keep personal information a little safer on nexus s - Nexus S General

Hey guys,
I was wondering if there was a way of controlling what information, stored on the phone, is getting seen by wich app!
Or how would i stop an app from seeing my contacts (for example) but still having it installed?
I started this thread because i thought it would help ppl with an interest in keeping private data a little more private, like me.
If there's nothing nice to say dont say anything!
(My phone froze while writing this thread so this is a shortened version ;D)

There's an app called Pdroid, it might be what you're looking for.

Permissions is a good app.
Sent from my Nexus S using Tapatalk

There's lbe security app which is somewhat questionable in itself. And pdroid which doesn't support ics yet.
Sent from my Nexus S using xda premium

Thanks for your answers! Im trying permissions at the moment and its working...
does anybody know if theres a possibility that i get asked when an app wants to do sth and i can accept or deny without having to look through all the permissions?
sent while eating an ice cream sandwich in the matr1x

Just in case somebody is interested: i found an app called LBE Privacy Guard, with which one can allow and deny all the requests of apps that want to look at contacts, access internet etc.! You can download it from the market for free!
Im using it at the moment and im rly satisfied with it!
sent while eating an ice cream sandwich in the matr1x
I flash roms therefore i am!

Like I said, just be cautious with LBE . It's created by some relatively unknown devs in china. It might be safe but who knows. I don't believe they've released source and obviously the app has root so as always use caution.
Sent from my Nexus S using xda premium

4I-I said:
Thanks for your answers! Im trying permissions at the moment and its working...
does anybody know if theres a possibility that i get asked when an app wants to do sth and i can accept or deny without having to look through all the permissions?
sent while eating an ice cream sandwich in the matr1x
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
https://market.android.com/details?...EsImNvbS5nb29nbGVjb2RlLmRyb2lkd2FsbC5mcmVlIl0.

I have been using LBE since the day I first rooted my Nexus S. Yes, the app's author is somewhat unknown, but it's the best alternative I can find. With Google Bouncer in place now on the Market, hopefully it would detect malwares, and LBE has not been flagged by the Bouncer.
In the past I had tried Permissions Denied but the apps I had permissions removed kept on FC because PD actually removed the declared permissions from the apps manifest.
PDroid seems promising but it doesn't support ICS and a lot of devices yet.

[email protected] said:
I have been using LBE since the day I first rooted my Nexus S. Yes, the app's author is somewhat unknown, but it's the best alternative I can find. With Google Bouncer in place now on the Market, hopefully it would detect malwares, and LBE has not been flagged by the Bouncer.
In the past I had tried Permissions Denied but the apps I had permissions removed kept on FC because PD actually removed the declared permissions from the apps manifest.
PDroid seems promising but it doesn't support ICS and a lot of devices yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea I've been asking the dev about ics and a while ago he said it will come but after he does more testing with gingerbread. I just hope it's soon. I wish there were more alternatives.
Sent from my Nexus S using xda premium

Related

Android Banking

Hello!
I'm really sorry, I'm asking here because don't know where to ask.
Few months ago I've bought on the Market Android Banking app. It was pooled from the Market. Right know I can't find it seems like it is not here anymore. Tried to contact developer he is not answering too.
Who can give me advice what to do? May be somebody have last version of that app 4.5.1
Can somebody help me? Or it is not worth it?
i have no idea but alot of banks have their own apps, like chase and etc.
You can always google android banking .apk (or whatever the name of the app is) and you should be able to find it like that. Find the apk file download from phone and install. Make sure you have install from unknown sources checked in your settings. Or download apk from computer and transfer to your sd card and install from there. Hope this helps!
Edit... also mobile banking applications are proven to not be that safe so at the least make sure you also download android firewall to make your information a little more secure. Remember though android phones are known to be very easily hacked into!!!!
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk
http://www.umnet.com/download-software/13148-Android_Banking_v302
This is the app I found don't know if its the one your looking for but I believe its the most up to date android banking app...
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk
flastnoles11 said:
http://www.umnet.com/download-software/13148-Android_Banking_v302
This is the app I found don't know if its the one your looking for but I believe its the most up to date android banking app...
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe its just me, but I would be very skeptical of any generic "banking" app, especially one that has now been pulled from the market. I would not touch it with a 100 ft pole...

Battery update

Hi!
Does anybody know what this battery update is. I got it as an update and to unlock the full features, I had to pay 3€per month!
I immediately unistalled this.
Is it spam? Virus!
Best regards
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk
What are you referring to? No link.
It sounds suspicious though.
It came like a system update and then it installed a battery app that monitored my battery behavior and wanted me to pay 3€ per month ;-)
This is the first time I see something like this on my android phones!?
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk
I've never heard of anything like that. It does sound very suspicious.
As you say, probably scareware/malware.
Now I have to look for an app to remove what ever is doing this ;-)
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk
It is probably related to an app you have already installed. Go through any apps you aren't sure are from trusted sources/devs.
Thanks for the tip, I will check my apps. All my apps are from market place, its sad if we cannot trust the market?
Regards
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk
The sad thing is mate you can't trust the market. You have to be careful what your installing!
Always check what permissions needs the app you are downloading depends of the type you dl it should need the right permissions. So lets say you dl a game and it needs permission for your contacts and call services then it is up to you to dl it I would never. And as long the developers have no other way to get cash they implant ofc in their apps some advertises so be carefully all the time.
And market is like Facebook a no money platform that helps people to find things, but it moment check what it provides, it is on the user to report bad apps. So many people abuse that.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using XDA App
Thanks a lot, I will try to be careful, and read before accepting anything this time.
Regards
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk
Are you serious?
Lol that's one of the scammiest things I've ever heard of.
If I were you I'd factory reset, and in future only install well reviewed and tested apps.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk
As a rule of thumb, I don't click on any links from any app, except the browser
I use a program that lets you assign permissions to any app. Anything that I install that I don't think needs to access contacts, location etc, I just block.
It has a side benefit of blocking the stupid ads in the apps also.
Try to use "LBE privacy guard" from the market its free!
NEED ROOT!
With this app u can control every app u installed give and take permissions!
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.lbe.security.lite&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5sYmUuc2VjdXJpdHkubGl0ZSJd
I had one of these updates in my notification menu. Never installed it though.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using XDA App
I get this when I play certain games.
its just an in game advert made to look official which links to an app in the market.
It reads something like " You have two Battery updates available"
Download addon detektor then you can see whats causing the the push ad
And remove that battery thingy its probably the one that steals your contacts for spam
MikeFRG said:
Try to use "LBE privacy guard" from the market its free!
With this app u can control every app u installed give and take permissions!
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.lbe.security.lite&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5sYmUuc2VjdXJpdHkubGl0ZSJd
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It requires root for full features.
equalness said:
Hi!
Does anybody know what this battery update is. I got it as an update and to unlock the full features, I had to pay 3€per month!
I immediately unistalled this.
Is it spam? Virus!
Best regards
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately you have been hit by a 'Scareware' attack.
As Android is becoming more popular and unlike Apple which has tighter control the Android OS is much more open to attacks such as this.
You really have to be on your guard watching for these malicious attacks.
Read the comments from PCWorld and 2Viruses for a greater explanation.

[APP] PDroid - The Better Privacy Protection

I was looking through Cyanogenmod forums and noticed dknotor posted a link to this APP, but he hasnt posted it on here yet.
Basically every app you install has permissions, some are things like access to device id, sms, mms, etc.
PDroid allows blocking access for any installed application to the following data separately, so you dont have to worry about any app having some strange permissions as you can just blok them:
Device ID (IMEI/MEID/ESN)
Subscriber ID (IMSI)
SIM serial (ICCID)
Phone and mailbox number
Incoming call number
Outgoing call number
GPS location
Network location
List of accounts (including your google e-mail address)
Account auth tokens
Contacts
Call logs
Calendar
SMS
MMS
Browser bookmarks and history
System logs
SIM info (operator, country)
Network info (operator, country)
For device ID, phone and mailbox number, SIM serial, subscriber ID and device location it also allows supplying custom or random values.
[APP] PDroid - The Better Privacy Protection by svyat
Paranoid much?
Sent from my LG-P500 using XDA
dethrat said:
Paranoid much?
Sent from my LG-P500 using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol, well im sure a lot of users will like this, as I have seen countless people raving on in the Market when apps update their permissions, and how its unfair and they dont like it, yet they still like the app, now they can just disable these things =p
I have lbe installed. It's similar and doesn't require to flash through recovery. It's worthy.
sent from hyperspace using my lg p500 telemetry system!
deniso177 said:
Lol, well im sure a lot of users will like this, as I have seen countless people raving on in the Market when apps update their permissions, and how its unfair and they dont like it, yet they still like the app, now they can just disable these things =p
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To be honest I agree with you. I also envy the iPhone crowd as they don't have the whole permissions think so most people aren't paranoid.
Whereas android 65% are paranoid 25% don't care and 10% actually understand the permissions.
Sent from my LG-P500 using XDA
Yep exactly, although Iphone is just not transparent about what they access lol
99% of the time there's a legitimate reason for each permission that an app has.
Don't get why people complain when a lot of people are rooted which in ways could be a worse security flaw than any permission an app has.
IOS appstore permissions ' out of sight out of mind. '
Sent from my LG-P500 using XDA
Dude ur crazy permissions run wild and 99% of permissions asked for are definitely not needed. Its the ultimate downfall of android and privacy
Sent from my LG-VM670 using Tapatalk 2 Beta-4
ganggreen30 said:
Dude ur crazy permissions run wild and 99% of permissions asked for are definitely not needed. Its the ultimate downfall of android and privacy
Sent from my LG-VM670 using Tapatalk 2 Beta-4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Most permissions are for adds, such as location, so they know to give you adds specific to the country and language you speak.
deniso177 said:
Most permissions are for adds, such as location, so they know to give you adds specific to the country and language you speak.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And phone call permission on any launcher is for speed dial from home screen
Sent from my LG-P500 using XDA
to the app folder in the rom archive before
flashing :|
Lbe is nowhere close to Pdroid
LG optimus v jerryscript backside iho 3/13/2012

Anti virus

Does anybody run a anti virus scanner on their phone.. if so which one...
Sent from my X10 using xda app-developers app
I use Lookout sometimes
That said, as long as you check what permissions the apps you're installing are asking for, you're fine
I mean, an RPG game does not need access to your contacts or permissions to send SMS messages
The best antivirus in the end, is an observant end user
Sent from my PG06100
I use Comodo which I also use on my home computer. It does a lot more than just scan apps. I love it and its free.
Sent from my X10 using xda app-developers app
I use lookout and it works great for me. Scans everything i download and backs up contacts. Also has good locate and scream case you lose it and will save last location before your phone dies. But as Cnexus said being observant of what you download is your best protection. Hope this helps!
Sent from my PC36100 using xda app-developers app
CNexus said:
I use Lookout sometimes
That said, as long as you check what permissions the apps you're installing are asking for, you're fine
I mean, an RPG game does not need access to your contacts or permissions to send SMS messages
The best antivirus in the end, is an observant end user
Sent from my PG06100
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree %100 with the Observant end user.I've never used antivirus on my phone,just another app to lag it down,lol.
Diablo67 said:
I agree %100 with the Observant end user.I've never used antivirus on my phone,just another app to lag it down,lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just what I was thinking.. I only DL from the play store and here...
Sent from my X10 using xda app-developers app
Not advocating piracy, but if you pirate apps that have been cracked then an AV is a good choice. But as the second post the best av is you paying attention to what the app accesses.
Sent from my Nexus 10 using xda app-developers app
Watch the permissions when you install and steer clear of skecthy sources.
I use web root secure anywhere. It has turned up some Trojans in some ROMs which kind of blew me away. I thought everything on xda was safe.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Has anyone actually gotten a virus on android?
Sent from my T.A.R.D.I.S
motoelliot said:
Has anyone actually gotten a virus on android?
Sent from my T.A.R.D.I.S
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well to begin with, the fact that android is based on Linux makes it even harder to exploit because of the whole permissions structure
On top of that you have the Android app permissions system and you have something very difficult to exploit in itself....I've never gotten one, but I've heard of malicious apps getting released (on the play store) back in the baby stages of Android (when froyo was just out) that used the froyo rooting exploits to bypass security checks and mess with the stuff on your phone.
But other than that, I've never heard of a any virus/exploit/targeted attack on android devices
The latest Android virus that I know of is BadNews.. It hit a few apps a few days ago, in the google play store. I believe it infected something like 2 Million phones.
So saying "I just get them from Google Play store" doesn't keep you safe.. Because apps are not tested before they hit the play store, and most of the android virus hit via the play store.
And if you have never heard of a virus that targets the Android, it's because you haven't taken the time to actually see if any actually exist. Linux is not hard to exploit, and neither is Android.
CNexus said:
I use Lookout sometimes
That said, as long as you check what permissions the apps you're installing are asking for, you're fine
I mean, an RPG game does not need access to your contacts or permissions to send SMS messages
The best antivirus in the end, is an observant end user
Sent from my PG06100
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Completely agree on that the best anti virus is yourself. I don't even use one on my computers because most viruses mask themselves as anti virus programs.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
CNexus said:
Well to begin with, the fact that android is based on Linux makes it even harder to exploit because of the whole permissions structure
On top of that you have the Android app permissions system and you have something very difficult to exploit in itself....I've never gotten one, but I've heard of malicious apps getting released (on the play store) back in the baby stages of Android (when froyo was just out) that used the froyo rooting exploits to bypass security checks and mess with the stuff on your phone.
But other than that, I've never heard of a any virus/exploit/targeted attack on android devices
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So where good on jellybean right? I dont run any anti-virus, same reason as Diablo..
souleman said:
And if you have never heard of a virus that targets the Android, it's because you haven't taken the time to actually see if any actually exist. Linux is not hard to exploit, and neither is Android.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Android is based on Linux. And if you say Linux is not hard to exploit, I suggest you do some reading yourself.

AdAway

dont know why suddenly it just got off the playstore.
disappeared.
googled up abit and i found this
https://code.google.com/p/ad-away/
I received an email from Google Play that AdAway was removed due to "Violation of section 4.4 of the Developer Distribution Agreement." Thus, it will never be available on Google Play again. Please switch to F-Droid, the open alternative to Google Play!
Allow app installs from 'unknown sources'
Download https://f-droid.org/FDroid.apk to your device
Install this apk
Open F-Droid and search for AdAway
AdAway
AdAway is an open source ad blocker for Android using the hosts file. It needs Android >= 2.1 and ROOT access.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what's F-droid ? like playstore ? is it safe ?
Google Removes All Ad-Blocker Apps From Google Play Store
not sure.. there was a good one Adfree.. even thats gone..
something i found here
http://www.heavy.com/regions/2013/03/google-removes-ad-blocker-apps-from-google-play-store/
Google banned all apps that are blocking adverts from Play. Fck google!
Just found out the same by trying to install an ad blocker on my friend's phone.
I would say F-Droid is pretty safe, at least the AdAway author recommends it!
"Don't be evil?"
Rom Toolbox pro still does adblocking, though I'm not sure if it's as good as or better than Adaway or ABP were. Rom Toolbox Pro is absolutely worth the money for any root user anyway.
Google has also sent an email to jrummy, so even that will be taken down soon.
I got a copy a adaway, if anyone wants it lemme know.
Wtf is Google doing ?
Are they tracking users as well ?
ROM Toolbox includes an ad blocker.
Since Adaway is opensource I've compiled it and posted the latest version here.
its newer than what was in the play store.
Google!!
No one likes adverts and pop ups, Wtf!?
Please don't end up like Apple
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda app-developers app
feartheanonymity said:
Google!!
No one likes adverts and pop ups, Wtf!?
Please don't end up like Apple
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Really? Nothing is stopping you from side loading apk's outside of the Play Store, and the adblock apps did break Google's TOS.
But you're right, no one likes ads, but how do you think devs earns money? By giving away their hard work for free? Nope.
If you don't like ads, then buy an ad-free version of the app or side load an adblocker and move on.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2
Of course I'm all for supporting devs, and if am app is worth paying for I will pay for it.
Most of the ads are just crap and not related to other apps, just things like "increase your penis size by 10"
But rules are rules so i have to accept your comment and agree with you. Side loading apps is okay now n then, but can attract bogus apps so users should be cautious.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda app-developers app
feartheanonymity said:
Of course I'm all for supporting devs, and if am app is worth paying for I will pay for it.
Most of the ads are just crap and not related to other apps, just things like "increase your penis size by 10"
But rules are rules so i have to accept your comment and agree with you. Side loading apps is okay now n then, but can attract bogus apps so users should be cautious.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup, that's just the way it is.
F Droid is a store ONLY for open source apps! So it is to be trusted
just got f-droid.
thank u all for your replies. hope this discussion stays healthy and perhaps in the future there can be some kind of win-win situation.
feartheanonymity said:
Most of the ads are just crap and not related to other apps, just things like "increase your penis size by 10"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Who would want a 20" penis?
tdodd said:
Who would want a 20" penis?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hahaha that's made my day :thumbup:
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda app-developers app
If you have a rooted phone,
Search a adblock host file here on xda or in a rom you have somewhere and put it manualy with rootexplorer in
/System/etc
Replace the empty existed one
I have a lot of ad block host file on my sdcard and all my rooted phone have it and no ads come on my phone.
All apps on the store just replace/mirror your default host file with a updated one.
But I think it's better to do this manualy,because this host file is very sensistive for network and if you have a bad line in,then a virus or malware could pass.
Or
if it to strong,then you cannot surf on certain site or watch video.
To edit it,
just go on google dash and ads notifier panel,
and copy all network adress,then put them in your edited host file for block it
AW: AdAway
yani2000 said:
I would say F-Droid is pretty safe, at least the AdAway author recommends it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Think so too. Installed Fdroid.apk and AdAway, Avast said nothing after scanning the files.
I don't speak English, I speak bad English.
Thanks for sharing this

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