Google blocks Android hack that let Pixel users enable VoLTE anywhere

https://www.androidauthority.com/pixel-ims-broken-october-update-3606444/

132 points · 36 comments · view on lemmy.world

36 Comments

e8d79@discuss.tchncs.de · 64 pts · 327d (18 replies)

If anyone cares, GrapheneOS lets you override carrier settings for VoLTE. No workarounds needed.

socialsecurity@piefed.social · 8 pts · 327d (8 replies)

What's the benefit of volte?

Esp forcing it?

Blaster_M@lemmy.world · 12 pts · 327d (6 replies)

VoLTE technically works over any internet connection. VoLTE is VoIP

cyberpunk007@lemmy.ca · 5 pts · 327d (2 replies)

How does it differ from wifi calling?

IllNess@infosec.pub · 15 pts · 327d (1 reply)

WiFi calling and VoLTE are both VoIP. The only difference is the network protocol.

cyberpunk007@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 317d

Ones not IP?

hanrahan@slrpnk.net · 2 pts · 325d

No, that's why there is also VoWiFi. It is VoIP but not over ANY internet connection, only LTE.

elmicha@feddit.org · 1 pts · 326d

Technically it is Voice over LTE, so it cannot be used over any internet connection (e.g. over LAN, WIFI or GRPS).

socialsecurity@piefed.social · 0 pts · 327d

So encrypted?

Object@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 326d

In some countries you need it to make a phone call.

FunctionallyLiterate@lemmy.ca · 4 pts · 327d (8 replies)

The article implies simply rooting will do - something I haven't done in quite a while, but last I knew didn't involve wiping your existing setup.

kenopsik@piefed.social · 5 pts · 327d (7 replies)

Enabling root has always required a device wipe. It's unfortunate if you want to do it well after receiving your device and using it for months with the stock software.

FunctionallyLiterate@lemmy.ca · 6 pts · 327d (3 replies)

Not in my experience, but again that was quite some time ago - I think it was Android 6 the last time I did it.

ETA: although now that I think about it, it was technically done in an "unsafe" manner by exploiting vulnerabilities. For the more safety-concerned, maybe a wipe was preferred.

Shadow@lemmy.ca · 10 pts · 327d (2 replies)

Typically unlocking the bootloader requires a full wipe. It's a security method intended to keep an attacker from compromising your OS to access your data if the phone is stolen.

I've never rooted a phone without requiring a wipe, but I've owned mostly Samsung

Auli@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 327d

I've owned pixels and Nexus and you could unlock without wipe. Locking required a wipe. Now both do not sure when it changed though.

Anivia@feddit.org · 2 pts · 326d

Even old Samsung phones would let you root and flash custom roms without wiping, the bootloader was open from the factory and you could just override your recovery and system partition with Odin. That's how I did it with my Galaxy Gio during the Android 2.2 days

kuberoot@discuss.tchncs.de · 2 pts · 326d

It definitely didn't always require a wipe - I think it might be storage encryption by default that was introduced, that made it a requirement, where modifying/replacing system/bootloader components means it can't decrypt the data anymore.

Auli@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 327d (1 reply)

No now it does. Before you could unlock your bootloader and not wipe. Locking it has always required a wipe. Now both do for some reason.

frongt@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 325d

It's so that someone else can't unlock your bootloader and install malware. Like if you're entering a country and they say "please unlock your phone" and they take it, they could unlock and replace the bootloader without you being able to tell.

Toes@ani.social · 35 pts · 327d (1 reply)

actively making their product worse. awesome

ByteMe@lemmy.world · 14 pts · 327d

They’ve been doing it for quite a while

AndrewZabar@lemmy.world · 26 pts · 327d (2 replies)

And what is the problem with VoLTE anywhere? Just curious.

higgsboson@piefed.social · 9 pts · 326d (1 reply)

The carriers probably paywall it.

AndrewZabar@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 326d

Ah, right. Why let you use the tech that’s already built-in and designed for just that, when they can call it something else and charge you more for it?

Fucking savages.

owenfromcanada@lemmy.ca · 17 pts · 327d (5 replies)

I see Google is amply funding their fun-ruiner division.

dan1101@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 327d (3 replies)

They only made one small update to their "Don't be evil" motto.

lka1988@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 1 pts · 326d (1 reply)

They haven't had that motto in quite some time now.

eskimofry@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 326d

thats the update the parent comment was referring

prettybunnys@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 326d

A single comma changes it all

FunctionallyLiterate@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 327d

That's how the big bucks are made.

artyom@piefed.social · 13 pts · 327d

Next they're going to disable support for VPNs other than their own.

Toasted_Breakfast@lemmy.today · 4 pts · 327d (3 replies)

Can someone explain it to me the privacy hobbyist? Why is this a concern? What exactly am I missing out on?

Zorsith@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 6 pts · 327d (2 replies)

IIRC, it was announced at some point that US cell towers were compromised for several years (Salt Typhoon?) and it can't be confirmed that state actors don't still functionally own the infrastructure. This matters because the US for some fucking reason won't let SMS die.

possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip · 6 pts · 326d

NSA compromised them all decades ago

Part of Salt Typhoon was abusing that access

GaryGhost@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 325d

We always rely on old technology. The us won't invest money into anything until they have to. This goes for our government and the private sector

deafboy@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 326d

The dawn of the 4G will forever be remembered as the time our civilization forgot how to make phones that can make phone calls. I feel embarrassed every time I randomly think about VoLTE.