(Rant)

At somepoint, HSBC decided KDE Connect installed via F-Droid is less secure.

Photo of the HSBC UK app urging I install KDE Connect via GPlay or Galaxy Store

Then it decide non-whitelisted keyborads are a security risk. Only Gboard and Samsung Keyboard is confirmed within the whitelist.

Photo of the HSBC UK app telling me to switch input method citing security risk

I understand the point that risk can be introduce at various points, yet this is simply too much. Yeah there are people phone infected by malware but from Play Store. Not a single time I heard one ever happened on F-Droid distributed apps, at least not from the official repo. Also, I will put more trust on an open source keyboard than any proprietary keyboard.

Furthermore, I’m shocked that an app can read my app list, and current keyboard (introduced in Android 14). This just make building a profile much easier as I belive everyone almost have an unique set of apps they like. I don’t think any apps need such functionality. Why the f it needs to care what input devices I uses? This make me worry more about untold (aka burried deep in Privacy Policy) data collection.

  • doogstarEnglish
    10·
    15 days ago

    That’s annoying! I’m using Graphene and I just installed KDE Connect from F-Droid to test, which didn’t trigger, however it did bounce me for using Heliboard. Changing to default keyboard and reloading worked, ie it can only see my currently active one.

    Using Shelter to set up a second profile, or the new Private Space feature on 15 may help provide isolation.

    Halifax/ Bank of Scotland/ Lloyds does an integrity check that rejects Graphene or LineageOS phones completely.