Google Play Forces Crypto Wallet Samourai to Remove Security Features
09 January 2019 - 9:44PM
ADVFN Crypto NewsWire
Crypto wallet Samourai removed
security features introduced in its latest app update after Google
Play found them in conflict with its “store policies.”
The app’s Twitter handle confirmed that it has disabled features
called Stealth Mode, Remote SMS, and SIM Switch Defense. A separate
blog post accused Google Play of
being extremely restrictive to become a “walled garden,” an
internet slang reserved for web services that practice excessive
control.
“We applied for an exemption with Google months ago, which was
rejected days ago, despite our argument that removing such
functionality would cause users who rely on those features to be
less secure and more exposed,” wrote Samourai.
Similar Features Allowed on Other Apps
The company also claimed that it had provided Google officials
the evidence of its SIM Switch Defense feature which alerted users
of SIM swap attacks the moment hackers attempt them. Samourai
said:
“It made us very proud that our little feature was protecting
users from the horrible OpSec of network carriers which allow SIM
Swap attacks to occur. Google does not care about any of this,
however, and Samourai Wallet would have been removed from the
Google Play Store had we not complied with this dictate.”
Also, the removal of the Samourai Stealth Mode feature raised
plenty of doubts concerning the new Google policies. The feature,
according to the company, could have allowed users to hide their
crypto wallet app from home screen and launcher. Many apps on the
Play Store allow users to hide apps similarly upon users’
approval.
The Remote SMS feature, also reminiscent of dozens of anti-theft
applications on Google Play, has been ordered out of the Samourai
crypto wallet.
“Remote SMS Commands allow users who lost their device to
remotely erase their Bitcoin Wallet to prevent further loss of
their Bitcoin stash,” the company tweeted. “Google Play has killed
that as well.”
Alternatives to Play Store
Samourai announced that it would start distributing its crypto
wallet app via self-hosting and by listing it on the F-Droid app
store – as alternatives to Google Play.
“These versions will all include the Stealth Mode, Remote SMS,
and SIM Switch Defense features,” the company confirmed.
CCN has contacted Samourai for more details on the concerned
Google Play policies. Kindly tune back for more updates.
Source:
CCN
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