Scammers placing keywords related to a different app, hoping users get confused

ExtremeDullard , 4 months ago

This is my general method to find and install apps:

• First hit F-Droid

• If F-Droid doesn't have it, hit the Play Store through Aurora. Carefully assess each and every candidate returned by the Play Store search by searching for feedback on DDG, as I treat anything served up by Google as adware / spyware even if the Play Store says it's free of ads, doesn't need permissions or it's open source.

• If the Play Store doesn't have it (an older version of an APK I specifically need for instance) hit APKPure or Aptoide. Download each promising APK manually, unzip it, look for sketchy things in the archive manually, then run the APK through Hypatia before sideloading it, because I treat anything served up by APKPure or Aptoide as malware.

JonnyJaap , 4 months ago

Fossify is not even in the play store.
I searched for it online and found the GitHub repo, it's only available via f-droid and IzzyOnAndroid, so yeah, you can't find it in the Google play store.

Darken , 4 months ago

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Kostyeah , 4 months ago

I only use the play store to keep critical apps (banking and security) updated. Everything else comes from Aurora.

DeltaTangoLima , 4 months ago

I switched to using using Obtainium to install directty from dev repos as much as possible, and am adding Fossify's projects as they release. IMO, It's the best way to ensure you get the app you want, without letting middle-men push their agenda or mine your data.

Presi300 , 4 months ago (edited 4 months ago)

fyi, don't use simple mobile tools anymore, it's basically adware now, the project has been forked and renamed to fossify

Neon , 4 months ago

he's searching for fossify, the fork of simple

Presi300 , 4 months ago

I'm blind lmfao

venoft , 4 months ago

See here for the new permissions the Simple mobile tools apps require after it was sold to an ad-company. I think that speaks for itself: https://programming.dev/post/8634202

DeltaTangoLima , 4 months ago

OP searched for Fossify - the Simple fork. That's the point here - the new owner of Simple has added the keyword 'fossify' so they turn up in the search results, which no doubt prioritises apps with higher install counts.

nbafantest , 4 months ago

Most typical android user experience

alphacyberranger , 4 months ago

@Moonrise2473 There is a fork of simple mobile tools available at https://github.com/FossifyOrg

TheEntity , 4 months ago

Judging by what OP was searching for, they're probably aware. And the scammers are too.

spez , 4 months ago

F-Droid can help

Moonrise2473 OP , 4 months ago

Yes but the reason I purchased from play store (which has the side effect of donating an undeserved 30% to google) was that I could easily share the access with the family without too much effort, just send a link to them 😢

Ephera , 4 months ago

I believe, Fossify Gallery has practically the same features as Simple Gallery Pro. So, your family does still get full access with just the F-Droid link...

Salix , 4 months ago

Do note that Simple Gallery Pro on Play Store uses a non-FOSS editor.

Simple Gallery Pro and Fossify Gallery on F-Droid uses a basic FOSS editor.

mathemachristian , 4 months ago

Simple Mobile Tools got sold and probably will go the web extension way of scammers loading it up with malware to extract private info and sell it. Delete it now.

LinkOpensChest_wav , 4 months ago

Seriously? I have so many of their apps. I had no idea.

lemann , 4 months ago

That's so annoying - I have a ton of their apps too!

Looks like I'll be staying on these ancient F-Droid versions for a while until a replacement shows up... but ugh I am so annoyed. Files, Draw, and the gallery in particular that allowed you to resize (strips EXIF data), crop and do all sorts was so handy

MrCamel999 , 4 months ago

Fossify Gallery and Files are already up on F-Droid!

lemann , 4 months ago

This is perfect, also seems like some bugs present in one of the original apps has been fixed in the Fossify version - thank you for sharing!

PostingPenguin , 4 months ago

Might you be able to post a Link to the F-droid version?
I can't seem to find it there by simple search...

LunchEnjoyer , 4 months ago

Gallery

• https://f-droid.org/packages/org.fossify.gallery/

File Manager

• https://apt.izzysoft.de/fdroid/index/apk/org.fossify.filemanager

Calander

• https://apt.izzysoft.de/fdroid/index/apk/org.fossify.calendar

Note: I use droid-ify, another client for Fdroid, but personally prefer this one as I can easily add other necessary repositories that add even more apps to the store front.
Droid-ify

mexicancartel , 4 months ago

It was bought by zipoapps or so and they might release ad infested versions. Fossify is the fork of all simple mobile tools

LinkOpensChest_wav , 4 months ago

Oh thank you! Looks like they're easy to find on F-Droid, so this should be a fairly painless transition

PM_Your_Nudes_Please , 4 months ago

It was bought out by ZippoApps, which is notorious for buying popular apps, loading them with adware/spyware, then abandoning them once all the users eventually flee.

Go look at the added permissions that the new versions require. You’re basically handing them an image of your entire phone.

possiblylinux127 , 4 months ago

Just use the fork

Zoot , 4 months ago

Quick question, I've been using F-droid for like Spottube, I assume I should seek out Spottube for any future updates now correct?

venoft , 4 months ago

Just use F-droid to update.

mathemachristian , 4 months ago

Fdroid does not guarantee the software is malware free. You still need to be able to trust the developer.

https://privsec.dev/posts/android/f-droid-security-issues/

mathemachristian , 4 months ago

I dont know unfortunately

DeltaTangoLima , 4 months ago

OP is searching for Fossify - the forked set of Simple's projects. That's the point of the post, I think.

mathemachristian , 4 months ago

Yup you're correct, didn't notice the search bar.

Synther , 4 months ago (edited 4 months ago)

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M500 , 4 months ago

It has nothing to do with third party app stores.

Someone made an app that was genuinely very good. Then a company wanted to buy the app. The developer sold the app. The company loaded it with whatever spyware they wanted and pushed it in an update.

Now the app is garbage. Sadly it happens all the time. It happened to me right after I bought a year subscription to private internet access.

But to be clear this can happen on any platform or App Store official or not.

GigglyBobble , 4 months ago

The company loaded it with whatever spyware they wanted and pushed it in an update. Now the app is garbage.

Wait what? I have it too and see no changes at all. How does it spy since the app has 0 bytes of traffic (now blocked it to be safe)?

AnonStoleMyPants , 4 months ago

Same here, seems like the exact same thing I've used for a few years now.

Edit. Apparently the sale just happened last December. Some discussion here: https://github.com/SimpleMobileTools/General-Discussion/issues/241

dan1101 , 4 months ago

This is the exact sort of reason I have automatic updates off.

AnonStoleMyPants , 4 months ago

Fossify gallery is a fork of it BTW, works and looks exactly the same. I swapped mine to it.

M500 , 4 months ago

Sorry, I was not very clear. I was speaking generally about how this process works to demonstrate that it has nothing to do with app stores.

mexicancartel , 4 months ago

Btw since its sold you probably won't recieve foss updates(they will be proprietary). So there is this fork called Fossify. And you could export all data in your apps as backups and restore it to fossify

possiblylinux127 , 4 months ago

I don't think this is as big of risk on F-droid because the apps are screened and compiled from source.

Just don't go adding third party repos.

SpaceMan9000 , 4 months ago

This is Google Play Store you dingus

Synther , 4 months ago (edited 4 months ago)

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MaggiWuerze , 4 months ago

what are you even talking about?