The latest update for the popular Nova Launcher app includes Facebook Ads and Google AdMob.
Compare 8.2.4: https://reports.exodus-privacy.eu.org/en/reports/698198/
With 8.1.6: https://reports.exodus-privacy.eu.org/en/reports/673643/
From 2 trackers to 6 trackers. From 30 permissions to 36. And two of the “trackers” are for ad stuff, like Facebook Ads.
I believe the owner also changed. It’s no longer Branch, but something called Instabridge Sweden.
Is this true only for the non-paid, free version Nova Launcher? I checked for info about Nova Launcher Prime, the paid version which I’ve used for years, and don’t see anything about trackers being included.
As far as paid Android apps go, I will vouch for them. I paid for prime and have continued to use it, unlike many paid apps - such as weather apps - that after less than a year became worthless and were basically a ripoff. Nova Launcher has always seemed good.
This is the launcher that everyone installs. I don’t think the paid app, which only unlocks some features, has been updated (at least I haven’t received an update yet).
The paid app is not the app though. Just an unlocker for the free app to add the paid features. Unless they changed how it works the last years. Could be easily tested if you only install the Prime app and make sure you did the remove the other.
Edit, yupp, just checked play store (directly copied with the weird typo in it):
You’re being tracked the same no matter if you pay or not. These days even paying for something doesn’t stop companies to collect all your data, just because.
The person who developed the launcher is not with them. So, why would you Considering, the increased push for tracking it would be stupid to use nova.
There are plenty of launchers which are useful. There’s literally no reason to still use Nova.