Database Users

Original sw on nexus s

I was wondering if you guys the following software on your new phone installed by default.
Qik
App brain
Skype
Quadrant
Speed test
Because when I got my phone from best buy it was already there and I am wondering if I got a used phone.
Sent from my Nexus S

None of those apps were preinstalled on the 2 NS's I bought on 12.16. Looks like someone played with/used it before you got it.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App

I agree with Herr Bauhaus, app brain alone proves the phone's been played with before you got it.
Disappointing to hear that Best Buy is slipping returned phones into the "new" bin. If nothing else, they should have given you an "open box" discount. I'd take it back and demand that, or a new one. Turn it on before leaving the store and make sure nothing on the phone.

Thanks...this is disappointing. Shame on you best buy
Sent from my Nexus S

just some more confirmation, none of those apps should of been on the phone, you got a used device. Take it back and demand a new one, also as someone else said, open it in store.
if it still has the film over the screen telling you how to turn it on then thats a good sign but best to still turn it on and make sure no other apps are there.

Gingerbread auto-restores apps, are you certain this is not the case?
Sent from my Nexus S

AndroidZ28 said:
Gingerbread auto-restores apps, are you certain this is not the case?
Sent from my Nexus S
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this is a possibility

If you had them on your old android phone that's why they are there. I suppose best buy installed you stored wifi passwords too
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App

well.. when you first turn on the phone, it does say Welcome to Nexus S... so thats a indicator if it was used or not

Slapinfunk said:
If you had them on your old android phone that's why they are there. I suppose best buy installed you stored wifi passwords too
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He never said his wifi passwords were restored, and if it were Google restoring apps via the backup feature from an old phone, wouldn't it restore ALL his old apps? I doubt those were the only apps he had installed on his old phone, if he even had one...I guess we should ask him (did you, OP?).

distortedloop said:
He never said his wifi passwords were restored, and if it were Google restoring apps via the backup feature from an old phone, wouldn't it restore ALL his old apps? I doubt those were the only apps he had installed on his old phone, if he even had one...I guess we should ask him (did you, OP?).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It will restore as many as it can, depending on a couple variables. One variable being reception. If you are turning on your phone for the first time in a location with crappy signal, you will probably only get a partial, if any, app restore. I speak from experience here.

Luxferro said:
It will restore as many as it can, depending on a couple variables. One variable being reception. If you are turning on your phone for the first time in a location with crappy signal, you will probably only get a partial, if any, app restore. I speak from experience here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And the rest will never come in after the first attempt? Not a very reliable system, then.
I remember it working for me once with my Nexus 1 way back when, but it's never worked reliably when switching to any other phone.

Of course also on the app restore issue there will be a notification letting you know that X number of apps were restored (or if there was a partial restore as well, I believe).
Whatever happened to the OP?

knytphal said:
Of course also on the app restore issue there will be a notification letting you know that X number of apps were restored (or if there was a partial restore as well, I believe).
Whatever happened to the OP?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's no restore notification as far as I know.

My apps and settings didn't restore when I replaced my nexus s. I have backup my data and automatic restore enabled, and did on the previous phone too.

in the end it's quite clear the OP got a "used" phone from the "new" phone pile from BestBuy
it might have even been from some of us here in XDA that found some defect and sent it back (j/k)
if i were you, i'd got back to complain at BB, and get a new unit
as mentioned by the guys above, you should get a WELCOME screen, touch here to begin your setup wizard.... blah blah blah, and no weird software should be installed
you can also go into Phone> Settings> About, and check on the usage status

JCopernicus said:
There's no restore notification as far as I know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's odd, I always get a restore notification letting me know how many apps were reinstalled after changing devices or wiping/restoring.

Thanks guys for the answers. Quick update. I went back to BB to replace the phone and got a new one. No more extra apps.
I also noticed that this time the screen was no longer a finger print magnet either. They must have cleaned the previous phone and stripped the anti-smudge coating.
Problem: This time around though, I have a problem with the back button being stuck sometimes -- checking on xda forums and google forums, it looks like this is a hardware issue. Guess this phone is going back too. Too bad.
Maybe i'll just wait and see what happens to the GT-i9023.....

No for me. I did not own an android phone before (well, except for the 2 weeks I owned a Vibrant last summer), but I never had Skype or Qik installed, so it is not possible that this is a restore.
This was a used phone from Best Buy.

HTC Sneaks Spying App into Android 2.3.4 Phones

http://hothardware.com/News/HTC-Sneaks-Spying-App-into-Android-234-Phones/
Hooray

note:
flipz also removes the CIQ from his rom (and has for a while)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1046622
here is the CIQ www
http://www.carrieriq.com/overview/IQInsightExperienceManager/index.htm

Big brother is always watching. Even if it is a half brother from Taiwan.

CDKJudoka said:
Big brother is always watching. Even if it is a half brother from Taiwan.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Probably MIUI has the same thing too inlcuded, who knows!

AA27 said:
Probably MIUI has the same thing too inlcuded, who knows!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It may just be a special app, but I doubt it. I think the MIUI was written for the KIRFers of all the apple knockoffs.

AA27 said:
Probably MIUI has the same thing too inlcuded, who knows!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't doubt if it had some sort of tracker included, but I have enough crap made in China, including most of my phone, so I'm not even trying it.
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

The simply thought of spyware and how info is collected is spooky enough to be suspicious of everything.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

Another reason to not run Sense.

Carrieriq is asked for by sprint to be included in all Android phones, however, all of its features are turned off, so the only impact it has on you, the user is ~20kb of memory space less.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

Probably wrong but the dropbox folder is for users that go to the market on their computers and download apps from there. You can have your phone download an app straight from your comp for those that don't know.
But aren't all there privacy issues understandable??? All the noobs that never mod their phones want a more pleasant experience....well this is what they have to give to get a better user experience...
sent from my synergized, v6 scripted beast.

Time to use a SSL VPN. or openVPN time.

Its easily disabled even if you don't use a ROM that strips it out (like Fresh Evo 4.2).
Here is how. Use titanium backup to freeze the following programs:
"HTC IQAgent 2.3.3"
"IQRD 2.3.3"
Freezing or uninstalling those 2 programs completely disables Carrior IQ. You can verify this yourself by looking at your logcat. You'll see some errors show up saying:
Unable to start service Intent {act=com.htc.android.iqagent.action.ui19 (has extras) }: not found.
This is caused by the system trying to start IQ, but failing. Uninstalling these programs should be ok, but I choose to freeze them just in case there are issues that arise from their removal.

Art2Fly said:
Carrieriq is asked for by sprint to be included in all Android phones, however, all of its features are turned off, so the only impact it has on you, the user is ~20kb of memory space less.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It has a huge impact on the phone and is one of the main reasons why sense roms are slower than AOSP. There have been more than a few times I've found it using up about 30% of my CPU and causing everything else to run like crap.
Sent from my PG86100 using XDA Premium App

I laugh at the "excusing" in this thread.
If Apple was doing this people would be flaming them and attack Apple/iphone as a whole.

Funny how that article says it's just now being found when we've known about it for over a year lol

What you guys don't seem to get is that they have been doing this for longer then you think! There are a few apps things running that do this in 2.1.

MultiDev said:
Its easily disabled even if you don't use a ROM that strips it out (like Fresh Evo 4.2).
Here is how. Use titanium backup to freeze the following programs:
"HTC IQAgent 2.3.3"
"IQRD 2.3.3"
Freezing or uninstalling those 2 programs completely disables Carrior IQ. You can verify this yourself by looking at your logcat. You'll see some errors show up saying:
Unable to start service Intent {act=com.htc.android.iqagent.action.ui19 (has extras) }: not found.
This is caused by the system trying to start IQ, but failing. Uninstalling these programs should be ok, but I choose to freeze them just in case there are issues that arise from their removal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for this. I backed it up in case there were problems (which I don't expect) and then uninstalled it. I'll post here if I get any errors.

tnerb123 said:
What you guys don't seem to get is that they have been doing this for longer then you think! There are a few apps things running that do this in 2.1.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And that makes it okay?

BTW, Is there any easy way to keep the system from trying to start CIQ after having removed it?

Think one thing: Regardless of OS companies want to know your steps by any means necessary. It is a shame that instead of asking people companies have to secretly steal personal information.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

BUSTED! Secret app on millions of phones logs key taps

An Android app developer has published what he says is conclusive proof that millions of smartphones are secretly monitoring the key presses, geographic locations, and received messages of its users.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/11/30/smartphone_spying_app/
You can download the app to see if you have CIQ from here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=17612559&postcount=110
Im running Miui and came out ok. Need root to run the app / clean it out.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1122569&highlight=ciq
That's pretty f**ked up. This logs keys as they are pressed, even in dialer. It doesn't appear to be installed on all android builds, seems to be carrier dependant.
I ran TrevE_Logging_TestApp_v7 to check for CIQ on my SGHT959 stock froyo.uvka6 rooted (Tmobile USA) and it came back clean, no CIQ found.
It would be good to post a list of which carriers/phone manufacturers are utilizing this rootkit so they can be avoided.
Anyway I think the only ones affected would be users of stock roms like me, CM7/MIUI and other custom roms should be fine.

Vibrant
just ran it on my Samsung Vibrant running Trigger 3.2 and it came up clean...

Phrack said:
It would be good to post a list of which carriers/phone manufacturers are utilizing this rootkit so they can be avoided.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agree!
I found it on my T-Mobile SGS2.... :/ I killed it with Titanium backup and rebooted. So far so good. I backed it up just in case it does mess up the phone by removing it.

Cool thanks.

sw20 said:
Agree!
I found it on my T-Mobile SGS2.... :/ I killed it with Titanium backup and rebooted. So far so good. I backed it up just in case it does mess up the phone by removing it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From my research the only way to tell if your phone has icq is to run log cat on your phone. Also just uninstalling the visible program didn't stop the program. I have found that asop and Muiu roms do not have ciq installed and only custom roms or kernels (in sgs2 case) which specifically removes listed as it removed.
I talked to a customer rep @ T-Mobile and she had no idea what I was talking about when I asked about ciq.
Can't wait for the class action law suit against ciq and see if this company can survive especially after eckhart's new video showing the program logging everything.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using xda premium

Does anyone know how i get sqlite3?

Hey man! this is ****ed up. How do we remove this?

It depends on which rom you are using. If you are using CM7/MIUI they don't have CIQ because they are based on open source android builds. CIQ is added by carriers and some phone manufacturers so if you are running stock rom or hacked rom based on a stock rom there is a good chance you have CIQ.
You need to download TrevE's Logging Test App to check for CIQ:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=17612559&postcount=110
There's different versions, try them until you find one that works for your phone. This will tell you if CIQ is found. To remove it you need to pay 99 cents for pro version of app and your phone needs to be rooted.
**EDIT
Here's some more info on Carrier IQ from the author of Logging Test App. It details what Carrier IQ does and logs.
http://androidsecuritytest.com/features/logs-and-services/loggers/carrieriq/
IMHO CIQ would probably be useful software if
A) Subcribers voluntarily participated
B) The software can easily be removed
As it stands this is classified as a rootkit because it is carefully hidden with no way for an average person to remove or disable it.
**EDIT ++
On the plus side there seems to be a plethora of apps available in Android Market for checking if Carrier IQ exists on your phone.
https://market.android.com/search?q=carrier+iq&so=1&c=apps
I have a feeling there will be eventually a simplified method for removing CIQ. Just be patient.

vibrant doesn't have it...
Sent from my SGH-T959 using xda premium

im glad mine doesn't have it. i put important stuff like mine and my moms bank accounts on my phone. cm7 is a safe choice

a theory I would like some experts to chime in on

I have a theory that Ti Backup or any backing up of apps to save re-installing time when changing to a new ROM is a bad plan. I know you can do it no problem, and that it is a great time saver, but I have a strong feeling that this ultimately results in an unstable phone with mysterious force closes etc.
Even though it's a real pain, I think you are always better off reinstalling your apps from scratch after changing to a new ROM and wiping caches.
what say you?

WTF? said:
I have a theory that Ti Backup or any backing up of apps to save re-installing time when changing to a new ROM is a bad plan. I know you can do it no problem, and that it is a great time saver, but I have a strong feeling that this ultimately results in an unstable phone with mysterious force closes etc.
Even though it's a real pain, I think you are always better off reinstalling your apps from scratch after changing to a new ROM and wiping caches.
what say you?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm no expert, but I agree with you. I have love TiBa, but I haven't ever batch restored all my apps/data at once. I've used it very selectively and never had a problem. I also use it for some of the other options it has... like detaching apps from "my apps" in the Market, for instance. But overall, yes, I think you're right, and it seems like common sense. For me, the point of using TiBa to create complete backups is simply to know that I have them, just in case... this is just my experience, of course...

I use my backup root... Works quite well, but i do not restore any apps which need superuser or something like that. You can handle the force close by fixing permission after restoring apps... But yeah a fresh install seems to be better
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App

I make backups of apps with Ti but only use it reinstall selected app data if necessary.
Made the noob mistake of restoring system data once but live and learn.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

Reinstalling your apps + data is not the problem. it's reinstalling system data that is the culprit. part of going into a new rom is that the system is set up differently. It is fine if you just restore the apps if they're all functioning normally.
You actually can also filter your batch operations so that you can install specific files and also have it back those files up on a schedule (daily/weekly/monthly/cyclic/etc).
TLDR: reinstalling apps + data is not bad. Reinstalling system data is bad.

mputtr said:
Reinstalling your apps + data is not the problem. it's reinstalling system data that is the culprit. part of going into a new rom is that the system is set up differently. It is fine if you just restore the apps if they're all functioning normally.
You actually can also filter your batch operations so that you can install specific files and also have it back those files up on a schedule (daily/weekly/monthly/cyclic/etc).
TLDR: reinstalling apps + data is not bad. Reinstalling system data is bad.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Obviously, restoring system data across ROMs is just plain wrong, but even restoring user app/data can be problematic. Just recently I read a post from a user who was regularly restoring user apps/data after ROM updates... the person started experiencing minor glitches with their device, performed a factory reset, re flashed, reinstalled everything from scratch, and the issues resolved themselves... I can't count the times I've read posts like this. Of course, these same users got along just fine for a time before the problems developed, so I agree with you when you said restoring user apps/data is "not bad." But over time, it might not be good either.

WTF? said:
I have a theory that Ti Backup or any backing up of apps to save re-installing time when changing to a new ROM is a bad plan. I know you can do it no problem, and that it is a great time saver, but I have a strong feeling that this ultimately results in an unstable phone with mysterious force closes etc.
Even though it's a real pain, I think you are always better off reinstalling your apps from scratch after changing to a new ROM and wiping caches.
what say you?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Calling it a theory would imply that you are going to present some evidence supporting it, which you have not. No evidence, its just a hypothesis.

Well obviously by copying data back and forth regularly you increase the potential for corruption etc to occur, whatever the cause. Is that not just a given? But unless you're doing it an unnecessary amount of times I shouldn't think you would run into noticeable trouble.

I always sucessfully batch restore my apps and app data (with Titanium Backup Pro) after a format of system and never have run into any issues.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App

Ditamae said:
Obviously, restoring system data across ROMs is just plain wrong, but even restoring user app/data can be problematic. Just recently I read a post from a user who was regularly restoring user apps/data after ROM updates... the person started experiencing minor glitches with their device, performed a factory reset, re flashed, reinstalled everything from scratch, and the issues resolved themselves... I can't count the times I've read posts like this. Of course, these same users got along just fine for a time before the problems developed, so I agree with you when you said restoring user apps/data is "not bad." But over time, it might not be good either.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have been doing this since the old winmo days and have not had a single problem with it. There's a reason you do multiple copies which makes life a little easier.
I personally have not had any problems over the past 4 years of using titanium across winmo to android. So I disagree with the OP's theory. Backing up app/data wont make it go bad over time. It's not a consumable so it doesn't matter how many times you back it up or over how many years you do. if you keep your app updated and you back it up, it wont go bad over time.

G1ForFun said:
I always sucessfully batch restore my apps and app data (with Titanium Backup Pro) after a format of system and never have run into any issues.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ditto for me, though these days I just upgrade the same ROM to new versions and only wipe the caches.
Sent from my HTC Vision using xda premium

mputtr said:
I have been doing this since the old winmo days and have not had a single problem with it. There's a reason you do multiple copies which makes life a little easier.
I personally have not had any problems over the past 4 years of using titanium across winmo to android. So I disagree with the OP's theory. Backing up app/data wont make it go bad over time. It's not a consumable so it doesn't matter how many times you back it up or over how many years you do. if you keep your app updated and you back it up, it wont go bad over time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As I said, I've never had an issue using it selectively, but I was hesitant to rely on it too heavily. I need to bear in mind that for every user who reports a problem, there are usually many more that get along just fine. Thanks for the input.

G1ForFun said:
I always sucessfully batch restore my apps and app data (with Titanium Backup Pro) after a format of system and never have run into any issues.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Zero problems here..in fact it has fixed problems for me in the past I love TB

the point is that backed up apps and data don't just go bad over time. There's a reason why you make multiple back ups.

At the end of the day, fresh > backup

Unless you have important or critical data, then backup>fresh. I have clients cry because they didn't have a backup at home or on their phone...just saying, grown men and women crying because they never thought about spending some cash for peace of mind. My backups on my phone and home network have come in handy multiple times! Backups to me are indispensible...

I use mybackup pro.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA Premium App

On the other hand its fun just to back up the apks of stuff you like on your cpu, so you can make a new phone experience when you make a big change--say by using a dif combo of apps/themes.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA Premium App

G1ForFun said:
I always sucessfully batch restore my apps and app data (with Titanium Backup Pro) after a format of system and never have run into any issues.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
Sent from my SilverBullet 'HTCDesireZ running CM7'

Yeah i think so too. Because ti backup sometimes restores apps but the apps FCs :/ i dont like ti backup...
Sent from my HTC Desire Z using XDA App

Carrier IQ

All right the company Carrier IQ is suddenly popping up in news stories everywhere. I assume I am safe from this garbage if I am using Cyanogenmod but how do I make sure my Wife's shift is clean of this if she's using Stock rooted 2.2? She will not let me change roms or even upgrade her to 2.3 so I would like to know what I need to delete to make sure Carrier IQ is not installed on her Shift or at least not sending any info back to it's mother ship.
If you haven't heard Carrier IQ is installed on millions of phones of different manufacturer's and is supported by many carriers including HTC and Sprint. It collects data and sends it back to Sprint or who knows who. Apparently it can log everything and it ignores any permissions or security you have set up or something like that. It is installed "invisibly" and you do not have the option to opt in or out. I assume Titanium or some other program can see the pieces I would need to delete but I don't know what they are.
Here's where I read about it and it does list an app that may be able to take care of it but I would rather know how to do it manually:
http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/01/carrier-iq-what-it-is-what-it-isnt-and-what-you-need-to/#comments
Thanks

Evo_Shift said:
All right the company Carrier IQ is suddenly popping up in news stories everywhere. I assume I am safe from this garbage if I am using Cyanogenmod but how do I make sure my Wife's shift is clean of this if she's using Stock rooted 2.2? She will not let me change roms or even upgrade her to 2.3 so I would like to know what I need to delete to make sure Carrier IQ is not installed on her Shift or at least not sending any info back to it's mother ship.
If you haven't heard Carrier IQ is installed on millions of phones of different manufacturer's and is supported by many carriers including HTC and Sprint. It collects data and sends it back to Sprint or who knows who. Apparently it can log everything and it ignores any permissions or security you have set up or something like that. It is installed "invisibly" and you do not have the option to opt in or out. I assume Titanium or some other program can see the pieces I would need to delete but I don't know what they are.
Here's where I read about it and it does list an app that may be able to take care of it but I would rather know how to do it manually:
http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/01/carrier-iq-what-it-is-what-it-isnt-and-what-you-need-to/#comments
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Run supreme sense

VICODAN said:
Run supreme sense
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know! I told my wife it is better...she still says no

You can use Treve's app http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=17612559
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.treve.loggingkey

Evo_Shift said:
I know! I told my wife it is better...she still says no
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Show her that video and tell her you want a divorce if she doesn't agree.
lol jk about the divorce part but seriously I just watched that video and im so glad im not on stock sense.

Flash MikShifted G v1.76 or Supreme Sense, then hand her back the phone. If she doesn't like them better than stock there is something wrong

i think people over think things too much about these little threats

+1 OP, I'm in exactly the same boat!
Unfortunately it seems at this point, no way to remove CIQ without root

guyandhisdog said:
+1 OP, I'm in exactly the same boat!
Unfortunately it seems at this point, no way to remove CIQ without root
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think he already mentioned that yes she does have root on stock if you read the OP. So yes titanium backup should be able to remove it no problem. Use the app carrier IQ detector to find out how much of it needs to be removed.

CIQ is built into the kernel too. He needs to swap kernels as well as remove the apps.
Sent from my PG06100 using XDA App

Ron Overdrive said:
CIQ is built into the kernel too. He needs to swap kernels as well as remove the apps.
Sent from my PG06100 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I looked at the kernel. All there is in the kernel is bug fixes to allow CIQ to run properly. If you remove the system apps there is nothing for the bug fixes in the kernel to use.
Sent from my PG06100 using xda premium

has anyone used the advanced version of treve's app on a shift successfully?
or removed the the ciq stuff manually with success? if so is there anything that needs to stay on the device so it doesn't brick.
i'm using a stock rooted rom and kind of want to stick with it.