Database Develop

Android and Privacy

Has anyone in their rom building and reverse engineering ever found anything Big Brotherish in the code? Keyloggers and hidden processes that phone home
your location come to mind.

When you set up the phone there is a question about sharing your location with google

jsapp said:
When you set up the phone there is a question about sharing your location with google
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But that is upfront, I'm asking about hidden processes. One that would crop up after you say no.

I'm sure Google wouldn't stick a keylogger or hidden process for the fun of it in a fresh build of the OS. I doubt it, like if you choose "No" it will tell the OS not to send location data to google.

Coburn64 said:
I'm sure Google wouldn't stick a keylogger or hidden process for the fun of it in a fresh build of the OS. I doubt it, like if you choose "No" it will tell the OS not to send location data to google.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, but what about HTC? T-Mobile? No offense but have you actually dug around the code? I don't know much about code besides web but I wouldn't put it past a company to do something like that.
ATT already got busted for helping DHS spy on citizens. I'm not paranoid, just curious.

Danny double post. Srry

thedroid said:
Yes, but what about HTC? T-Mobile? No offense but have you actually dug around the code? I don't know much about code besides web but I wouldn't put it past a company to do something like that.
ATT already got busted for helping DHS spy on citizens. I'm not paranoid, just curious.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am wondering also now that u guys bring this up. Maybe someone could ask the devs. I faintly remebering a dev saying "got rid of shady HTC log apk". I think it might of been cyanogen but I'm not 100% on that. So if I gave credit to the wrong dev feel free to correct me.

Well it wouldn't be incredibly smart to put in something like that, and then make it open source.

jsapp said:
Well it wouldn't be incredibly smart to put in something like that, and then make it open source.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
HTC's code is technically closed source AFAIK.

jsapp said:
Well it wouldn't be incredibly smart to put in something like that, and then make it open source.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is the biggest reason I love open source. The more people with the code the better.
thedroid said:
I'm not paranoid, just curious.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im curious too, and paranoid
I just assume the governments watching me all the time, and I make sure to give them something to talk about.

thedroid said:
ATT already got busted for helping DHS spy on citizens. I'm not paranoid, just curious.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why would a telecom company put spying code on the mobile? It would be so much easier to just snoop on their server end, where there's little possibility you could discover such an intrusion.

Thoughts and responses appreciated
Privacy policy from Google suggest private user information IS sent to Google*. I am moving from HTCs WM devices to the G1 and I'm getting quite concerned about things of this nature. I can see that a user has the option to share or withold some information but not sure if there are options to withhold ALL personal details (location, contacts etc). Are there any options or methods that COMPLETELY stop ANY information being sent to Google or any other party? (Device config options, ROMs etc???)
I am new to Android and still learning so any help would be appreciated. (also posting in a hurry!)
Thanks
*G1-specific information we collect
* In order to set up your device, we ask you to sign-in with your Google Account (if you already have one) or create a new, free Google Account. Your Google Account information is stored by Google. If you change your device, you will have to associate the new device with your Google Account before we can authenticate you.
* Each device is assigned one or more unique identification numbers. These identification numbers are associated with your Google Account and the IMEI number, mobile country code, and mobile network code of your device (which is also stored by your wireless operator), and allow your device to sync your Google email, contacts, and other Google services.
* In order to continually improve our services and provide a better user experience, we collect some basic usage statistics from your device. Information such as the hardware model of your device and the version of the Android software you are running is collected but not stored in association with your Google Account. In addition, we collect some information on device-level events such as crashes that is associated with your Google Account temporarily in order to provide customer service. Neither of these categories of usage statistics contains application-level information such as the content of emails or phone call records.
* Certain applications or features of your G1 device may cause other information to be sent to Google but in a fashion that cannot be identified with you personally.
* Your device may send us location information (for example, Cell ID or GPS information) that is not associated with your Account.
* Using some applications or features may send information to Google that is stored with your Google Account. If you use standard Google services on your G1 device, for example by creating new contacts or Calendar events, then this information will be associated with your Google Account and stored consistent with the privacy policies for those services. Likewise, if you use the Android Market, information about your downloads, comments, and ratings will be stored with and accessible through your Google Account. You have the option to disable or not use these features, in which case Google will not receive this data.
* Certain of our products and services allow you to personalize the content you receive from us. For these products and services, we will store your preferences and the information you provide for customization. These preferences may be associated with your Google Account or elsewhere with Google, as explained in the Privacy Policies for those products.

Yes in settings and during setup it asks you if you want info to be sent...However you should know that microsofts has the win update which sends info about your pc. You shouldnt be concerned though...Contacts/emails/calender is sent/stored on servers.

Ace42 said:
Yes in settings and during setup it asks you if you want info to be sent...However you should know that microsofts has the win update which sends info about your pc. You shouldnt be concerned though...Contacts/emails/calender is sent/stored on servers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was curious to know if all the data collection methods could be switched off reliably. Thanks for the quick response Ace

How is the bloatware?

How is the bloatware on the S6 with T-Mobile? Is it usually less than other carriers?

falcon26 said:
How is the bloatware on the S6 with T-Mobile? Is it usually less than other carriers?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The tmobile apps that came preinstalled on my s6 are:
My account
Name ID
TV
Visual voicemail
Mobile hotspot
Device Unlock
All can be disabled but I would say depending on who you are some of these actually have some functionality. I don't pay for TV or name ID so I have those along with the my account app disabled.
I think most of the bloatware is from Samsung (as in the carrier is somewhat irrelevant) but I can't talk for other people with other carrier versions of the phone.
The bloat on my S4 from ATT was pretty bad but that was a while ago.

Alarand said:
The tmobile apps that came preinstalled on my s6 are:
My account
Name ID
TV
Visual voicemail
Mobile hotspot
Device Unlock
All can be disabled but I would say depending on who you are some of these actually have some functionality. I don't pay for TV or name ID so I have those along with the my account app disabled.
I think most of the bloatware is from Samsung (as in the carrier is somewhat irrelevant) but I can't talk for other people with other carrier versions of the phone.
The bloat on my S4 from ATT was pretty bad but that was a while ago.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this phone is always sending me notifications (on the lockscreen) advertising something. its so weird, this is my first samsung phone and my last phone ran stock android.
the worst part is, stock android commands like "navigate to 3100 Missipi Rd in Chicago Illinois" or "call Mom" lag because FLIP BOARD is a mandatory homescreen on your phone.
the last time i reset the phone. it started automatically downloading apps. like ANT antenna and Milk Video. Really? milk video? its so lowclass for them to do something like this on their "flagship" phone.
say what you want about Crap-ple but atleast they're not taking money from small tech companies to put apps on their phone that you cannot remove.

If you dont like flop board use the google experience launcher. Makes it like stock but keeps all of the good stuff. replaces the garbage flop board with google stuff.

coffeeclutch said:
this phone is always sending me notifications (on the lockscreen) advertising something. its so weird, this is my first samsung phone and my last phone ran stock android.
the worst part is, stock android commands like "navigate to 3100 Missipi Rd in Chicago Illinois" or "call Mom" lag because FLIP BOARD is a mandatory homescreen on your phone.
the last time i reset the phone. it started automatically downloading apps. like ANT antenna and Milk Video. Really? milk video? its so lowclass for them to do something like this on their "flagship" phone.
say what you want about Crap-ple but atleast they're not taking money from small tech companies to put apps on their phone that you cannot remove.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So let's see here. You complain about the SOS mode because of your own... usage patterns (which you can disable) and then you are bringing bogus arguments to this thread.
Nothing automatically was "automatically downloading apps" it is called updating system applications built into the device. Android and thereby Samsung separate a lot of their applicaitons from system processes and code into separate applications so they can be updated as required and not have to wait for a system update. Wanna know something really funny? ANT+ is preinstalled on the iPhone as well, it is just separated so the user doesnt know the wiser.
Podcasts, Newstand, Weather, Apple Watch App, iTunes App, iBooks... the same argument could be made for all of these that they cannot be removed, at least on the S6 they can be disabled.

[Q] android auto compatible apps?

Is there any resource for finding a list of "android auto" compatible apps? I should (hopefully) be getting a 8100NEX tomorrow (to use with my nexus6.) However, I can't seem to find a current list of compatible apps. For example, I'd like to find a music player (not Google's play music - the 1000 track playlist limit is too... limiting) that'd work with it.
Thanks
Gary

https://play.google.com/store/apps/collection/promotion_3001303_android_auto_all
I emailed Doubletwist asking if they are going to have an Android Auto update and they haven't responded.

garyd9 said:
Is there any resource for finding a list of "android auto" compatible apps? I should (hopefully) be getting a 8100NEX tomorrow (to use with my nexus6.) However, I can't seem to find a current list of compatible apps. For example, I'd like to find a music player (not Google's play music - the 1000 track playlist limit is too... limiting) that'd work with it.
Thanks
Gary
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.android.com/auto/
There is a list of compatible apps.

Skynx72 said:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/collection/promotion_3001303_android_auto_all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you - that was exactly what I was looking for. (It's a short list, isn't it? ugh..)
MarcJ1904 said:
http://www.android.com/auto/There is a list of compatible apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Honestly, this looks more like an advertisement for android auto than a "live" (and updated) list. I appreciate the reply nevertheless.
Take care
Gary

I hope so, but for example: WhatsApp, Facebook and so on I can´t use with Android Auto and I would think these apps are the apps with the fastest update rate.

garyd9 said:
Is there any resource for finding a list of "android auto" compatible apps? I should (hopefully) be getting a 8100NEX tomorrow (to use with my nexus6.) However, I can't seem to find a current list of compatible apps. For example, I'd like to find a music player (not Google's play music - the 1000 track playlist limit is too... limiting) that'd work with it.
Thanks
Gary
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Gary. Try going to appradioworld.com and click on the app tab. You'll find a list for android and apple that is stated to be continually updated.
John

garyd9 said:
Thank you - that was exactly what I was looking for. (It's a short list, isn't it? ugh..)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only messaging and audio playback apps. Mainly because (according to the developer docs) these are the only API's currently available to developers. This will undoubtedly be expanded on; there is another category of apps (car related) that no API's exist for at this point.
But how long will it take? If you compare it to Wear, probably the better part of a year. And it seems Wear was much more finished in the first place. This is a little disturbing. No one buys the initial run of Auto compatible units because Auto is so unfinished, and manufacturers loose interest. Hopefully, that will not be the case, but I for one am on the fence for now.

http://www.appradioworld.com/2015/04/samsung-galaxy-s6-not-compatible-with.html#more
They say the HTC One M8 is compatible with Android Auto, but my HTC One M8 doesn´t work

MarcJ1904 said:
http://www.appradioworld.com/2015/04/samsung-galaxy-s6-not-compatible-with.html#more
They say the HTC One M8 is compatible with Android Auto, but my HTC One M8 doesn´t work
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
...and this relates to the thread topic how?

garyd9 said:
Is there any resource for finding a list of "android auto" compatible apps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The lastest release of the Android Auto app has a link to the available apps.

Where can I get the latest version? In Germany the app isn´t available in the Playstore.

MarcJ1904 said:
Where can I get the latest version? In Germany the app isn´t available in the Playstore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Best place for all Google APKs: http://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google-inc/android-auto/
Install manually and it should work, but keep it up to date.
I had a problem where AA refused to start because there was a newer version on Play. But it wouldn't download due to my country not being whitelisted. Some day it might refuse to work at all without the right parameters.
This could happen in the middle of a trip, or at least after a car restart.
Of course almost everyone had fun recently with an accidental development release that showed numbers and emails all over the screen.

Hello,
thanks for the link.
When I try to take a look which apps are supported the result is "No result." (Germany, also with United States VPN)
Perhaps you can post a list of the supported apps?

Facebook will never be allowed on Android Auto.
MarcJ1904 said:
I hope so, but for example: WhatsApp, Facebook and so on I can´t use with Android Auto and I would think these apps are the apps with the fastest update rate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Android Auto is designed to Auto safety guidelines that are very strict. Facebook is not something someone should be using in a car.

What is the diffrence between Facebook and WhatsApp and ICQ what is supported?!

MarcJ1904 said:
What is the diffrence between Facebook and WhatsApp and ICQ what is supported?!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Android Auto supports "Messaging" (and "Media").
So if Facebook could do an app or extension limited to text messaging with text to speech and speech to text, then AA could support that I guess.
No looking at pictures/videos or posting them or doing text on screen for sure.
But the app would have to be approved by Google, for distraction, and whatever else suits their business goals.

I wish Waze was supported. I would rather use it than Google Maps.

Question Ads in Samsung apps

I don't understand why is Samsung pushing their advertisement into more and more native apps
Weather app recently got an update and now is full with full screen adverts
I just don't understand...you pay £1500 for s phone...build in adverts is the last thing you want
If the weather channel is charging you to the point you need to turn your weather app into a non stop adverts app... change supplier to a free one
Otherwise don't charge us loads for fed-forced feeding adverts

tim2london said:
I don't understand why is Samsung pushing their advertisement into more and more native apps
Weather app recently got an update and now is full with full screen adverts
I just don't understand...you pay £1500 for s phone...build in adverts is the last thing you want
If the weather channel is charging you to the point you need to turn your weather app into a non stop adverts app... change supplier to a free one
Otherwise don't charge us loads for fed-forced feeding adverts
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do this good man and show Samsung the middle finger

lol im hoping that when i pay £1500 on a phone i dont need to install DNS on it to turn off ads - honestly - what is it with samsung these days?!
i think soon the phones will come with some option like ads-free subscription OS - £10/mo - otherwise here is an OS full of adverts every 5 min

You only get them if you opt in to the customisation of each service. Customisation => personal ads. If you opt-out they should stop

tim2london said:
lol im hoping that when i pay £1500 on a phone i dont need to install DNS on it to turn off ads - honestly - what is it with samsung these days?!
i think soon the phones will come with some option like ads-free subscription OS - £10/mo - otherwise here is an OS full of adverts every 5 min
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In my humble opinion if you wanna fork out £1500 for a phone you gotta really own it, that´s what I´d do. I got the same phone and I´m rooted and I OWN it, no crap or horse **** from Samsung or Google. Why pay so much for a phone and accept bull**** from Samsung, why are you just hugging the **** and have all that knox and Samsung pissfuck still in it? My S21 Ultra is flying, the sound is outta this world, very light and debloated. I can still use my Banking stuff and all that, I have Sony Keyboard, Sony SketchEF font, Viper4Android, JamesDSP, Netflix, Amazon and all the many goodies plus my security is dope. So my man, you paid £1500 and gave Samsung the keys....I wouldn´t do that. Methinks

Aluyi said:
In my humble opinion if you wanna fork out £1500 for a phone you gotta really own it, that´s what I´d do. I got the same phone and I´m rooted and I OWN it, no crap or horse **** from Samsung or Google. Why pay so much for a phone and accept bull**** from Samsung, why are you just hugging the **** and have all that knox and Samsung pissfuck still in it? My S21 Ultra is flying, the sound is outta this world, very light and debloated. I can still use my Banking stuff and all that, I have Sony Keyboard, Sony SketchEF font, Viper4Android, JamesDSP, Netflix, Amazon and all the many goodies plus my security is dope. So my man, you paid £1500 and gave Samsung the keys....I wouldn´t do that. Methinks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
not everyone is a phone rooting guru or wants to be
i just want a phone with no ads
is that too much to ask these days?

tim2london said:
not everyone is a phone rooting guru or wants to be
i just want a phone with no ads
is that too much to ask these days?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Guru would be taking it too far, these days the manufacturers don´t give a rat-ass about you or me, the powers that be that own all these firms know just one thing - make our lives harder while making us pay for it

This ads thing is location based. I don't get any ads on my S21U. No matter if I turn personalization on or off.

ione2380 said:
This ads thing is location based. I don't get any ads on my S21U. No matter if I turn personalization on or off.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can somehow force closing GPS help remove the ads?

tim2london said:
not everyone is a phone rooting guru or wants to be
i just want a phone with no ads
is that too much to ask these days?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Turn of personalisation services in each app/service and you do not get ads. BTW personalisation = personal ads.
Samsung is still putting obnoxious ads on Galaxy devices; here's how to avoid most of them
Samsung plasters its expensive Galaxy smartphones and tablets with annoying ads, but thankfully you can turn a lot of them off. Here's how.
9to5google.com

LR7875 said:
Can somehow force closing GPS help remove the ads?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, when I said location, I meant, it's region dependent, so it doesn't matter if you turn off location.

I get no ads in the UK by disabling the customisation or personalisation options in the apps. A mate who has the same phone but has not disabled them gets ads.

lywyn said:
Turn of personalisation services in each app/service and you do not get ads. BTW personalisation = personal ads.
Samsung is still putting obnoxious ads on Galaxy devices; here's how to avoid most of them
Samsung plasters its expensive Galaxy smartphones and tablets with annoying ads, but thankfully you can turn a lot of them off. Here's how.
9to5google.com
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Disable personalised ads will bring you some generic global ads such as PayPal, etc. It will still bring you ads, but less dependent on your region, hobbies, etc.
ione2380 said:
Sorry, when I said location, I meant, it's region dependent, so it doesn't matter if you turn off location.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So skipping the entire setup process(even before you chooses your language), while hardly possible, can technically bring a zero ad experience?

LR7875 said:
Disable personalised ads will bring you some generic global ads such as PayPal, etc. It will still bring you ads, but less dependent on your region, hobbies, etc.
So skipping the entire setup process(even before you chooses your language), while hardly possible, can technically bring a zero ad experience?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just go to settings- privacy- customisation and see if it is turned on. Turn it off. Also see of you have "receive marketing information" on. Turn that off also.
I can't guarantee this will work, as I can't reproduce it on my phone. My csc doesn't receive ads.

Blacklist this: sspapi-prd.samsungrs.com
https://github.com/AdAway/AdAway

Block Ads on Android 9.0+ (Without downloading any app)
In android 9.0 pie and above we have an option to set Private DNS, this can be used to block ads on your phone. STEP 1- Under Connection in Settings, scroll down and select More Connection Settings. STEP 2- Select the Private DNS Option STEP 3- Select Private DNS provider...
r2.community.samsung.com
Just entered "dns.adguard.com" as private DNS server and it killed the ads in NOAA. So far no issues. Seems faster too.
I'm just playing around and not register or logged in to Adguard but it seems to be working.
This too easy...
What am I missing (if anything)?

Aluyi said:
Do this good man and show Samsung the middle finger
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's exactly what I did! Ha!

tim2london said:
lol im hoping that when i pay £1500 on a phone i dont need to install DNS on it to turn off ads - honestly - what is it with samsung these days?!
i think soon the phones will come with some option like ads-free subscription OS - £10/mo - otherwise here is an OS full of adverts every 5 min
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No popular tech product respects your privacy or provides a good user experience out of the box. We have to be technologically literate to make basic improvements like blocking trackers and ads, and maybe just replacing their default apps with good ones.

Well flash a custom ROM once that is out, which won't have ads

Finn1sher said:
No popular tech product respects your privacy or provides a good user experience out of the box. We have to be technologically literate to make basic improvements like blocking trackers and ads, and maybe just replacing their default apps with good ones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed!
I've introduced so many people to piHole and AdAway and browser plugins like uBlock, etc lately!

Question Why did MIUI Security (which is revoked on my phone) suddenly inform me that the Aliexpress app "may contain a virus, delete it"?

Hello. I don't like most of the BS built in apps on the Redmi Note 10 Pro. The Security app that scans everything is supposedly non-deletable (bricking MIUI if you try to forcibly delete it), so I did what was suggested and revoked its authorization. It still tries to scan newly installed apps but it asks for the revoked authorization whenever that happens, so I figured it doesn't do anything.
Well, I just unplugged the phone from the charger and that was the floating notification showing. Aliexpress is already installed for a while, so A. does that mean Security still runs periodical background scans without asking me? And B. where is that warning coming from all of a sudden? I even tried searching the "This app may contain a virus" phrase on Google and it seems no Xiaomi user has ever asked about it.
Any idea?

Trashware and major malware.
Why would you even use that site?
is the CCP.
Get it off the phone...

blackhawk said:
Trashware and major malware.
Why would you even use that site?
is the CCP.
Get it off the phone...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, it sells a bunch of crap for cheap and is one of the biggest online commerce websites. Besides, the phone itself is from a Chinese company and with its stock OS runs on Chinese software (which is why I try disabling stuff which isn't needed), and that doesn't really answer where's that notification coming from.

TLxda-d said:
Well, it sells a bunch of crap for cheap and is one of the biggest online commerce websites. Besides, the phone itself is from a Chinese company and with its stock OS runs on Chinese software (which is why I try disabling stuff which isn't needed), and that doesn't really answer where's that notification coming from.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The security app likely has internet connection and gets updated.
Pretty funny they flagged that app. Wonder if they will get in trouble for doing it?
Is it a ploy to gain trust or perhaps since the toy gun dragnet is now public, the cat is out of the bag... and in a high security prison it no longer matters to "detect" and flag it.
Lol, try disabling the security app too. I doubt it can be trusted and is likely mining your data.
Scan with free Malwarebytes instead.
Scan suspect apks with online Virustotal.

blackhawk said:
The security app likely has internet connection and gets updated.
Pretty funny they flagged that app. Wonder if they will get in trouble for doing it?
Is it a ploy to gain trust or perhaps since the toy gun dragnet is now public, the cat is out of the bag... and in a high security prison it no longer matters to "detect" and flag it.
Lol, try disabling the security app too. I doubt it can be trusted and is likely mining your data.
Scan with free Malwarebytes instead.
Scan suspect apks with online Virustotal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It did get a couple of other system notifications when I opened the phone ("Enable Find My Device", "Mi Video updates"), but even if something updated with Security it shouldn't start scanning my apps.
Anyway, your answer is that both Aliexpress and the MIUI software should be viewed as Chinese malware?

TLxda-d said:
It did get a couple of other system notifications when I opened the phone ("Enable Find My Device", "Mi Video updates"), but even if something updated with Security it shouldn't start scanning my apps.
Anyway, your answer is that both Aliexpress and the MIUI software should be viewed as Chinese malware?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Draw your own conclusions.
I have zero faith in any Chinese electronics that have any potential for internet access.
One of the CCP's primary missions is clear; collect data by any and all means available.

TLxda-d said:
Hello. I don't like most of the BS built in apps on the Redmi Note 10 Pro. The Security app that scans everything is supposedly non-deletable (bricking MIUI if you try to forcibly delete it), so I did what was suggested and revoked its authorization. It still tries to scan newly installed apps but it asks for the revoked authorization whenever that happens, so I figured it doesn't do anything.
Well, I just unplugged the phone from the charger and that was the floating notification showing. Aliexpress is already installed for a while, so A. does that mean Security still runs periodical background scans without asking me? And B. where is that warning coming from all of a sudden? I even tried searching the "This app may contain a virus" phrase on Google and it seems no Xiaomi user has ever asked about it.
Any idea?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AliExpress is in play store so I'm confused why it detects as virus is that play store version or did you installed it from third party websites