I've tried everything possible to stop vivos spyware, namely cim.vivo.pushservice and com.vivo.abe (plus maybe some others but the main one clearly is push service - whatever you do interacting with your phone shortly after push service tries (because I blocked it's internet access with Adguard) to contact some Chinese servers.
Edit: For app ops to work reliably you need to debloat com.vivo.devicereg first. Also remove com.vivo.abe and other apps for best results first - see here for list: https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/...al-battery-drain.4544851/page-5#post-88459025
You cannot debloat it, you cannot freeze it, there is no normal way to remove it from starting as you cannot simply restrict it from running as it runs on user 1000.
However what you can do, though only with app ops is to simply remove it access to any system content by providing fake zero content (ignore). Actual denying is also not possible.
I'm attaching a screenshot on how to set it up and I don't know which actual setting works, but something does work because for the first time I'm using this device it's not trying to connect to the internet anymore. This should also substantially improve battery life.
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
You need to activate system and system framework apps to show it. By default they are hidden.
It's quite crazy how many times different vivo apps access location and contacts. Well enough other apps are pretty annoying in accessing fine location so app ops is a great tool to cut down on requests by apps (yes usually a power manager would restrict the apps a bit, but as we have to remove vivo.pem to receive notifications app ops is the answer)
If you setup an island with islands app, it's pretty crazy how fast the vivo system starts requesting access to loads of stuff. Maybe because I forbid internet access to the vivo spyware it kept on going crazy? Well clearly by default this system send everything, and yeah really everything straight to Chinese servers when it comes to location, contacts, messages, phone log, system settings and so on. You cannot even deny this but it's great that android now provides the ignore function which will return empty information instead.
This one is especially terrifying. I guess the service gathers all the data it gives to push service to send to China... Put it on ignore straight away.
App ops is available on Google play, installation needs shizuku too which is a bit complicated and needs restarting after reboot of system. However most settings should survive a reboot (I have to try and monitor this), best make a backup and yeah totally worth it to buy the full version. There is no single other app that I tried which worked and the auto restore feature is only available in full version. Also some more other stuff.
I'm thinking if I should remove all accounts and try the device owner mode. Clearly this will be the first thing I will do on any new phone or hard reset. Put shizuku as owner so it can autostart
App Ops - Permission manager - Apps on Google Play
Manage app permission with App Ops (require root or adb)
play.google.com
Edit/Update.
Vivo using system user 1000 is problematic because somehow you cannot set some/many permissions per app but only per user. It's hard to see when this applies and when not.
So both of this apps which are core parts of the spyware armada will share/influence the android system permission on location. Clearly debloat would be better but impossible without root.
You cannot directly set it here - and that's the problem. It's even not possible in the log to tell which user 1000 app requested location as somehow it will always show android system...
Some things I do not know yet - because I didn't use it long enough.
Does Vivo rotten oranges tries to overwrite the settings? MIUI seemingly does and there is a restore mode especially for it.
Some reviews mention that the backup/import option does not work for System apps. I don't know if this was fixed or not (seems to have been okay 2-3 years ago - maybe downgrade if that is so).
Do you need the app? No you could do this manually or even write a batch as its all app ops set commands. But that would be way way more complicated than using the app (and the free version does most things already).
I hope by seeing the body sensors log I managed to eliminate the offending apps like Phone that accessed them and cause the phone to lose battery while on the go like crazy.
Which apps should you set to ignore everything?
Well foremost those that we would all like to uninstall and remove but cannot.
com.vivo.abe, push notifications service, com.android.phone (and use a different dialler app instead - the default phone must be spyware infused to the top as it becomes active all of the time without being in use and replaced in my case with google phone already), the numbermark stuff, vivo locationservices,
Youtube Revanced - Fine Location - should you use it. I don't know why it keeps on requesting this all the time. Put it on ignore or Deny to save battery (seems to be a bit badly programmed)
Multi Device Connectivity (don't know what this thing does, but it requests loads of data/wakeups and so on - maybe part of the spyware suite? For Sure remove it from Fine Location)
AiEnginge,Aiservices.
Controversial: Should you remove location access to Android System? I think it can save battery but not sure if some apps break some functionality?
com.vivo.devicereg (this one is quite active too - I'm not sure if we should put everything on ignore here too).
And yeah - I'm 99.99% positive the China Spyware is tracking your location 100% of the time. So it's not only some metadata, contacts, call data, messages, clipboard content and app filtering - but also your location. Now is this collected by Vivo for its own good, or for the Chinese government? I don't care I don't want either and I pretty much thing the way it works is several services gathering all that data - and most like vivo push notifications (haha fitting name) pushing this info to Chinese servers.
And yeah - seeing how many access rights are given to various system apps is not normal! I compared this to my Huawei P30 Pro and Galaxy S7 and both have much much less permissions given (a bit problematic as earlier Android versions aren't so detailled). Plus without app ops you don't even know about this! The stock permission management just hides all the system framework apps so you never know!
BTW - If you identify any app that requests a lot of stuff like location or contacts and you do not know why it should - try to debloat it because that's always the better solution. com.vivo.multinlp - Vivo Location Services can be debloated.
Same for Multi Device Connectivity: com.vivo.connbase
The rest of the apps above (except phone which breaks functionality if debloated) - cannot be debloated. So that's when you use App Ops instead. It's always safer using app ops vs fully uninstalling/disabling an app from a standpoint about breaking something. However for battery use most likely uninstalling via adb is the better solution. I decided to remove those two apps, but a more conservative approach is to simply remove their access to sensitive data.
Someone knows why google play services needs access to body sensors?
I'm attaching my current profile - not sure if you can import it without having the same debloat level as on my phone (which is pretty extensive - I have 77 apps uninstalled and 11 disabled. Yeah and most of that are services/system apps (very few a pre installed user apps).
Need to remove the txt ending on the backup to import.
Oh I think the reviews are right, the backup doesn't include settings for system apps. That a bummer. Kinda makes the backup/import function useless.
Now it clearly would make more sense if one could create a huge bash/batch file to do all of these app ops commands. I clearly don't know how to do that simply? Yeah finding out what changed is possible with dumpsys....
Battery life improved loads on first try, but then somehow I managed to destroy the Bluetooth connection by removing permissions somewhere too much. Also I had the phone in vibration mode overnight which kills all notifications and is like airplane mode light.
It's really horrible software design by vivo that vibration mode kills all notifications with screen off.
The only thing to achieve actual vibration mode is turning volume down to 0. I really cannot get who can program such a lousy thing.
I don't know why but location is constantly requested by something and I highly doubt it's actually android system!
Sadly Vivo system like MIUI seems to reset the restrictions all the time. So you need shizuku running all the time to restore the settings..
Especially com.vivo.abe restores it's permissions several times daily and as soon as that happens battery life goes **** again in idle and spyware starts working again...
It's super frustrating but essentially this phone had rubbish software that isn't fixable. It can be improved as many settings aren't reset but the spyware tries everything it can to restore itself overwriting system settings all the time.
Oh and push notifications also sends out data to fixed IP addresses in China that cannot be prevented.
Location is accessed like crazy by all the spyware.
Thats the main killer because it's permanently checking location if you don't disable location system wide.
At least down from 15.000 requests to 9000 thanks to app ops.
Hi @extremecarver, any updates on this? I appreciated what you have done so far to investigate this issue.
The problem I'm facing right now is, the idle drain is too much for me. With plane mode on during 6 hour night, it lost 3%. With normal 3g-4g signal (no data), it drains about 1% per hour, sometimes 2%. That means if I go to work and let my phone sit there for a whole day without touching anything, then it will lose 8%-16%. That's crazy numbers.
I also found that, googlemap (with gps+4g) can kill battery very quickly. Usually, I drive to work in 30 mins and it drops 6%, i.e, 1% per 5 mins. With the same use, the s22 ultra drops just under 3%.
And if I use the phone normally such as web browsing, facebook, instagram, tiktok, even taking photos then it drains very very normally as other phones do.
I have the s22 ultra and I can say that the battery on s22 ultra is much better than vivo. It's understandable because it has been optimized for a year now. With the s22 ultra and with the same using pattern, I can easily get 8 hours SoT, while the vivo can barely get it to 5-6 hours.
Pretty sad because this x90 pro+ camera is better than the s22 ultra in many aspects, easier to hold in hand (s22 ultra is too hard to reach the edge of the phone and too heavy) although I don't like both curve screens. I don't have many problems with the notifications because I mainly use messenger and gmail and that's all.
So hopefully, someone can find out the way to fix those excessive battery drain or Vivo can release some updates to solve this problem in the future.
Dear All,
i'm not sure if mine could be a good solution or not but i'm using nextdns service and it basically blocks all or almost all vivo and others brand spyware without installing any apps.
it's very quick and easy to activate, just enable dns privato in network settings and write your dns resolver url.
i hope it could be helpful.
lemonade747 said:
Hi @extremecarver, any updates on this? I appreciated what you have done so far to investigate this issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes by removing virtually any rights on any app/service that I don't think needs it - I could solve the battery drain.
However now I cannot use the telephone to make calls (passive receving calls still works), and I seem not to be able to update to the new trial software because it isn't found.
Now the problem with App Ops is - I cannot quickly return all rights to update the software - as the backup/import function does not work with system apps.
This phone is just one thing, Crap, crap, crap, crap, crap. Not a single day I don't want to use a hammer and trash it. It's simpy virtually impossible to fix the crapware/spyware of this phone.
Svask89 said:
Dear All,
i'm not sure if mine could be a good solution or not but i'm using nextdns service and it basically blocks all or almost all vivo and others brand spyware without installing any apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No it doesn't - it can only block apps, not even some system services - and only if they connect to a website, not if they connect to an IP address!
I have written about stopping spyware with DNS services already - this stops some sending of data - but doesn't help at all when it comes to battery drain. There will still be 20.000 events or so per day (which is a crazy amount) of the china spyware logging your location (and yeah mostly high accuracy, not low accuracy), trying to connect to chinese servers and other problems that you can only discover via Shizuku.
And NextDNS is not the right solution at all. I think even Adguard is a bit more efficient for this. The best one is Rething DNS+ - it's the only app that can block all system services (but then you cannot use another app for ad filtering like Adaware/Adguard).
This menu is not accessible via settings... But it exists
Needs to be accesses via activity launcher.
Actually private DNS exists too but is hidden by Vivo like so many other privacy related settings.. this OS is so rotten they try to hide everything that improves privacy...
Likely everything you write with Vivo secure keyboard has preferential upload to China servers
(This last one is sarcasm without proof, but don't believe anything this OS tells you about privacy because logs tell you it's lying)
Some more stuff of which a lot is hidden and not accessible
Go f**k standard vivo settings menu. The only problem is the real android settings menu is missing the search function. But it's feature complete (except the stuff Vivo really removed from Android which isn't too much.. mostly they just removed it from the settings menu)
This phone is a absolute garbage. Seems vivo blocks shizuku after some days of using it.
Found a Chinese tutorial on bilibili on what to do to solve it but that doesn't work anymore either.
Now vivo Push notifications spyware tries to send again notifications at a rate of 10-20 every second...
Basically the phone is a brick now, draining battery faster and faster with pushware and Abe having restored their permissions...
Also I cannot use ADB Appcontrol anymore - as it doesn't get permission (removing/restoring permission for ACBBridge didnt help).
I also activated Force Activity Resizeable in the developer options but that didn't change a thing... ( I think this only applies to apps that cannot get the pairing code via notifications and need the code entered in splitscreen - as if you switch screen the code is renewed)
'This phone is just one thing, Crap, crap, crap, crap, crap. Not a single day I don't want to use a hammer and trash it. It's simpy virtually impossible to fix the crapware/spyware of this phone.'
Patiently waiting
extremecarver said:
This phone is a absolute garbage. Seems vivo blocks shizuku after some days of using it.
Found a Chinese tutorial on bilibili on what to do to solve it but that doesn't work anymore either.
Now vivo Push notifications spyware tries to send again notifications at a rate of 10-20 every second...
Basically the phone is a brick now, draining battery faster and faster with pushware and Abe having restored their permissions...
View attachment 5873093
Also I cannot use ADB Appcontrol anymore - as it doesn't get permission (removing/restoring permission for ACBBridge didnt help).
I also activated Force Activity Resizeable in the developer options but that didn't change a thing... ( I think this only applies to apps that cannot get the pairing code via notifications and need the code entered in splitscreen - as if you switch screen the code is renewed)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you Vivo, keep doing it to his phone
Any updates on this @extremecarver?
I'm using this and what I see so far is the battery drain cut down to around 5% overnight (6 hours). With plane mode ON, it lost about 3% in 6 hours, not too bad for me. However, when put it there on my desk when I'm working (with 4g signal covered, no data), for 8 hours it sucked around 10%, and with wifi on that number is around 20%. My old Huawei Mate 20 and S22U can do even better than this (just around 5% without wifi, and 10-15% with wifi).
In addition, I also found that the battery drain when using GPS on this phone is too much for me. Just 1 hour and it sucked about 12% with 4G data ON.
Yes - in order to really cut the battery drain you need to remove much more permissions. The problem is that Vivo restores them - you could try to restrict that but modifying "modify restricted settings/ files" or something similar - but maybe that is how I locked myself out.
You can go into the "keep awake" and "run in background" and put ignore on everything you think that is not absolutely needed. Android 12 and above should not use this keep awake but Vivo apparently does.
Then you culd restrict body sensor data to more apps/services.
But yes as long as there is no way to really remove vivo.abe and vivo push notifications the battery drain is not fixable. Then of course the modem sucks - and uses way too much power. That one is either hardware rubbish or software mess up. I rather guess a rubbish modem.
The worst is battery drain while outdoors doing sports without being in airplane mode even if you disable any access to body sensors for all apps normally (use "device Info" app for this to actually get to all services, then app ops for removing even more.
extremecarver said:
Yes - in order to really cut the battery drain you need to remove much more permissions. The problem is that Vivo restores them - you could try to restrict that but modifying "modify restricted settings/ files" or something similar - but maybe that is how I locked myself out.
You can go into the wake something section and remove everything you think that is not needed. Android 12 and above should not use this - but Vivo apparently does.
Then you culd restrict body sensor data to more apps/services.
But yes as long as there is no way to really remove vivo.abe and vivo push notifications the battery drain is not fixable. Then of course the modem sucks - and uses way too much power. That one is either hardware rubbish or software mess up. I rather guess a rubbish modem.
The worst is battery drain while outdoors doing sports without being in airplane mode even if you disable any access to body sensors for all apps normally (use "device Info" app for this to actually get to all services, then app ops for removing even more.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The phone is good overall, camera, design, performance, but the battery drain is destroying those good points. Not sure if vivo will fix this in the future or not, but my S22U did take more than 6 months to get some first stable updates, and it's super stable right now at 1 year.
Well I cannot call any phone good if it's basic functions like notifications and spyware are rubbish like hell - causing battery drain without end. And yeah - without root you can make it a bit better but cannot fix it. With root if would be quite doable (as long as Vivo doesn't introduce any killswitch like disabling stuff once vivo.abe or push notification service is uninstalled). Root for running adb commands would be enough. But vivo actively disabled this by making many apps removable only for user 1000.
ok so it seems no way to fix the rubbish battery life.
this thread convinced me to sell the phone for a s23 ultra, the battery life differences are huge given only the 300mah battery.
Very good phone ruined by battery life, I don't even care at this point about camera and other specs, I expected good battery life from a sd gen 2 with 4700 mah but i was clearly wrong.
My 1st and last vivo phone, too bad i'll lose tons of money now because is vivo is a no name here.
You lose tons of money everywhere as soon as you cannot return a Vivo phone anymore...
Btw, can someone show what permissions are on Android system by default?
I wonder if I'm missing some (screenshot from device info):
I never directly removed a permission from Android system, but I removed permissions from apps running as well on system.uid user, and sometimes they interact, sometimes they don't. Vivo really messed up the permissions because it's not possible to cleanly change permissions.
If you see the permissions given to push notifications it's anyhow clear than restricting any permissions to vivo apps to stop them to spy on you is like fighting windmills, because push notifications just about has any permission imaginable even after removing some with app ops. Here are the permissions left over from push notifications after removing any possible with app ops app.
Found the error why I couldn't access adb anymore. Shell system app somehow had all rights removed. Fixed it by exporting the apk and reinstalling it. Not locked out anymore and can use app ops again...
Strange thing though - on reboot shell went missing again. Not sure what the crap deletes shell on reboot. I'm pretty sure that's some kind of vivo killswitch if you remove rights via app ops commands from it's spyware.
Related
Long time ago, in the mid-2000s, there was such a fabulous concept as "PDA". Unfortunately, Microsoft let it slip and the concept went downhill.
Now for me it was the idea of a device that is not a phone (hence the existence of a separate "smartphone") and that is rarely online. It's bigger than "phone" and you use it to do serious stuff, not reading Twitter and ranting on Facebook.
I understand this concept is not very popular these days but this thread is for those of you security paranoids who are not risking putting your precious data online at all. But even if you are not so extreme you can safely get rid of more than 100 apps, you'll just have to experiment a little given my lists here.
Below are the apps I have removed to make my Note Edge run as smooth as ever, with battery lasting days on average use. I have been experimenting with this, gathering info about each problematic app from the internets; details and links are included below where I could find them.
What is removed: cellular/phone/messages/Qualcomm support, Samsung-only sharing/device features (quick share, direct share, beacon, TV, battery sharing, etc.), location services, Google/Samsung stuff, Dropbox/Evernote/Flipboard/other bundled stuff, backup/sync/cloud, tracking/remote management/locking (it had lots of this stuff), wearable stuff, environment sound detecting, payment/checkout, Chrome/Chromecast, Play/Samsung stores (install apps offline by APK), Car Mode, private mode, Knox, printing, S Finder, S Voice, Emergency Mode, SIM support, weather, Safety info, wizard appearing when you hard-reset the device (so all settings are set to defaults, you can customize them later anyway), Smart Remote, talkback, default video player, editing and trimming.
What is kept: all legit core functionality: external SD card, Internet (for offline browsing), Wi-Fi (but didn't try it), Bluetooth, NFC, camera and photo studio, Edge panel (Cocktailbar) features, S Pen including direct input, notes, snippets, etc., voice recorder/other tools, Easy Mode including reduced screen and side panel, Night Clock, S Health (tested pedometer, heart rate), service menus (e.g. *#0*#), ART/Dalvik runtimes work (instead of 300+ apps to optimize you get 143), USB features including MTP/debugging/adb, most native Samsung apps like Gallery and S Planner that are good. Dialing 911 seems to work which is surprising given all removed phone components.
After using this unbloated version of Kitkat 4.4.4 all apps still work fine except for some games that need Google Services Framework (however, it'll need other Google components, not just that - experiment). Not all though - Heroes 3 HD work just fine. Also note that if GSF is removed (partially or fully) while setup wizards are not you won't be able to get past the first run wizard as it will crash due to missing GSF. So either remove both or none.
I used this app to remove things. But you can probably freeze them with Titanium Backup with the same effect (except wasted disk space).
Removed apps (in alphabetic order):
Adapt Sound
AirWakeUp - this gesture drains battery like crazy, 10-15% per hour in sleep mode
AllShare FileShare Service - for playing content on other devices: http://www.shouldiremoveit.com/Samsung-AllShare-12424-program.aspx
ANT HAL Service - wearable support
ANT Radio Service
ANT+ Plugins Service
Automation Test - some say it can freeze the device, some say it's safe to remove: http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s2/general/jelly-bean-xxlsj-solution-to-battery-t2016419
AutoPreconfig - cellular stuff: http://www.w0lfdroid.com/2013/08/change-csc-samsung-galaxy-devices-s4.html
Backup
Basic Daydreams - appear when the device is locked like a screensaver (photos, etc.) instead of clock, etc.
BeaconManager
Beaming Service
Blurb Checkout
Briefing
CapabilityManagerService - Popups when headphone jack used: http://forums.androidcentral.com/sp...ng-galaxy-s3-sprint-version-stock-rooted.html
CarMode
CarModeRemote
CatchFavorites - Yahoo/Twitter stuff: http://forum.xda-developers.com/note-edge/general/themers-paradise-useful-information-t2946943
Chrome
ChromecastServerService
CloudAgent
com.android.backupconfirm
com.android.provider.partnerbookmarks
com.android.sharedstoragebackup
com.qualcom.qcom_qmi - cellular protocol: https://sigquit.wordpress.com/2012/08/20/an-introduction-to-libqmi/
com.qualcomm.interfacepermissions - seems to be safe to remove
com.sec.android.app.chromecustomizations
com.sec.android.app.sbrowsertry - probably safe to remove: http://techspooler.com/guides/remove-bloatware-apps/1868
com.sec.android.app.wfdbroker - All Share related: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1910885&page=2
com.sec.android.chromecastservice
com.sec.android.mimage.expressme
com.sec.android.minimode.res - there are no mini apps in Note, probably safe to remove
com.sec.android.pagebuddynotisvc
com.sec.android.SamsungDrmProvider
com.sec.bcservice - probably safe to remove, deals with system status (rooted, etc.): http://androidforums.com/threads/li...-de-bloat-your-boost-mobile-galaxy-s3.778877/ - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2285894&page=2
com.sec.chromecast.remoteplayer
com.sec.enterprise.knox.attestation - this and other 4 apps are safe to remove
ConfigUpdater - Automatically updates certificates, firewall config, sms list, timezone info, said to be safe to remove: http://blog.burrowsapps.com/2014/03/what-android-apps-are-safe-to-remove.html, http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2727541
CSC - cellular stuff: https://spreadsheets.google.com/spr...1gdDJRekl4QmkyNmIzUmRvX2h3UDVkQXc&output=html, http://www.w0lfdroid.com/2013/08/change-csc-samsung-galaxy-devices-s4.html
DCMProvider - communicates with other Samsung devices: http://forums.androidcentral.com/samsung-galaxy-s5/380456-dcmprovider-what.html
DeviceTest (com.sec.factory) - service codes: http://androidforums.com/threads/all-bloatware-detailed-complet-list.871115/
DirectShareManager
Drive
Dropbox
DSMLawmo - Dedicated Security Management to remotely lock/reset/etc. the device: http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s2/help/dsmlawmo-t1863011
ELM Agent - multi-user support: http://androidforums.com/threads/elm-agent.825065/
Email
EmergencyManagerService
EmergencyProvider
Enterprise Sim Pin Service
EpsonPrintService
Evernote
Exchange Services
Favorite Contacts
Filter Installer
Filter Manager
FilterProvider
FixmoISA - some DoD stuff: http://gcn.com/articles/2013/05/29/breakdown-dod-security-controls--ios-android.aspx
Flipboard
Fused Location - location-related: https://developers.google.com/andro...android/gms/location/FusedLocationProviderApi
FWUpgrade - Upgrade client for AllShare app: http://forums.androidcentral.com/sp...ng-galaxy-s3-sprint-version-stock-rooted.html
GALAXY Apps Widget
Gmail
Google Backup Transport
Google Calendar Sync
Google Contacts Sync
Google Partner Setup
Google Play Books
Google Play Games
Google Play Movies & TV
Google Play Music
Google Play Newsstand
Google Play Services
Google Search
Google Services Framework - needed for Google apps
Google Text-to-speech Engine
Google+
Hangouts
HP Print Service Plugin
InCallUI
IndexService - S Finder-related, causes problems: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2461958
Intelligence Service - spying, Carrier IQ: http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s5/help/kill-com-samsung-android-t2811304
Keyguard wallpaper updator
KeyguardTestActivity
Kies Application BnR
KLMS Agent
Live weather
LocalFOTA
LocationServices
Maps
Market Feedback Agent
MDMApp - some remote management: http://www.samsung.com/global/business/mobile/solution/security/mobile-device-management
Mobile print
Mobile Tracker
MobilePrintSvc_CUPS
MobilePrintSvc_CUPS_Backend
My interests
My Places
Nearby devices
Nearby Service
OMACP - SMS-related: https://spreadsheets.google.com/spr...1gdDJRekl4QmkyNmIzUmRvX2h3UDVkQXc&output=html
PacProcessor - claimed to be safe to remove: http://blog.burrowsapps.com/2014/03/what-android-apps-are-safe-to-remove.html
Pay with PayPal
PEN.UP
Perso - call sound personalization: http://androidforums.com/threads/all-bloatware-detailed-complet-list.871115/
Post_T_Promo - Dropbox stuff
Power Sharing - transfer power to another Samsung device: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.samsung.android.app.powersharing&hl=en
Preconfig - cellular stuff: http://www.w0lfdroid.com/2013/08/change-csc-samsung-galaxy-devices-s4.html
Print Spooler
Private Mode Service
Quick call contacts
Quick Connect
Quick Connect Interaction Service
RCPComponents - remote control: http://forums.androidcentral.com/samsung-galaxy-s5/396488-galaxy-s5-battery-life-getting-bad.html
Remote Controls - com.fmm.dm
Remote Controls - com.fmm.ds
Remote Controls - com.sec.pcw.device
RilNotifier - Radio interface layer: http://forum.xda-developers.com/gal...rom-v9-available-changelog-op-t2037363/page93
ringtonebackup
RootPA - looks like junk: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2523379&page=4
S Finder
S Voice
Safety Assistance
Safety Information
Samsung Account
Samsung Billing
Samsung Calendar SyncAdapter
Samsung Cloud Data Relay
Samsung Cloud Quota
Samsung Contact SyncAdapter
Samsung Content Agent
Samsung Galaxy
Samsung Link Platform - communication with other devices: http://www.androidpolice.com/2014/1...sier-share-media-across-devices-computers-tv/
Samsung Link Platform Connectivity
Samsung Memo SyncAdapter
Samsung Print Service Plugin
Samsung Push Service - notifications for ChanON, etc.: http://forums.androidcentral.com/verizon-galaxy-note-2/279259-samsung-push-service-what.html, https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sec.spp.push
Samsung SBrowser SyncAdapter
Samsung setup wizard
Samsung Syncadapters
Secure UI Service - since it's from Qualcomm it's probably safe to remove
Security policy updates - automatic network updates for threat detection: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.policydm&hl=en
Service Mode RIL
Setup Wizard - since it's Google must be safe to remove
SilentLogging - some surveillance stuff: http://mobilesyrup.com/2011/10/03/s...-phone-numbers-gps-data-email-addresses-more/
SIM Toolkit
SLLibrary
Smart Remote
SmartcardManager - SIM-related, 3rd party: https://code.google.com/p/seek-for-android/wiki/SmartcardAPI
SmartcardService
SnsImageCache - social networking: https://android.stackexchange.com/questions/12265/what-is-sns-app
Software update
Software Update
Sound detectors
SoundAlive - music playback effects
Street View
SysScope - tracks system status (rooted/official/etc.)
Talkback
Tap and pay
TcpdumpService
Travel wallpaper
Trim
Video
Video clip studio
Video Player
Video Trimmer
Weather
WlanTest - said to be safe to remove
WlucTest - said to be safe to remove
wssyncmlnps
YouTube
Apps you should leave alone and why:
3DTourViewer - some camera feature: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2790808&page=231
com.android.keyguard - screen lock (PIN, pattern, etc.): https://stackoverflow.com/questions/17689842/what-the-heck-is-the-keyguard-in-android
com.qualcomm.timeservice - network date/time sync, if removed clock will be screwed on each restart
com.samsung.android.app.catchme - breaks Night Clock if removed (someone says it's Yahoo/Twitter stuff: http://forum.xda-developers.com/note-edge/general/themers-paradise-useful-information-t2946943)
Easy Settings
EasyBottomPanel
EasyOneHand
EasySidePanel - if this and/or other Easy* is removed Side Panel and Reduce Screen no more works
FlashAnnotateSvc - S Pen/screenshot related: http://www.sammobile.com/2012/11/28/n7000xxlsa-–-galaxy-note-android-4-1-2-jelly-bean-test-firmware/
Heatlh Service - S Health doesn't start w/o it
HwModuleTest - probably what appears when dialing *#0*#
LogsProvider
MyScript ResourceManager - S Pen stuff: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2469681
QuickTool - Edge ruler, flashlight, etc.: http://forum.xda-developers.com/note-edge/general/themers-paradise-useful-information-t2946943
RootPa - might be causing problems if deleted
SapaMonitor - probably okay, audio input/jack monitor: http://forums.androidcentral.com/samsung-galaxy-note-3/360445-sapamonitor-jammonitorservice.html
Service Mode - internal info window: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/20248195/open-servicemode-menu-programatically-in-android
Service mode - may be related to service menu (*#0*#): http://forum.cyanogenmod.org/topic/30459-service-mode-servicemodeappapk-on-sgs/
Tags - NFC tags
Touchwiz Easy Home - if deleted Night Clock won't show up
Wi-Fi Direct
Wi-Fi Direct share
Attached are lists of safe-to-remove apps authored by different people that I've collected from various places in general for Samsung devices (I only used this as a reference, don't know how valid it is).
There's also a screenshot with installed apps in the standard launcher - just one incomplete page.
.
Update from me 1 year after: how was the experience?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=67600207&postcount=38
Great post. Thanks
so you've bought a Note Edge, disabled everything of use, and carry a separate device for calls, texts and web browsing? I'm not getting this!
Don't you use the interweb at all?? If you need a diary, just get a little black book.
I find that I can encrypt my device, use secure passwords and maintain all of the above securely in one package. Photos on SD which can be backed up to my NAS if I didnt want to keep images on google...
Sorry - really not trying to be rude but why?
bonerp said:
and carry a separate device for calls, texts and web browsing?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't. I own a cheap Philips cellphone that can only call and read/send SMS. I don't browse web while I'm away from my laptop - I read books, watch movies, play games, think about projects taking notes and making mind maps, etc. Then since you have BT you can easily share/receive stuff. GPS is also working - you just use offline maps which are better than Google's anyway (you can get routes, etc. without paying for traffic and even in the countryside).
Don't you use the interweb at all?? If you need a diary, just get a little black book.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol, and do you use your phone only for web surfing? I don't think so. There's so much you can do even without being online.
I find that I can encrypt my device, use secure passwords and maintain all of the above securely in one package.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's useless in most cases. Even secure passwords are challenging - can you really type 20 symbols or more that are sufficiently random using just soft keyboard? Won't it drive you mad after a couple dozen of times?
Besides, stock ROM includes loads of spyware. And it's not just Samsung - read about Lenovo's recent spyware "Superfish" that read all user's communications (even encrypted).
fundaprob said:
That's useless in most cases. Even secure passwords are challenging - can you really type 20 symbols or more that are sufficiently random using just soft keyboard? Won't it drive you mad after a couple dozen of times?
Besides, stock ROM includes loads of spyware. And it's not just Samsung - read about Lenovo's recent spyware "Superfish" that read all user's communications (even encrypted).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But google/the device remembers passwords. If you happen to lose it, android device manager allows you to remotely wipe it. I'm not worried about this, but if you are, doesn't knox help to further secure your use? I've never really used it.
Good on you if it worries you that much regarding keeping your life secure, but there are ways without staying offline and disconnecting yourself from the outside world.
20 yrs ago we never had all this, but now I couldn't manage my life without it.:good:
bonerp said:
But google/the device remembers passwords. If you happen to lose it, android device manager allows you to remotely wipe it. I'm not worried about this, but if you are, doesn't knox help to further secure your use? I've never really used it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Losing the device doesn't trouble me that much; what troubles me is that treats to mobile OSes are much bigger than to desktop because you have much less control over what goes in and out. Not just bad guys trying to trojan you but also manufacturers, ISPs, app writers - this is beyond the reasonable point. It's best to just keep the mobile device offline IMO. As an added benefit you see no more ads
Good on you if it worries you that much regarding keeping your life secure, but there are ways without staying offline and disconnecting yourself from the outside world.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not disconnecting myself, I'm disconnecting my smartphone only for the reasons explained above. I'm still perfectly online but only when I want it.
This is fantastic. I have a large percent of these apps frozen in TB, and you are 100% correct, not just about phones being preloaded with various degrees of spyware, but freaking redundant spyware. Of all the potential things that could affect the performance of my phone, just "no" on SO many level.
One thing I've often wondered about re: debloating. Does AdaptSound have an effect on call audio quality? I've kind of always thought that it did to some degree, and gone through the test to set it up, and keep in installed alongside Viper (of course...). What I do for battery is have a shortcut straight to sound settings on my home screen (thank you kindly Nova Prime), and switch my mixer to Viper (with the Super Quality drivers, since I do this), then when I'm not listening to music, like 97% of the time, I just switch the mixer back to AdaptSound with the shortcut and two additional taps.
Thoughts on the above strategy / any value whatsoever to AdaptSound?
Edit: I probably meant SoundAlive at least half of the time I referred to AdaptSound above.. I suppose my question appilies to both...
this is insanity. why even bother with a smartphone if youre going to remove the smarts from it and not even use it as a phone.
none of that stuff is spyware. youre removing API libraries and interconnection stuff which is necessary to actually use the phone as a smartphone.
and ironically youre removing the security layer completely which is knox. that means your phone cant isolate your private data from apps installed on it.
zurkx said:
this is insanity. why even bother with a smartphone if youre going to remove the smarts from it and not even use it as a phone.
none of that stuff is spyware. youre removing API libraries and interconnection stuff which is necessary to actually use the phone as a smartphone.
and ironically youre removing the security layer completely which is knox. that means your phone cant isolate your private data from apps installed on it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What he/she said.
Just get off the grid completely if you're that paranoid.
A bit extreme but great resource, thanks! I'll pick what to do. Good stuff.
Sent from my SM-N910H using XDA Premium HD app
If what OP did is not your cup of tea, why flame him? Just take it as a resource you can use incase you missed out any 'bloat' to remove.
Hes not telling you to do it, not that you guys will listen either.
Good info @fundaprob
but freaking redundant spyware
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's right, they're not comfortable with just one or two, they want a few dozens just in case. Like FixmoISA from what I have read is aimed at DoD compliance. But why on Earth it is preinstalled at my device?! What if I buy this outside of USA at all? Do you think it's removed from foreign firmware? It's surely not. And that's just one example - there's also a bunch of SilentLogging, SLLLogging, marketing, tracker apps that are running in background. Even if you're fine with giving away your personal data to whoever is there on the other side of the wire then think about your battery life at least. Running this mess doesn't add to it you know.
Does AdaptSound have an effect on call audio quality?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Since I'm not using Edge as a phone I can't tell how it affects the mic. However, I haven't noticed any ill effect on audio/video playback. I suspect that AdaptSound is constantly running as a background service - just like any other sensor it drains the battery even when you're not using that specific feature (audio). Unlike adaptive brightness this doesn't look too useful to me so I've got rid of it.
and switch my mixer to Viper (with the Super Quality drivers, since I do this)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This may work but I wanted to avoid having to do any special actions to concerve the battery on the dialy basis. With your approach I'll be in and out switching the mixer several times a day. Not good
Besides, like I've said I see no effect of AdaptSound. Especially since 90% of the time I'm using headphones, it can hardly have any use for this.
About SoundAlive I'm not sure, I also have seen no effect of it.
if youre going to remove the smarts from it and not even use it as a phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If they would still produce PDAs I would buy them in bulk. But since they don't I'm happy to turn a smartphone into one. Seriously, have you never ended up with smartphone's battery completely drained when you most needed it?
It's not my fault that manufacturers suddenly decided that devices with screens of 3-4-5+ inches also qualify as the "phones".
none of that stuff is spyware. youre removing API libraries and interconnection stuff which is necessary to actually use the phone as a smartphone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, really. You'd do better by reading the links I've left in the list. Besides, 2/3 of the stuff has no purpose if you don't own devices that use it or features that you need, like remote locking. Otherwise there's no explanation why I am able to use every single app I have tried normally, with more than 50% of preinstalled stuff gone.
AirWakeUp - this is meant for the gesture that does drain 10-15% of the battery in sleep mode. What for do you need it if not using it?
ANT - this is meant to communicate with other devices (http://www.thisisant.com/directory/ant-radio-service). Since I have none, why do I need it?
BeaconManager, Beaming, QuickConnect, DirectShare, DCMProvider, Power Sharing - these all are meant for sharing stuff but mostly with other Samsung devices. Since I don't have any and since I can as well use Bluetooth - why do I need these?
Blurb Checkout, Pay with Paypal, Tap and Pay - these are completely off the wall for me. I'm not going to use my device as a wallet. There exist credit cards.
CarMode - I don't use it hence don't need it.
Chromecast - I don't have any TV that supports it. If at friend's I can always stick a USB drive which won't even drain the battery.
KNOX - I'm not in corporate environment, my KNOX counter is tripped and I see no use for this. Why keep it?
DSMLawmo (http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s2/help/dsmlawmo-t1863011), FixmoISA (http://gcn.com/articles/2013/05/29/breakdown-dod-security-controls--ios-android.aspx), Intelligence Service (http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s5/help/kill-com-samsung-android-t2811304), MDMApp (http://www.samsung.com/global/business/mobile/solution/security/mobile-device-management), RCPComponents (http://forums.androidcentral.com/samsung-galaxy-s5/396488-galaxy-s5-battery-life-getting-bad.html) - these are stuff to remotely mess up with your device. Whether it's you or not you can't even be sure. I'm not going to trade potential one time use of these for the possibility of spying on me 24/7.
Printing drivers - I don't even have a printer.
the list goes on
and ironically youre removing the security layer completely which is knox. that means your phone cant isolate your private data from apps installed on it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Funny thing is that these days even malware doesn't run without active Internet connection. Okay, let's say it grabs all my passwords, photos and documents. Now what? It will disappear the next time I do hard reset, with all the traces and stuff it has collected. Have you seen malware that bricks device on purpose? I think 99% of it nowadays is meant for extracting profit. Even if we take cryptolockers (which serve exactly this purpose) they only start working after obtaining the public key from the server. No connection - no key.
There's more to it than you think at first.
Just take it as a resource you can use incase you missed out any 'bloat' to remove.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly. I'm not suggesting everyone follows my steps. I'm only suggesting that you look through the lists and see that you can remove a number of obvious bloatware that you can identify after a bit of googling (which I did for you). There are also a few lists of other people I've collected that I've updated the post with.
There's no need to criticize him for doing what he wants with his phone. He just shows that it's possible, and if others want to do the same, they can. He even provided a list of all apps he could remove without breaking anything he didn't want, which is awesome.
I for instance rarely use ROMs with a lot of tweaks and extras, as I like it as stock as possible. I rarely use custom kernels, except when they're superior and minimal compared to stock. I don't lash out against those who choose to use the ROMs and kernels with more features.
If everyone were to complain about everything that didn't fit their preferences, this forum would be a mess.
zurkx said:
this is insanity. why even bother with a smartphone if youre going to remove the smarts from it and not even use it as a phone.
none of that stuff is spyware. youre removing API libraries and interconnection stuff which is necessary to actually use the phone as a smartphone.
and ironically youre removing the security layer completely which is knox. that means your phone cant isolate your private data from apps installed on it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha, good one.
Archiimonde said:
There's no need to criticize him for doing what he wants with his phone. He just shows that it's possible, and if others want to do the same, they can. He even provided a list of all apps he could remove without breaking anything he didn't want, which is awesome.
I for instance rarely use ROMs with a lot of tweaks and extras, as I like it as stock as possible. I rarely use custom kernels, except when they're superior and minimal compared to stock. I don't lash out against those who choose to use the ROMs and kernels with more features.
If everyone were to complain about everything that didn't fit their preferences, this forum would be a mess.
Haha, good one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
oh please. lets not enable paranoia - and illogical paranoia at that. do you really think OPs crippled phone with "spyware" removed is secure ?
While removing all the actually useful features his phone has also been stripped of basic security. he does not have a knox encrypted container which means his phone data can be accessed using the modem baseband processor and all the data copied off it. Since his phone is no longer a phone he wouldnt even see the activity. Removing "location services" APIs do nothing since the phone is going to ping the towers anyway regardless of whether it has a SIM or not and since it has no SIM it will ping *all* the towers instead of the ones it is registered to. So everyone with a basic stingray can track his location at all times. Removing the cellular control protocol disables modem control using flight mode so even in flight mode the phone would be pinging everything in sight. bravo. awesome "security". and how does OP make it even more secure ? I know .. lets strip out the basic modem key loading so your baseband modem is now open completely to anyone with a spoofed cell tower with zero encryption keys loaded on it in default factory config! woo! home run.
He might as well buy an etch a sketch instead of a phone at this point since he converted his $900 smartphone into an insecure brick. there is nothing useful to be gained by stripping out functionality while reducing security in the name of "hiding from the man" when the "man" can easily get access to anything on your phone anyway and its kept there unencrypted for easier access. My stock 910U with encrypted knox container, DoD CAC enabled and switched to flight mode is waay more secure than his stripped down insecure brick.
I think that android is perfect for those people that want to customize their phones the way they like it. that's what we're all here for and that's what the dude have done. *however* I can't feel that this wasn't done properly as the OP took the smart out of the phone. to the OP- you just own a 1990's phone now. maybe thats the way you like it but frankly I don't get why getting a 700$ phone for only calls/sms. if that's what you want i'd just get an actual old yearly 2000's phone that doesn't even have 3g, or the cheapest smartphone available today and do the same thing- just there it would make more sense(as all of the smart features are slow anyway). and as much as I agree regarding the lack of privacy these days- I'm also realistic. there are a few billions of people around the world and even more mobile phones. yes, google can locate you when you use location services. so what? if you are not a terorrist, not the NSA or anybody else gives a damn about it. there is no privacy today, and it's not necessarily worst thing possible.
OK, so we've established that different people use their devices in different ways. Moving on... take a look at the system apps on your phone. What percent percentage of them perform a function that you're aware of? How many of them provide the exact same function as other (in many cases system) apps? If either question is difficult to answer some research can be VERY illuminating.
Rather than jumping all over the OP for removing certain things due to personal preference, consider mine. I recently had 301 system apps on my phone (have begun uninstalling certain things I've just had frozen before). Of those 301 apps, I had 104 frozen. Determining the purpose of an app before ditching it, I've lost ZERO featues / functionality and hardly ever see an OOM error which happened somewhat often before debloating.
The fact is that there are pre-installed apps on your phone that are very likely just taking up space, or doing things that you would explicitly prohibit if you were aware / able to. OP has provided an excellent resource for determining to some extent what these apps are doing. What he's personally chosen to remove is a matter that's really of no concern to anyone but himself.
zurkx said:
While removing all the actually useful features his phone has also been stripped of basic security.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now we're talking. What you are saying makes sense but to be completely sure you should provide some links or other proof that it is exactly as you describe. Because I am not sure that the following is true:
zurkx said:
Removing the cellular control protocol disables modem control using flight mode so even in flight mode the phone would be pinging everything in sight.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have just tried this: enable flight mode (side note: it's permanently on for me), go to Phone, dial 911 and then observe the screen saying "enabling radio, please wait". If what you are saying is true - i.e. if I have removed cellular controls - then (1) how it would be enabling, if no control interface is present? (2) how would it actually call the number (by this I mean that I could hear the other guy)?
Something is wrong here.
Then, you are missing another point. For some reason you are assuming that whatever I have done was done for "security". But it was not. Sure, I am eager to strip off unwanted spyware (please, don't object that Fixmo and co. produces something useful for us). But I am as well eager to remove unnecessary processes to conserve the battery and make the device run smoother. This actually happens. Attached is screenshot of the battery stats - 20 hours on battery with about 5-6 hours of active usage (1.5 hours of gaming) and limited charging while transferring stuff via USB. It virtually doesn't use the battery in sleep mode as you can see. 39% remains, that's given that the device was charged up to 60% or so in the beginning. Sounds good to me unless I interpret it wrong.
(You can also see short Mobile signal spikes - that's my 911 calls. Doesn't look like the device no more controls what happens with its cellular module, does it?)
And to be clear: I understand that it's possible to spy on probably everyone depending on who does that. But stock "spyware" spies on everyone just in case. It's not targeted, it's common. That's what I am against. Targeted spying is completely another story and not my case (bad guys use another means to get rid of it, I'm sure).
zurkx said:
My stock 910U with encrypted knox container, DoD CAC enabled and switched to flight mode is waay more secure than his stripped down insecure brick.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think it is but is it faster and has better battery life? Also, what happens once you switch off flight mode? It happily pours all the sniffed data to the other side. When you have data going not only in but out (online) you are always in catching-up position because patching broken defence by definition takes time after the breach happens (virus, etc.) and before the patch is on your device. Since defences are studied beforehand it doesn't matter how good they are because otherwise there would be no viruses whatsoever.
Now, zurkx, I don't want to offend you or anything but you sound angry and not very constructive. Try this: think of all the features I have removed/lost with my modification and write them down on one side of a piece of paper. Now think of all that remain and write on the other side. I am sure that the left list would be cluttered with "Chromecast", "Clever house", "Fitness clocks", "Mobile printing" and things like that. The other side will stay with "Awesome camera", "1080p video", "Extreme games that don't even heat up the device", etc.
Obviously, the latter is more important to me. I have no use in devices I will never own. It is imprudent to just leave them consuming CPU cycles and battery life.
tal123 said:
you just own a 1990's phone now. maybe thats the way you like it but frankly I don't get why getting a 700$ phone for only calls/sms.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Guys! I have ONLY removed cellular connectivity and various wireless stuff. I have NOT taken out the CPU, NFC, GPS or whatever. I can still watch video, use regular apps, play games and whatnot.
I do own a cellphone that can only send/receive calls and SMS and has no 3G but it costs $39, not $900. Mind you. I charge it once a month and happy with that.
No, seriously, I can't get it. Can you play World of Tanks on Nokia 3310? What are you saying man? The life doesn't end with LTE!
jazzmachine said:
What percent percentage of them perform a function that you're aware of?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True and that also doesn't mean that you should just leave the obvious garbage take its place. Because then you can as well abandon HTTPS when using online banking, or turn off WPA2 encryption just because if they wanted to spy on you that wouldn't stop them, so why bother? Also, you never know if your laptop is not preinstalled with another "Superfish" that works around TLS so all that is useless anyway.
Hopefully it's clear that I'm ironizing.
jazzmachine said:
Determining the purpose of an app before ditching it, I've lost ZERO featues / functionality and hardly ever see an OOM error which happened somewhat often before debloating.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh heaven, somebody has got his senses. I thought something was wrong with me. Hurray.
question- so if you have a phone just for calls/texts and all you wanted is a device just for games, etc- and that's why you stripped everything from your note 4 and made it just for offline apps- why not just get an ipod touch?
This is a very comprehensive list on which apps are safe to remove and which are not. And to get the list from a person who is willing to strip off this much is even better as they will tell you all the apps that are sefe to remove because they were not afraid to take them off.
Thank you for this list I am going to go through it and remove the apps that make sense for me to remove.
One question though, How much space did you free up by uninstalling all of these apps? It might be good to add the weight of each app next to them as well for easy refrence. Just a thought. Great job by the way!
zurkx said:
oh please. lets not enable paranoia - and illogical paranoia at that. do you really think OPs crippled phone with "spyware" removed is secure ?
While removing all the actually useful features his phone has also been stripped of basic security. he does not have a knox encrypted container which means his phone data can be accessed using the modem baseband processor and all the data copied off it. Since his phone is no longer a phone he wouldnt even see the activity. Removing "location services" APIs do nothing since the phone is going to ping the towers anyway regardless of whether it has a SIM or not and since it has no SIM it will ping *all* the towers instead of the ones it is registered to. So everyone with a basic stingray can track his location at all times. Removing the cellular control protocol disables modem control using flight mode so even in flight mode the phone would be pinging everything in sight. bravo. awesome "security". and how does OP make it even more secure ? I know .. lets strip out the basic modem key loading so your baseband modem is now open completely to anyone with a spoofed cell tower with zero encryption keys loaded on it in default factory config! woo! home run.
He might as well buy an etch a sketch instead of a phone at this point since he converted his $900 smartphone into an insecure brick. there is nothing useful to be gained by stripping out functionality while reducing security in the name of "hiding from the man" when the "man" can easily get access to anything on your phone anyway and its kept there unencrypted for easier access. My stock 910U with encrypted knox container, DoD CAC enabled and switched to flight mode is waay more secure than his stripped down insecure brick.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's no need to rant. I never said the phone was more secure. You claimed that nothing of what he removed was spyware, which is wrong. I'm sure your phone is more secure. I agree with OP though that you statements make sense, but I'd also like to see some sources.
And to be clear: I understand that it's possible to spy on probably everyone depending on who does that. But stock "spyware" spies on everyone just in case. It's not targeted, it's common. That's what I am against. Targeted spying is completely another story and not my case (bad guys use another means to get rid of it, I'm sure).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is what I meant.
BEFORE I SMASH THIS PHONE INTO A ****ING CONCRETE WALL
After the phone is left still for a certain period of time it force close apps like facebook messenger, third party clipboard assistant, third party alarm app and many other. not only that but it doesn't open them after the phone detects movement, I have to open the app myself to bring it back to life.
I'm not rooted and I don't want to because I'm still under the warranty period.
If you can do any of the following I'd be so grateful:
1. Write a script that runs some specific apps when it detects that they're closed, or a script that cause movement in the sensor to delude the phone into thinking that there is movement so it doesn't enter doze mode.
2. find me any way around
I've tried all the options in the phone. protected in the protected apps, ignored in the battery optimization, allowed in the autolaunch, wifi and data are kept running after the screen is off, all notifications are allowed.
TIA
I don't think there is a way to do this... We will have to wait for Android 7 where things are pretty different (better).
For you and many others having some issues my advice is email Huawei Here . More people reporting problems, better chance for a fix faster
Having ran NetGuard in logging mode for a few days now I've noticed that many of Samsung's in-built services are contacting web services associated at multiple DNS subdomains under:
- *.360.cn
- *.cloud.360safe.com
A lot of them on unsecured HTTP port 80 (some go via HTTPS port 443).
Services I've observed this behaviour so far are:
- Samsung ApexService
- ANT+ HAL Service
- Application installer (com.sec.android.preloadinstaller)
- Assistant Menu
- AirCommandManager (com.samsung.android.aircommandmanager)
- Plus too many other default services to list (most of which cannot be disabled)
Phone's running on stock unbranded SM-N960F build number PPR1.180610.011.N960FXXU2CSA2.
I've scanned the phone using bundled Device Care's McAfee security scan with no findings.
Has anyone else observed this behaviour?
sengork said:
Having ran NetGuard in logging mode for a few days now I've noticed that many of Samsung's in-built services are contacting web services associated at multiple DNS subdomains under:
- *.360.cn
- *.cloud.360safe.com
A lot of them on unsecured HTTP port 80 (some go via HTTPS port 443).
Services I've observed this behaviour so far are:
- Samsung ApexService
- ANT+ HAL Service
- Application installer (com.sec.android.preloadinstaller)
- Assistant Menu
- AirCommandManager (com.samsung.android.aircommandmanager)
- Plus too many other default services to list (most of which cannot be disabled)
Phone's running on stock unbranded SM-N960F build number PPR1.180610.011.N960FXXU2CSA2.
I've scanned the phone using bundled Device Care's McAfee security scan with no findings.
Has anyone else observed this behaviour?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't looked at this as closely as you have,but,I'm guessing it's all tied-in from the Device Maintenance section of the phone.
The name of the company Samsung is currently in bed with is QIHOO:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qihoo_360
https://seekingalpha.com/article/4165136-cheetah-mobile-lost-samsung-relevant-risks
Remember/heard of Cheetah Mobile (of Clean Master infamy) ?
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-rel...mobile-security-and-innovation-300043298.html
Well,that's who used to be in partnership w/Samsung & the Device Maintenance aka built-in Clean Master to most,if not all Samsung mobile products.
Fast-Forward to present day & we still have the crapware on our phones,likely scraping info & selling it to anyone interested.
Now,it's just with another company,presumably one with friendlier terms for Samsung.
As you've probably noticed,you can't fully disengage/disable/deny all permissions here,less root (or ADB disabling/package disabler apps).
At least you have a phone that's rootable & can cruise the ROM scene for one that leaves this crap off the phone.
If root isn't an option:
Set up your phone & apps,fine-tune as you like for battery optimization on a per app basis/permissions/etc....
Then,either via ADB or a package disabler,disable the apps responsible for the crapware,especially the ones related to Device Maintenance.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/ga...laxy-note-9-bloatware-removal-thread-t3857508
Follow the link in the OP to the S9/S9+ forum/thread,it gives a better idea of what each .apk actually is/ties into.
Here's the app I use to disable crapware/things I don't use:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wakasoftware.appfreezer
As to which apps to disable,the S9/S9+ thread,while not an exact match,should give you info on what to disable to stop the phone from pinging the 360 mothership & hopefully,not having any ill effects on the apps you want to keep on-board.
If you want a better idea of how each app is interconnected throughout the phone,use these two apps to take a look:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ubqsoft.sec01
SD Maid (Pro):
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.thedarken.sdm&hl=en_US
(See the App Control & file manager sections of SD Maid for detailed app info).
Anyhoo,back to curbing the nonsense:
Whichever method you use to disable,should you choose to do so,start with this one:
com.samsung.android.lool (Device Maintenance).
This will make the entire Device Maintenance section inaccessible as well.
That is why I suggest disabling vs outright uninstalling (which necessitates a factory reset to get it back).
You may need to access Device Maintenance for whatever reason from time to time,hence the recommendation for disabling vs uninstalling.
Continue monitoring for a day or so & see if the pinging to the Mothership subsides,or hopefully puts a full-stop to it.
Please keep us updated on what,if any actions you take w/the results. :good:
Excellent overview, it's quite an eye opener thanks for the info.
I've disabled and force-stopped "com.samsung.android.lool" (amongst other junkware) and so far NetGuard hasn't shown a single network log entry to any of the 360 domains. I've uninstalled all 4 Facebook packages. Continuing to monitor this closely. My thought is that I can re-enable "com.samsung.android.lool" from time to time whenever maintenance is needed and then disable it again. Even better Adhell3 might be useful for blocking "com.samsung.android.lool" network attempts whilst retaining it for device management purposes however I haven't tried this yet.
For reference, here is my current list of disabled packages:
Code:
package:com.monotype.android.font.rosemary
package:com.samsung.android.app.ledcoverdream
package:com.sec.android.widgetapp.samsungapps
package:com.samsung.android.app.galaxyfinder
package:com.samsung.svoice.sync
package:com.cnn.mobile.android.phone.edgepanel
package:com.samsung.android.easysetup
package:com.samsung.android.provider.stickerprovider
package:com.samsung.android.app.sbrowseredge
package:com.samsung.android.rubin.app
package:com.sec.android.cover.ledcover
package:com.samsung.faceservice
package:com.monotype.android.font.foundation
package:com.sec.android.widgetapp.easymodecontactswidget
package:com.samsung.android.app.settings.bixby
package:com.sec.android.app.billing
package:com.samsung.android.app.selfmotionpanoramaviewer
package:com.samsung.android.game.gamehome
package:com.samsung.daydream.customization
package:com.sec.enterprise.knox.attestation
package:com.samsung.systemui.bixby2
package:com.dsi.ant.service.socket
package:com.microsoft.skydrive
package:com.samsung.SMT
package:com.samsung.android.drivelink.stub
package:com.android.hotwordenrollment.xgoogle
package:com.samsung.android.sm.devicesecurity
package:com.dsi.ant.sample.acquirechannels
package:com.samsung.android.aircommandmanager
package:com.samsung.android.bixby.service
package:com.samsung.android.smartface
package:com.android.egg
package:com.samsung.android.emojiupdater
package:com.samsung.android.bixby.agent
package:com.android.printspooler
package:com.android.hotwordenrollment.okgoogle
package:com.samsung.android.hmt.vrsvc
package:com.samsung.storyservice
package:com.android.dreams.basic
package:com.android.bips
package:com.samsung.android.game.gametools
package:com.samsung.android.app.simplesharing
package:com.samsung.android.service.peoplestripe
package:com.samsung.android.da.daagent
package:com.dsi.ant.plugins.antplus
package:com.samsung.android.app.taskedge
package:com.google.android.webview
package:com.samsung.android.app.mirrorlink
package:com.dsi.ant.server
package:com.samsung.android.allshare.service.fileshare
package:com.samsung.android.universalswitch
package:com.sec.android.app.apex
package:flipboard.boxer.app
package:com.google.android.printservice.recommendation
package:com.monotype.android.font.chococooky
package:com.android.dreams.phototable
package:com.samsung.android.bixbyvision.framework
package:com.samsung.android.game.gos
package:com.android.wallpaper.livepicker
package:com.samsung.android.beaconmanager
package:com.sec.enterprise.mdm.services.simpin
package:com.samsung.android.stickercenter
package:com.samsung.android.bixby.wakeup
package:com.samsung.android.samsungpass
package:com.samsung.android.spayfw
package:com.linkedin.android
package:com.samsung.android.lool
package:com.samsung.android.knox.analytics.uploader
package:com.samsung.android.sm.policy
package:com.sec.android.emergencylauncher
package:com.samsung.android.visionintelligence
package:com.samsung.android.app.watchmanagerstub
package:com.samsung.android.svoiceime
package:com.samsung.android.mateagent
package:com.enhance.gameservice
package:com.google.vr.vrcore
package:com.hiya.star
package:com.sec.enterprise.knox.cloudmdm.smdms
package:com.samsung.android.app.appsedge
package:com.samsung.android.samsungpassautofill
package:com.monotype.android.font.cooljazz
package:com.samsung.android.allshare.service.mediashare
package:com.samsung.android.app.clipboardedge
package:com.samsung.android.app.motionpanoramaviewer
package:com.samsung.android.bio.face.service
package:com.samsung.android.bixby.agent.dummy
sengork said:
Excellent overview, it's quite an eye opener thanks for the info.
I've disabled and force-stopped "com.samsung.android.lool" (amongst other junkware) and so far NetGuard hasn't shown a single network log entry to any of the 360 domains. I've uninstalled all 4 Facebook packages. Continuing to monitor this closely. My thought is that I can re-enable "com.samsung.android.lool" from time to time whenever maintenance is needed and then disable it again. Even better Adhell3 might be useful for blocking "com.samsung.android.lool" network attempts whilst retaining it for device management purposes however I haven't tried this yet.
For reference, here is my current list of disabled packages:
Code:
package:com.monotype.android.font.rosemary
package:com.samsung.android.app.ledcoverdream
package:com.sec.android.widgetapp.samsungapps
package:com.samsung.android.app.galaxyfinder
package:com.samsung.svoice.sync
package:com.cnn.mobile.android.phone.edgepanel
package:com.samsung.android.easysetup
package:com.samsung.android.provider.stickerprovider
package:com.samsung.android.app.sbrowseredge
package:com.samsung.android.rubin.app
package:com.sec.android.cover.ledcover
package:com.samsung.faceservice
package:com.monotype.android.font.foundation
package:com.sec.android.widgetapp.easymodecontactswidget
package:com.samsung.android.app.settings.bixby
package:com.sec.android.app.billing
package:com.samsung.android.app.selfmotionpanoramaviewer
package:com.samsung.android.game.gamehome
package:com.samsung.daydream.customization
package:com.sec.enterprise.knox.attestation
package:com.samsung.systemui.bixby2
package:com.dsi.ant.service.socket
package:com.microsoft.skydrive
package:com.samsung.SMT
package:com.samsung.android.drivelink.stub
package:com.android.hotwordenrollment.xgoogle
package:com.samsung.android.sm.devicesecurity
package:com.dsi.ant.sample.acquirechannels
package:com.samsung.android.aircommandmanager
package:com.samsung.android.bixby.service
package:com.samsung.android.smartface
package:com.android.egg
package:com.samsung.android.emojiupdater
package:com.samsung.android.bixby.agent
package:com.android.printspooler
package:com.android.hotwordenrollment.okgoogle
package:com.samsung.android.hmt.vrsvc
package:com.samsung.storyservice
package:com.android.dreams.basic
package:com.android.bips
package:com.samsung.android.game.gametools
package:com.samsung.android.app.simplesharing
package:com.samsung.android.service.peoplestripe
package:com.samsung.android.da.daagent
package:com.dsi.ant.plugins.antplus
package:com.samsung.android.app.taskedge
package:com.google.android.webview
package:com.samsung.android.app.mirrorlink
package:com.dsi.ant.server
package:com.samsung.android.allshare.service.fileshare
package:com.samsung.android.universalswitch
package:com.sec.android.app.apex
package:flipboard.boxer.app
package:com.google.android.printservice.recommendation
package:com.monotype.android.font.chococooky
package:com.android.dreams.phototable
package:com.samsung.android.bixbyvision.framework
package:com.samsung.android.game.gos
package:com.android.wallpaper.livepicker
package:com.samsung.android.beaconmanager
package:com.sec.enterprise.mdm.services.simpin
package:com.samsung.android.stickercenter
package:com.samsung.android.bixby.wakeup
package:com.samsung.android.samsungpass
package:com.samsung.android.spayfw
package:com.linkedin.android
package:com.samsung.android.lool
package:com.samsung.android.knox.analytics.uploader
package:com.samsung.android.sm.policy
package:com.sec.android.emergencylauncher
package:com.samsung.android.visionintelligence
package:com.samsung.android.app.watchmanagerstub
package:com.samsung.android.svoiceime
package:com.samsung.android.mateagent
package:com.enhance.gameservice
package:com.google.vr.vrcore
package:com.hiya.star
package:com.sec.enterprise.knox.cloudmdm.smdms
package:com.samsung.android.app.appsedge
package:com.samsung.android.samsungpassautofill
package:com.monotype.android.font.cooljazz
package:com.samsung.android.allshare.service.mediashare
package:com.samsung.android.app.clipboardedge
package:com.samsung.android.app.motionpanoramaviewer
package:com.samsung.android.bio.face.service
package:com.samsung.android.bixby.agent.dummy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
:good: THX for the update,much appreciated! :good:
I was gonna post this in a bit (just noticed it myself this afternoon,LOL) ,but,it looks like you have added the other two .apks to your disabled list:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=78103170&postcount=123
It'a a shame the mfgs aren't required to be more up-front & state ,in common use language where the print is larger than a gnat's ass, the exact nature of the .apks & even more control over the services installed on them.
KOLIOSIS said:
It'a a shame the mfgs aren't required to be more up-front & state ,in common use language where the print is larger than a gnat's ass, the exact nature of the .apks & even more control over the services installed on them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The closest to a manufacturer application list I came across was:
- https://support.samsungknox.com/hc/en-us/articles/115015195728-Common-Criteria-Mode
- For example https://docs.samsungknox.com/CCMode/N960F_O.pdf
This seems to relate to computer security certification known as Common Criteria:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Criteria
So the dial home behaviour seems to have passed this security certification (or perhaps the network flows were not part of the certification process). We can only guess...
I've had to reenable the following items to get APK installs to function (either through Play Store or locally stored APKs):
Code:
com.samsung.android.sm.policy
com.samsung.android.sm.devicesecurity
https://forum.xda-developers.com/ga...val-thread-t3857508/post78744845#post78744845
Continuing to monitor with NetGuard. So far ~1hr I haven't seen the packets repeat.
sengork said:
I've had to reenable the following items to get APK installs to function (either through Play Store or locally stored APKs):
https://forum.xda-developers.com/ga...val-thread-t3857508/post78744845#post78744845
Continuing to monitor with NetGuard. So far ~1hr I haven't seen the packets repeat.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
IIRC,something like this was mentioned in the S9/S9+ debloat thread.
I didn't mention it earlier as you hadn't reported any issues,but,glad you were able to figure it out/find the same info I'd stumbled upon.
Well after a day of usage I can say that battery life is poorer without "com.samsung.android.lool". I've enabled it again now and blocked its domains via Adhell 3:
Code:
360.cn
360safe.com
*.360.cn
*.360safe.com
Furthermore I have disabled its WiFi and Mobile network access in Adhell 3. However this block is bypassed whenever applications using Android's native VPN facility are switched on so its not absolutely fool proof. Similar blocking can be done using NetGuard itself as long as you keep it switched on and filtering continuously.
I'll keep an eye on which other domains it attempts to contact.
sengork said:
Well after a day of usage I can say that battery life is poorer without "com.samsung.android.lool". I've enabled it again now and blocked its domains via Adhell 3:
Code:
360.cn
360safe.com
*.360.cn
*.360safe.com
Furthermore I have disabled its WiFi and Mobile network access in Adhell 3. However this block is bypassed whenever applications using Android's native VPN facility are switched on so its not absolutely fool proof. Similar blocking can be done using NetGuard itself as long as you keep it switched on and filtering continuously.
I'll keep an eye on which other domains it attempts to contact.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How much of a difference in battery life are we talking about?
It felt to be about 20%. Is Pie without Device Maintenance expected to put applications to sleep? I am guessing sleep is the major factor here (opposed to cleaning up caches and other storage capacity functions of Device Maintenance app).
sengork said:
It felt to be about 20%. Is Pie without Device Maintenance expected to put applications to sleep? I am guessing sleep is the major factor here (opposed to cleaning up caches and other storage capacity functions of Device Maintenance app).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would like to think so,hoping Device Maintenance isn't ingrained to the level where it breaks the native Doze feature in Android.
JMHO,Device Maintenance seems to be just like Clean Master,running on top of Android/counterproductive,putting a hat on a hat,so to speak,LOL.
I haven't had a Nexus device since the N6 & never had a Pixel,but,I'm pretty sure none of 'em have DM..................................
Whenever I decide to update to Pie,I'm going to continue as I am now:
Battery Optimize all apps that I don't rely on for auto-updating or push notifications & then disabling Device Maintenance.
If something starts acting up,only then do I re-enable DM,take a look at Battery Optimizing for whatever is affected & again,disabling DM.
Guessing you've just recently updated to Pie.......
If it were me,I'd continue to disable DM & give the new OS upgrade a week or so,see what your battery life looks like then.
Battery life loss could be due to some user-installed apps that aren't playing nice w/Pie & not due to DM being disabled.
You will find the logo or text "powered by 360" on storage screen in Samsung device management app.
KOLIOSIS said:
Battery Optimize all apps that I don't rely on for auto-updating or push notifications & then disabling Device Maintenance.
If something starts acting up,only then do I re-enable DM,take a look at Battery Optimizing for whatever is affected & again,disabling DM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have taken your advise a few weeks ago and have concluded that removing DM whilst manually optimising all individual apps has resulted in no battery loss (in fact it has probably improved but this is within a margin of error). Thanks for your guidance.
Unless you need to connect to a Chinese domain for whatever reason, just block *. cn for good and forever about it.
hello guys i have bought galaxy note 9 in China and there is not preinstalled google play store app...
can anyone tell me how to install safely ))?? thank you ...
hey thanks for your attention but i dont need to access i have vpn i know how to access i want to know how to install because it is not installed so do you have some ideas ?))) how to do it
sandro comaia said:
hey thanks for your attention but i dont need to access i have vpn i know how to access i want to know how to install because it is not installed so do you have some ideas ?))) how to do it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just side-load this .apk & you should be good to go:
https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/googl...5-22-all-0-pr-254908059-android-apk-download/
Was original poster was the only one who had this issue?
Is this a samsung thing or all androids?
Can this be a security risk?
There was a link to the s9 bloatware thread but it doesn't work
https://forum.xda-developers.com/ga...laxy-note-9-bloatware-removal-thread-t3857508
Says 404 not found for me
Nameduser6 said:
Was original poster was the only one who had this issue?
Is this a samsung thing or all androids?
Can this be a security risk?
There was a link to the s9 bloatware thread but it doesn't work
https://forum.xda-developers.com/ga...laxy-note-9-bloatware-removal-thread-t3857508
Says 404 not found for me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Should be only Samsung phones. Interestingly i haven't seen it dial home since my original post and up until i uninstalled the Device Care package. Samsung might have changed the domains the tool dials home to.
Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk
I know this is the Mi 8 forum, but I feel that the issue I have on my Mi 9 will be common across both phones, and thought I would post here too.
I've noticed that at least two apps will mysteriously stop working in the background, causing problems:
First, most important, I use my Google Voice number, not my SIM number, so I need Google Voice to be running so that it intercepts my calls and uses the right phone number to make calls. If I open Google Voice, it will work for a few hours, maybe a day, and then GV stops working and calls start going out through my SIM number.
The other app that exhibits this behavior is Garmin Connect -- my watch gives me notifications, but then, for no reason, it will stop working. Opening Garmin Connect solves the problem.
I have ensured all permissions are set as liberally as possible, even the "allow autostart" option. Not sure what else to do. Any ideas would be great. I actually didn't have the issue with my Mi 8, but I wonder if anyone has any knowledge on how this could happen on the Mi 9.
Thanks!
sshanky said:
I know this is the Mi 8 forum, but I feel that the issue I have on my Mi 9 will be common across both phones, and thought I would post here too.
I've noticed that at least two apps will mysteriously stop working in the background, causing problems:
First, most important, I use my Google Voice number, not my SIM number, so I need Google Voice to be running so that it intercepts my calls and uses the right phone number to make calls. If I open Google Voice, it will work for a few hours, maybe a day, and then GV stops working and calls start going out through my SIM number.
The other app that exhibits this behavior is Garmin Connect -- my watch gives me notifications, but then, for no reason, it will stop working. Opening Garmin Connect solves the problem.
I have ensured all permissions are set as liberally as possible, even the "allow autostart" option. Not sure what else to do. Any ideas would be great. I actually didn't have the issue with my Mi 8, but I wonder if anyone has any knowledge on how this could happen on the Mi 9.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
MIUI itself is a bit heavy on RAM, for one, and it's always been a bit aggressive on RAM management. Another thing, have you disabled MIUI's power saving functionality for those apps? I believe it only affects background push data, but I may be wrong. To configure said apps, go to Settings > Battery & performance > Choose apps and then select the apps in question and set to No Restrictions. There used to be an option to completely disable it, but that has since been removed. Another thing is to enable Developer options by tapping the MIUI version several times in the About phone section of the Settings app, then go to Additional settings > Developer options and disable MIUI optimizations. Read the prompt that pops up as I recall it mentioning something about affecting certain services.
Crossvxm said:
MIUI itself is a bit heavy on RAM, for one, and it's always been a bit aggressive on RAM management. Another thing, have you disabled MIUI's power saving functionality for those apps? I believe it only affects background push data, but I may be wrong. To configure said apps, go to Settings > Battery & performance > Choose apps and then select the apps in question and set to No Restrictions. There used to be an option to completely disable it, but that has since been removed. Another thing is to enable Developer options by tapping the MIUI version several times in the About phone section of the Settings app, then go to Additional settings > Developer options and disable MIUI optimizations. Read the prompt that pops up as I recall it mentioning something about affecting certain services.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have set the apps in question to No Restrictions, a long time ago, but that didn't help. Today, I tried another option -- Use Adaptive Battery (Limit battery for apps that you don't use often). I turned that OFF, and it appears I've been getting alerts on my Garmin watch all day. However, I made a call and Google Voice wasn't active. I was getting excited that I'd found a cure until that happened. I'll try your suggestion in developer options and report back if it works. Thanks for that idea.
No luck -- Google Voice is still stopping, even after just a few minutes. I can't make calls on my google voice number unless I first launch Voice, then go to the phone app.
sshanky said:
No luck -- Google Voice is still stopping, even after just a few minutes. I can't make calls on my google voice number unless I first launch Voice, then go to the phone app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah MIUI 10 + Android 9.0 are worse than previous versions of MIUI, but Google apps have issues on all devices that do not use stock or near stock Android. Have you attempted to lock the app in the task manager? Open your app, for example Google Voice, then using the task manager (App switcher), long press that app and tap the lock button. Try using the phone as you normally would and see if it helps.
@Crossvxm that's a good idea. I'll try and let you know how it goes.
sshanky said:
@Crossvxm that's a good idea. I'll try and let you know how it goes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All you have to to do is turn off Battery restrictions.
Also, I would suggest giving the launcher "Smart Launcher: a try. Not only is it awesome but it gives you quick access to all of the permissions, and battery optimizations. You can manage all of this from the Apps list.. Press and hold on any icon and click namage ( or the gear then manage) this is much easier then searching through the system settings for autostart, permissions, battery management etc. This is one app that is worth buying. The free version is great, but the paid version is incomparable, and I own all of the popular launchers. Smart Launcher Pro 5 is absolutely the best, and highly customizable.
My biggest issue with all AOSP roms is that the battery goes up to 105F when charging on every single AOSP rom that I have tried on the Mi8. While there is no immediate risk in the long term the battery should not get hotter than room temperature.
Back to Miui, turn off battery restrictions and you will have no issues, you also have the option of clicking the pin in recents to keep the app active.
Hi @tsongming, I've done everything possible to deactivate restrictions. I've done it the way you mentioned and other ways as well. I did try locking the app as mentioned by @Crossvxm and it might have done the trick -- will know more in a few days. I use Nova Launcher (paid version) and it has the same features you mentioned about Smart Launcher, where I can get to the settings instantly.
sshanky said:
Hi @tsongming, I've done everything possible to deactivate restrictions. I've done it the way you mentioned and other ways as well. I did try locking the app as mentioned by @Crossvxm and it might have done the trick -- will know more in a few days. I use Nova Launcher (paid version) and it has the same features you mentioned about Smart Launcher, where I can get to the settings instantly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I run MIUI stock 10.3.3.0 with Sphinx Kernel and root. I also use Hangouts, Google voice, and Google message without issues. It's like tsongming mentioned. Turn off the adaptive battery and remove battery restrictions on each app. Also make sure they get all permissions.
Something to note , when I used Canting Kernel, I had lots of apps turn off in background including my Fossil sport watch connection. Going back to Sphinx Kernel took care of issue, probable too aggressive memory killer in Canting. Stock Kernel might have same issue idk.
./
When I had my Mi 8, I had no issues. This seems to be something new with the 9. I've disabled adaptive battery, I've provided all permissions to the app, I've removed all power restrictions. I'm not rooted, so I can't change kernel right now. It appears that locking the app might have helped a bit, but I wish I didn't have to do it.
Seeing as there are dozens of people who are claiming issues with receiving notifications. I figured it's time to make this thread.
The following has worked for me to restore notifications for every single app I use.
To date, I have had absolutely no problems whatsoever with getting any notifications from any apps. Regardless of the app itself, time, battery state of the phone or 4G/5G/Wifi et cetera,
These are the steps that I have done. They worked for me. If you have already done other steps and things are not working for you. You may likely have broken something on your own, in which case these below steps obviously won't work for you.
Steps.
I got my new phone
I ran the Debloat Script
Rebooted the phone to check everything is working, no force closes etc.
Installed the apps I needed manually (did not copy from any previous device or use a transfer app)
Settings > Battery > Set to Balanced
Settings > Battery > Background Power Consumption > for messaging apps and other real-time important apps I set "High Background Power Usage"
For each app > Go to "App Info" (longtap on app) > Permissions > All Permissions > Autostart ON
Install APKPure store
Update these: Google Play Store, Google Services Framework, Google Play Services, Carrier Services
Reboot
Make a test notification from another phone to my Vivo - it works.
Open the app, then use the App Manager to swipe it away from the recents drawer
Make another test notification - it works.
Most of this is just simple a' la: https://dontkillmyapp.com/vivo
I have tested this with the following apps (and many more I could not be bothered to list):
Whatsapp (all message notifications are fine, can receive calls too)
Facebook Messenger (all message notifications are fine, can receive calls too)
Telegram (all message notifications are fine, can receive calls too)
Signal (all message notifications are fine, can receive calls too)
Threema (all message notifications are fine, can receive calls too)
Snapchat (all message notifications are fine, can receive calls too)
Google Photos (sync works fine, also got shared photos notification)
Gmail (all email notifications working, also Google Meets notification reminders)
Google Calendar (calendar reminders all working)
Microsoft Todo (reminders working fine, also added shared tasks notifications working)
Protonmail (all email notifications working)
Tutanota (all email notifications working)
Weawow Weather (weather alerts working fine, plus persistent notification not being killed for weather)
Pano Scrobbler (automatically opens and detects any playing music correctly even if I haven't opened the app in days)
Youtube Vanced (subscription notifications working fine, so are recommendations)
NewPipe Sponsorblock (same as Youtube Vanced)
This allows apps to start by themselves (also when invoked by another app in the background), it also prevents them from ever being killed in the background so you still get notifications.
Other things to note:
Dark Mode - I have it set to always on, no problems with notifications whatsoever and I have never had a problem
Do Not Disturb - When the schedule is set, all notifications are still received but are muted
com.vivo.pem - Still installed on my phone, I never removed it and I do not recommend removing it
120hz Mode - I am using this all the time
Battery saving or task killing apps? - I have none installed. They are all unreliable.
TradingShenzhen - I got my phone from here
System Version - PD2227C_A_13.0.19.0.W10.V000L1
Battery drain?
My phone barely even drains 20-35% in a day. This is by far the best phone I have ever used when it comes to battery drain. I have never had a problem with the battery draining at all. Not even randomly or overnight. The longest I have left my phone on without any kind of reboot is about 9 days. The phone drains on average about 1.3% per hour if I am not using it and 3% an hour with light use. Even using the camera and taking 4K video, the drain is very minimal. I use auto brightness and I have the always-on display turned off.
Battery drain will always come down to how you use your phone:
How much you pick it up,
Did you Debloat your phone,
Do you play games (I do not),
Are you using 5G (much higher drain) or Wifi (lower drain),
Do you have lots of apps syncing high volumes of data in the background,
Do you have Bluetooth on constantly and NFC in the background always on,
Do you watch a lot of videos (I do not),
Do you regularly properly close apps you aren't using?
and all things like this. As always YMMV. For me though, I could not get a single day out of my Samsung S22U. I can get almost 3 days out of my Vivo X90 Pro+ whilst taking a lot of photos, quite a few videos, having a few calls and using my browser a lot.
Here's 2 screenshots of my battery usage. Purple bars are background usage, which you can see is really nice and low for all apps. Turquoise (blueish) is foreground usage and I think those levels are normal. Notion is a massive battery hog, so is Libby. Notion due to sub-optimal coding and the over aggressive syncing it does when you're even just typing. Libby is just badly made. Likely I will also prevent Libby running in the background, but I allowed it only so I get notifications when my books are ready.
What about *x* app?
I don't know man, do these steps and try it for yourself. This is just what I have done and I have literally a perfect experience with this phone so far, which I think is to be expected because I wasn't chopping up my OS and removing system apps etc. If you feel like you are having a really bad experience, likely the only way forward is to fully factory reset the phone and try these steps.
What about com.vivo.pem?
Look. Friend... If you haven't figured out by the screenshot evidence and everything else I've been saying here and in my other threads, that you absolutely do not need to remove it (and absolutely should not). Then I can't help you and I won't say it again. What I will say though is this. There are a few people who have removed it, all of which STILL are having problems. ALL of which who are facing far WORSE problems like battery drain so bad that one of the biggest advocates for deleting this package is now selling his Vivo X90PP because he's unwilling to admit he bricked it by removing this package. Yet despite this he's still telling others to remove it . What we do know? Well removing to causes massive battery drain, your phone won't even last a full day. Removing it also can make it impossible to install any apps after an OS update . Removing it can also do all sorts of other weird things with your phone like force close apps randomly and cause random restarts. So why did people remove it? Because some "genius" was convinced it was a good idea. Because one guy who owned an X80 said it solved a problem getting his notifications to work. Because instead of looking for a really solution, some guys got out the axe and started hacking. So, keep the package? The worst you'll get is what... a notification might not work (which this whole guide should fix anyway). Remove it? Then only God can help you (or maybe a factory reset). My advice: Leave the package alone. If you already removed it and are having problems, factory reset and run the new debloat script and follow this guide.
Final word
I don't really use this community at all. Nor do I check posts very often. I help out only in my spare time and I don't have any interest in being some active member. In the past I have found this community unwelcoming, toxic and full of chest beaters, so I am really only interested in getting the tools and info I need and then getting out. I am not sure even why I bothered fixing the script for everyone else, I guess because it was simple and I really love this phone and want others to enjoy it. In short, I want more good phones like this and with a little bit of tweaking it can be an amazing device. However, lately, a lot of people have been DMing me after I fixed the debloat script, like over 20 people. Please do not DM me, I will likely not see these posts at all. All my notifications are disabled now after too much spam. Plus I won't reply to them individually. Make your posts in a thread where more than just me could give you an answer and do not pose your questions to "just me". I won't help you with your specific issues. The community here has always been adamant that you need to help yourself, otherwise just buy some overpriced Samdung or iPhone and forget about XDA altogether. My 2 cents.
In any case, I hope this thread helps some people going forward.
Have you got muted group chats in Signal, Telegram and or Whatsapp?
extremecarver said:
Have you got muted group chats in Signal, Telegram and or Whatsapp?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're on my ignore list but I will reply to you this once only. Yes and those chats don't notify me when they are muted but my unmuted group chats notify me on every message. That is, the chats work fine, the exact same way as on my other phone. I don't want muted chats to notify me anyway.
Only viber doesnt work in dark mode in my case (it lights up screen with no content shown and no sound, no notification shown on garmin fenix 7) in light mode works perfectly
Thank you for the guide. But after some time my apps stop getting notifications again. What the solution for that? I have script 2.6 too and vivo pem active.
M5Pro60 said:
Thank you for the guide. But after some time my apps stop getting notifications again. What the solution for that? I have script 2.6 too and vivo pem active.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Disable dark mode
ef1x said:
Disable dark mode
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't have dark mode.
This method don't work for me. I have read in other forums it is save to kill pem.vivo. i will try now this.
M5Pro60 said:
This method don't work for me. I have read in other forums it is save to kill pem.vivo. i will try now this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I currently have vivo.pem active , there is old debloat script that kills vivo pem, i would recomend that you kill only com.vivo.pem only. Delete other lines leave only vivo pem.
Also i have noticed when you run new and then old script then battery drain starts.
I always do factory reset before debloating and never restore using unbloat script.
ef1x said:
I currently have vivo.pem active , there is old debloat script that kills vivo pem, i would recomend that you kill only com.vivo.pem only. Delete other lines leave only vivo pem.
Also i have noticed when you run new and then old script then battery drain starts.
I always do factory reset before debloating and never restore using unbloat script.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok thank you.
ef1x said:
I currently have vivo.pem active , there is old debloat script that kills vivo pem, i would recomend that you kill only com.vivo.pem only. Delete other lines leave only vivo pem.
Also i have noticed when you run new and then old script then battery drain starts.
I always do factory reset before debloating and never restore using unbloat script.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Will i brick my phone? it says in main post.
M5Pro60 said:
Will i brick my phone? it says in main post.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No
Hi mate
Can you please tell me if your floating notifications pop up for WhatsApp? (The small message preview windows at the top of your screen whilst unlocked.) They work for every app except WhatsApp on mine.
luontokoodaus said:
Seeing as there are dozens of people who are claiming issues with receiving notifications. I figured it's time to make this thread.
The following has worked for me to restore notifications for every single app I use.
To date, I have had absolutely no problems whatsoever with getting any notifications from any apps. Regardless of the app itself, time, battery state of the phone or 4G/5G/Wifi et cetera,
These are the steps that I have done. They worked for me. If you have already done other steps and things are not working for you. You may likely have broken something on your own, in which case these below steps obviously won't work for you.
Steps.
I got my new phone
I ran the Debloat Script
Rebooted the phone to check everything is working, no force closes etc.
Installed the apps I needed manually (did not copy from any previous device or use a transfer app)
Settings > Battery > Set to Balanced
Settings > Battery > Background Power Consumption > for messaging apps and other real-time important apps I set "High Background Power Usage"
For each app > Go to "App Info" (longtap on app) > Permissions > All Permissions > Autostart ON
Install APKPure store
Update these: Google Play Store, Google Services Framework, Google Play Services, Carrier Services
Reboot
Make a test notification from another phone to my Vivo - it works.
Open the app, then use the App Manager to swipe it away from the recents drawer
Make another test notification - it works.
Most of this is just simple a' la: https://dontkillmyapp.com/vivo
I have tested this with the following apps (and many more I could not be bothered to list):
Whatsapp (all message notifications are fine, can receive calls too)
Facebook Messenger (all message notifications are fine, can receive calls too)
Telegram (all message notifications are fine, can receive calls too)
Signal (all message notifications are fine, can receive calls too)
Threema (all message notifications are fine, can receive calls too)
Snapchat (all message notifications are fine, can receive calls too)
Google Photos (sync works fine, also got shared photos notification)
Gmail (all email notifications working, also Google Meets notification reminders)
Google Calendar (calendar reminders all working)
Microsoft Todo (reminders working fine, also added shared tasks notifications working)
Protonmail (all email notifications working)
Tutanota (all email notifications working)
Weawow Weather (weather alerts working fine, plus persistent notification not being killed for weather)
Pano Scrobbler (automatically opens and detects any playing music correctly even if I haven't opened the app in days)
Youtube Vanced (subscription notifications working fine, so are recommendations)
NewPipe Sponsorblock (same as Youtube Vanced)
This allows apps to start by themselves (also when invoked by another app in the background), it also prevents them from ever being killed in the background so you still get notifications.
Other things to note:
Dark Mode - I have it set to always on, no problems with notifications whatsoever and I have never had a problem
Do Not Disturb - When the schedule is set, all notifications are still received but are muted
com.vivo.pem - Still installed on my phone, I never removed it and I do not recommend removing it
120hz Mode - I am using this all the time
Battery saving or task killing apps? - I have none installed. They are all unreliable.
TradingShenzhen - I got my phone from here
System Version - PD2227C_A_13.0.19.0.W10.V000L1
Battery drain?
My phone barely even drains 20-35% in a day. This is by far the best phone I have ever used when it comes to battery drain. I have never had a problem with the battery draining at all. Not even randomly or overnight. The longest I have left my phone on without any kind of reboot is about 9 days. The phone drains on average about 1.3% per hour if I am not using it and 3% an hour with light use. Even using the camera and taking 4K video, the drain is very minimal. I use auto brightness and I have the always-on display turned off.
Battery drain will always come down to how you use your phone:
How much you pick it up,
Did you Debloat your phone,
Do you play games (I do not),
Are you using 5G (much higher drain) or Wifi (lower drain),
Do you have lots of apps syncing high volumes of data in the background,
Do you have Bluetooth on constantly and NFC in the background always on,
Do you watch a lot of videos (I do not),
Do you regularly properly close apps you aren't using?
and all things like this. As always YMMV. For me though, I could not get a single day out of my Samsung S22U. I can get almost 3 days out of my Vivo X90 Pro+ whilst taking a lot of photos, quite a few videos, having a few calls and using my browser a lot.
Here's 2 screenshots of my battery usage. Purple bars are background usage, which you can see is really nice and low for all apps. Turquoise (blueish) is foreground usage and I think those levels are normal. Notion is a massive battery hog, so is Libby. Notion due to sub-optimal coding and the over aggressive syncing it does when you're even just typing. Libby is just badly made. Likely I will also prevent Libby running in the background, but I allowed it only so I get notifications when my books are ready.
What about *x* app?
I don't know man, do these steps and try it for yourself. This is just what I have done and I have literally a perfect experience with this phone so far, which I think is to be expected because I wasn't chopping up my OS and removing system apps etc. If you feel like you are having a really bad experience, likely the only way forward is to fully factory reset the phone and try these steps.
What about com.vivo.pem?
Look. Friend... If you haven't figured out by the screenshot evidence and everything else I've been saying here and in my other threads, that you absolutely do not need to remove it (and absolutely should not). Then I can't help you and I won't say it again. What I will say though is this. There are a few people who have removed it, all of which STILL are having problems. ALL of which who are facing far WORSE problems like battery drain so bad that one of the biggest advocates for deleting this package is now selling his Vivo X90PP because he's unwilling to admit he bricked it by removing this package. Yet despite this he's still telling others to remove it . What we do know? Well removing to causes massive battery drain, your phone won't even last a full day. Removing it also can make it impossible to install any apps after an OS update . Removing it can also do all sorts of other weird things with your phone like force close apps randomly and cause random restarts. So why did people remove it? Because some "genius" was convinced it was a good idea. Because one guy who owned an X80 said it solved a problem getting his notifications to work. Because instead of looking for a really solution, some guys got out the axe and started hacking. So, keep the package? The worst you'll get is what... a notification might not work (which this whole guide should fix anyway). Remove it? Then only God can help you (or maybe a factory reset). My advice: Leave the package alone. If you already removed it and are having problems, factory reset and run the new debloat script and follow this guide.
Final word
I don't really use this community at all. Nor do I check posts very often. I help out only in my spare time and I don't have any interest in being some active member. In the past I have found this community unwelcoming, toxic and full of chest beaters, so I am really only interested in getting the tools and info I need and then getting out. I am not sure even why I bothered fixing the script for everyone else, I guess because it was simple and I really love this phone and want others to enjoy it. In short, I want more good phones like this and with a little bit of tweaking it can be an amazing device. However, lately, a lot of people have been DMing me after I fixed the debloat script, like over 20 people. Please do not DM me, I will likely not see these posts at all. All my notifications are disabled now after too much spam. Plus I won't reply to them individually. Make your posts in a thread where more than just me could give you an answer and do not pose your questions to "just me". I won't help you with your specific issues. The community here has always been adamant that you need to help yourself, otherwise just buy some overpriced Samdung or iPhone and forget about XDA altogether. My 2 cents.
In any case, I hope this thread helps some people going forward.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I killed vivo.pem at sunday and it's good. what you say from remove is not right!
@M5Pro60 but do your floating notifications pop up for WhatsApp?
Btw, if I have my phone in vibration mode with screen off it doesn't vibrate for many app notifications . Seems to be just another bug related to notifications. Then when I switch on the screen the notifications arrive delayed sometimes, sometimes not....
Also the notifications don't make it onto my Fenix 6X pro with vibration mode...
Just a rotten software with bugs everywhere....
I did everything as in the first post:
- reminders made on the same day (yesterday) - everything worked
- today, next day, again Google Calendar does not send notifications.
All settings are preserved, nothing has changed.
I don't understand what happened now?
Tiverask said:
@M5Pro60 but do your floating notifications pop up for WhatsApp?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes works when watch YouTube landscape.
usersmrtph said:
I did everything as in the first post:
- reminders made on the same day (yesterday) - everything worked
- today, next day, again Google Calendar does not send notifications.
All settings are preserved, nothing has changed.
I don't understand what happened now?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I have the same. I delete vivo.pem and now all is good. Main post is lie about pem.
M5Pro60 said:
Yes I have the same. I delete vivo.pem and now all is good. Main post is lie about pem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't find myself ... com.vivo.pem