this post was submitted on 10 Nov 2025

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Privacy

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Can Google read my Signal messages on stock Android? (lemy.lol)

submitted 6 days ago by flork@lemy.lol to c/privacy@lemmy.ml

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I recently asked the /c/Android community what information Google has access to on stock Android, assuming the user is not using any Google apps, and was told Google has full "unstoppable" access to the entire device, including Signal messages, the microphone, duckduckgo search history and anything displayed on the screen at all times.

Does this mean that encrypted messaging is essentially pointless to use on Android? I'm a newb here so go easy on me.

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[–] anon5621@lemmy.ml 9 points 6 days ago

I will leave just this info here

Technical Data

Subject of Investigation: Google Play Services
Number of Permissions: 277
Operating System: Android 4.4.2 and above

List of Permissions

3.1. Automotive Systems Control

Access to data and control of vehicle components via Android Auto/CarPlay:

Power windows
Tire pressure monitoring system
Rearview mirrors
Power system
Mileage data
Central door locking
Driving mode management
Seat adjustment
Vehicle speed data
Lighting system (headlights)
Battery
Climate control

3.2. User Interface Manipulation

Embedding into application activities
Application substitution
Application icon modification

3.3. "Chimera" Component

System component of undetermined purpose.

3.4. SMS Management

Complete control of text messaging functions:

Sending messages
Receiving messages
Reading messages
Creating messages

3.5. Root-Level System Privileges

Complete device control at root-access level.

3.6. Application Data Access

Access to all activities
Ability to embed into activities
Access to contacts

3.7. USB Management

Control of USB connections and data transfer.

3.8. Identifier Access

Access to all system and user device identifiers.

3.9. Screen Lock Management

Disabling keyguard (screen lock system).

3.10. Mail Services Access

Access to email
Access to voicemail

3.11. Network Function Management

Enabling/disabling network interfaces
Background data download
Modification of network settings

3.12. Wi-Fi Management

Access to saved Wi-Fi passwords
Wi-Fi password transmission

3.13. Audio Recording

Microphone audio recording
"Capture audio hotword" function (keyword capture)
Continuous audio stream monitoring for hotword detection

3.14. Geolocation

Complete control of location functions:

Location determination by all available methods
Independent enabling/disabling of geolocation services
"Allocate aggressive" mode (aggressive resource allocation for location determination)

3.15. Payment Information Transmission

Sending payment data without specified recipient restrictions.

3.16. Camera Control

Access to device camera.

3.17. Telephony Function Management

Making calls
Access to call history
Control of telephone connections

3.18. Permission Management

Manipulation of other applications' permissions:

Permission backup
Permission sharing
Permission revocation
Permission restoration

3.19. Device Lock Management

Device locking
Device unlocking
Password protection bypass

3.20. Biometric Authentication

Complete control of biometric identification systems:

Fingerprint scanner
Facial recognition (Face ID)

3.21. Notification Management

Manipulation of system notifications:

SMS notification substitution
Call notification modification
Messenger notification modification

3.22. Telephony Function Access

Access to telephony module
Call management

3.23. Bluetooth Management

Control of Bluetooth connections.

3.24. Security Key Management

Encryption key substitution
Password reset

Google Play Services is one of many pre-installed Google system components. A standard Android installation contains 30-50 additional Google applications with similar or complementary permission sets.

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