this post was submitted on 19 Jan 2026
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The latest update for the popular Nova Launcher app includes Facebook Ads and Google AdMob.

Compare 8.2.4: https://reports.exodus-privacy.eu.org/en/reports/698198/

With 8.1.6: https://reports.exodus-privacy.eu.org/en/reports/673643/

From 2 trackers to 6 trackers. From 30 permissions to 36. And two of the "trackers" are for ad stuff, like Facebook Ads.

I believe the owner also changed. It's no longer Branch, but something called Instabridge Sweden.

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[–] K0Z 1 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

The code is on the launcher itself. Prime is a separated app that is supposed to unlock paid features and disable the ads. I've seen some comments on Reddit of people claiming to have prime and seeing ads, so I don't know what's going on.

[–] kbobabob@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

It's pretty common to have a free version with ads and a paid version/unlocked version. Are people just mad that the free version has more tracking/ad sources now?

[–] K0Z 1 points 2 hours ago

I don't know what people are mad at. I assume that the users with Prime still seeing ads aren't happy, but I have no idea.

Me personally, I don't like to have my launcher selling data to Meta/Facebook. I also can see the change in strategy, from where a paid app supported development, to one where tracking and ads is at the centre of the monetization of the app. That's something I try to avoid these days. I prefer to pay or use open-source and donate, and have a clean app.