the same issues” as GrapheneOS(???)

          Genuinely not trying to stir up shit, I’m curious. Why?

        • circuscritic@lemmy.ca
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          26 days ago

          The inability to relock the bootloader is gigantic security vulnerability. It negates, or entirely voids, a significant amount of a devices physical security, including FDE.

          There are other security issues with LineageOS, but that’s part of the trade-off. There’s nothing inherently sinister or incompetent about that, it’s just the nature of the beast.

          Regardless, I’m not here to chastise anyone’s choice of OS, or to even imply that there is a right, and wrong ROM, there isn’t.

          I was just pointing out that there are pros and cons, and users should be aware of them when making those decisions.

    • trevor@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      26 days ago

      Google has a disproportionate and overwhelming say in AOSP. What do you think Lineage OS is based on?

      When Google makes API changes to Android, it hurts AOSP too. Can the devs try to maintain the legacy API on their own? Sure, but it’s extra effort, so it’s usually not something you can count on.

      • Possibly linux@lemmy.zip
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        26 days ago

        True, but there isn’t a lot of options. At least with Lineage OS the apps are all separate and not abandonware

  • kratoz29@lemm.ee
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    25 days ago

    TIL Tasker even worked without root lol.

    Also, why do we even need tasker to do that? iOS allows you to do that with its Shortcuts app lol, this is a weird moment when Android is becoming more closed and iOS open (in system wide features).

    Well, that is why I chuckle when people say there is no reason to root nowadays… Heck, not even banking apps will prevent me from rooting my phone, and my next android purchases are gonna be based in whether it can be rooted or not.

    • filcuk@lemmy.zip
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      25 days ago

      Well, you need Tasker because that’s one of the Android equivalents of the Shortcuts app.

      • kratoz29@lemm.ee
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        25 days ago

        Sure, but I meant, how is it that we don’t have a native tool for this (like Automator) or at least a system app from Google (like Shortcuts app).

        • filcuk@lemmy.zip
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          25 days ago

          Fair, I was being cheeky. I don’t know if I trust Google anymore to make and maintain a good app or service.

    • COASTER1921@lemmy.ml
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      25 days ago

      It barely works for Android 14+ without root. Macrodroid has much better compatibility for whatever reason.

      Unfortunately rooting while passing safetynet verification is very hard or impossible lately depending on the device. If apps didn’t unnecessarily check safetynet status this wouldn’t be a problem, but since so many now the rooted phone effectively becomes a brick. I really miss the days of custom ROMs and full device automation without stupid workarounds. Unfortunately, I don’t think there’s any going back without app developers getting on board with an alternative to Google-verified security on Android.

      • ben_dover@lemmy.ml
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        25 days ago

        MD has a companion app, and you have to grant it special rights via adb (read/write secure settings) first. might also work for tasker

    • iturnedintoanewt@lemm.ee
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      26 days ago

      Never… Pine kinda throws you the thing completely half assed for the people to build the whole stack. It’s a really slow process.

    • COASTER1921@lemmy.ml
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      25 days ago

      It’s not even just banking apps anymore. Tons of libraries just check by default before allowing apps using them to run. I can’t use my local transit agency’s app with root, not can I order a fast food burger.

      • scarilog@lemmy.world
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        24 days ago

        Yeah Micky D’s blocking root was enough reason for me to avoid installing it on my non-rooted phone for ages, because of the implication.

        Did eventually cave though, saves me a few bucks once in a blue moon when I do go.

    • toastal@lemmy.ml
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      26 days ago

      Meanwhile my latest phone I haven’t yet rooted but am running a custom ROM & the banking app crashes

      • jabjoe@feddit.uk
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        26 days ago

        Didn’t when I tried when on LineageOS. I needed that bank app for work, so got a Pixel and switched to GrapheneOS. The bank app works, and it is useful to be able to on and off Google Maps (because of traffic routing and search, when compared to Organic Maps). But LineageOS worked better. GrapheneOS has more bugs and a small community.

          • COASTER1921@lemmy.ml
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            25 days ago

            It’s still a cat and mouse game between Google and playintegrityfix/next. If you need to rely on your phone at any time rooting isn’t really an option anymore. I don’t see Google changing to be less hostile toward device automation unfortunately.

            We really need a 3rd competitor or better workaround. It would be cool if you could have a virtual Android device inside a rooted device to run apps requiring safetynet. But that’s way way way easier said than done.

  • phoenixz@lemmy.ca
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    25 days ago

    Your phone isn’t your phone as long as you run either google or apple software…

    • Dasus@lemmy.world
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      24 days ago

      Joke’s on them my phone’s a Huawei and reports directly to the CCCP.

      Oh, wait…

      • InternetCitizen2@lemmy.world
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        24 days ago

        Sometimes I do wonder as a morbid curiosity if using their software could have a privacy benefit. Not to imply that they wouldn’t spy, just that they have less ability to act on the information. Like the report of a mother discussing an abortion with her teen daughter on messenger were Meta turned over the chats.

        Also as a snide comment the CCCP is the Soviet Union, which is defunct now. One less C and you might improve your standing and get a television.

        • Dasus@lemmy.world
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          24 days ago

          Also as a snide comment the CCCP is the Soviet Union, which is defunct now. One less C and you might improve your standing and get a television.

          Not even snide I hate making mistakes like this, thanks man.

          Idk about privacy, I doubt it, but at least the weather system sucks. Fetches info from some system which clearly isn’t the same data as my local, more accurate forecasts.

  • zerozaku@lemmy.world
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    26 days ago

    I am a root user, yes but I only use it for migrate, a custom rom backup & restore tool.

    Coming to Tasker, I tried so hard to figure it out but couldn’t do it for my use case of having custom gestures. I like to have profiles depending on whether I am home or outside, will give it one more shot for this.

  • I’m rooted to…

    • backup & restore my apps as I please (as well as scheduled backups to my SD card)
    • BMS control to keep my battery in good health
    • Automation app for automating stuff (like Tasker)
    • revoking typically unrevokable permissions from system and Google apps
    • To actually feel like I own my device.

    If I wanted a heavily curated (and somewhat locked down) experience, I’d be in the Apple ecosystem - don’t know why Google thinks it’s a great idea to force this ideology onto practically all Android users…

    Similar situation with that additional warning for sideloading apps - there’s already two warnings and Play Protect typically uninstalls these apps anyway, without the user’s consent - in one case deleting KDE Connect from users’ devices if installed with F-Droid

    Uhh I definitely went off on a tangent, oops.

    • Peffse@lemmy.world
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      26 days ago

      I went into a near seething rage when I found out Android 12 let OEMs decide bloatware was completely immune to ADB disable commands. root’s the only method to get to the non-disable xml files and remove that “functionality”.

      • goferking0@lemmy.sdf.org
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        26 days ago

        Then 12 or 13 also made it so there’s no way to access android/data.

        Ffs I want to be able to backup app data that doesn’t get backed up any other way