Replies: 4 comments 2 replies
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Yes it can! When you use VPN provides you usually share an exit point with other users so that IP address could get flagged by Youtube for being suspicious or even completely blocked in rare cases. |
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Something important to consider is that unless you're using a de-Googled ROM, Google can see your real (i.e., ISP-provided) IP address, even if you're connected to a VPN. Google Play Services phones home constantly, and it includes tools to grab info in the most invasive way possible. To name just a few, it collects the names and NAT addresses of all devices on your local network, your public IP addresses (both ISP and VPN-provided), MAC addresses of all network connected devices, the names and versions of any server software you're running on any device, and the names, IP addresses, and MAC addresses of all devices reachable by your Android device (this includes nearby cell phones and Bluetooth devices that aren't connected to your network). TL;DR: |
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Jeeeez that's the most depressing message I've ever read! But thank you - I needed to learn that. It will speed up the time saving up for a Murena phone.
Damn, how can it be legal for Google to spy that much?
And also (genuine question) how can I measure what you claim? I run a nonprofit (the Rebel Tech Alliance) that wants to start doing an SBMzero test - to demonstrate that a company is not engaged in the Surveillance Business Model.
So in reverse we'd also like to demonstrate what Google surveils.
…________________________________
From: Jonathan Cutting ***@***.***>
Sent: Saturday, September 13, 2025 3:20:59 PM
To: futo-org/grayjay-android ***@***.***>
Cc: Paddy5150 ***@***.***>; Author ***@***.***>
Subject: Re: [futo-org/grayjay-android] Google sees my IP address? (Discussion #2517)
Something important to consider is that unless you're using a de-Googled ROM, Google can see your real (i.e., ISP-provided) IP address, even if you're connected to a VPN. Google Play Services phones home constantly, and it includes tools to grab info in the most invasive way possible. To name just a few, it collects the names and NAT addresses of all devices on your local network, your public IP addresses (both ISP and VPN-provided), MAC addresses of all network connected devices, the names and versions of any server software you're running on any device, and the names, IP addresses, and MAC addresses of all devices reachable by your Android device (this includes nearby cell phones and Bluetooth devices that aren't connected to your network).
TL;DR:
Android isn't "free." Google knows who and where you are at all times, even while actively trying to hide your identity. There's almost no way to stop this. You are the product.
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If you want to independently verify it, run a packet sniffer on your network while your Android device is connected to it. It's easy to identify which traffic is coming from your Android device, but you'll need to narrow that down more to identify the traffic generated by Google Play Services (GPS). Don't bother asking Google for those specific API specs; they won't provide them (it uses a private API to make those calls, not the same API developers use for their apps). Once you have the GPS traffic, you'll need to decrypt it, because Google encrypts it with their own private key. Once that's done, you'll need to separate out the traffic from other apps that are using GPS from the traffic that GPS is generating to send its collected data to Google. In short, it's extremely difficult. This behaviour is well documented (I just can't be bothered to find it right now), and Google straight-up admits it in their TOS (buried in hundreds of pages of legalese). You have to agree to it before you can use your Android device. They write it in such a way that they know no one will read, because no reasonable person would agree to it, if they did read it. I believe Kaspersky released a report about it a few years back. If you're just looking for anecdotal evidence, then ask yourself why the first places the FBI goes to locate someone—in real time—are Google and Apple. What it boils down to is this: if you are provided a product with a long TOS or EULA, you don't need to read it. You just have to understand that the company now owns you and all information about you in perpetuity. It sucks, but that's the consumer-hostile environment we've allowed to thrive. |
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Good info. Yeah, the UCD University College Dublin did a study that did manage to decrypt all that and show that it was Google. And it is a massive amount of data.
Do you happen to know if Murena actually blocks all that or if they allow Google services to still run?
…________________________________
From: Jonathan Cutting ***@***.***>
Sent: Saturday, September 13, 2025 6:41:44 PM
To: futo-org/grayjay-android ***@***.***>
Cc: Paddy5150 ***@***.***>; Author ***@***.***>
Subject: Re: [futo-org/grayjay-android] Google sees my IP address? (Discussion #2517)
how can I measure what you claim?
If you want to independently verify it, run a packet sniffer on your network while your Android device is connected to it. It's easy to identify which traffic is coming from your Android device, but you'll need to narrow that down more to identify the traffic generated by Google Play Services (GPS). Don't bother asking Google for those specific API specs; they won't provide them (it uses a private API to make those calls, not the same API developers use for their apps). Once you have the GPS traffic, you'll need to decrypt it, because Google encrypts it with their own private key. Once that's done, you'll need to separate out the traffic from other apps that are using GPS from the traffic that GPS is generating to send its collected data to Google. In short, it's extremely difficult.
This behaviour is well documented (I just can't be bothered to find it right now), and Google straight-up admits it in their TOS (buried in hundreds of pages of legalese). You have to agree to it before you can use your Android device. They write it in such a way that they know no one will read, because no reasonable person would agree to it, if they did read it. I believe Kaspersky released a report about it a few years back. If you're just looking for anecdotal evidence, then ask yourself why the first places the FBI goes to locate someone—in real time—are Google and Apple.
What it boils down to is this: if you are provided a product with a long TOS or EULA, you don't need to read it. You just have to understand that the company now owns you and all information about you in perpetuity. It sucks, but that's the consumer-hostile environment we've allowed to thrive.
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GrapheneOS is the only way. Murena uses /e/OS which is behind in security patches and integrates Google services with high privileges. |
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Hi, does anyone know if Google can see my IP address when I watch a YouTube video on the GrayJay app?
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