AustriaThe article reports that GrapheneOS, an alternative Android distribution focused on security, has warned against purchasing Google's new Pixel 11 smartphone. According to GrapheneOS, Google removed support for the ARM Hardware Memory Tagging Extension (MTE) from the Pixel 11's Tensor-G6 chip, which provides an additional layer of protection against security vulnerabilities. This feature was first introduced with the Pixel 8 in October 2023. The developers behind GrapheneOS suggest that Google may have sacrificed this important security feature to save costs, though they do not provide concrete evidence. While MTE was previously available on Pixel devices, it was rarely used due to performance trade-offs, except in advanced protection modes. The removal of MTE could potentially place the Pixel 11 below Apple’s iPhones in terms of hardware-level security features, although Apple’s Memory Integrity Enforcement (MIE) is also not universally enabled by users.
Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the issue around concerns over corporate data practices and highlights criticism of Google's decision to remove a security feature, suggesting potential cost-cutting motives. It emphasizes the importance of security features like MTE and contrasts Google's approach with Apple's, a
