Is Rustdesk app still avalaible in the Google Play Store ?

[Philippe34]

I had installed the application on my Android phone, but I had to uninstall it.
I would like to reinstall it now, but it is no longer available. Do you also notice this disappearance?

[dinger1986]

yes, please reinstall directly from github, apk is available here https://github.com/rustdesk/rustdesk/releases/tag/1.2.2

[msymeonides]

Which package is the right one for a Samsung Galaxy S21?

[jpmahowald]

To second what was said in another thread, I recommend the F-Droid store: https://f-droid.org/packages/com.carriez.flutter_hbb/

F-Droid app is easy to install the right build for you phone, and keep it updated and secure. Their volunteer creators will make sure the one result when searching "rustdesk" is from official sources.

Technically, this is a different group doing those builds. Which is a healthy thing, and should result in the same rustdesk. Only gets tricky in corner cases, like if you want the very latest features that aren't in a tagged release yet.

[Philippe34]

@dinger1986
Thank you for your answer.
Il will try to do like this, but it is not so friendly than Play Store.

[dinger1986]

no it isnt but it will come back

[ximex]

is there an ETA?

[kolAflash]

I'd be interested in the background!

Why did RustDesk disappear from PlayStore?
Did Google remove RustDesk from PlayStore or did the RustDesk maintainers remove it themselves?
If Google: Can you share what Google requires RustDesk to change to return to PlayStore?

PlayStore (not available 2023-09-15):
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.carriez.flutter_hbb

F-Droid Store (still available):
https://f-droid.org/packages/com.carriez.flutter_hbb/
Hint: Install F-Droid first -> https://f-droid.org/F-Droid.apk (alternative Android AppStore)

[idofilus]

Seems like scammers using it to steal from users

https://support.google.com/googleplay/thread/224563444/rustdesk-app?hl=en
https://support.google.com/googleplay/thread/232808859
https://support.google.com/googleplay/thread/204405225/is-it-possible-for-an-app-on-play-store-to-have-malware?hl=en

Fkthem

[rustdesk]

https://twitter.com/rustdesk/status/1698372220379349421?t=EwtnYWnA98Yfw5kGiQXrGQ&s=19

[kolAflash]

I already assumed it's because of scammers :-/
And I absolutely understand that you temporarily unpublished RustDesk from Google Play. Let's hope a good solution can be found.

Does anyone know how other Android apps like TeamViewer QuickSupport or AnyDesk Remote-Desktop handle scammers?
Maybe a better warning mechanism is needed when giving remote access to someone else?
Something like the warning text on the https://www.rustdesk.com/ website?

... oh I see there's already work being done :-)
#5664 Add mobile scam warning window

See also: #1675 Warning pop to make scams a little harder

 

 

By the way:
I think a decentralized open source remote desktop app should at least mirror Twitter posts on a decentralized open source social platform.
The RustDesk users already arrived at Mastodon ;-)
https://mastodon.social/tags/RustDesk
https://mastodon.social/@rust_discussions/109835635585914557
https://mastodon.social/@unfa/109007904903299238
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mastodon_(social_network)

In case you don't like to click Twitter links as I do, here's the tweets content:
https://twitter.com/rustdesk/status/1698372220379349421
2023-09-03
(at)rustdesk(at)twitter.com
We have temporarily unpublished RustDesk from Google Play to prevent further scams targeting users.
https://twitter.com/rustdesk/status/1697615432465723661
2023-09-01
(at)rustdesk(at)twitter.com
#scammers is going to destroy us. We may have to pull down public servers.

[JokerGermany]

They use the closed centralized Discord instead of the Open decentralised Matrix (not even a bridge between them) therefore it's no wonder.

[My1]

is it allowed to upload your own rustdesk version nailed to your own server to the playstore?

[Philippe34]

I don't understand how the scammers' modus operandi couldn't also apply to other remote control applications. A scammer calling you to ask you to give him access to your machine can be done with any of the other applications.

[JokerGermany]

yeah i don't think it's a good idea to remove the App from the App Store...
Scammers will use another way...
Now i have to go back to Teamviewer.... Nice ...

[endlessterror]

Responding to users' comments on Google Play definitely takes time. Ways to handle this:

1. Throw a huge notice on each app start, advising on scammers. "This application can provide others with access to your phone if YOU allow it. Make sure that you do not do so, unless you actually know who you are talking to. Press here if you fully understand the risks in doing so! "
2. Make the incoming-access-to-phone a paid-for feature (and also display a similar notice "if someone asked you to install this blah blah").
3. Organise very carefully the application information in google play to indicate the danger of having such a thing.
4. In the same line of thought, make sure to respond timely to users' feedback on the store.

Really it's a pity this app is not on the store... Next time it is, I'll definitely 5-star it (didn't have the chance).

[My1]

would be interesting how anydesk exactly handles this. is access to phone paid?

so far what I know are that they changed the default profile to view only, and additionally gives a warning with a 10 second timeout on connect

[CrazyBoyFeng]

It looks like it's because rustdesk gets a lot of complaints about being used for scams.
My guess is that teamviwer and anydesk they are not often complained about for scams because they have to use public servers where scammers can be easily traced. And they have limits on the number and frequency of connections. In addition they don't offer password inbound by default on their mobile, only through an authorization window.
Borrowing from their strategy, I think rustdesk can consider the following improvement programs:

1. modify the client to only accept connection requests from official relay servers if no third-party relay servers are set up by default. This will stop fraudsters from using private relay servers to circumvent traceability.
2. Limit how often each id and ip connects to other ids on the official server. Too many clients connected in a short period of time means it is either a scammer or a professional user. For professional users, there is a good reason to require it to use a professional version. There may be some professional users who find it cumbersome to write private servers to each client. In addition to letting users compile the client with their own code changes, the development team at rustdesk might want to consider launching a free or paid customized client service.
3. mobile does not provide one-time password inbound by default, if you want to use one-time password inbound, you have to go into the settings to enable it manually.
4. prompt users in the authorization window about the risk of authorizing screen sharing and remind them not to authorize to strangers. Customer service generally does not use remote control to serve consumers, and if the other party claims to be customer service, then it is most likely a scam.

In addition, in order to salvage rustdesk's reputation, rustdesk may need to go to great lengths to explain to complaining users that rustdesk is not malware, but merely a remote control software used for friends and family assistance or for office work, and to advice the victim to seek help from his or her bank or even the police.

[NintendoManiac64]

Regarding the idea of warning users about scams or the like, I'm reminded of how the Wii soft-mod "hackmii installer" for installing the homebrew channel and/or bootmii throws up a huge full-screen warning regarding scams.

Basically the below warning screen actually sits there for something like 30 seconds to a minute before the "press 1 to continue" even appears to then allow you to continue to the next screen (though there is actually background processing so there is at least a practical excuse for forcing the user to wait).

[NintendoManiac64]

It would seem that such a thing is already sort of implemented in v1.2.3.

...but I say "sort of" because I noticed that the warning does not appear if you instead directly enable "screen capture" which then subsequently enables the "start service" without giving the SCAM warning.

[JaCh0o]

Nevertheless will it be restored to Google Play Store since this is main and default app market for android devices such as app store for apple devices?

Moreover I got issue with it because Norton 360 android app is marking this app as destructive (while anydesk or TeamViewer not)

[phormix]

Yeah, if the goal (for personal use) is to have an easy, self-hosted means of supporting friends and family who may be less-savvy, then "download this APK, click through a bunch of stuff to enable it, etc etc" is going to be a lot more headache than "download thing from app store, connect to X"

It also means that getting updates is no longer an automatic function.

Having the big timed warning about scams at first connection to an external server seems like it would be a legitimate way to reduce the issue while still allowing it to be installed and maintained from a trusted source and

[JokerGermany]

I am installing every user neostore now, rustdesk is available at f-droid

[MichaelUray]

When will the RustDesk App be available again in the Google Play store?

[My1]

Considering google play protect flags rustdesk down, it'll likely need some changes first

[xlionjuan]

#7109 (reply in thread)

#7109 (reply in thread)