The hidden app was inactive by default.
According to iVerify’s report, the software was developed by a company called Smith Micro Software and appears to have been created for Verizon for in-store demos.
Saved you a click. If you don't use Verizon, you don't have to worry.
Incorrect. The app was baked into the Pixel firmware from Google, not a manufacturer specific OEM.
I didn't read that in the article, but I could have missed it. Did it say it was all pixels, or just the ones slated for Verizon?
If it was simply not included in the stock rom rather than being made inactive except for in the OEM rom, you'd still have a device with a bunch of active bloatware
I saw GrapheneOS is saying that it is not quite the threat as they this article suggests.
https://grapheneos.social/@GrapheneOS/112967309987371034