People are noticing that their phones are getting an app called “Android System Safetycore” auto-installed without notice or consent. Check your phone for the same, it is likely it’s a slow rollout instead of every device getting it installed all at the same time.

Google has all the same old reasons that they drone on about, but the actual reason is likely to harvest your messages data for training AI models.

Uninstalling seems to remove the application, and there aren’t any malicious activity reported so far as I can see, but naturally that can change anytime.

Has anyone noticed this in their applications lists? Did straight up uninstalling them work? I’ve had some trouble removing systems apps in the past, but uninstalling this one seems to have worked straightaway - I don’t see them in the list anymore.

URLs below for Reddit posts about the same: From 2 months ago: https://old.reddit.com/r/antivirus/comments/1gpdhwz/guys_help_some_app_called_android_system/

From 2 days ago: https://old.reddit.com/r/privacy/comments/1idjbdi/googles_new_app_will_help_warn_you_about_nude/

  • ohellidk@sh.itjust.works
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    4 days ago

    Not seeing it on my rooted LineageOS device yet. I’ll keep looking out for it, and methods to block installation if it does show up.

    • kekmacska
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      3 days ago

      it won’t. LOS team doesn’t include it, as it is a “premium google service” that only stock google pixel and some Samsung phones have

      • domdanial@reddthat.com
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        3 days ago

        Not quite right, my Motorola phone had it installed, though it was an “incompatible version”

        • kekmacska
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          3 days ago

          might be a leftover from an older gapps package, idk if you are using stock moto or lineageos

        • kekmacska
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          3 days ago

          though you could install it by flashing a full gapps package, but no sane person would do that