Everyone knows all the apps on your phone

(peabee.substack.com)

1195 points gniting | 1 comments | 29 Mar 25 21:26 UTC | HN request time: 0.001s | source

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DevKoala ◴[30 Mar 25 01:13 UTC] No.43520286[source]▶

> How is knowing whether I have the Xbox or the Playstation app installed on my phone essential to their Swiggy's core functionality? How will knowing if I have the Naukri or Upstox app help them deliver groceries to my doorstep?

It is for fingerprinting purposes

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wutwutwat ◴[30 Mar 25 04:08 UTC] No.43521250[source]▶

>>43520286 #

fingerprinting is the best case scenario

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_heimdall ◴[30 Mar 25 04:12 UTC] No.43521269[source]▶

>>43521250 #

What's the worst case, in your opinion?

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1. wutwutwat ◴[11 Apr 25 12:19 UTC] No.43652973[source]▶

>>43521269 #

I can imagine knowing the apps someone uses might be a telling thing to someone looking for leverage on someone (who might not want to disclose what apps they use). Apps can expose your orientation, your lifestyle, your income level, your habits, and even where to look to find you (imagine you have an app for a gym, that narrows down the list of gyms to find you at and is better than nothing)

Politicians, law enforcement, high value targets, etc. A list of apps on their phone could totally be used against them and is better than no list of apps.

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