app installed without permission

[gebco]

I'm a runner and I was browsing race calculators. I ended up on omnicalculator.com, used a calculator and moved on. Now I have an Omni calculator installed among my apps. I'm 99% sure I did not give permission for it to install. What settings do I check to ensure this doesn't happen?

 

[anon(10092459)]

I'm a runner and I was browsing race calculators. I ended up on omnicalculator.com, used a calculator and moved on. Now I have an Omni calculator installed among my apps. I'm 99% sure I did not give permission for it to install. What settings do I check to ensure this doesn't happen?

You may want to check your settings for instant apps. If it's on, then a lighter version of some apps will load from any URL if it's set up to do that.

https://www.androidcentral.com/instant-apps

 

[B. Diddy]

Or you might have "installed" it as a progressive web app. If you were on that website, and if it asked you if you wanted to add it to your homescreen, you might have unwittingly tapped Yes. You should be able to uninstall it easily.

 

[gebco]

I don't think it's an instant app. On my screenshot you can see the CBC app that is an instant app. The one in question is on the far left. No lightning bolt.

You may want to check your settings for instant apps. If it's on, then a lighter version of some apps will load from any URL if it's set up to do that. And the Omni app is actually installed. The CBC one is not.

https://www.androidcentral.com/instant-apps

 

[gebco]

This is exactly my concern. I don't want to unwittingly install an app. I'm pretty sure I toggled off the ability to install from unknown sources, but I can't find that setting.

Or you might have "installed" it as a progressive web app. If you were on that website, and if it asked you if you wanted to add it to your homescreen, you might have unwittingly tapped Yes. You should be able to uninstall it easily.

 

[anon(10092459)]

This is exactly my concern. I don't want to unwittingly install an app. I'm pretty sure I toggled off the ability to install from unknown sources, but I can't find that setting.

I think B. Diddy is right on this one. It does show up under different PWA catalogs. It's not considered an "install" the way you're considering, i.e. from unknown sources. It's not Native. Really just a Mobile Web App that's been added to your homescreen. Very easy to remove.

 

[gebco]

See screenshots below. The CBC app shows up as an instant app in the settings, but the other shows as actually installed.

I think B. Diddy is right on this one. It does show up under different PWA catalogs. It's not considered an "install" the way you're considering, i.e. from unknown sources. It's not Native. Really just a Mobile Web App that's been added to your homescreen. Very easy to remove.

 

[gebco]

CBC app

 

[gebco]

Screenshot

 

[gebco]

Screenshot : Omni

 

[gebco]

Screenshot order is messed up, but you can see the difference between the CBC app and the other.

 

[anon(10092459)]

See screenshots below. The CBC app shows up as an instant app in the settings, but the other shows as actually installed.

I get what you're saying, but look at the size of the app 279kb. PWAs are that size. The rest of your apps are all MB.

 

[gebco]

Good catch. Thanks for pointing that out.

I get what you're saying, but look at the size of the app 279kb. PWAs are that size. The rest of your apps are all MB.

 

[anon(10092459)]

Good catch. Thanks for pointing that out.

Yeah man... I use the Twitter PWA.. So tiny compared to native..

 

[mustang7757]

make sure in settings>special app access click>install unknown apps click and make sure those apps show not allowed

 

[mustang7757]

Screen shot