Per one tech forum this week: “Google has quietly installed an app on all Android devices called ‘Android System SafetyCore’. It claims to be a ‘security’ application, but whilst running in the background, it collects call logs, contacts, location, your microphone, and much more making this application ‘spyware’ and a HUGE privacy concern. It is strongly advised to uninstall this program if you can. To do this, navigate to 'Settings’ > 'Apps’, then delete the application.”
or just disable play store and use an alternative store like aurora.
Then it’ll never get installed in the first place.
This is incorrect. It’s installed silently via a background OTA. It’s never installed purposefully through the google play store.
It’s not installed with OTA, but through Play Services. I use microG and never will have any issue with apps auto-installing.