Database Develop

[Q] Why does many installed apps increase lag?

Can't see why this is the case (but it obviously is) as long as I have lots of free disk space and not many apps running at the same time. Any logic in this?

I've been experiencing the same issue and wondering the same thing...
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S GT-I9000 using Tapatalk Pro

There seems to be several things causing this, but the two key issues are:
The moviNAND (the internal flash drive/"SSD") firmware seems to have an issue with fsync() taking extremely long. E.g., it slows down whenever a file is written/updated on the internal storage.
RFS, the file system used by Samsung is buggy as hell and corrupts data after a while.
There are several topics on these issues in the Android Development forum. There are also several "lag fixes" trying their best to overcome these issues. Go check them out

Einride said:
There seems to be several things causing this, but the two key issues are:
RFS, the file system used by Samsung is buggy as hell and corrupts data after a while.
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We have no idea if that is ACTUALLY true.. Just because fsck picked some things up on 1 phone, doesn't mean it happens everywhere.. Furthermore, it doesn't mean the problems detected affect operations

that has no truth at all about more apps slowing down the phone, my phone is the prove

Before jpk i didn't noticed slowdowns with aprox 100 apps, now i do on jpk =/
Prolly that all pictures/links/info stays in his workmemory?

probably cause some of them run in the system memory or run at startup

KaliKot said:
probably cause some of them run in the system memory or run at startup
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Bingo!
and that is what most people does not realize
they need to Optimize the phone, most people take it for granted
the phone is not a phone, the phone is a mini computer that fits in your hands
just like your big desktop PC it can go crazy if you don't take care of it

AllGamer said:
Bingo!
and that is what most people does not realize
they need to Optimize the phone, most people take it for granted
the phone is not a phone, the phone is a mini computer that fits in your hands
just like your big desktop PC it can go crazy if you don't take care of it
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Click to collapse
Can you tell me why with the same apps installed on the Nexus it doesn't lag like the SGS?
Can you stop blaming users when is the phone which doesn't work as expected?

Oletros said:
Can you tell me why with the same apps installed on the Nexus it doesn't lag like the SGS?
Can you stop blaming users when is the phone which doesn't work as expected?
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Click to collapse
utter ****e -i have well over 100 apps on my sgs and experience NO lag whatsoever!

bonehooch said:
utter ****e -i have well over 100 apps on my sgs and experience NO lag whatsoever!
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Click to collapse
Utter ****e? Why?

it was mentioned many many times
just install autorunkiller and a good task manager then all the problems will be gone
stock ROM is very fast when you maintain the phone

AllGamer said:
it was mentioned many many times
just install autorunkiller and a good task manager then all the problems will be gone
stock ROM is very fast when you maintain the phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With autokiller the phone is still laggy.
And please, stop thinking I'm stupid or I don't know a **** about smartphones, ROM's changing, firmware or knowing how a phone must run.

AFAIK this topic and its responses are for the OP

I have about 190 Apps installed and do not experience any diferene in overall speed of the phone. But only because i know that a lot of the programms start on boot and stay in background.
I have more than 15 apps turned off with the full version of autorun killer to prevent the auto restart of the apps. Otherwise the phone would definetaly slow down.
It´s really incredible what apps start on the boot!

TMReuffurth said:
I have about 190 Apps installed and do not experience any diferene in overall speed of the phone. But only because i know that a lot of the programms start on boot and stay in background.
I have more than 15 apps turned off with the full version of autorun killer to prevent the auto restart of the apps. Otherwise the phone would definetaly slow down.
It´s really incredible what apps start on the boot!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you need to be rooted ti use all of the functions in autorun killer? I am not rooted.
Can you compile a breif list of the "biggest culprits" to stop with this utility to gain back the most speed and efficiency? I am a bit nervous that I will stop the wrong items and somehow damage my phone...

Autokiller and task killers are not the solution here! Quick lesson on Android, and why having even A SINGLE BAD APP is going to ruin your whole phone!
Android has something called an 'Intent'. In order to start an app, an intent is made by your launcher or a button you press, and the Android system reads this intent and works out what app it needs to start up.
There is a second type of intent though, called a 'Broadcast Intent'. This is an intent that is sent out to anything that is registered to listen to it. This means that an app can register to listen to all sorts of events, such as battery level changed, application start, or a tons of other things. Even if the application is closed, if it is registered as a listener, Android will start it right back up so it can deal with the intent. If the intent comes every 5 seconds, Android will run this app every 5 seconds even if you have a taskkiller killing the app.
The only real solution is to not install apps which are bad! Finding bad apps is a real mission, too. Hopefully in the future, utilities will be available to let us track down these terrible apps, but till then, you'll have to work it out yourself.

yiannisthegreek said:
Do you need to be rooted ti use all of the functions in autorun killer? I am not rooted.
Can you compile a breif list of the "biggest culprits" to stop with this utility to gain back the most speed and efficiency? I am a bit nervous that I will stop the wrong items and somehow damage my phone...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No need for Root to use all features of Autorun Killer. I would disable only the apps you know and which you do not need at startup and running in background, such as (in my case) Paypal, App Center from Androidpit, Daily Briefing, Photoshop Express, Word Press, TweetCaster, etc.
Every of these apps works normal, even when deactivatet on startup.
So unless you do not disable system apps (must be previously set enabled in settings) you are safe.

RyanZA said:
(...)There is a second type of intent though, called a 'Broadcast Intent'. This is an intent that is sent out to anything that is registered to listen to it.(...)
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Is there any possibility/app to show what is registered for which app?

watching the apps
Samga said:
Is there any possibility/app to show what is registered for which app?
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Click to collapse
There is an app called Autostarts at 0.95$.
It shows what is launched au startup, when you enable/disable wifi etc.
It think it gives insight on how apps seems launching out of nowhere.
I also reccomend Watchdog Task Manager Lite, the free version.
It does not kill anything, but notifies and logs the bad apps that consumes over a certain CPU percentage.

Virus protection apps

Are these types of apps worth having on your phone? Like is there even a moderate chance you could get a virus (especially if you dont do lots of downloading)? I currently have the AVG free app and I find it kind of annoying having it scan everything I download and having it say protected by AVG on my screen, etc.
I have never heard of anyone getting a virus on their smartphone so I', leaning towards removing the AVG app. Would this be a mistake?

The only malware that are on Android affects Android versions < 2.3.3. You're fine.
As long as you're getting trustworthy apps on the market with a lot of downloads and not from a 3rd-party unauthorized website/app market/whatever. You're fine.
I personally use Lookout for the GPS feature, the Anti-Virus is just a sidebonus. I disable scheduled scanning because its not worth it.

It's much harder for malware to worm its way onto your Android than on a desktop OS. Generally it happens when people hide malicious activity in seemingly harmless apps. The only way to protect against that is to look at the requested permissions when you install things are make sure it is only using things it needs. Also, check the comments and use reputable developers from the Android Market.
Even these antivirus tools can't protect you from a malicious app though cos they have no way of knowing what you meant to allow the app to do and what it's doing without telling you.

i'm using Lookout it's free, and non memory resident if you choose not to
but still works when you install something new, it tells you if it's safe or not

I m using AVG as well as Lookout.. actually jsut trying them out. Thinking should I keep or Uninstall ? :/

there are also Symantec Antivirus, and McAfee both also "free" for basic features just like Lookout
but no where near as good and easy to use as Lookout
and there are a whole slew of new comers go the Antivirus industry for smartphones which i don't even recognize their names
a simple search for antivirus on market comes out with 3+ pages of well known and not so well known results
https://market.android.com/search?q=antivirus&c=apps

how would you look for viruses?

I don't use an antivirus on my windows desktop, I always keep an eye in msconfig and task manager (I know most of the processes), services.msc, unusual behavior, etc, once a year I run an antivirus scan never found anything, I have been clean for more than 3 years.
I have previously installed lookout on my Note but found it to slowdown the system a little bit, so I removed it, and now I don't have any antivirus but I keep an eye at the running proccesses, but I'm unsure if that's the way to spot a running background virus in a linux system
what do you guys do or advise doing to look out for viruses on android?

Are you rooted? If not then don't worry about Viruses.
If you are rooted don't install any shady apps outside from the Android market or make sure any non market apps are from trusted sources.
Also read this:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/1147650...dDLPv#114765095157367281222/posts/ZqPvFwdDLPv

Actually, even the apps on the Android market, approved by Google, are not safe. There have been couple incidents of rogue apps show up in market last year. Good thing is Google are proactively plugging those OS exploits that these rogue apps use (they will auto-root your phone). So, if you're on latest Gingerbread OS (2.3.4 or later), most of those exploits no longer work. But there is now a new exploit now been used here on XDA to root the phone (search ZergRush). Not sure if this will be used in next wave of rogue apps. Remember, just because you installed an app from market, doesn't mean it is safe. Google made zero effort to review those apps.

thanks a lot for the article, it is a lot like I suspected, specially about companies bullshitting us to get to buy their antivirus software
about web based virus, from that I'm 90% safe because I only access the same websites every day, unless one of them gets attacked I'm sure I won't get a virus from them
and yes, I'm rooted... two things I wonder are:
1 - shouldn't an infected app show the permission pop up asking for root access? I'm not exactly sure but I think there are ways to circunvent that and force root access without permission
2 - if I'm infected and perform a full wipe (cache, dalvik, factory reset) and change roms, can I still be infected? I ask this because I noticed that some folders aren't affected when performing a full wipe, the rom goes into /system, and the factory reset only cleans /data. So there is no way to completely clean a system I guess.

As someone who works in internet security, I have to tell you that you really should be running anti-virus on your desktop.
Yes, there's a lot of marketing and fear-mongering from some companies to buy their products. But it doesn't matter if you think you're tech-savvy and that you check task manager and only visit "safe websites". Any website can deliver drive-by downloads that infect your computer without you knowing. Rootkits are completely undetectable from simply checking your listed processes and services.
And your websites might be safe and legit, but all sorts of malware and exploits are delivered through ads. Even visiting Google search recently infected users.
Anti-virus is a crappy technology (there's better alternatives), but stop being so idealogical and just install the damn thing.
---------- Post added at 03:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:24 PM ----------
inurb said:
Also read this:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/1147650...dDLPv#114765095157367281222/posts/ZqPvFwdDLPv
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Click to collapse
Thanks for the link. That's a terrible, terrible article though that completely misses the point.
It's a typical viewpoint from a large company like Google. Their interest is in what % of their users are affected by X and Y.
There is certainly no "widespread problem" with viruses on Android or indeed Linux. But the vulnerabilities are HUGE. The only reason they're not exploited more is because of the size of the userbase. Android (and to a lesser extent Ubuntu) is growing to such an extent that it is going to become a very serious problem, very soon.
As to the now: there is very little chance of being infected out of millions of normal users. But if you're doing sensitive work, then it does make sense to seek extra protection, as the Linux and Android vulnerabilities are so big that if someone actively targets you, it will be easy.
If you're not using sensitive data on your Note, then sure, don't worry about it.

edanfalls said:
As someone who works in internet security, I have to tell you that you really should be running anti-virus on your desktop.
....
Anti-virus is a crappy technology (there's better alternatives), but stop being so idealogical and just install the damn thing.
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Click to collapse
Your advise is sound but just one tiny flaw:
As you posted, AV softwares are crappy technologies. They rarely ever catch anything, especially worthless towards the browser plugin based malwares. And yet, they DO make every PC installed with them 10x slower. So, in the end, installing AV software doing more damage to your PC on daily basises.

Use 'LBE Safety Master' (root required) and you will be fully protected.

lbe doesn't protect with reboot. Wonder if apps can make use of that flaw, logg and send when API or connection becomes available.
Better alternative, if you can get a patch would be forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1357056
I guess one must take into mind the shift of definition from virus/malware to user approved info gathering through permissions lmao.
You can install droidwall and check it's logs for connections. Setting it up can be tedious due to dependent stuff.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk

P9 anti virus

Is the built in anti virus on the P9 sufficient or is it advisable to download another one.
Any advice please.?

1. There are no viruses on Android
2. Most of apps that call them self anitivirus are nothing more but crap that beside sucking memory and battery do nothing
3. Most of problems that people call "virus" is nothing more but some crappy made app that mess up phone performance or download few other crappy apps in background like lockscreen or cleaner.
4. Build in antivirus on Huawei is just icon that do nothing... because it dont have anything to do, BECAUSE look at point 1.
Im using android for almost... forever of it existing, I was rooting and giving free access to all apps i could, I once did test and clicked all ads and installed all shady apps I could find, give them root access... and beside few more crappy apps that they downloaded in background... NOTHING.
Even my router logs didnt show any weird data that was send/recived in phone.
All you can get on your phone is viruses that are made for PC, that will transfer them self to it when you connect it to PC, this is only example that I know that someone had related to "viruses", but it was not even made for android...
All you need to do, to keep your device in good shape and safe, is to keep it clean, use build in cleaner that is good for removing trash files, and keeping an eye on permissions of apps, if app dont need internet access or contact list, remove that permission.
Simple as that...

This is pretty much it. Don't be the user that installs 5 cleaning apps / anti-viruses and wonder why the phone is so slow. I see users every week that slow their phone down with this stuff.

Maze Alpha X shipped with adware?

Accidentally I stumbled upon the folder gangyun and pref_storekeytool inside.
I scanned the Maze with an antivirus scanner and beautysnap.apk was reported as adware.
I guess beautysnap.apk is part of the system camera?
Unfortunately no app can beautify me, so I would like to delete this app. Is it safe to do it?
TIA

bestunameever said:
Accidentally I stumbled upon the folder gangyun and pref_storekeytool inside.
I scanned the Maze with an antivirus scanner and beautysnap.apk was reported as adware.
I guess beautysnap.apk is part of the system camera?
Unfortunately no app can beautify me, so I would like to delete this app. Is it safe to do it?
TIA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What virus scanner did you use? I've just received my Maze Alpha X. There are some bad things about this phone, I'm a bit disappointed. The worst in my case is that the front camera doesn't work. It's like there's no camera at all.

Yeah unfortunately this phone is loaded with precarious apps, adupsfota for instance disguised as the ota wireless update is full of dodgy adware/spyware and if you look at the permissions your see just how worrying it is, it has permission to access banking apps, android pay, key-logger, microphone, camera the list goes on, I've disabled it several times but it manages to re-enable itself. Beautysnap is also a bad one which I have managed to disable for good, LocationEM2 is another suspect app, Fotaprovider which is also adups related. Basically this phone really needs an alternative kernel/custom rom before it can be safely used but as far as I'm aware there isn't one as yet.
The CPU usage is always very high too which is not a great sign, not good at all, I'm surprised Amazon can sell phones in this state tbh.

McSwifty said:
Yeah unfortunately this phone is loaded with precarious apps, adupsfota for instance disguised as the ota wireless update is full of dodgy adware/spyware and if you look at the permissions your see just how worrying it is, it has permission to access banking apps, android pay, key-logger, microphone, camera the list goes on, I've disabled it several times but it manages to re-enable itself. Beautysnap is also a bad one which I have managed to disable for good, LocationEM2 is another suspect app, Fotaprovider which is also adups related. Basically this phone really needs an alternative kernel/custom rom before it can be safely used but as far as I'm aware there isn't one as yet.
The CPU usage is always very high too which is not a great sign, not good at all, I'm surprised Amazon can sell phones in this state tbh.
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Could you please say what scanner did you use?

dangerous666 said:
Could you please say what scanner did you use?
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Click to collapse
Ive used a few but the adware/malware/spyware that the phone has installed as standard on the kernal/rom it's shipped with are installed as system apps with the exception of beautysnap so you need to go through them manually. I used an app called SystemPanel2, it's a great app that gives you a really complete overview of whats running on your phone and what not, it can record system processes, memory, battery and cpu usage over a period of time as well as network stats.

McSwifty said:
Ive used a few but the adware/malware/spyware that the phone has installed as standard on the kernal/rom it's shipped with are installed as system apps with the exception of beautysnap so you need to go through them manually. I used an app called SystemPanel2, it's a great app that gives you a really complete overview of whats running on your phone and what not, it can record system processes, memory, battery and cpu usage over a period of time as well as network stats.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I couldn't be able to find those suspicious apps. I've run a bunch of virus/malwares scanner, nothing reported. I've installed SystemPanel2 and I didn't find the processes you list. I believe our phones run different firmwares. I've got mine from Gear Best.

dangerous666 said:
I couldn't be able to find those suspicious apps. I've run a bunch of virus/malwares scanner, nothing reported. I've installed SystemPanel2 and I didn't find the processes you list. I believe our phones run different firmwares. I've got mine from Gear Best.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Under your Wireless Update system app what does it say? On mine for instance is says "com.adups.fota". If your firmware is good/clean then that's a good sign that if I put a fresh stock rom on here it should be fine, I was thinking maybe all the maze alpha firmware's were affected.

My com.adups.fota "seems" to be clean.
For hibernating apps on my rooted Alpha X I use SD Maid Pro.
Under app control you set several things
A) Hibernate the app
B) Disallow start on boot
C) Look up where all the files of the app are located
D) Remove app completely
E) etc

bestunameever said:
My com.adups.fota "seems" to be clean.
For hibernating apps on my rooted Alpha X I use SD Maid Pro.
Under app control you set several things
A) Hibernate the app
B) Disallow start on boot
C) Look up where all the files of the app are located
D) Remove app completely
E) etc
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No such thing as clean addups I'm afraid dude.
A newly discovered malicious app is found on China-made mobile devices running the Android OS. This is a baked-in system app used to update the device’s firmware but is found to also steal personal information, among other things. A blog is recently published about this malware by Kryptowire.
Already we have had inquiries on whether we detect Adups or not. The answer to that is I believe we do. You see, the app in question, which goes by the package name of com.adups.fota, has a couple of variants. There is an older version seen around 2014 and a newer version that emerged mid-2016. This older version we detect and have done so since 2014. I can verify that this older version was indeed pre-installed on various Chinese mobile devices bought cheaply on online stores, mainly Amazon. I know this because ever since we started detecting this older version of com.adups.fota, we have received support tickets periodically about why we are detecting a system app that cannot be uninstall—I’ll get to how to address this later.
Click to expand...
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https://blog.malwarebytes.com/cybercrime/2016/11/mobile-menace-monday-adups-old-and-new/
I want to know if theirs a firmware for the Maze Alpha and the Alpha X without addups baked in, I hope so because it's a great phone otherwise.