Another Googly problem

[Rgarner]

I just found one more thing wrong with them. How the heck do we disable THIS? I've about had it with their (and Facebook's) disdain for people's privacy. Then there's that Ring Nest etc. thing...

 

[Hadron]

You turn off Assistant, then go through your Google settings and turn off any data access that Assistant enabled that you no longer want (because enabling Assistant turns on basically every data access permission). Then you disable the Google app, which is where Assistant lives.

If you do that then you don't have to worry about this bug or anything else to do with Assistant. If you have a Google search widget that will no longer work, but I've never understood why anyone wants that anyway: you can use a browser for search and choose which search engine you use (which is of course why Google want you to use the widget...).

You also lose any voice commands, but if you care about your privacy you don't want to use Assistant. That is Google's business model in a nutshell, to get people to trade their privacy for convenience.

 

[mikedt]

I just found one more thing wrong with them. How the heck do we disable THIS? I've about had it with their (and Facebook's) disdain for people's privacy. Then there's that Ring Nest etc. thing...

I've never had to disable Google Assistant, because it's not on any devices I've had.

BTW what's that "Ring Nest" thing you speak of?

 

[Rgarner]

I should probably have used a comma. What I mean is ring, nest, and other doorbell cameras. I guess they would be OK if the video could be kept private, but it ends up being a huge privacy invasion. I recently saw that strangers in other countries could be checking on kids playing and other things that way. It doesn't sound very good.

 

[Rgarner]

How do I shut off assistant? I couldn't find it under applications, and the one time I want to "use" it I can't bring it up on the screen as I have done many times accidentally. I'm sure it's all part of the plan.

 

[Hadron]

Assistant is part of the Google app, so I'd look in there.

I can't check on my device because what I typed in my answer is what I did on my phone 2 years ago, so it is completely off for me (e.g. the gestures which would previously trigger it to offer to turn Assistant on, such as a long press on the home key or the Pixel's "active edge" no longer do anything). Hence I can't find the setting without reactivating the app. But inside the Google app is where I'd look.

 

[Rgarner]

I went to applications manager and then the googoo app. I tapped on force stop. Then I did this again, and again. It appears to have done no good. I did also look under the separate account setting, which mentioned deleting particular services, but of course that's not one if them.

 

[Bearsyzf]

That's because Google doesn't want you to disable it.

 

[Hadron]

No, it's that "force stop" won't stop it restarting. "Disable" will.

I have it disabled, and I'm using a Pixel. So I can say for certain that Google doesn't stop you disabling it. If you have a phone that won't let you disable it, it's the manufacturer (or carrier) that has done that, not Google.

 

[MoodyBlues]

What I mean is ring, nest, and other doorbell cameras. I guess they would be OK if the video could be kept private, but it ends up being a huge privacy invasion. I recently saw that strangers in other countries could be checking on kids playing and other things that way. It doesn't sound very good.

You're mixing things up! It's not Ring, or other security cameras, at fault, it's the Wi-Fi network they're connected to. If that isn't properly secured, strangers can get in and then access the cameras. I have Ring, and have no concerns about people spying on me with it.

 

[MoodyBlues]

How do I shut off assistant?

Very easily!

- open the Google app
- press "More..." (bottom right corner)
- select "Settings"
- select "Google Assistant"
- press the "Assistant" tab
- scroll down to the bottom; select your device
- turn off "Google Assistant"

You're done!

 

[Hadron]

Almost done: turning Assistant on automatically turns on almost every form of data collection by Google. Turning it off does not undo any of that. So if there are things you no longer want Google to collect after turning off Assistant you will need to go through your Google settings and switch them off again.

 

[Bearsyzf]

I need to check into this myself.

 

[puppykickr]

On my devices, a long press on the center (circle) navigation key automatically launches this worthless Goolag bastard, even if I had turned it off.
Disabling Google itself is not an option, and even though Assistant is disabled, the devices will go into full **** mode and give me the never ending spinning circle in the middle of the screen.

To avoid the long press reactivating this turd factory, goto:

Settings
in the search box, type 'assist & voice input, or goto:
Apps
(select menu)
Assist & Voice Input
Assist App
(make your choice)

Goodbye Goolag

 

[MoodyBlues]

On my devices, a long press on the center (circle) navigation key automatically launches this worthless Goolag bastard, even if I had turned it off.
Disabling Google itself is not an option, and even though Assistant is disabled, the devices will go into full **** mode and give me the never ending spinning circle in the middle of the screen.

Full shit mode?

To avoid the long press reactivating this turd factory, goto:

Settings
in the search box, type 'assist & voice input, or goto:
Apps
(select menu)
Assist & Voice Input
Assist App
(make your choice)

Goodbye Goolag

Excellent! This is being added to my running file of useful Android info.

 

[puppykickr]

Full shit mode?

Excellent! This is being added to my running file of useful Android info.

Full something mode, hahaha.
Not poop, but maybe a word that I did not realize would be censored.

Poop works fine, though.

Anyway, glad to have been of some help.
There are many, many different devices, each with different features and functions.

So the more knowledge we share about how to work around all these different devices, the better.

It actually took the installation of an app for me to even find this, and I spent the better part of 6 months trying to avoid long pressing the circle navigation button.

Thanks to Greenify, it was located and delt with.