Database Develop

blocking ads

Hi all!
Which software do you use to block ads?
I have found some applications that do not require root, I will be happy to know your opinions.
- personalDNSfilter
- DNS66
- blockthis
- AdGuard
- AdClear
- some other?

Would like to hear this also.

Blokada https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/apps-games/app-blokada-fire-forget-root-ad-blocker-t3503374

https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard
Try netguard, it tunnels all your internet traffic through self VPN (not actual VPN with different servers etc), it has an a hosts file the the VPN knows how to filter all ads coming from all the url's in the hosts file.
That version isn't available on the play store due to the fact Google is not allowing manipulating ads.

I am using AdGuards on multiple devices and I am very satisfied.
For YouTube you have to do some more steps: https://kb.adguard.com/en/android/solving-problems/youtube-ads

Blokada

Question [CLOSED]New to NetGuard - need some System Apps advice...

I'm happy with my new Zenfone 8 and want to limit the amount of personal data that Google and others can take from it. So I haven't signed into Google and I'm using F-droid, etc, to download apps.
I've installed NetGuard and I'm OK with allowing or blocking traffic from User Apps. However if I "Show System Apps" there are so many of them that I'm lost.
Is there a list of System Apps that can be blocked to increase privacy without affecting the basic functions of the phone?

I don't have a list, but you should try TrackerControl from F-Droid, it is basically NetGuard but with extra features like tracker blocking, which can be useful for apps that are not tracker-free like social media. It allows very precise control over what urls apps can send/recieve info from

Thanks, I hadn't heard about TrackerControl and will check it out.

Is Netguard still necessary? When I go into an app's settings, click on network, I can turn off mobile data and wifi for any particular app. That's basically what netguard does, right? i.e. prevent an app from accessing the internet

Blocking Websites and Accessibility Issues

Hello all,
I am trying to use an app (BlockSite) to block me from accessing certain websites. In order for the app to work, I have to give it access through the accessibility settings. However, everytime I restart my phone, the accessibility settings reeset. How can I fix this?

maybe you could try something like Adaway, it works in root and non-root modes. you can add sites to it's blacklist and it won't accept or allow traffic there.

blokada works great. It blocks ads and specific web site.

preinstalled Bloatware and connections to internet in background

Impressive and depressing to see the amount of preinstalled apps that even if you are not using are trying to connect to internet services, mostly AmazonWS.
Luckily forbidding to them the access to Internet has no impacting on normal usage, but it is crazy that every app attempt to connect to Internet.
Apps that i don't use or i know what they are for but are trying to connect to internet:
DUO (1tracker)
Game optimizing service
AR doodle
Device service
Download manager
Apps that i don understand why they have tried to go out (internet):
Camera
SmartSwitch (scary being a data migration tool)
Contacts
photo editor
your phone companion (also has 5 trackers)
What do you think?
Should I clean above apps and replace by less intrusive or some without access to network?

Question [CLOSED]Hidden google apps

I recently found some hidden google apps on my Zenfone 8 that I had not heard about before...
Settings > Apps & notifications > See all apps > click 3 dots upper right corner of screen "Show system".....
I uninstalled these that I don't have a use for:
Companion Device Manager
Basic Daydreams
Google Assistant
Syndor Flipfont
And I force stopped many other apps (that could not be uninstalled) that I didn't see a use for.
There were other apps that I disabled wi-fi and mobile connections to.
I also use Netguard to control which apps have internet and mobile access. However Netguard shows vastly more system apps that I have no idea what they do - I leave these alone. It the moment I'm only trying to reduce the amount of surveillance built into a normal android phone.
I haven't heard of a published an up-to-date rundown of system apps that have no business sending data out of the phone? I know you can just disable all data out connections using Netguard and then spend the rest of your life figuring out which ones to enable to get a useable phone. Perhaps such a list is impractical as it may have to be tailored to each phone and OS? But there might be system apps common to recent android systems that could have the wi-fi and mobile data disabled?
Anything would help if I didn't have to fiddle around so much. The alternative is a degoogled phone. Many google play apps can work on these but there are several important ones I use that don't work and so far I have found no viable open source apps to replace them.

Tom100% said:
I recently found some hidden google apps on my Zenfone 8 that I had not heard about before...
Settings > Apps & notifications > See all apps > click 3 dots upper right corner of screen "Show system".....
I uninstalled these that I don't have a use for:
Companion Device Manager
Basic Daydreams
Google Assistant
Syndor Flipfont
And I force stopped many other apps (that could not be uninstalled) that I didn't see a use for.
There were other apps that I disabled wi-fi and mobile connections to.
I also use Netguard to control which apps have internet and mobile access. However Netguard shows vastly more system apps that I have no idea what they do - I leave these alone. It the moment I'm only trying to reduce the amount of surveillance built into a normal android phone.
I haven't heard of a published an up-to-date rundown of system apps that have no business sending data out of the phone? I know you can just disable all data out connections using Netguard and then spend the rest of your life figuring out which ones to enable to get a useable phone. Perhaps such a list is impractical as it may have to be tailored to each phone and OS? But there might be system apps common to recent android systems that could have the wi-fi and mobile data disabled?
Anything would help if I didn't have to fiddle around so much. The alternative is a degoogled phone. Many google play apps can work on these but there are several important ones I use that don't work and so far I have found no viable open source apps to replace them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe the apps that are not available are accessible as a web app? I personally never encountered an app that does not work on Lineage and OmniRom (currently on onmirom). Maybe thats because of MicroG. A bonus to roms is better battery life, I think thank to MicroG

Adaoh said:
Maybe the apps that are not available are accessible as a web app? I personally never encountered an app that does not work on Lineage and OmniRom (currently on onmirom). Maybe thats because of MicroG. A bonus to roms is better battery life, I think thank to MicroG
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you use Waze and google translate? I've tried the open source alternative to Waze but in the country I'm living in it's too clunky to use. I haven't found an open source alternative to translate (that can scan documents and items in the supermarket, translate them and do all the other things. I might buy a degoogled phone in the future as I don't want to get into the technicalities.

Mod Edit
Thread closed per [OP] request.
jackeagle
Forum Moderator