This is called software attestation and while it’s a useful security paradigm, it basically means that there’s a OS level API telling your bank what apps you use. It’s also happens to be extremely useful for DRM and mass surveillance.
this post was submitted on 08 Jan 2026
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Banks will do all this bullshit because "security" then turn around and force you to use SMS for 2FA and a six digit number only password
Exactly. They'll secure their app so deeply they might as well install rootkits onto your phone...
But for your data they'll secure it with a crappy password policy, and over-a-decade out-of-date 2FA system.
The priority is so wrong its stupid. Securing the app instead of the actual fucking data.
Its all about shifting liability to the customer. If something goes wrong they can find a reason why it was the customer's fault.
HSBC digital access is a fucking unnecessarily nightmarish PITA that I'm convinced doesn't improve security one bit
Anyone in the UK have a non-fascistic alternative? Seems like every bank refuses to work with GrapheneOS. Had to rescue an e-waste phone just to get around it
Should be able to install HSBC (and other bullshit corpo apps) in Android's "work profile". There's an f-droid app called "Shelter" that lets you configure the work profile right on your phone.
The work profile (and all its apps) can be shut off when not needed, making it the perfect place to keep scummy apps you can't get rid of entirely.
It wouldn't work for me because of KDE connect as well. I've had to put it in the Samsung secure folder to seperate it from my regular system. It also forces me to use Gboard or Samsung keyboard because it thinks Heliboard is unsafe.
Just starting the process for transferring my account away from HSBC. Their mobile site sucks too. No point in staying with them if they make it difficult to manage my money and there are so many good mobile friendly banks around now.
If youre in the UK and HSBC is your main account, theres the “current account switch” guarantee. The bank will do a full account transfer to a new bank. I did this to leave HSBC a few years ago. Its a government thing, not specific to HSBC or other banks.
Yup, I've used the account switch process before and it's pretty painless. Just need to spend some time finding which bank has the best offers currently, and need to tell the whole family so no one accidentally sends money to an old shut down account.
Starling is good, works with grapheneOS as well
i modified an open source keyboard to remove some features i didn't want in it and rebuilt it. Now I can't use my hsbc app anymore