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Google account(s) vs Opera Mobile vs my phone's IMEI vs Transparency

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25. November 2011, 16:08:28

dr4pht

Posts: 5

Google account(s) vs Opera Mobile vs my phone's IMEI vs Transparency

I just bought a new Android phone (Galaxy Gio) and had to realize that:

1st: It's pretty useless without an Google account
2nd: almost every pre-installed app wants to phone home
3nd: and some of them even include my IMEI during this process. (esp. Google related apps)
[4th: Smartphones are unbelievable tracking devices!]

I already have two Google accounts (let's say one is serious and one is for fun) and I would like to access both of them on my phone but keep them separated in the eyes of Google. (IP-Address doesn't bother me since I used my phone mostly with public WiFis.) One account would be used to purchase apps on the android market and use some other Google-centric apps. But the other would be exclusively accessed through Opera Mobile. And with that I have some doubts:

I never used the Geolocation feature in Opera Mobile browser and don't expect to use it, so everything said in the "Permissions" thread doesn't affect me.

But what exactly happens when I'm logged into my second Google Account through Opera Mobile and click on a link which starts an Opera-external app, like a Youtube link/video and the Youtube-app? Does Opera transfer any information from that account (IP, IMEI) to the Youtube app on my phone (and therefore to my first account)? And what about the Download-app or other apps?

Sorry for the long post.

25. November 2011, 18:51:41

when opera sends a youtube link to the youtube app it only sends the id code of the video.
so you're logged in in opera with account 1 and in android with account 2, the video will be viewed by account 2.
for market links i don't know if opera does anything with them, but if it does it will be the same as with youtube: only a link to the app you want to download from the market is sent, nothing else.
this is the same for most other apps.
it is possible for websites to pass account information to an app, but devs usually avoid this because it's not very safe.

25. November 2011, 20:34:53

dr4pht

Posts: 5

Thanks for the quick reply. So it's basically possible to keep the two accounts apart on an Android phone. It would be even better if Opera Mobile could support multiple profiles smile

it is possible for websites to pass account information to an app, but devs usually avoid this because it's not very safe.


Does Opera Mobile/Android show a notice / warning or ask for permission in such a case?

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