So I’m seriously considering moving over to E in the near future.
One of the things that is of concern is the use of banking Apps, which are essential for daily use.
Recently, one of my banking apps has started demanding that Google Play Services be given access to storage, in order to function.
No other baning app behaves in this way, and I’ve written to the bank asking them to rectify the issue. I can’t see why I have to give Google permission to access my private files, in order to gain access to a bank account!
My question is, would such an app work on E? How to get round an app insisting on Play Services on an OS without Play Services?
Some may find this to be the case but are you sure? I mean is it essential to use their app for everyday functions?
Many banks offer many functions via their website. This is often a bit more clunky but is more certain not to be very much if at all tied to Google or any other organisation. In my use of /e/OS I only use trusted apps which does not include any from my bank.
I normally rely on access to my bank through a web browser on PC. I will always avoid using a phone app to do sensitive stuff like that. I can envision a time where my bank demands I use a phone app, but hopefully I can stave that off as long as possible.
I don’t trust my phone one iota in terms of privacy and security. Both Google and Apple have terrible track records there, and that’s just the stuff we know about. There’s plenty they could be doing we don’t know about. We’re not fully detached from Google with /e/os either. We are as far removed as Android can get, but /e/os is based on AOSP which is basically a Google product.
Banking apps can be the most temperamental. They have additional security checks not commonly present in other apps. /e/os uses MicroG to emulate Google Play Services. It’s not perfectly compatible with all Google Play Store apps, but it does work with the vast majority of them.
These higher security apps can do things like check for “root” or an unlocked bootloader. They may even reject a non OEM version of Android. Mostly banking apps work, but some don’t. You just have to try it and see. I would suggest loading /e/os on a phone apart from your daily driver and just giving it a try. You’ll probably want a phone that has an “official” release allowing you to lock the bootloader.
Around 7 mins in, there’s an explanation on the ‘APP Lounge.’ I’ll try and download it to andorid later, see if I can get the banking apps I need.
If not, unfirtunately I’ll have to either research another OS, or have an android device handy purely for banking use. Which we definitely not be the privacy I want, but better than purely usingh android.
Ok, most of the banking apps I use aren’t on that list. And those banks wont allow web access, for some reason.
Video above says ‘you can install all the free apps, from the playstore.’ Clearly not the case.
He also says, ‘You can log into your google account, for paid apps.’ Would that mean you can still access banking apps on the Playstore on E, ir you can’t get them via Applounge?
