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looking for a solution to a looping uninstall/install issue

Added by amir L 23 days ago

hello all. I am not in the us but eu.

when I order items internationally and it arrives at the post office, I get an sms to my phone to go pick it up. some of the times its at retail stores and not PO. in the post office I show id, but with the retail stores, theres an issue. in the SMS they have a link and want me to click it to confirm that I took the package. id doesnt matter.

I do not want to click these links. I dont know where they go (shortcut link) and dont know what may be installed. what I do is simply uninstall the browser before I arrive. then I show them that clicking the link doesnt open it as there is no browser. chrome has been deleted through root that someone did for me.

after I leave, I reinstall the browser again. having to configure all the settings again. what I saw was theres a way to save a file of the configured settings so thats what I do. install >import the settings.

so my question is, do you think this is a suitable compromise? delete then reinstall?

I could change settings in messages app to not allow links to be active but the stores know this trick.

im surprised why andoid doesnt allow a have an on/off toggle switch to apps. that would be best.

unless the sms is waiting in memory to send till it finds a browser to do so.

thank you in advance


Replies (3)

RE: looking for a solution to a looping uninstall/install issue - Added by Soren Stoutner 22 days ago

You might be worried about something that isn't a problem. In it's default state, Privacy Browser doesn't allow anything to be "installed" on your device simply by visiting a website. The most that happens is that assets from the website are stored in the cache. But the cache is completely wiped out by running Clear and Exit (which I would recommend you always do when closing Privacy Browser).

The entire premise of Privacy Browser is to make it safe for you to click a link and open it in your browser without having to worry about it being able to do bad things to your device.

RE: looking for a solution to a looping uninstall/install issue - Added by amir L 21 days ago

I appreciate your help and the awesome browser. but I guess the pro privacy advocate has created a non trusting me. I prefer to not click any sms. my brother worked in amdocs as a project manager for years, has his own company now also says better dont click. so back to uninstall/install

suspicious, paranoia? maybe. I prefer to not try and hope for the best. I dont trust the shady companies and the reasons they want me to click. it hasnt been proven this way or that. I surf very little on my phone. no social media/gaming etc. phone leaks too much and no control.

RE: looking for a solution to a looping uninstall/install issue - Added by Soren Stoutner 20 days ago

You are free to take whatever precautions you like, including ones that are inconvenient if they make you feel better.

From a personal perspective, I am only interested in practices that protects me from threats that actually exits. In other words, I don't put forth any personal effort for security or privacy theater.

In this case, I cannot think of any way that clicking on one of these links would provide the company with any information about you that they don't already have. Of course, there is always the possibility that they are able to leverage a click in some way that I cannot imagine. So, your paranoia might be warranted. It is up to you to decide how far to take precautions beyond any understanding of how they can be exploited.

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