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Britain to introduce compulsory digital ID for workers

(www.reuters.com)
525 points alex77456 | 6 comments | 26 Sep 25 02:09 UTC | HN request time: 3.351s | source | bottom
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drnick1 ◴[26 Sep 25 19:13 UTC] No.45389975[source]▶
And, of course, that digital ID will require an "approved app" (blessed by Apple and Google) running on an unrooted phone. Don't want spyware running on your phone? Too bad.
replies(2): >>45390820 #>>45391681 #
1. crazygringo ◴[26 Sep 25 20:41 UTC] No.45390820[source]▶
Huh? Spyware, ransomware, etc. is a dangerous problem on rooted phones. It's the unrooted ones that have protections against it.
replies(1): >>45391082 #
2. EasyMark ◴[26 Sep 25 21:13 UTC] No.45391082[source]▶
They're talking about government spyware. Why not install a little bit extra into that digital ID app
replies(1): >>45392450 #
3. crazygringo ◴[27 Sep 25 00:40 UTC] No.45392450[source]▶
But as long as the phone is unrooted the all can't spy on anything. Your phone restricts it.

If you root your phone and install apps, your apps can do anything and spy all they want.

So the comment still makes zero sense.

replies(2): >>45392644 #>>45403466 #
4. ptrl600 ◴[27 Sep 25 01:35 UTC] No.45392644{3}[source]▶
Apps on a rooted phone can only do anything if you give them the root permission. Otherwise, permissions the same as always.
replies(1): >>45395242 #
5. crazygringo ◴[27 Sep 25 12:43 UTC] No.45395242{4}[source]▶
That's the point. You're able to give them that permission. That's a vulnerability.

OP was arguing that unrooted phones are somehow less safe, which is absurd.

6. a5c11 ◴[28 Sep 25 11:10 UTC] No.45403466{3}[source]▶
Unless you have a physical switch, you can't trust that a toggle button will actually disable or enable a feature. It wouldn't be the first time UK government tried to push some sort of backdoor. It isn't particularly difficult (from the OS's manufacturer perspective) to tell the user: "sure bro, this gov app doesn't access your location or mic xD".