Database Develop

Steps to protect private info upon selling G1

Caveat: I am a noob and tried to search first but got too many conflicting threads which did not entirely apply to my phone as far as I could understand. Please no flaming if I am beating a dead horse. I swear the horse died before I started beating it.
You may have read my recent thread where I had asked about how to fix my g1 which was sold to me and the rom crashed leaving it "soft bricked".
Since it was taking so long and I got a good deal on it, I went ahead and bought the Samsung Galaxy S. While waiting for this phone to ship, I have fixed the G1 through the unlocker website's guide for one click rooting.
I started to begin the sign in process after re-rooting the phone with unlocker's generic mod but then thought better since my phone would sync.
My question is since I have gone through the unlocker website's process to re-root the phone, is there any personal info left on the phone that I should remove and how would I do that?
Would it be better, if by re-rooting the phone it wipes all info, to sell it as is?
Should I jail break it and sell it and therefore get more for it?
Should I keep the the sd card?
The phone is in good condition with only minor damage to the sides from dropping it, a screen protector and worked perfectly when I signed in on the original platform.img and I have two batteries for it; the double size and original and two backs and one protective case which I could not put on the larger backing of the larger battery which I should have looked harder for one to fit it eliminating the aesthetic scuffs on the side.
All advice is appreciated; thanks guys.
P.S. I will resist messing with the Samsung or at least backup more often b/c I lost a lot of buisness info when the G1 crashed. Although, I have already applied the GPS fix...it was on cnet for goodness sakes, how could I resist?

Just wipe and reflash any rom... No user data will be left...
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

junkdruggler said:
Just wipe and reflash any rom... No user data will be left...
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
NOT TRUE!!!!!
Wiping ***DOES NOT*** clear data!
In fact, wiping ONLY clears the FIRST 128 KB of the partition selected for wipe!
If you want to do a proper wipe, you should wipe (also called FORMAT) both the userdata and cache partitions from RECOVERY, mount them in their usual spots, and run "dd if=/dev/zero of=/data/zerofile; dd if=/dev/zero of=/cache/zerofile; sync; rm /data/zerofile /cache/zerofile -f". This line in quotes will write a ZERO to EVERY LOCATION within both the cache and userdata partitions, ensuring that the data is there but not visible, is obliterated.

Re poll question:
Jailbreak that mofo
-- can't break out of a jail that never existed. ANDROID DOES NOT USE CHROOT JAILS.
Keep it rooted, buyers like no assembly required
-- and idiots screw themselves up when they don't know what they're doing....
Vanillarize it/keep it stock; would you buy a toyota home modified into a racecar
-- the meaning of this option is partially indecypherable. I assume you mean "make it stock". Would you really, as a decent human being, lock the buyer out of accessing the device that they legitimately own and have the right to use as they wish?
Jailbreak it and keep it rooted because people like a little coke in their weed
-- again, you can't break out of a jail that does not exist and never has!
You forgot the option to install a stock ROM along with an ENGINEERING BOOTLOADER. If they don't know what they're doing, they won't as likely screw it up. If they DO know what they're doing, they'll be able to use it.

lbcoder said:
Re poll question:
Jailbreak that mofo
-- can't break out of a jail that never existed. ANDROID DOES NOT USE CHROOT JAILS.
Keep it rooted, buyers like no assembly required
-- and idiots screw themselves up when they don't know what they're doing....
Vanillarize it/keep it stock; would you buy a toyota home modified into a racecar
-- the meaning of this option is partially indecypherable. I assume you mean "make it stock". Would you really, as a decent human being, lock the buyer out of accessing the device that they legitimately own and have the right to use as they wish?
Jailbreak it and keep it rooted because people like a little coke in their weed
-- again, you can't break out of a jail that does not exist and never has!
You forgot the option to install a stock ROM along with an ENGINEERING BOOTLOADER. If they don't know what they're doing, they won't as likely screw it up. If they DO know what they're doing, they'll be able to use it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No I don't mean lock them out. I mean installing the STOCK/OEM/INCLUDED IN EVERY BOX platform. I don't understand where you are getting this "lock them out" idea; your first post helpful; your second post a little asidic. Drop the Ph a little. Vanilla has a boring connotation like the stock software which is nothing fancy but nice and safe. Perhaps analogies, metaphors and a touch of misunderstood humor goes over your head. I would add some ad hominem speculation as to why you are speaking so but whatever you are irritated about allow me to quote the Beatles, "Let it be". I would want a little more use out of someone with 2000+ posts as a forum is only as good as its leaders.

dejavecu said:
I would want a little more use out of someone with 2000+ posts as a forum is only as good as its leaders.
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Your poll is meaningless in the Android world. You talk about both "root" and "jailbreak" as if they are two different things. One doesn't mean anything. lbcoder was trying to help you understand the thing you're trying to sell.

Shrivel said:
Your poll is meaningless in the Android world. You talk about both "root" and "jailbreak" as if they are two different things. One doesn't mean anything. lbcoder was trying to help you understand the thing you're trying to sell.
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Click to collapse
Uggh, notice how I did not reply to his advice except for reverting it to stock and "locking" out the consumer; I found that "indecypherable" but that was much more an issue with tone than the advice itself. Maybe American technology slang is different or I am using it improperly. I don't know which so, to all, if jailbreak is meaningless to you then forget it and please just keep the thread to advice on what you would do. Thanks.

dejavecu said:
Uggh, notice how I did not reply to his advice except for reverting it to stock and "locking" out the consumer; I found that "indecypherable" but that was much more an issue with tone than the advice itself. Maybe American technology slang is different or I am using it improperly. I don't know which so, to all, if jailbreak is meaningless to you then forget it and please just keep the thread to advice on what you would do. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Look, very simple:
IF you install the stock garbage that comes with the phone, then you ARE LOCKING THE PURCHASER OUT because it will then need to be HACKED to gain proper access.
Also: If YOU do not understand the meaning of certain terms, DO NOT USE THEM!
JAIL has NOTHING to do with ROOT.
JAIL is NOT USED on Android AT ALL.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chroot

What should we do now?

I rooted my phone using Kingo. It has been perfect. It appears to be totally fine. I get up this morning and find the below comment and closed thread. Do we need to undo root and flash back to stock? Someone please help with this situation. I'm sure a bunch of people did this and would like to know what we should do now. Thanks Devs.
Kingo and vroot have been determined to be malware and unsafe for use, as such all threads will be closed and links removed.
Thank you

LuckyColdJohnson said:
I rooted my phone using Kingo. It has been perfect. It appears to be totally fine. I get up this morning and find the below comment and closed thread. Do we need to undo root and flash back to stock? Someone please help with this situation. I'm sure a bunch of people did this and would like to know what we should do now. Thanks Devs.
Kingo and vroot have been determined to be malware and unsafe for use, as such all threads will be closed and links removed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This thread would be more helpful if it had an informative subject line, such as "What to do about Kingo malware?". The subject you provided ("What should we do now?") gives readers no clue what the thread is about.
Anyway, does anyone know how the malware determination was made, and by whom? Does the purported malware afflict the PC that runs the software, the phone that gets rooted, or both?
Also, I notice that the locked Kingo thread in the dev forum only mentions the malware determination in the last post of the thread. Anyone who just reads the initial post, or who doesn't read all the way to the end, will still think the software has been confirmed ok. (I know the download link in the initial post has been removed, but that has little effect since the software is trivially Googled.)

Gary02468 said:
This thread would be more helpful if it had an informative subject line, such as "What to do about Kingo malware?". The subject you provided ("What should we do now?") gives readers no clue what the thread is about.
Anyway, does anyone know how the malware determination was made, and by whom? Does the purported malware afflict the PC that runs the software, the phone that gets rooted, or both?
Also, I notice that the locked Kingo thread in the dev forum only mentions the malware determination in the last post of the thread. Anyone who just reads the initial post, or who doesn't read all the way to the end, will still think the software has been confirmed ok. (I know the download link in the initial post has been removed, but that has little effect since the software is trivially Googled.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Looking at it now, I agree with the subject line needing to be a little better.
I was just told by a MOD the following. >
So now that I already have Kingo, what do you think I should do ? Keep it, our undo it? Please let me know, because I dont see anything wrong with it. Phone is working great.
MOD Get rid of it, it steals your information and sends it to remote servers and leaves back doors on your device and pc
MOD Correction, it's thought to do these things
Okay, I will undo it......When I plug my phone back up to PC and run Kingo, it has an Unroot option. Should I do it that way? Or should I look for STOCK files that came with the phone and us Odin to flash it? Thanks for your time.
MOD Stock, don't use the app anymore

If it's really malware (I don't know how that determination was made), any passwords, credit-card or bank-account numbers, etc. on your PC or your phone may have been exposed and should be changed now. Your PC and your phone may need to be disinfected, preferably by clean-installing a known-good system.
Just for future reference, when a company with no known track record offers free, unvetted, closed-source software, it's risky to install it on any system whose integrity you care about. That's especially the case when they claim to be a commercial venture but they say that their product will always be free, and there's no apparent way for them to profit from it.
I still don't know what evidence, if any, shows that this software is malicious. But it seemed blatantly suspicious from the beginning, so I've refrained from installing it.
---------- Post added at 11:29 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:15 AM ----------
LuckyColdJohnson said:
MOD Get rid of it, it steals your information and sends it to remote servers and leaves back doors on your device and pc
MOD Correction, it's thought to do these things
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thought by whom, and on the basis of what evidence, if any?

Gary02468 said:
If it's really malware (I don't know how that determination was made), any passwords, credit-card or bank-account numbers, etc. on your PC or your phone may have been exposed and should be changed now. Your PC and your phone may need to be disinfected, preferably by clean-installing a known-good system.
Just for future reference, when a company with no known track record offers free, unvetted, closed-source software, it's risky to install it on any system whose integrity you care about. That's especially the case when they claim to be a commercial venture but they say that their product will always be free, and there's no apparent way for them to profit from it.
I still don't know what evidence, if any, shows that this software is malicious. But it seemed blatantly suspicious from the beginning, so I've refrained from installing it.
---------- Post added at 11:29 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:15 AM ----------
Thought by whom, and on the basis of what evidence, if any?
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Click to collapse
Well lets see here. The Devs and Moderators do a lot here at XDA. We trust them, and we do things to our phones.
Why wouldn't we trust what they say about certain methods? Threads and links being closed. I'm just saying...
Now I really want to make my phone go back to how it was when I bought it.
If there is anybody that's done it, I would love to know how.
It would be great if I could just use Odin with a file and not trip anything and go back. Please help me/others if this is possible.
Im sick to my stomach now. I knew I should of waited. **** !!!

LuckyColdJohnson said:
Well lets see here. The Devs and Moderators do a lot here at XDA. We trust them, and we do things to our phones.
Why wouldn't we trust what they say about certain methods?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So far, no dev or mod has claimed here to have specific evidence that the software in question is malicious.
Sure, there's reason to be suspicious. But that was already obvious just from looking at the Kingo website.

Gary02468 said:
So far, no dev or mod has claimed here to have specific evidence that the software in question is malicious.
Sure, there's reason to be suspicious. But that was already obvious just from looking at the Kingo website.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know what to do. I have been rooting and modding phones and other electronics for years and now I feel like it's just not worth it. I trusted XDA and the Devs a lot. Heck a dev said that this way was easier and closed an old thread. So I ran with it and now 2 days later it's closed as well. I'm disappointed

LuckyColdJohnson said:
I don't know what to do. I have been rooting and modding phones and other electronics for years and now I feel like it's just not worth it. I trusted XDA and the Devs a lot. Heck a dev said that this way was easier and closed an old thread. So I ran with it and now 2 days later it's closed as well. I'm disappointed
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you need to look more closely at what it means to trust someone.
I do trust the devs here regarding the integrity of their own software, because their track record gives me evidence that they're trustworthy in that regard. I've flashed ROMs from here many times.
But I don't trust the devs--or anyone in the world--in the sense of automatically believing what they say about everything. I'm sure they wouldn't expect me to.
So if a dev makes an offhand remark that someone else's software (that they have no way of examining) is safe, then of course I'm not going to just take their word for it. And if they make an equally offhand remark that the software is malicious--but fail to mention why they think so--then I'm not going to automatically believe that, either.

LuckyColdJohnson said:
I don't know what to do. I have been rooting and modding phones and other electronics for years and now I feel like it's just not worth it. I trusted XDA and the Devs a lot. Heck a dev said that this way was easier and closed an old thread. So I ran with it and now 2 days later it's closed as well. I'm disappointed
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why don't you reroot using De La Vega by DG? Although his method will wipe your phone back to stock but at least you know it works and it's safe.

Gary02468 said:
I think you need to look more closely at what it means to trust someone.
I do trust the devs here regarding the integrity of their own software, because their track record gives me evidence that they're trustworthy in that regard. I've flashed ROMs from here many times.
But I don't trust the devs--or anyone in the world--in the sense of automatically believing what they say about everything. I'm sure they wouldn't expect me to.
So if a dev makes an offhand remark that someone else's software (that they have no way of examining) is safe, then of course I'm not going to just take their word for it. And if they make an equally offhand remark that the software is malicious--but fail to mention why they think so--then I'm not going to automatically believe that, either.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree man. Thanks for your input, I'm just a little mad. I did pay 399.00 for this and now, I just want it back to Stock. Thanks again, looking for a way.

ukic said:
Why don't you reroot using De La Vega by DG? Although his method will wipe your phone back to stock but at least you know it works and it's safe.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup. If the phone is infected, wiping it clean is what you want to do anyway.
---------- Post added at 12:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:33 PM ----------
LuckyColdJohnson said:
I agree man. Thanks for your input, I'm just a little mad. I did pay 399.00 for this and now, I just want it back to Stock. Thanks again, looking for a way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think your course of action depends on how much you have at risk. Do you have sensitive/valuable passwords, account numbers, etc. on your phone or your PC?
If you don't, then you might want to just ignore the risk until and unless someone establishes that Kingo is really malware.
But if you do have sensitive information at risk, your decision is trickier. The only really secure course of action would be to wipe both your phone and your PC, and to reset all your potentially-exposed passwords and financial accounts. But that's a lot of work to go to for a threat that might not even exist. So it really depends on what you have at stake.
In any case, I wish you the best of luck!

If all it does is send info to their servers I ponder if I could just start it under a virtual machine with no internet connection and root.
is the internet connection required?
I would much rather flash two second than a 2 gig file it just sounds alot riskier
Sent from my XT907 using xda app-developers app

mrkhigh said:
If all it does is send info to their servers I ponder if I could just start it under a virtual machine with no internet connection and root.
is the internet connection required?
I would much rather flash two second than a 2 gig file it just sounds alot riskier
Sent from my XT907 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
These are just rumors and a Moderator let us know it wasn't safe so,,,,,,I just want to go back. Cant right now. Cant find the At&T Firmware,,I dont think its available yet.
For all we know, Vroot and Kingo could be okay. IDK

Grrrr so we shouldnt use Kingo unroot method...Im a feard...anyone know what to do now
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using xda app-developers app

mrkhigh said:
If all it does is send info to their servers I ponder if I could just start it under a virtual machine with no internet connection and root.
is the internet connection required?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was thinking this as well but if the application leaves a back door open on the device itself then unless you plan on having your phone in Airplane mode 24/7 it would eventually send its payload over the wire.
I think the PC portion is controllable, its the mobile portion that has a lot of people on edge.
I found this website:
www[dot]majorgeeks.com/files/details/kingo_android_root[dot]html
Which seems to have links back into XDA about who made the claim and what not.
I see it like this, until someone can prove without a doubt that it is opening holes in devices and leaking information, its just another "he-said-she-said" argument.

exaltedgod said:
I was thinking this as well but if the application leaves a back door open on the device itself then unless you plan on having your phone in Airplane mode 24/7 it would eventually send its payload over the wire.
I think the PC portion is controllable, its the mobile portion that has a lot of people on edge.
I found this website:
www[dot]majorgeeks.com/files/details/kingo_android_root[dot]html
Which seems to have links back into XDA about who made the claim and what not.
I see it like this, until someone can prove without a doubt that it is opening holes in devices and leaking information, its just another "he-said-she-said" argument.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or someone is mad because they didn't come up with a root solution like this first, LOL just saying.
I tried the Vroot first, and it had a superuser app (from playstore) but its all in Chinese letters.
So I uninstalled that super user app and used Kingo to unroot (Which works perfectly)
Then I rebooted and rooted using Kingo. (Worked perfectly)
It put the superSU on there (In English) and has been awesome
Now Im going back to stock and never rooting again in my life because it pisses me off I can't trust ...Never mind
I will be using Vega method soon as I get home and Im done. This sucks. Battery life will also suck. Aw well. At least my info will be protected
I guess. Kingo,,,I wish they wouldn't of said that about you. Now I want you gone.

I've contacted Kingo on their website and asked them to comment, hopefully they will respond to the possibility of their app being permanently declared malware on the largest Android forum on the net. We'll see what they have to say about it, if anything.

Response from Kingo.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2515879
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using xda app-developers app

Im back on stock and honestly, the phone fly's better.
I also have the watch so I'm going to wait for a new root method on new updated firmware.
This phone feels better and I got a better AnTUTU score without root.

LuckyColdJohnson said:
I agree man. Thanks for your input, I'm just a little mad. I did pay 399.00 for this and now, I just want it back to Stock. Thanks again, looking for a way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Root De La Vega works fine. Yes it does take a little more work and you have to wipe data but I've rooted/unrooted/rooted again and I've had no issues using DesignGear's method. DesignGear's is a great Dev...I don't think him telling people to use Kingo should change that opinion. Kingo seemed really, really weird to me from the beginning...but it does root the phone!

Should I root

Does rooting provide any protection against malware or does it make it worse?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

Best protection against malware = user.

If you just root, and don't use a custom recovery and custom ROMs, immediately install SuperSU, antivirus, and make sure you protect yourself. SuperSU will at least notify you when an application is trying to use root permissions (aka - modify or access system files) which is not something you want every program doing.
The nice thing about having root is you can change things on your phone a launcher can't touch - boot animation, screen DPI, backup apps like Titanium Backup, and of course clearing out carrier bloatware.
If you do go with a custom recovery, TWRP for example, and flash ROMs, CyanogenMod for example, you are often provided with SuperSU tools and other options as part of the package. Just be very sure you are using images from reputable sources. Lord knows what kind of stuff someone who published a custom ROM could get off your device if they had ill intents.
If you are new to rooting, flashing, etc then I would suggest starting with root access only. Explore what you can do with it, learn it, and be conscious of security as you go. After you are comfortable with it, try CyanogenMod to see how a custom ROM really differs from stock.

Rooting will not give any protection against malware you have to install antivirus or use any app that will help you against this with root

Oh, and to answer the question 'should you root'... We tinker with all the things because we like to. We like knowing how all the things work. We like having more control of all the things. If you don't like this, then don't.

clago87 said:
Does rooting provide any protection against malware or does it make it worse?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Android is blamed for earning malware for your device but hey! the user of the device is 100% responsible for it. Stop clicking on spammy links and visiting those websites which allow you to earn malware Problem will be solved.
Now rooting. Rooting is the best way to taste your android device at fullest. Use custom ROM, tweak the kernel and much more

clago87 said:
Does rooting provide any protection against malware or does it make it worse?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not an expert and have found the site to be filled with a lot of great, detailed information including howto instructions if you decide to root. I've rooted a few phones but not the N6 yet. I'm waiting for 5.1 to be available only because I'd rather the OTA download and didn't want it to break root and have to spend a day playing with the phone to get it set up again. Yes, lazy too. My two cents:
There were a few articles back when 5.0 was being released saying how root for this OS would need to bypass much of the built-in security features with this OS version. I don't have a clue if it is true. If I decide to root, I'll go back and see if this is a real problem.
Why root? The exposed framework gives you nice features. Apps can have access to the phone os/hardware that is blocked, for example, you can get the notification LED to work, the battery statistics allow more access so you can see what app is killing your battery. There was one or two other apps I used that required root, can't recall now.
Its easy to say malware is a user problem, some of it is like careless sideloading. But I have no idea if a web page is loading something on my phone. Worse, if you look at the permissions you grant apps, you would load very few on your phone. I find the service providers , like T-Mobile (mine) and Verizion (Fios) to be the worst in asking for access to the phone data for no apparent reason. Does my app to see visual voicemail really need access to my microphone and camera or apps I have loaded on the phone? In my opinion this is spyware as you have no idea what is being uploaded to the app developer. Many of the apps in google play have questionable permission requirements.
That's actually another reason to root, the xposed xprivacy module (haven't used it). Or, using a DNS that will filter malware web site (I think you need root to change the DNS in Android). I'm not sure about the status of xposed on the nexus 6 so you have to read the threads. I don't know why you want to root, so you have to determine if it is worth the effort.

Simple answer is No.
if you're asking if you should root then you do not know what root is and the benefits to it. if you are happy with the phone and all the apps you have suit your needs, then stay as you are and do not download any dodgy apps from the play store

IINexusII said:
Simple answer is No.
if you're asking if you should root then you do not know what root is and the benefits to it. if you are happy with the phone and all the apps you have suit your needs, then stay as you are and do not download any dodgy apps from the play store
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Couldn't agree more. If you have to ask, the answer is no.

IINexusII said:
Simple answer is No.
if you're asking if you should root then you do not know what root is and the benefits to it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Terrible answer! Just because someone doesn't already know something is piss poor justification for telling them not to learn it.
If someone asked the forum if there were any benefits in C#, would you tell them not to bother learning to program, just keep buying Microsoft products?
FFS...

Elnrik said:
Terrible answer! Just because someone doesn't already know something is piss poor justification for telling them not to learn it.
If someone asked the forum if there were any benefits in C#, would you tell them not to bother learning to program, just keep buying Microsoft products?
FFS...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What a terrible response. is root a programming language?

Elnrik said:
Terrible answer! Just because someone doesn't already know something is piss poor justification for telling them not to learn it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, it is the best answer. He is not asking to learn it, he is askign us to make a decision as to whether he should root or not. If he knows the benefits of root, he should make teh decision himself based on the usecase. If he doesn't know the benefits, he should read a sticky thread that lists the benefits. If he doesnt know whether he should root, then he shouldnt because it is not something to um and ahh over.

Rooting in and of itself will have no effect on your getting infected with malware or not. It may affect the degree in which something can muck up your system, because if rooted, that program can get further into the OS than if you were not.
Now, that said, the real meat of it is that if you allow sideloading, that's the one that will let apps install from downloaded files, etc.
Ever notice where they say all the android handsets are getting infected? not here in the US anyways.
If you stick to known downloads and are not trying to get hacked apps, you won't have to worry.
I have to agree with RootSU here, his last paragraph sums it up nicely.

IINexusII said:
What a terrible response. is root a programming language?
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Click to collapse
Well, I can't resist using your own logic... If you don't know that root isn't a programming language, you shouldn't root. You probably shouldn't even reply to posts. Further, If you can't understand the example I provided, I'm not going to waste my time and explain it. You should just go read the stickies on the benefits of examples, or something. After all, you shouldn't um and ahh over this.
Facetiousness aside, if you read my example you'd see that I in no way called root a programming language. My entire point is that there are better ways to tell someone not to root. If your point to the OP is this: No, you shouldn't root because it can be dangerous, can brick your device, and that you really need to do your homework on it before you just go and do it, then tell them that! Don't condescend to them and/or future readers of the thread that not knowing it is reason enough not to do it ever. It's insulting. At least it is to me. It IS a discouragement, and in IMO, and in the spirit of XDA, we should try to point people in the right direction so they can learn and make them aware of the risks and benefits so they can make informed decisions. Sure, if it's already been covered, post a link to the thread or sticky. No need to rewrite it. But sending the message of "If you don't already know, abandon all hope now" is crap.
If you disagree with me, then I'll agree to disagree with you.
That's the last I'll say about this.
Peace

Elnrik said:
Terrible answer! Just because someone doesn't already know something is piss poor justification for telling them not to learn it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I interpreted it to mean that learning more about root and what it might offer/require of a user is probably best before actually rooting and then deciding later on if that's what you really wanted to do. That is, being conservative here is probably not the worst suggestion.
- ooofest

Is there a program like xprivacy for non rooted device?

I just bought a S6 Active as my S4 took a dive. I usually don't buy a new phone if there isn't at least a root method for it. But, this time I didn't listen to myself. Now I have a nice phone but, don't want to install anything on it as I can't manage app permissions. I managed to disable most of the bloat on the phone but, I have not been able to find an xprivacy replacement. Is there such an app?
With the way apps request everything under the sun even things they have no use for I don't feel safe. So should I just keep my phone app free until there is a root method or just install the apps I want and throw caution into the wind?

flawedkaos said:
I just bought a S6 Active as my S4 took a dive. I usually don't buy a new phone if there isn't at least a root method for it. But, this time I didn't listen to myself. Now I have a nice phone but, don't want to install anything on it as I can't manage app permissions. I managed to disable most of the bloat on the phone but, I have not been able to find an x privacy replacement. Is there such an app?
With the way apps request everything under the sun even things they have no use for I don't feel safe. So should I just keep my phone app free until there is a root method or just install the apps I want and throw caution into the wind?
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Same issue here. Hoping someone replies with a decent non rooted solution.
That being said, has anyone not read the Facebook app permissions taken ? and decided to install that **** anyway ? Sure let me allow you to see my contacts, when and how often I contact them. IT Lobbyists have this country's lawmakers where they want them, in their pocket $$$. Allowing this breach of security and privacy to take place is a criminal act. People need to speak up and stop being sheep.

forbinator2 said:
That being said, has anyone not read the Facebook app permissions taken ? and decided to install that **** anyway ? Sure let me allow you to see my contacts, when and how often I contact them. IT Lobbyists have this country's lawmakers where they want them, in their pocket $$$. Allowing this breach of security and privacy to take place is a criminal act. People need to speak up and stop being sheep.
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Facebook has a feature to import and link your contacts, so it needs access to your contacts, weird huh?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

PLEASE HELP ME! my phone is "rooted" with 3 third-party apps my BF installed!

PLEASE HELP ME! my phone is "rooted" with 3 third-party apps my BF installed!
I noticed that my nexus 6 was acting funny, and since my boyfriend purchased this phone for me- he set the entire thing up. The day it arrived, he plugged my phone into his laptop and started typing away at what looked like a black screen and a boxy white font with a bunch of rom codes etc(at this point, i was totally clueless and oblivious to what he was doing)...
Then, he would sporadically bring up specific texts that i had sent, and at times would randomly pinpoint specific addresses and times and asked me about them(mind you, they were my friends homes) which left me to wonder "how the hell did he even know about that text or specific location unless my phone is hacked??"
so, i took my phone to a specialist who confirmed that my phone was rooted with a custom ROM along with 3 third-party apps "kernel adiutor", "pure nexus", and "xda labs".
Once i called tech support for my phone, they said they couldn't help me because they're third party apps that are not legal to use in the first place.
long story short, his mom confirmed recently that he in fact has my phone hacked. can somebody please give me insight on the apps he installed and the purpose they serve?? what kind of access/capabilities does he have now that my phone is rooted even if i restore my phone???

Kernel Auditor Xda labs and pure nexus are not phone hacking apps Xda lab is app by xda community and Kernel Auditor is for tweaking the kernel and i think Pure Nexus is a Custom Rom for the Nexus
If you want to get rid of this you can ask service centre to flash Stock Rom of Nexus phone
Sent from my SM-A9000 using XDA-Developers mobile app

Download a factory image from here: https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images
Follow the instructions on the webpage. Doing this will wipe your phone and put it back to 100% stock.
Also lol @ this:
vneedshelpASAP said:
Once i called tech support for my phone, they said they couldn't help me because they're third party apps that are not legal to use in the first place.
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You have a very *very* serious problem.
As khanboyz007 says, the apps you mention are entirely pukka, totally normal, nothing suspicious.
But...
If you can't trust your boyfriend so much that you have to post for help from anonymous strangers, then your problem is far deeper than your Nexus 6. From the technical side of your description, he's done nothing at all wrong, but from reading between the lines you don't trust him, and *that's* a dealbreaker.
Why are you asking us instead of him? Give him a chance to explain. Maybe there's nothing more sinister than you (clearly without any technical knowledge... sorry...) don't have your phone password-protected and he's just looked at your texts - in itself a breach of trust, but still not justifying posting in a public forum to strangers.

dahawthorne said:
You have a very *very* serious problem.
As khanboyz007 says, the apps you mention are entirely pukka, totally normal, nothing suspicious.
But...
If you can't trust your boyfriend so much that you have to post for help from anonymous strangers, then your problem is far deeper than your Nexus 6. From the technical side of your description, he's done nothing at all wrong, but from reading between the lines you don't trust him, and *that's* a dealbreaker.
Why are you asking us instead of him? Give him a chance to explain. Maybe there's nothing more sinister than you (clearly without any technical knowledge... sorry...) don't have your phone password-protected and he's just looked at your texts - in itself a breach of trust, but still not justifying posting in a public forum to strangers.
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I wouldnt say that at all. If he can tell where she has been and what text she is sending then he installed one of the many monitor apps onto her phone which is illegal.
My advise would be to completely wipe your device. Flash a stock rom and dont let him touch your device.
As for your personal life no one can or has any right to say anything about that. Do what you think is best.

If he knows the locations you've been at its possible he has your google+ share location set where it's shared with him. Or possibly he had set up an email for you on it and is signing into it to track your location. As far as the apps you mentioned they are %100 percent legal, most carrier don't know anything about rooting or custom Roms and will not give you adequate advice. But as they said, you can just flash the stock image, make your own Gmail to sign in or make sure to change your Gmail password. After you do make sure that that you put a password on your device that he doesn't know.

"then he installed one of the many monitor apps onto her phone"
Isn't that what I said...? No trust. This isn't in any way a technical question - it's about their relationship.
And since I've seen your many posts here over the years I know you've got a fair amount of life experience, in which case I can assume that you know of Occam's Razor - the simplest explanation is likely to be the correct one, and the simplest explanation here is not that he's installed a monitoring app but is simply looking at the phone. I stand by my comments.
"no one can or has any right to say anything about that"
Yes, I agree, it would be none of my business - *if* she hadn't asked for my advice (as well as yours).
If she has so little trust in her partner, and has asked for advice (technical or otherwise), then the answer has to be "Look very carefully at your relationship".
(P.S. To avoid the inevitable "sexist" comments, yes, I've assumed it's a female poster, but I'm aware that there are alternatives).

To be honest I think it might be a moot point as he is most likely part of this forum and has seen this post.

Then he's got the message...

Or this is just a prank. Like I'm getting private messages from people who haven't even posted yet to fix their phones.

istperson said:
Or this is just a prank.
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Yes, that same thought had occurred to me. I give the benefit of the doubt unless there's a clear sign that it's a joke, and this one does come close to the edge...
A lot of effort for a not-funny joke though. It would be good if the OP provides some feedback - I do get very fed up with people asking for advice, which is given maybe by half a dozen people who have taken the time and trouble to provide it, only for the OP to vanish into the ether without so much as a "thank you" button press.

Step one, flash the phone back to stock using the links provided eariler posts.
Step two, dump the loser - he is too controlling, and this will never change...

Now that the personal advice has been given, let's bring this thread back to troubleshooting device issues, not relationship issues . Thanks for your cooperation.

vneedshelpASAP said:
.... my boyfriend purchased this phone for me- he set the entire thing up.
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Your friend has set up your phone the same way as he should do for himself.
There nothing wrong with rooting and the apps you mentioned.
My idea is that ask him very friendly to flash the latest official stock Rom.
Tell him that you prefer the official rom of Google.
Because you want official support when there is something wrong. And you don't need root acces because you only use 'normal' apps.
As everything there are disadvantages.
A rooted phone allows you to install layers. That makes it possible to choose dark themes. And that's important when you need a better battery life.

I Bet he's using Cerberus. Go into your settings>apps, select to include system apps. You'll be looking for a app name: system framework. If you see this He is tracking you using Ceberus, . This app/service is pretty awesome. I was able to track my phone down, see the texts sent, turn the mic on and listen to where my phone was at. .
Like everyone said flash a new rom. clean slate. Then dump dude, there should be no need for that crap.
Here's the link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lsdroid.cerberus&hl=en

vneedshelpASAP said:
I noticed that my nexus 6 was acting funny, and since my boyfriend purchased this phone for me- he set the entire thing up. The day it arrived, he plugged my phone into his laptop and started typing away at what looked like a black screen and a boxy white font with a bunch of rom codes etc(at this point, i was totally clueless and oblivious to what he was doing)...
Then, he would sporadically bring up specific texts that i had sent, and at times would randomly pinpoint specific addresses and times and asked me about them(mind you, they were my friends homes) which left me to wonder "how the hell did he even know about that text or specific location unless my phone is hacked??"
so, i took my phone to a specialist who confirmed that my phone was rooted with a custom ROM along with 3 third-party apps "kernel adiutor", "pure nexus", and "xda labs".
Once i called tech support for my phone, they said they couldn't help me because they're third party apps that are not legal to use in the first place.
long story short, his mom confirmed recently that he in fact has my phone hacked. can somebody please give me insight on the apps he installed and the purpose they serve?? what kind of access/capabilities does he have now that my phone is rooted even if i restore my phone???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
to me, a "specialist", it sounds like he did you a favor, by rooting your device, and adding apps that you will need to control your own phone. your "own" i say because otherwise you are just using someone elses device, that you happened to pay for with your money. so, instead of posting a pissy thread, id do a little more research on how to control your own phone, and then tell him thank you.
oh, btw, just because the apps arent from the play store, it does not make them illegal to use, at all. you can use whatever app you want, from wherever you want, LEGALLY.

I'm coming round to istperson's point of view - this thread is beginning to look more and more like an elaborate pointless hoax, and not a very funny one.
There are far too many of these threads where people ask a question and then disappear without the courtesy of a sign-off or even a "thank you". Very discouraging, and makes me less keen on spending my time here trying to help timewasting ingrates...

I'm gonna close this thread for now. If the OP has anything else to add they can contact me again to reopen it.
Not all apps are legal. It really depends on where you are living. As an example. Things like keyloggers, call recorders (depending on local laws) screen recorders and things of this nature are completely legal in some countries like China, while being completely illegal in other places in the world.
Also installing tracking software of any kind on someone's device is also illegal.
We have to remember that many people search for help on something, reg to the forum to get the answer and dont come back until they have another issue. This is becoming far more common as of late.