Per one tech forum this week: “Google has quietly installed an app on all Android devices called ‘Android System SafetyCore’. It claims to be a ‘security’ application, but whilst running in the background, it collects call logs, contacts, location, your microphone, and much more making this application ‘spyware’ and a HUGE privacy concern. It is strongly advised to uninstall this program if you can. To do this, navigate to 'Settings’ > 'Apps’, then delete the application.”
Seems to be innocuous, but there’s no harm in removing it. Next update, it’ll be returned, so the better solution long-term will be (if you’re rooted) is to use an application to freeze it, which effectively disables it and it should survive and update. If you delete the app, a new update will put it back.
Jokes on you my phone is so old it hasn’t updated in 4 years
Who would have thought the best security practice would turn out to be having devices too old to be updated with spyware? No jokes
You can freeze using ADB/Shizuku as well. No root needed.
how to freeze it on the app?
Using ADB:
If you have Shizuku and aShell/ShizuShell installed, then just run this command in aShell:
Alternatively, for a GUI method, setup Shizuku and then use an app like Hail or Ice Box
I don’t see it on the app store to remove anymore
You can’t search for it. You have to open a direct link.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.safetycore
did they make it so after people started removing it?
Nah, for system stuff that updates via Google Play, it’s always been like that. Like Android System Webview for example, if you search Google Play for it you only see the Beta and Developer versions of it. You need a direct link to see the default one included with modern Android.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.webview