Focus-android: 8.0.25 requesting the READ_PHONE_STATE permission

[STPR]

8.0.25 requesting the READ_PHONE_STATE permission :

READ_PHONE_STATE
Allows read only access to phone state, including the phone number of the device, current cellular network information, the status of any ongoing calls, and a list of any PhoneAccounts registered on the device.

[colintheshots]

It appears upgrading Google's Install Referrer library to the latest caused this. I believe we can safely downgrade in the next release.

[STPR]

Why can't you just keep the latest version and add the following line into the manifest ?
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_PHONE_STATE" tools:node="remove" />

[STPR]

Strangely, Firefox Klar 8.0.25, the "german" version of Firefox Focus, doesn't need this permission !

Quite frankly, I really doubt you're discovering this just now.
So, either you need it for some obscure reasons, or you should correct this immediatly.
That's a MAJOR issue for a browser promoting itself as a "privacy browser".

Looking at all the comments inside the play store, you really should not wait the next release to correct this.

[STPR]

We are now at the 8.0.26 version and the permission is still there.
So, what do you believe now ?
Why is it so hard to put the following line in the manifest ?
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_PHONE_STATE" tools:node="remove" />

[STPR]

We are now at the 8.1.0 version and the permission is still there.
Do you still believe something ?

[STPR]

You don't have to believe something anymore.
Just update the Google's Install Referrer library to version 1.1.2.
(since you didn't want to use the previous fix in the manifest file)