Tell HN: PayPal blocks GrapheneOS

Article summary

The PayPal app is crashing on GrapheneOS with a security policy violation exception. This issue is not due to the device being rooted, as GrapheneOS is not rooted by default. The cause of the crash is still unclear, but disabling 'Secure app spawning' seems to be a temporary workaround. The issue may be related to the app's security checks or GrapheneOS's custom ROM.

Main themes

• GrapheneOS compatibility
• PayPal app security
• Custom ROMs and root detection
• Payment app alternatives
• Security and privacy concerns
• App development and testing

What commenters say

• The PayPal app crash on GrapheneOS is likely due to the app's root detection security measures.
• GrapheneOS is not inherently insecure, and the issue may be with the app's security checks.
• Disabling 'Secure app spawning' is a viable workaround for the issue, but it may not be a long-term solution.
• The problem may be a sign of a larger issue with apps blocking custom ROMs and devices that do not pass hardware integrity checks.
• Some users have had success in getting apps to work on GrapheneOS by contacting the app developers and arguing that they are denying service to security-conscious users.
• Wero is not a suitable alternative to PayPal, as it has its own set of limitations and issues.
• The use of phone numbers for payment transactions is a security and privacy concern.
• Reporting issues to app developers can be an effective way to get problems resolved, but it may require persistence and technical explanation.