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Ask HN: Can Google Play store no longer be disabled?

2 points by nandalism ↗ HN
Like many of you, my bank requires me to install a phone app to access my account. I must do this thru the google play store (other libre app stores are not supported).

My workaround is to disable google play store after the banking app is installed.

Today this stopped working. My banking app locks me out unless google play store is actively running. I've had to reinstall the app and go thru security checks twice today to get my banking app to work.

I am now resigned to having google play store running constantly on my phone, monitoring my apps and providing helpful advice.

After all, we can't live without our bank accounts.... wait, maybe I could sign up to google pay instead...

Have others noticed this change in the Android security API which means the monitoring app _must_ be running at all times?

4 comments

[ 4.9 ms ] story [ 21.7 ms ] thread
josefresco
Why not buy an Android burner device just for the app? Or do you use the app frequently?
nandalism
It's an interesting idea. If I had 2 phones I would probably install LineageOS on one of them and use that as my daily driver.

Keeping the other phone for banking only.

leephillips
Your bank has no online access through a web site? You can’t bank with a computer, only a phone? Or is it an app that generates a code to verify transactions?
nandalism
Many banks have gone this route.

Either no online access thru a website or requiring an app on your phone as part of the login process (which amounts to the same thing, no phone app, no banking).