It appears that Google are now investigating it, but only a couple of days ago it was being reported that there was another secret browser in Android which bypassed all parental and system security.
Comment on Brianna Ghey: I'm open to speaking to killer's mum, her mother says
galmuth@feddit.uk 7 months ago
Measures like Google Family Link already exist if parents choose to use them. I don’t think legislation restricting what young people can do online would necessarily help. It’s illegal for kids to take drugs and drink alcohol yet it still happens. Whatever measures are put in place, there’s usually a way around.
frazorth@feddit.uk 7 months ago
Tweak@feddit.uk 7 months ago
It’s not a secret browser, it’s the system browser. Most apps do not have a browser to view web pages, they use the system one (eg to display terms and conditions pages). The exploit here involved someone accessing such a page and sidestepping into another, because the page had links away, allowing a Google search or something and avoiding restrictions that were only applied to the main browser app.
This is more of a failure in parental control features not being fully comprehensive. The story is also much older than a couple days.
mannycalavera@feddit.uk 7 months ago
secret browser makes it sound so illicit. This looks like the default webview implementation that is able to be accessed after a series of pretty niche and complicated steps. Something that should be looked at and closed obviously, but this type of language is clickbait 101 and actually unhelpful for the discourse.
frazorth@feddit.uk 7 months ago
Then you should actually read it.
It’s not the default webview, and it now has an open issue with Google
mannycalavera@feddit.uk 7 months ago
Yes my friend, it is the default webview. That explains the bare bones look to it, the back button functionality, and the history or lack of. The default webview on android isn’t a full fledged browser and isn’t meant to be.
and it now has an open issue with Google
This is literally meaningless. You should see the amount of shite users raise on the issue tracker. What you, or the author, should do is link to the issue in question.
I note that the comments on Hacker News also aren’t favourable to this.
fidodo@lemmy.world 7 months ago
That’s such an obscure vulnerability that I highly doubt any significant amount of kids would know about it, if any.
frazorth@feddit.uk 7 months ago
Err, as soon as a way to bypass parental settings is found it will be shared far and wide with those who would be impacted by it.
Tweak@feddit.uk 7 months ago
Also, who would be held responsible for the child circumventing the restrictions? You can’t hold the child responsible, so that would fall to the parent.
Is she accepting responsibility here for not better protecting her child? No, she’s blaming others, and telling other people they should take responsibility.
Not that any of this would have made any difference here. These two murderers were absolutely demented, and keeping them off social media wouldn’t have done much to prevent that.