cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/14967490
Starting today, apps made by state and federal governments are getting a new government badge to help users better identify official apps.
The badge will first appear on over 3,000 apps for 12 different countries.
There’s an IRS app that will help you to know when you’ll receive a tax return if you live in the US. That’s useful.
Not to be a dick, but how/why is that useful? It’s not a package I need to physically go get or something. It’s deposited into an account (super fast if you do your taxes early). This also assumes I’m getting a refund.
Depends on who you are probably. But a poor person who’s only access to the Internet is via smart phone might beg to differ. This also might matter if you do taxes on paper rather than using an online service (paid or free). When you file digitally and supply a bank account you absolutely will receive a tax return pretty expediently unless you get audited. But if you file a paper tax return by snail mail and are expecting a check? Different story. What if they never received your return? What if it was lost in the mail? What if the check gets lost in the mail?
I will receive my tax return when I receive my tax return. If it was a website, I might consider using it. But an app? No, thank you. I’m good. A web browser is more sandboxed and has less permission than any app does.
You should sandbox your phone and assume the government may know everything that goes in it.
Pegasus and the like already shown it can be entered with no click zero days.
GrapheneOS May solve some of these since it is a hardened android and does not activate the USB until its unlocked with the PIN.
I also have an app for tolls in my state, and the VA. I’m just pointing out that not all government apps are terrible and I can certainly understand why some people would want or need to use them.
