Database Users

Selectively disable net access by app?

I have a Touch Pro2 which connects to the net every 15 minutes for reasons that I'm not aware of (I have Outlook and Weather set to Manual, have disabled Latitude in Google Maps, etc). SPB Wireless Monitor tells me only that system.exe or services.exe are doing the accesses.
Since my provider charges per session this can get quite expensive, so I've been forced to turn 3G/GPRS access on/off manually using NoData.
Is there a way of selectively enabling net access for designated applications only? e.g. allowing it to Opera and Outlook only by default, and selectively enabling other apps on demand?
Alternatively, is there a way of finding out which apps are trying to access the net without my knowledge? (e.g. by forcing a prompt every time an application attempts 3G/GPRS access)?
TIA for any tips
Ian

itm said:
Alternatively, is there a way of finding out which apps are trying to access the net without my knowledge? (e.g. by forcing a prompt every time an application attempts 3G/GPRS access)?
Ian
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
If you grab a trial of SPB Wireless Monitor,that will show what apps and how much data has been used per application.

i think this is a greate idea. someone should really develop this.
basically the user would provide the application with an approved list of applications that can connect using the 3g/edge connection. the rest can only connect using wifi or activesync

GLO said:
Hi,
If you grab a trial of SPB Wireless Monitor,that will show what apps and how much data has been used per application.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
but it doesnt do anything after it tells you this stats.
a simple application similar to "no data" should still be developed. what do you all think?

look into your taskmanager
RSSHub ? QuickGPS ?
good look

Quote:
Originally Posted by itm View Post
Alternatively, is there a way of finding out which apps are trying to access the net without my knowledge? (e.g. by forcing a prompt every time an application attempts 3G/GPRS access)?
Ian
THE GRIZZ said:
but it doesnt do anything after it tells you this stats.
a simple application similar to "no data" should still be developed. what do you all think?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure, this wont stop the apps, but as the OP had asked, this will let him know what apps are accessing the NEt

GLO said:
Hi,
If you grab a trial of SPB Wireless Monitor,that will show what apps and how much data has been used per application.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SPB Wireless Monitor tells me only that system.exe or services.exe are doing the accesses.

Mamamam said:
look into your taskmanager
RSSHub ? QuickGPS ?
good look
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried installing and runnign TaskMgr but it hangs during startup on my TouchPro2. What's the best alternative Task manager app?

itm said:
SPB Wireless Monitor tells me only that system.exe or services.exe are doing the accesses.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I suspect that they are your Network Operator settings checking for updates or
something like that.

GLO said:
I suspect that they are your Network Operator settings checking for updates or
something like that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They make 87 connections in 18 hours - does that sound likely? It works out very expensive for those tariffs which charge a per-connection fee.
Any idea how I could disable this (or confirm that this is indeed the explanation)?

Hutchison3G sets up virtually all their supplied phones with network configurations to connect very frequently like what you describe.
See if you can simply disable your data connection. As with H3G in Australia, you dont get charged when it is simply accessing its own intranet, and when its roaming it only displays a 'lite' homepage.
Perhaps consider a non-network issued rom, or determine whether that data is 'free intranet' or not.

GLO said:
See if you can simply disable your data connection. As with H3G in Australia, you dont get charged when it is simply accessing its own intranet, and when its roaming it only displays a 'lite' homepage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I already use NoData to manually enable/disable the data connection when it's required/not required. I was just hoping for a more elegant solution to stop unauthorised apps incurring data charges, while not sacrificing the convenience of automatic access for apps that I use alot (like Opera and Outlook)

hope someone develops this

You can try PPC version of ProxyCap to restrict or proxify access per application - http://www.proxycap.com/
It doesn't pop up when an aplication attempts to communicate with the Internet, so manual configuration is required. You'll need to set up proxy bypass for the applications you want to be allowed to connect and use localhost as a proxy by default, so that other applications can't communicate with external hosts. You can also filter traffic based on destination IPs and ports. E.g. an easier solution may be to allow http and https traffic only for all applications and drop everything else if you only need to use a web browser.
ProxyCap may not prevent your GPRS/EDGE/HSDPA connection from being established every time, but at least there will be application or protocol filtering in place and thus less unexpected traffic. ProxyCap does not seem to be able to filter ICMP traffic. It appears to be allowing DNS traffic through regardless of the filtering configuration too, as it can't be proxified and is required for proper name resolution.
Another alternative is PPC firewalls like
http://www.airscanner.com/products/firewall/
and
http://www.anthasoft.com/anthafirewall-firewall-for-mobile-device.php
I haven't used any of these products though and can't recommend them.
Both seem to be more user friendly than proxycap though.

[Q] Firewall app?

Is there a firewall app which blocks all traffic like the personal firewalls for PCs do? With it you could
- whitelist certain apps for all destinations e.g. Google Earth, GMail, browser
- whitelist certain destinations in general e.g. *.google.com
- blacklist certain apps e.g. SuperGameButWhichAlsoPhonesHome.apk
- pops up if an app tries to connect to an yet unlisted destination and blocks or allows by default
The problem with permissions is, it's all or nothing. E.g. I want allow most apps to connect to Flurry or GoogleAnalytics to help the developers improve and understand the usage or if it uploads pics to facebook, but if an SMS app reads my SMS and also has the internet permission (probably for ads and analytics), who knows they're not also transferring my SMS?
Editing the hosts file is not an option as this would only be a blacklist and also very tedious to maintain.
Of course you need root access and it also needs to be open source for it to be trusted. I'm thinking of an addonn for CyanogenMod or so.

I'm not really all too familiar with firewall stuff, but found this for you: http://www.droidsecurity.com/droidhunter/index.html
Then maybe it's overkill but that one combined with this: http://www.carrotapp.com/2010/04/10/app-protector/
Might do the trick?

Thanks for your efford but I am looking for something completely different. A firewall is an app which controls internet traffic.

DroidWall would be perfect, but it doesn't function.
mcmurph said:
Thanks for your efford but I am looking for something completely different. A firewall is an app which controls internet traffic.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I search the same. DroidWall would be perfect, but it doesn't function.

totos1234 said:
Yes, I search the same. DroidWall would be perfect, but it doesn't function.
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Click to collapse
It works fine for me on a g1!

DroidWall does not prevent Wifi connections at all.
As such, as a firewall it's next to useless.
It's more a "3G data connection" limiter than a real firewall.

vasra said:
DroidWall does not prevent Wifi connections at all.
As such, as a firewall it's next to useless.
It's more a "3G data connection" limiter than a real firewall.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't understand your problem with DroidWall. I don't even have a data plan, so I only use it for Wifi. Sometimes I forget I have it installed, open a program that needs internet access, only to find that it won't work until I allow it to have the access through DroidWall. Works everytime.

How to stop 3G connections?

I seem to have unwanted apps connecting to my 3G service every day. According to 3G Watchdog the apps are:
Network Location com.android.qxdmlog
HTC Message Uploader
HTC Sense
I use APNDroid, and use it to turn off 3G at all times. I also have Auto-Sync disabled in my Accounts and Sync settings. I have Background Data enabled, however, as disabling it seems to stop the Market app working.
How can I detect and stop the rogue app from connecting each day?

Had the same problem.
I solved it with that two app's.
TrafficStats and DroidWall.
The first tell me, which one goes out and the firewall (DroidWall) allowed me to stop that for wifi or umts or both.
But! You need custom Kernel to use the firewall!
Ok, hope could help you.
Greetings ivi
Sent from my HTC Vision

3G Watchdog also tells me which apps are using the connection (as per my first post), but what I'm trying to work out it how to stop it?

DroidWall?
Give a try, it works.
Ivi
And no, i dont knew to stop that, cos it would generet a lot og problem to deinstall this stock software, why dont try to make them blind with a firewall?
Sent from my HTC Vision

purpose ?
what is the purpose in disallowing sense to use data ? doesn't it need it to update widgets and such ?
also
if you're going to disallow it access to updates, why use sense ?
I don't think setting up additional layers of applications backgrounded will save any battery life (hint) if that is the intent. take a read into exactly what background data is used for before you start denying acess.
also, those are not rogue applications.

Actually I'm not using Sense - I'm using Launcher Pro Plus and shooting for a vanilla Android experience, as I'm on a par-per-connection data contract.

ivifly said:
DroidWall?
Give a try, it works.
Ivi
And no, i dont knew to stop that, cos it would generet a lot og problem to deinstall this stock software, why dont try to make them blind with a firewall?
Sent from my HTC Vision
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just downloaded Droidwall but it needs root access and I haven't been brave enough to root my Desire Z yet. I've seen some pretty complex guides to doing this - are there any simple options?

I think any kind of network blockage requires root as it is suppised to communicate with linux internally somehow? I forgot how it worked but I do remember it needs root access to use a wall.
Love the Overclocked "nonsense" CM7

Yes you need root and s-off and a customer kernel.
It seems, it is a longway.....but no worry! This forum is a great help on your side! Just use the search option for the word above and you will sucess.
Have fun
Lg ivi
Sent from my HTC Vision

ivifly said:
Yes you need root and s-off and a customer kernel.
It seems, it is a longway.....but no worry! This forum is a great help on your side! Just use the search option for the word above and you will sucess.
Have fun
Lg ivi
Sent from my HTC Vision
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My firmware version is 1.82.161.1, and from ready instructions on rooting I would need to downgrade to 1.34 before I can root - do you think it is worth the trouble? i.e. will rooting the phone give me alot more flexibility?

So...to return to where I came in...does anyone know which settings I can change to stop the unwanted services from accessing my 3G connection every day?
The following is the list that I get from 3G Watchdog:
1. Phone
Dialer Storage
SIM toolkit
Field test
2. Network Location
com.android.qxdmlog
Settings
Settings Storage
Accounts & Sync
Setup
HTC Hub
Android System
HTC Function Test Program 1.04g
HTC checkin service
Brcm bluetooth services
Google backup transport
VPN services
Upgrade Setup
CLock
3. DCS service
Calendar storage
Customisation settings provider
Open Sense plugin manager
HTC location service
com.htc.dcs.service.stock
Stocks
HTC weather sync provider
Friend Stream
com.htc.provider.settings
Weather provider
Peep
Customisation setup
DCS utility component
Weather agent service
HTC media uploader
Connect to PC
Facebook to HTC sense
Flickr
To confirm, I already have Background Data disabled on the Accounts & Sync page, and have also disabled data connections using APNDroid. Neither of these measures is stopping the above services from using my 3G connection.

itm said:
So...to return to where I came in...does anyone know which settings I can change to stop the unwanted services from accessing my 3G connection every day?
The following is the list that I get from 3G Watchdog:
1. Phone
Dialer Storage
SIM toolkit
Field test
2. Network Location
com.android.qxdmlog
Settings
Settings Storage
Accounts & Sync
Setup
HTC Hub
Android System
HTC Function Test Program 1.04g
HTC checkin service
Brcm bluetooth services
Google backup transport
VPN services
Upgrade Setup
CLock
3. DCS service
Calendar storage
Customisation settings provider
Open Sense plugin manager
HTC location service
com.htc.dcs.service.stock
Stocks
HTC weather sync provider
Friend Stream
com.htc.provider.settings
Weather provider
Peep
Customisation setup
DCS utility component
Weather agent service
HTC media uploader
Connect to PC
Facebook to HTC sense
Flickr
To confirm, I already have Background Data disabled on the Accounts & Sync page, and have also disabled data connections using APNDroid. Neither of these measures is stopping the above services from using my 3G connection.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i think your app is mistaken. when data is disabled, and sync is OFF, there should be nothing like this happening. they may -try- and the app report it, but there should be no data what so ever.
try accessing a webpage, or refreshing the content of any of those applications. i think you will find they cannot.
update us ?

How to monitor network data details?

Is there a way to monitor an app's internet data traffic? I am specifically interested in which webservice (URL) an app is calling, and what data is passed to it from my device. I have found some network monitor apps on google play that tells you the URL, but not the details of what data is passed, rendering it not useful.
thanks,
Joe

you mean somthing like wireshark or tcpdump?
if you want to capture packets you can use "shark for root" (you can use it only if you have a root).

Google network sniffer

Restrict certain apps to only use Cellular (not wi-fi)

I know you can restrict a particular apps from using cellular data. But I'd like to do the opposite...
Is there a way to force an app to ONLY use cellular data, and not the wi-fi connection?

You could use AFWall+ but you need root for that.

rchtk said:
You could use AFWall+ but you need root for that.
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Click to collapse
Thanks. I'll keep searching for a non-root method, for the app I'm trying to block is one of those annoying won't-run-when-rooted apps...