I’m considering whether I should uninstall updates and disable Google Play Services and Google Framework Services on my bloated phone to enhance my privacy. Is it worth doing this?
Is Google Play Services merely a service or library that other apps rely on, or does it function more like spyware? What are the implications of disabling these services for my device’s functionality and overall user experience?
With banking apps - it actually depends. I found out that in my country, most banks’ apps (like, all the big ones except for one) don’t require Google services, since requiring them would cut off a lot of users with Chinaphones (Huawei being the biggest example). The NFC payments in them are also their own implementation, independent from the Google one.
However, in case of at least one bank, the apk download link was hidden behind some dark patterns (ironically, less hidden than Signal’s apk, lol), trying to instead direct people onto the national app store.
I lucked out and my banking app is fine too. Weirdly its the wifi garage door opener which came with my house that refuses to work. I took it offline and am back to a remote now. I may replace it someday when I finally get home assistant going.