The latest update for the popular Nova Launcher app includes Facebook Ads and Google AdMob.

Compare 8.2.4: https://reports.exodus-privacy.eu.org/en/reports/698198/

With 8.1.6: https://reports.exodus-privacy.eu.org/en/reports/673643/

From 2 trackers to 6 trackers. From 30 permissions to 36. And two of the “trackers” are for ad stuff, like Facebook Ads.

I believe the owner also changed. It’s no longer Branch, but something called Instabridge Sweden.

EDIT:

More tracking added. “Moloco”: https://old.reddit.com/r/NovaLauncher/comments/1qq1x9c/deep_dive_nova_launcher_beta_830_the_adtech/

  • ladfrombrad 🇬🇧MEnglish
    6·
    2 months ago

    Cheers OP for the heads up, sooooo glad I started blocking those domains a long while ago with OpenWRT > Tailscale exit node at home.

    Frustrating sometimes since peeps link many charities and shit via FB, but easily circumvented via archive sites tor i2p etc.

    • K0ZOPEnglish
      3·
      1 month ago

      If you’re using Nova, be aware that it keeps retrying some failed connections, so while this might improve privacy, it may also increase your battery drain.

      I was going to keep using it for now with an Android firewall, but decided to uninstall it to force me to find a replacement.

      • ladfrombrad 🇬🇧MEnglish
        2·
        1 month ago

        Aye, I’m all good and stopped using Nova after many years when the Branch crap came out.

        It’s the FB domain, and their many other bought out ones (WhatsApp nty) that are blocked at a network level here. No ghost accounts for me :p