[Carrier IQ] What it does and how to remove it - HTC Vivid, Raider, Velocity

For anyone concerned about CarrierIQ, please see the following link:
Carrier IQ: How the Widespread Rootkit Can Track Everything on Your Phone, and How to Remove It
Thanks to developer Trevor Eckhart for shedding light on this invasion of privacy. Lifehacker has helped to list different means of removing CIQ, and Eckhart has posted a very helpful video explaining the topic:
Removing Carrier IQ
1) Root your device (see Android Development section)
2) Download Logging Test App (v7 as of this post)
3) Purchase Logging TestApp Pro Key - ROOT from the Market.
4) Open the app > Menu > Remove CIQ
Also, special thanks to Reclaim for his original Vivid General thread regarding Carrier IQ for more information:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1368235
xda-developers: The Storm is Not Over Yet - Let's Talk About #CIQ
All readers: Sign the HTC Vivid Bootloader Petition

This is a very well put together post! Thank you!

Bummer... I reboot and CIQ comes back... I have had too many beers or our weak temp root isn't making the grade.
EDIT: It does indeed come back after a reboot with temp root.... so just root again and remove it again. If your data connection dies just turn off the mobile network and back on again. Just don't reboot this time.

Can you clarify on the "If your data connection dies"? I use my phone for work, and I can't be walking around with a dead phone for hours or be bothered to check it every ten minutes to confirm that it's still alive. On the other hand, I feel completely exposed with CIQ watching me enter every password and send every message, work or personal.

For me the data connection died after I disabled CIQ with TreVe's $1 tool. All I did was turn off mobile network and then back on in quick settings. Only had to do it once. YMMV.

Thanks for the info and the quick response. I'm going to give it a shot. I'd seen the removal app from Treve, but wasn't sure it would work and I've had less than stellar luck with the temp root tool, but haven't had much time to tinker since I picked it up. CIQ has kinda lit a fire under me though.

Disgusting. http://www.carrieriq.com/

I wish we had some way to overload their system with information so it shut down. Kinda like a DNS Attack...Would love that to happen to people like that who invade people's privacy.

malickie said:
I wish we had some way to overload their system with information so it shut down. Kinda like a DNS Attack...Would love that to happen to people like that who invade people's privacy.
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Click to collapse
Wouldn't that be something incredible? Also this: are prime really defending it?
http://www.facebook.com/HTC/posts/10150574030788084?notif_t=feed_comment

Reclaim said:
Disgusting. http://www.carrieriq.com/
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Click to collapse
CarrierIQ Site said:
When Carrier IQ's products are deployed, data gathering is done in a way where the end user is informed or involved.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Really? AT&T and HTC let us all know that we are being monitored and all our personal and private details are there for whoever to see? I guess we are only "involved" in the sense that we're being pimp slapped by it all.

What has AT&T or Carrier IQ responsed or comment so far ?
What actions need to take ?

Related

[Application]XDA TV 1.0

Reminds me of something... But I cant put my finger on it
Mod Edit: Links removed - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=4745624&postcount=8
Its skinned to remove all logos, The only thing I could not remove was the text. I made it for myself, keep that in mind. I am just sharing.
*edit* if the original does not work, I doubt this one will but use the same install information 555-555-5555 and you must have the widget on your home screen. Launch it from the widget preferably.
is there anything different about these apks? Are they wifi compatible?
I tried wifi compatibility and it is still in the works but as of now this is only for looks but I am working on wifi as I post this.
555-555-5555?? call that number while the widget is up?
On some of the sprint apps it makes you comfirm that you are a sprint customer, so instead of sending sprint our real phone numbers (caller id=your name) we send them fake ones, like 555-555-5555
this seems like not a smart thing for you to do.
DemoShadow said:
Reminds me of something... But I cant put my finger on it
Mod Edit: Links removed - http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...24&postcount=8
Its skinned to remove all logos, The only thing I could not remove was the text. I made it for myself, keep that in mind. I am just sharing.
*edit* if the original does not work, I doubt this one will but use the same install information 555-555-5555 and you must have the widget on your home screen. Launch it from the widget preferably.
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Click to collapse
so basically you just violated alot of copyright laws....
Unfortunately, some may think, we cannot allow links to modded paying software. The software in question is provided under licence to Sprint users only. Now, we try not to sensor knowledge here, so we not going to delete all references to the fact that this software can be ported to non Sprint devices and used free of charge in breach of terms and conditions, BUT we cannot permit links to the software that would actively encourage members to break the law.
Mike
Links will be removed
It's not the fact that it is Sprint software ported over to the G1. It is the fact that he removed all of Sprint's branding. That's like taking the the Google Maps app (or any Google app) and removing Google's name from it. It's simply just a breach of copyright.
tekkitan said:
It's not the fact that it is Sprint software ported over to the G1. It is the fact that he removed all of Sprint's branding. That's like taking the the Google Maps app (or any Google app) and removing Google's name from it. It's simply just a breach of copyright.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, that too but the whole subject of the Sprint / Telnav software has been raised and discussed with Mods and Admin so there are issues regarding the use of such software on non Sprint phones.
Mike
Wow. Mike you have got to be one of the fairest, most logical forum mods I have ever had the pleasure to read. I am very impressed with the way in which this was handled.
mike i thought your site got closed because u had all the htc breakdown videos and what of that? but i do understand the point so i say lets make a new site that will let you post or upload. that way we can get the goods and xda dont get the blame if i remeber november 27 windows came down on xda for the same ish so please pleas dont let it happen to android just look for a new method for the shares. but i do like the work and want the app i was to late late for the link !!!!! Thanx mike !!!!!
*edit*( november 2007 )
llxll0m3g4llxll said:
mike i thought your site got closed because u had all the htc breakdown videos and what of that? but i do understand the point so i say lets make a new site that will let you post or upload. that way we can get the goods and xda dont get the blame if i remeber november 27 windows came down on xda for the same ish so please pleas dont let it happen to android just look for a new method for the shares. but i do like the work and want the app i was to late late for the link !!!!! Thanx mike !!!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was shut down for a while and had to remove some things, but in the end reached a sort of unofficial compromise on intellectual property rights.
This is a delicate issue, in my case I don't offer folks something they would normally have to pay for through their network or otherwise. (I offer stuff they should not have, even if they have money to pay for it!!).
I guess our bottom line is that knowledge should be freely available, but handing folk the tools, to install stuff that is very close to being Warez, is off-limits. (Robbing banks with an uzi can be profitable = knowledge, but handing out uzis and suggesting you rob a bank, crosses the line)
.... and yes we know cooking ROMs and such is also a grey area, but even there we say that ROMs should not be cooked that include for free any software for which the user would normally have to pay.
If someone set up a site with Sprint software on it - that's entirely up to them. We would probably even accept a link to it if the poster said "hey here's a breakdown of a Sprint ROM" In fact that would probably be OK to post here - at least until someone asked for a "take-down"
The problem only comes when someone says you can load this stuff on non-Sprint phones and get stuff for free and just to help you do that here are the links. In other words that ceases to be a theoretical point of information and becomes an encouragement to do something naughty. If folks want t be naughty then they have to do so, by reading the knowledge and then looking for the tools from whatever source, here or elsewhere without our help.
These kinds of things have been debated many times here at XDA - there are no absolute rights and wrongs, only things we think are more or less safe for us to do - just like life generally I guess
Mike
mikechannon said:
These kinds of things have been debated many times here at XDA - there are no absolute rights and wrongs, only things we think are more or less safe for us to do - just like life generally I guess
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well said Mike. When I read it, I had a /foreheadslap moment thinking, "well duh, this should be pretty obvious," but im constantly reminded that there are users on here who simply feel they have a right or deserve to have any given piece of software if it is leaked online.
The bottom line is, do not post software that has not been explicity licensed as open source unless you have obtained permission to redistribute. As a general rule of thumb, if the software cannot be legally obtained unless you pay someone (e.g. it comes preloaded on a phone) or can be obtained free but only if you agree to a license agreement (downloading certain software update packages) then you should not redistribute it on xda or elsewhere.

Root Explorer no longer works for me?

I am able to install it but when I try to open it, it force closes every time within about 1 second of opening. I believe it occurred around the time I started using a 2.1 ROM. I've tried using fix_permissions but it doesn't help. I'm running SuperBadCM5 v1.6 on a mytouch.
are you restoring a backup, or downloading from the market?
s15274n said:
are you restoring a backup, or downloading from the market?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've done both I believe.
It amazes me that people are so careless about their security that they would use programs like "root explorer". This is a HUGE security vulnerability. YOU DON'T KNOW THE DEVELOPER OR THE CODE, so how do you know that (a) the developer is good, (b) there isn't some nasty bug in there that will give china root access to your phone?
ROOT should be used SPARINGLY, and MANUALLY, i.e. from the TERMINAL ONLY.
lbcoder said:
It amazes me that people are so careless about their security that they would use programs like "root explorer". This is a HUGE security vulnerability. YOU DON'T KNOW THE DEVELOPER OR THE CODE, so how do you know that (a) the developer is good, (b) there isn't some nasty bug in there that will give china root access to your phone?
ROOT should be used SPARINGLY, and MANUALLY, i.e. from the TERMINAL ONLY.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I could care less about security. It's a phone. I don't store secret information there. If someone creates a program that steals the phone numbers of my contacts, I don't give a ****. If it breaks my phone, I don't give a ****. What do you possess on your phone that is SO confidential?
staunty said:
I could care less about security. It's a phone. I don't store secret information there. If someone creates a program that steals the phone numbers of my contacts, I don't give a ****. If it breaks my phone, I don't give a ****. What do you possess on your phone that is SO confidential?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The ability to CHARGE MONEY to my cell phone account is one.
Trade secrets.
The security of your CONTACTS should be TOP PRIORITY -- not for YOUR sake, but for THEIRS. It is a question of RESPECT.
The ability to trust that your phone's communications are private and confidential. You really want north korea listening in on all your phone conversations? If they get root access to your phone, they CAN.
You ever give a credit card number out over the phone? Or type one into a website?
How about simply RELIABILITY?
Or do you not mind when your phone gets slow, crashes, or seemingly reboots at random?
staunty said:
I could care less about security. It's a phone. I don't store secret information there. If someone creates a program that steals the phone numbers of my contacts, I don't give a ****. If it breaks my phone, I don't give a ****. What do you possess on your phone that is SO confidential?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, for one, the ability to bill your phone without authorization? Your phone could be compromised, forcing it to dial 1-900 numbers that charge by the second. Don't forget spoofing your number as an auto-dialer forwarding system.
That's the number one no-no.
Any time I need to do anything like that I just adb it. If not, I've set up numerous commands in scripts on sdcard that does most common commands for quick going with the terminal.
But if you must have one, e-mail the developer and ASK him if it supports Android 2.1.
You guys are seriously WAY too paranoid. North Korea can listen to my calls all they want. I. Don't. Care. However, your conspiracy theories didn't answer my question. Thanks for throwing in your 2 cents though. Keep those tin foil hats close.
Jesus, the application does not even ask for permissions. I love not having to use terminal or adb for stuff. How about trying to help the guy and get off your soap box.
Sent from my HTC Dream using XDA App
staunty said:
You guys are seriously WAY too paranoid. North Korea can listen to my calls all they want. I. Don't. Care. However, your conspiracy theories didn't answer my question. Thanks for throwing in your 2 cents though. Keep those tin foil hats close.
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Click to collapse
People offer you genuine advice and you get angry? Damn, bro, need a therapist? And stay away from churches... Anyways, here's an idea.... go find another file manager! O.O If you ran fix_permissions & reinstalled and it still force closes, what the hell do you want us to do? You want me to drive to your house and see if I can recode it to work for you? Since I'm already out, do you want McDonalds or Burger King when I'm on my way?
Edit: Have you even bothered to e-mail the developer asking if it supports 2.1 or if he's built it to work with custom ROMs?
s15274n said:
Jesus, the application does not even ask for permissions. I love not having to use terminal or adb for stuff. How about trying to help the guy and get off your soap box.
Sent from my HTC Dream using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And I love ANYTHING that will mess with ANY file other than the sdcard WILL ASK FOR PERMISSION. Do you even know what root means? You're not injecting your phone with tree veins, you know that right?
r3s-rt said:
People offer you genuine advice and you get angry? Damn, bro, need a therapist? And stay away from churches... Anyways, here's an idea.... go find another file manager! O.O If you ran fix_permissions & reinstalled and it still force closes, what the hell do you want us to do? You want me to drive to your house and see if I can recode it to work for you? Since I'm already out, do you want McDonalds or Burger King when I'm on my way?
Edit: Have you even bothered to e-mail the developer asking if it supports 2.1 or if he's built it to work with custom ROMs?
And I love ANYTHING that will mess with ANY file other than the sdcard WILL ASK FOR PERMISSION. Do you even know what root means? You're not injecting your phone with tree veins, you know that right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wasn't given genuine advice. I was given paranoid, conspiratorial thoughts on the app in question. Don't bother injecting your two cents if it doesn't answer someones question. Being that root explorer is a widely used program, and I hadn't seen anyone post about it not working, I figured it was an issue on my end.
You are not alone. Root Explorer stopped working for me too. I had 1.2 from my old android and just reinstalled the APK but it crashes on my Vibrant since 2.1 and now 2.2. If I find a fix i will let you know.
I was trying to use version 2.13.1 from my other android but
I resinstalled an older apk version 2.08 and it works just fine now hope this helps.

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!

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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.

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