Well this sucks, I am locked out of online banking..
Due to EU regulations online banking cannot use SMS or paper authentication methods anymore, requiring the use of "secure" mobile applications instead. 🤦♂️
So now you need an Android or iOS running mobile phone to do tasks that a simple web browser was capable of before.
The new "app" is quite the disaster, contains ads, introduces fees and sometimes doesn't even work at all.
What an improvement! https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=caixaeconomica.approva
Oh this is even worse than I thought.
- requires location access (won't work otherwise)
- transactions can use "push notifications", which basically means it goes through google servers, great security and privacy!
Since I do not have PlayStore on my phone, not sure what to do..
Using random apks from the internet seems like a terrible idea, even more for such crucial things as banking.
Obviously the application is not open-source, so won't make it to F-Droid or related services.
😦 😔 😞
@minkiu I use it to install stuff like spotify (until a nice opensource version comes up, or I get fed up with them again).
But I really do not trust that to handle online banking.
Plus some new phones also do not have Play Store, like new Huawei stuff. I have seen some kind of Amazon app store too, but no idea how many phones ship with that.
Relying on Apple or Google in order to provide online banking is just so terribly bad...
@falktx oh I 100% agree, it's insane, some banks just have apps, so it's even worse... it's quite depressing.
@falktx I've got the same concerne with my bank, even install the apk from aurora, but the app requiers google access anyway...
@Nomys_Tempar oh that is nasty.
not sure how this makes any sense at all.
funny that my bank calls this "strong authentication" 😂
@falktx Yeah I was quite pissed off...
My guess is banks just trust google more than there customers.
@falktx Have you tried https://aurora-store.en.uptodown.com/android ? I'm not using Google Play for years now but only this store. You can basically download APK offer on Google Play without a google play account which eliminate the random APK security issues.
@wwwgem I replied to someone else about this, really do not trust such services for crucial things as online banking. we should not have to go to such weird steps for basic living necessities.
@falktx I totally agree with you. This app is valid though (you can verify yourself) but again we should not have to find workarounds. That's a general issue in our modern life. If you're not following the mass and use the only tool you're told to use then you're on your own. That's why we eventually need those workarounds even though they would not be needed in a world respectful of your freedom (in all meanings).
@falktx Also I wouldn't trust any banking app anyway haha But in your case you're forced to use one so...
@wwwgem I am fine with workarounds when they are sensible ones. Some stuff is just too much though.
And if no one complains and fights back, it is only going to get worse..
@falktx I'm sharing your thoughts and that's why people think I'm living outside of this world because I'm now part of this unique community who communicates/shares/gets "informed"/learns... using the same unique tool for each need. The topic of changing people minds and habits and the rationale for promoting one tool vs another is too vast but it's a fact that laziness is the best promoter for tools that consider customers as a product. Everyone make choices, I made mines.
@falktx Aurora store is it? There's a store that's a 'mirror's of the play store, it's in fdroid, maybe give that one a go?