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Everyone knows all the apps on your phone

(peabee.substack.com)
1195 points gniting | 1 comments | 3/29/2025, 9:26:00 PM | HN request time: 0.267s | source
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zx8080 ◴[3/29/2025, 11:53:00 PM] No.43519828[source]▶

> For extremely specific use cases such as file managers, browsers or antivirus apps, Google grants an exception by allowing QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES permission, which provides full visibility into installed apps.

Why would browser need to enumerate the installed apps?

Why?!

replies(6): >>43519852 #>>43519860 #>>43521776 #>>43522253 #>>43522261 #>>43522492 #
Kwpolska ◴[3/30/2025, 7:54:00 AM] No.43522261[source]▶

Perhaps it's checking which apps can handle links?

replies(1): >>43523332 #
1. mightysashiman ◴[3/30/2025, 11:37:00 AM] No.43523332[source]▶

That is managed by the system. Settings > Apps > Default apps > Opening links