Comment by ktosobcy
20 days ago
This is the problem - many apps refusing to run on non-blesses platform.
Years ago I loved tinkering with the devices but then I wasn't able to use my bank and it was getting more and more annoying so at one point I just stopped...
The biggest problem are: 1) lack of drivers (so creating custom roms/OS for the devices is problematic), 2) locked bootloaders and 3) many apps requiring PlayServices and other stuff (mostly banks).
There is postmarketOS, it looks awesome but - device support is very lacking and there is no way to have bank and PopularApps (whatsapp/instagram/etc) running on it so it's popularity is microscopic…
Maybe another European Citizen Initiative to force makers to provide those things (bootloader and drivers)?
"Years ago I loved tinkering with the devices but then I wasn't able to use my bank and it was getting more and more annoying so at one point I just stopped..."
Until now I've steadfastly refused to use banking on my smartphones because of these problems (and I usually use rooted phones).
The trouble is it's becoming more and more difficult to avoid phone payments/banking. My solution is to get a small phone specifically dedicated for the purpose and use it for no other purpose (it's a pain but the best compromise). That way I don't have to worry about my main smartphone.
Of course, the best solution would be for governments to regulate for banks to accept multiple access/payment system of which there are a number. Standardized and regulated protocols would solve many of these problems but that's a too bigger subject to address here.
> My solution is to get a small phone specifically dedicated for the purpose and use it for no other purpose (it's a pain but the best compromise). That way I don't have to worry about my main smartphone.
This has been my solution as well and I can't help but wonder, given the recent push for digital ID, insurance, etc. if we will all eventually be carrying a separate data-only device for digital security/attestation purposes.
"…separate data-only device…"
Likely so, methinks. I can't see any other long-term solution that'd be workable and actually benefit users. Moreover, if implemented properly (sensibly) with the user in charge it would be useful for much more than just banking.
For example, it could incorporate a hierarchical key system with the user/owner having access to all data. Privacy would be assured as each entity you'd communicate or transact with would only have access to information on a need-to-know basis.
Your bank would only have access to your name and necessary authentication data; only you and your doctor would have access to your medical records; government/tax would have access to your financial records for tax purposes but not be able to access other data.
General shopping could be done anonymously—even without your bank being aware of what you were buying or from whom you were buying it (it'd be like a cash withdrawal to spend as you wish). The bank would issue you money as a cash advance which you'd add to a local pool of cash, you'd then withdraw funds to pay the vendor (this would likely involve crypto currency to isolate the payment from the bank). And so on, there'd be as many options to such a scheme as a user would need.
Such a system would not only give users almost complete control over their privacy but also give them autonomy. Of course, opposition to such a scheme would be absolutely fierce, governments would demand higher access levels for nefarious and or unnecessary reasons, the Googles of this world would be furious as they'd lose access to meaningful data—what'd be left would be anonymized junk data that'd be effectively worthless to advertisers and data brokers.
Clearly, something that powerful which would give users considerable control over their lives wouldn't be allowed to happen! As Rousseau said in the opening sentence of his Social Contract "Man was born free but everywhere he is in chains". That was in 1762, seems nothing much has changed, the citizenry is still well under the thumb, and the rich and powerful remain so.
Then we can can go back to treating phones as computers. Right?
And maybe one day there will be some convergent evolution and the attestation devices go back to being dedicated hardware. Like the card-reader I already have to to log into my online banking.
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Ends up on the car key chain