Database Users

read_phone_state = Market FAIL!

android.permission.READ_PHONE_STATE (listed in Market as Phone calls - read phone state) is a permission that grants the application to read your IMEI (unique cell phone serial), Phonenumber, Serial of the SIM-CARD, and many more.
(For more information or Screenshots what it can do, see app "permission.READ_PHONE_STATE" in Android market)
Now, if this can be a major privacy-breach since the Developer is able to know who is using his app in person (by looking up the phone number, e.g.), or connecting user habbits over several apps to another, one could think: okay, then i won't install apps with this permission anymore.
And here comes, what i discovered within Android market:
3G Watchdog, AndroidPIT, Ethereal Dialpad, File Explorer, Ghost Commander, Google Sky Map, GPSies, Graviturn, Gym Babes, Hypnotoad to go, Mystique, My Tracks, PDF Viewer, Robo Defense FREE, Vampires Live, WikiDroyd and Worldtour
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
to name just a few recognized ones, are able to install this permission without it being listed by Android Market!
Not only this, some of them also install with WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE (normaly listed as "Storage - Modify or delete SD card contents" in Market e.g.: read and write all your SD-Card data) as well!
(Please note that at least 2 of them are by Google itself! (My Tracks and Sky Map))
Now, one could think, maybe the Application needs the permission for not being properly coded; But at least Vampires Live, seems to use the secretly installed permission to recognize you, once you uninstalled and install again.
Not all of the apps have internet-access, though. But Market message says when updating:
"The application xxxx will replace the currently installed xxxx.
Existing user data will be saved."
That leaves room for interpretations. It could mean your data will be preserved - "stay saved" would be the better phrase there imo-, but it could also mean it will collect your data when updating. But i don't know. Anyone?
Of these Market fails i could name you a few dozen more, but i would be glad to hear of your experiences, and if you can second mine!
How to view permissions within market: View installed or desired application -> press Menu-Key -> Security
When installed on phone, on Homescreen: press Menu-Key -> Settings -> Applications -> Manage applications -> select the one and scroll down
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

short version:
Permissions read_phone_state and write_external_storage that do not show up when installing from market, are nevertheless installed, with many applications! - and taken use of!
please reply, somebody

Valid point.
Hi,
I think it's a good thing you brought this up. A lot of applications have weird permissions attached. If i don't trust a program or developer i make sure to block the apps data usage via firewall.
This is just fighting the symptoms and not the problem, i am very well aware of that, but i can't really do anything about it.
There was an antivirus software company that raised the same questions as you have(except for permissions being granted to an app without showing them in the market). In the end there was nothing wrong with the app in the way that it didn't send user data to the developer.
I guess you just have to accept that some developers want that data and that there are two ways to block it; use a firewall or don't install the app.
But I do believe that it's unacceptable that an application gets permissions which are not stated in the market.

The problem is really that the permission is too broad. I developed an alarm app, and the phone state permission is needed to make sure the alarm doesn't go off in someone's ear while they are on the phone. Same thing with any app with sound, like google navigation, and games i suppose.
Sent from my Droid using XDA App

Android Market - GiterMani

Has anyone noticed a new application in the Android Market under the "My apps" section called GiterMani?
I downloaded it by pressing the "Update" button before reading. Haha! Oops!
I then did a Google search and found this:
http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&tbo=1&biw=2025&bih=1016&tbs=qdr%3Ad&q=gitermani&oq=gitermani&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=11675l12859l0l9l7l0l0l0l0l156l526l4.3
Is this a virus?
NOTE: I have since uninstalled an application called "Test account" because those were keywords contained within the Gitermani program and I did not recall seeing that in my application list before.
As a side note, there are many more articles about Android virus issues which I found after searching the Internet further. Anyone have any suggestions for an anti-virus application? I use ESET NOD32 at home but, unfortunately, it is not available for Android...

There is Lookout and I believe AVG as well. Lookout provides other services as well but the antivirus and antimalware protection is free.
Sorry about your luck bye, you should probably do a factory reset if you had a virus or trojan just to be on the safe side.

AdMob Filters

Hi,
We recently released our first multi-player game, Word Cloud Social, day before yesterday. Its available on Google Play Store (can't provide direct external links yet so check it out by copy pasting it- play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aurictouch.play.wordcloud.social);
During testing we had AdMob test ads running. We have set all filters except Games in categories to off. Yet, we keep getting non-game ads. Mobogenie is a sneaky deceptive crap that Google continues to allow. I have the following settings:
1) Do not use keyword-targeted ads and Google certified ad networks (GCANs) to improve fill rates.
2) All categories except Games is disabled.
3) Searching for Mobogenie or other sneaky ads turns up 0 results.
Anyone else had trouble with Google filters? How id you manage to fix them or work around them ?

Disappearing Applications

I have a strange problem. Sometimes I disappear applications. apk from cleaning have disabled. I scanned files by eset endpoint security. Despite this, especially after the renovation can disappear (uninstalled) applications. Does anyone have so? I tried to upgrade to 9.6.15. And out of my Google Play Store..
I have MIUI eu v.6.9.8, rooted, and deblocked phone.

prevent block remove Google Playservices for INSTANT Apps

HOW I DISABLED Google Playservices for INSTANT Apps
DISCLAIMER: Tweaking these apps and services can leave you with a broken, non-functional, steaming, smoking, screaming device; proceed at your own 
risk. Just because I got it to work, doesn't mean it will work for you. I am not responsible for your PEBKAC errors. All Google stuff on my devices is extensively neutered, if it's not on your this may not work. I prevent updates to Play Store and Play services and the brunt of services run by those apps are disabled there's too much there to be covered in a simple guide but this instruction is what FINALLY clipped INSTANT APP'S wings.
 I thought I'd found a way to prevent it from re-installing itself, but after two days it did, but at least this turns it off and keeps it from hogging battery and as much memory. As many have pointed out, freezing doesn't, but but turning off the SERVICES as outlined here, it slows it down a lot.
ROOT IS REQUIRED, the only way to block it without root I know of is disable the Play Store, go someplace else for that and don't hijack this information, it's not about using 3C, facebook, Play store, relationship problems or political unrest, it's about STOPPING Google's Apps: Play Store & Play Services from installing "Playservices for INSTANT Apps"
I think the PLAY STORE downloads and installs “Playservices for INSTANT Apps” under control of services run by PLAY Services
RECOMMENDATION: Every release of Play Store and Play services potentinally includes NEW services that might affect this solution. I recommend each time they are updated you check for NEW items that might trigger installation of Instant apps.
THE SOLUTION:
=============================================================
Using 3C All-in-One Toolbox" from 3c71 dot com
"Manage">"Application manager">"Apps">"Google Play store">"Manage">"Permissions">"Activities">search (with magnifying glass on toolbar)
input package name "instantapps to filter and uncheck items. Do the same for "Providers", "Receivers" and "Services"
"Manage">
"Application manager">
"Apps">
"Google Play services">
"Manage">
"Permissions">
"Activities">search (with magnifying glass on toolbar)
input package name "instantapps to filter and uncheck items. Do the same for "Providers", "Receivers" and "Services"
NOW, UNINSTALL/DELETE/REMOVE the app: Google Playservices for INSTANT Apps.
"Manage">
"Application manager">
"Apps">
"Google Play store">
"Manage">
Uninstall
============================================================
This is working for me on Samsung Galaxy S5 (G900V Lollipop), Core Prime (G360T), Core Prime G360V, J1 (J100M), LG VS810P and MemuPlay Emulator.
Call it what you want, Malware, Spyware, Shovelware, Vaporware, Bloatware to me Google Playservices for INSTANT Apps is all those things. I saw Google Playservices for INSTANT Apps on my phone December 2018 and cringed. It's taken me almost 4 months to come up with this working solution. When I say WORKING, I mean it prevents Google Playservices for INSTANT Apps from reinstalling and still leaves Google Play Store functional.
THANK YOU! to the dev of 3C All-in-One Toolbox for providing their awesome tools.