Using CM or other ROM without Gapps - Galaxy S II General

So people are at least slightly aware of the news about NSA/PRISM and how Google is taking part in handing over our personal data.
I know it's a small step but I'm thinking of removing Gapps and making my phone slightly less compromised than it is now.
Anyone else done this? I've already been recommended F-Droid as an alternative by someone, it's probably not even 10% as good as the Play store but I'm more concerned with not being snooped on.

Removing GAPPS lol doesn't mean Google can't still put ads on your phone...and like all of us on this forum why would anyone spy on us.. Unless we are in the mob or a criminal...I'm sure Google has no interest in snooping on you man.don't be so paranoid
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
---------- Post added at 11:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:09 PM ----------
And all these people who think Google is snooping on them look dumb...Google is using your actions..like clicked ads and what you buy... Why would a billion dollar company want to spy on a no name android user
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

This is a valid question which I'd also like answered. I suspect that running CM or other AOSP ROMs without installing GApps will be sufficient.
Those who do not appreciate this discussion are kindly invited to abstain from commenting.

Im sure even without Gapps there is some low level thing that can collect your data.. Android is maintained by Google..

-Grift- said:
Im sure even without Gapps there is some low level thing that can collect your data.. Android is maintained by Google..
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When using CyanogenMod there isn't. Only if you install apps that do this.
And seriously, stop with the trolling. You're not helping the discussion and you're getting reported. I'm not "afraid", "butthurt", or "paranoid". Google have openly admitted that they don't care about our privacy.
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/aug/14/google-gmail-users-privacy-email-lawsuit

wrsg said:
When using CyanogenMod there isn't. Only if you install apps that do this.
And seriously, stop with the trolling. You're not helping the discussion and you're getting reported. I'm not "afraid", "butthurt", or "paranoid". Google have openly admitted that they don't care about our privacy.
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/aug/14/google-gmail-users-privacy-email-lawsuit
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Nono i would just like to hear your view on it, take a look at this quote from Pulser_g2
Another unaddressed concern is why CM would prefer someone else make a privacy fork, rather than care about user privacy within the ROM (beyond the anti-leech properties of privacy guard). Apparently that wasn't within the scope of what they were doing.
Surely CM should be trying to push the envelope, making a fully usable and amazing experience ROM, as Steve said above, without betraying their users to advertisers and tracking networks who profit from selling the user as a product. While privacy guard is a good "half step" (stops apps like faces from harvesting your contacts without permission, for those who use it), it remains a half step, as it's still possible to uniquely identify a user by their device by any app, without any permissions (ahem, CPU serial and device serial number).
Since the user can't easily change these, they can forever be tracked, and have their actions sold on to others, based on these identifiers. Is that OK to do to the user, after telling them they're protected by privacy guard?
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From here Link
Personally dont think this is "trolling" but if you feel the need to report then please do.

-Grift- said:
Nono i would just like to hear your view on it, take a look at this quote from Pulser_g2
From here Link
Personally dont think this is "trolling" but if you feel the need to report then please do.
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Sorry, the request to stop the trolling wasn't meant at you. I just didn't think it was worth quoting each of them separately.

Thread closed
This thread leads to non-sense posts or flaming.
You like the Google Apps use them, you don't like them or don't trust them don't use them, this is that simple

Related

[Q] Banned For Life from Android Market/ Developer

Google recently shut down my developer account and google market account with no explanation. And as you all know their support sucks. Does anyone know how to get back on the market to sell apps? Thanks. I had some Themes for pandahome etc but now I have some apps I made with AI I want to get on the market.
Your merchant account has been closed
Make another fake account.
Xda app
I tried that 4 times and somehow they keep finding me. I used walmart gift cards with fake names! I don't know if they are tracking my ISP or what, but they go up for about an hour, take my $25 developer fee, and then get closed down.
Any surefire ways to set up a stealth developer account?
All I was making was themes you can see what I had here, then lost everything
androidlib my developer name was Onion Rings Studios
007onionrings said:
All I was making was themes you can see what I had here, then lost everything
androidlib my developer name was Onion Rings Studios
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Click to collapse
You're were making themes for an app; did you ask the developer if you can put them on the market. He could report you because you didn't have his approval.
It looks like most of your themes were copyright infringing, maybe someone who owns the copyright had complained about you.
I remember getting my first ticket. Some guy was ahead of me and was slowing down to stop for a light that was turning red, I decided to drive right around him to pass.
I got pulled over.
When I asked the cop what I did wrong, he gave me a nasty look and just said "license and registration".
Sorry, I know this story doesn't have anything to do with the topic of this thread, but when I read that Google banned the account without giving any explanation...It made me think of that.
I seriously doubt that they would ban you for no reason whatsoever, as the previous posts say your themes where probably copyright infringing and the copyright owner complained about you. So there is your reason!
What kind of AI were you working on?
Futur Innovations said:
What kind of AI were you working on?
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He means App Inventor, not AI apps.
???
If you were making themes for another developers app and making money out of it, i can completely see why you should be stopped... Banned seems a little OTT though? I also think Google should have an obligation to explain the ban, you should have been given a chance to appeal or something! Unless of course you're missing a few bits out??
Try teaming up with another developer or themer? If its any consolation, i dont think many people use panda home anymore...infact i dont know of anyone!!
007onionrings said:
I tried that 4 times and somehow they keep finding me.
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why the hell would Google know who you are?
Are you re-uploading the same App? Using same email? Thats why they find you probably. Get someone with a real CC to open an account for you.
I suspect his endeavours take a wrong turn the moment he starts using 'Walmart credit cards' and 'fake identities'.
Not many genuine people need fake ID and credit cards so its probably for our protection....doesn't look too good considering the apps he/she sold were to profit from another devs work in the first place!
I had a nice app game that I downloaded last December.
After I upgraded to Froyo, I wanted to re-download the game.
It is no longer available because a huge corporate game marketer threatened legal action becuase it had similarities to one of the games they market.
It's corporate litigation bullying!
The independent developer cowered and pulled his app.
I'd love to see a thread with links to apk files(apps) that we can access and install with a sideloader.
Does anyone have such a resource?
Google "alternate android market" and the world is your oyster
RAMMANN said:
why the hell would Google know who you are?
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.. didn't you know? google knows all.
naenee said:
I suspect his endeavours take a wrong turn the moment he starts using 'Walmart credit cards' and 'fake identities'.
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LOL @ upstanding business practices.

Just to let everyone something to think about...

Read this link. Read it carefully. It's not just about Google being able to run whatever code they like on your devices, it's about Google DOING it, remotely, without any user intervention/confirmation.
What's next ? Let me throw some wild and far fetched guesses...
* Applanet like apps being killed off on the devices to fight piracy...
* Anything not from the market being wiped out from time to time, for the same reason...
* Users are hunted down and being prosecuted for piracy based on their devices content...
* The system is rigged/updated to block inappropriate content, such as pedophile sites...
* Users are being prosecuted for possessing and/or visiting inappropriate content/providers...
* The "inappropriate" extends to warez sites and regular porn sites, "bad" users are still prosecuted...
* The "inappropriate" extend to the "wrong" political sites, "bad" users are still prosecuted...
* .......
I bet you get the idea. And yea, i know i am taking it too far, but still
PS: Let me add something... the builds we are running on our HD2 are often partially illegal (gaps) etc... hint hint
maybe a little paranoid, ok, well maybe a lot
InfX said:
* The system is rigged/updated to block inappropriate content, such as pedophile sites...
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not sure why you mentioned this, anyone in their right mind would welcome this particular point.
kam333 said:
maybe a little paranoid, ok, well maybe a lot
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A lot, exaggerated to the max, of course. But that doesn't turn what Google does right.
kam333 said:
not sure why you mentioned this, anyone in their right mind would welcome this particular point.
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Thats EXACTLY why i mentioned it.
InfX said:
A lot, exaggerated to the max, of course. But that doesn't turn what Google does right.
Thats EXACTLY why i mentioned it.
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personally, i think google already knows tooooo much about its users, but in the case of malware, google is definitely the lesser of the 2 evils
let me ask you this, would you rather the big G have some remote access to your device or hackers collecting your personal info. Its the connected world, there's no turning back!!!
only real solution for anyone worried about companies interfering with their device... remove the sim card... for ever.
gnight & dont have nightmares
kam333 said:
would you rather the big G have some remote access to your device or hackers collecting your personal info.
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Click to collapse
Guess what... neither of those
Also, there are terrorists under the bed,chemtrails in the sky, bromine in the water,drug dealers at the school gates, drunks on fones in cars, bondage freaks at work,human traffickers, religious zealots bent coppers paedo nursery workers racists fanatics and plain clothes Google operatives spreading FUD in forums cos its cheaper and gets more results than million pound lawsuits. Oh and bloody clowns.
Just a random outpouring,please continue.
Infx may sound paranoid, and no person of any kind of moral decency would condone anbody using pedophelia porn or any other form of content that causes any kind of harm to anyone. But those are matters for the authorities to deal with, not google. If the internet's morality policies were enforced by a huge internet based company, wouldn't that be considered some kind of a conflict of interests somehow? I mean imagine if Disney were the biggest internet company, we'd never see so much as a single cuss-word or titty. Big companies shouldn't be able to impose their own commercialized morals upon users, the internet will inevitably grow more and more watered down. I don't consider myself a paranoid person, but this type of issue stinks of denial of 1st amendment rights, one step closer to completely government/corporate filtered news-tainment, and corporate control of the masses.
Huggs, i totally agree, thata why i posted this, not because i am actualluly that paranoid (would i still use Internet if i was ?). What i tried to do in my post is to demonstrate a worst case scenario, how would google start with somethimg that should be totally accepted by everyone (fighting pedophily) yet slowly move to fighting things we no longer want it to fight (political opinions).
PS: This little remote control thing is the first step for a corporate giant to become a corporate government, a corporate dictator. And the onlu things corporations care for is money, not their users.
PPS: Just my personal opinion, feel free to disagree.
I like that idea: http://code.google.com/p/open-android-alliance/
InfX said:
Guess what... neither of those
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Click to collapse
you really dont have a great deal of options
android, rim, ios & wp7 all have the ability to "spy" on their users to some degree,
mostly its just basic info such as: gps location, installed apps & how often they're used, crash logs, etc
some apps on ios have been caught out sending even more personal data. The point is, whilst i dont disagree fully with your concerns, i do see your post as somewhat hysterical.
There was no suggestion in the article you linked (or any other that ive read) that google is planning any of things you mentioned, so why mention them, as doing so only makes you a part of the current media trend of FUD as samsamuel put it.
this isnt about deny that all companies are in it 1st for the £$€, then customer welfare further down the list, im talking about being realistic. at this moment in time i cannot see google taking the path that you suggested, i also have far more immediate and real life things to focus on.
im all for a good conspiracy theory, fema detention camps springing up all over the usa (REX 84), the western so called "powers" planting the seeds of unrest in africa & the middle east so they can insert more puppets to secure natural resources (be it oil, gold, diamonds...), i could go on, but this isnt the place.
so let bring it back to google, you are in denial if you think cyber crime isnt going on, and with the rise of the smartphones we will see a rise of cyber crims trying to gain access. so i ask again who would you rather have access to your device?
if you still think or say neither, il know for sure you have lost the plot or you have taken my advice & binned your sim card cause thats the only other option you have.
@huggs, normally your post are quite informative & rational, that last post wasnt imho
no one was talking about censorship, the 1 point about google blocking access to child porn is something i would vote for, this has nothing to do with internet policing, you say thats down to the authorities, but they are not all seeing (no yet anyway) hence the use of informants by law enforcement the world wide, n thats all i would support. yes its possible that you give them a small mandate they will take it further but il worry about that IF the signs arise.
ppl who get there kick this way should have no rights, & should be actively hunted by whatever methods are available & taken out of the general population.
P.S.
Man i would love to have such a care free life that i need to start imagining then stressing about what may or may not happen, but i dont, my concerns are here & now, What you are talking about ISNT.
sorry for the lengthy post but your suggestions/posts are a subtle form of propaganda and a 1 line response really wouldn't cut it.
all the best
Kam
I say if we are doing something wrong and get caught that's our own fault.
How is it illegal? Isn't android open license ie freeware?
Sent from my HTC HD2 using XDA App
@kam333, i may be way less paranoid than you may think, mind the fact i've posted this as a VERY far-fetched and unrealistic speculation that only got slim to nil chance of actually happening, but it does demonstrate a possibility of undoubtedly good things becoming a base to slowly advance into nasty control-it-all direction. And, yea, your suggestion about binning the SIM card won't work. I still got WiFi
@dung8604, search the net about why Cyanogen mod no longer includes Google apps.
Well, I'm running a cooked rom without a Google account set up. So I can cross that off of the paranoid list.
I can't say I'm surprised by anything written in the article.
Did a quick search and from what i can tell, only Google apps are proprietary. Nothing about the OS itself though
Sent from my HTC HD2 using XDA App

[Q] Un-Authorised Tracking of Downloads in XDA

Recently, whenever I am clicking on the Download link for Mediafire, Rapidshare or any download site from XDA, the links are going via viglink.com which tracks the User Clicks and Which page you are going in.....
PLease check for your computers and report....
Note: This does not happen, when you select Open in new Tab or Open in New Window.....
why does it matter?...
pongscript said:
why does it matter?...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed.
I'll be fine just like that. Also as an android user, or cyanogen user or whatever,
statistics are given to google every hour or so.
u should kinda know, iphone users are worse.
Stunned
I'm stunned by the laizzez-faire attitude that common people take to privacy and user-control. The usefulness of Google etc. leaves people uninterested in 'the details'. By people not taking an interest (or making poor comparisons to existing behavior) as an excuse to do nothing, puts us all at the mercy of these companies who then do as they please with our information (our lives). This kind of crap makes me love government - it's rare that the people know what to do with this kind of information.
Maybe this gentleman setting up this thread is for those of us who take this kind of thing seriously, so I too would like to know more.
phoneyericsson said:
I'm stunned by the laizzez-faire attitude that common people take to privacy and user-control. The usefulness of Google etc. leaves people uninterested in 'the details'. By people not taking an interest (or making poor comparisons to existing behavior) as an excuse to do nothing, puts us all at the mercy of these companies who then do as they please with our information (our lives). This kind of crap makes me love government - it's rare that the people know what to do with this kind of information.
Maybe this gentleman setting up this thread is for those of us who take this kind of thing seriously, so I too would like to know more.
Click to expand...
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I do see your overall point about privacy, but I also see it as being a little paranoid.
I am not paranoid because I want to know the reason for same. Once you are aware of how the trackers work, you will understand.
agentJBM said:
I do see your overall point about privacy, but I also see it as being a little paranoid.
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Sent from my X10i using XDA App
I don't got that crap you've stated. But those track things SUCK!

Need of an Antivirus in ANDROID

So, guys..
I was going through some blogs, which stated that there are so many malicious apps in android market. Recently, Avast, which has launched an app in market, reported to google about some malicious apps.
Here is the article:-
https://blog.avast.com/2011/12/13/android-malware-in-the-open-marketplace/
So, what i was thinking is that do we really need an Antivirus app, to protect our android phone??
Using an antivirus app will mean that, it will consume RAM continuously, and so will consume battery too.
I am starting this thread, so that we can discuss, here ,if we really need it.
So, share your views, experiences with any malicious app in the market place, and also suggestions about which antivirus app should we use, if this kind of thing exists in android.
Of course you do, i use Lookout Mobile Security and it has caught a few trojans which were potenially harmful to my phone, not too many but it did quarantine a few since ive had it.
Basically anyone who doesn't have any type of protection on their dog and bone is taking a big chance.
The answer is NO.
I've posted an article from tech2.com in Indian thread where someone from Google said it while talking about Trozan AV apps.
ithehappy said:
The answer is NO.
I've posted an article from tech2.com in Indian thread where someone from Google said it while talking about Trozan AV apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did u read the link i posted?
It really shows the possibility of some malicious apps, co-existing in Android Market. Don't we need to be protected?
ithehappy said:
The answer is NO.
I've posted an article from tech2.com in Indian thread where someone from Google said it while talking about Trozan AV apps.
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Well if you ever get a trojan on your SGSII don't come crying on here, ever heard of better be safe than sorry!!
jonny68 said:
Well if you ever get a trojan on your SGSII don't come crying on here, ever heard of better be safe than sorry!!
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Thats what i am trying here "Better be safe than sorry"
Well you should've created this thread without the 'Do' and '?'. Everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion. You didn't like my post IGNORE it, don't quote me and advice me what I need to do. A '?' thread should only be created where everyone can share his/her opinion and then it's up to the Thread starter what he/she will take from all the answers.
Anyway, keep using what you are using.
@jonny68- Have you seen such a thread like that in this 8 + months?
This is what Chris Dibona, Google's Open Source Program Manager said,
Chris DiBona, Google's open-source programs manager stated in a blog post, “No major cell phone has a 'virus' problem in the traditional sense that Windows and some Mac machines have seen. Virus companies are playing on your fears to try to sell you bulls***protection software for Android.”
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Source:
http://tech2.in.com/news/android/go...-antivirus-apps-in-android-marketplace/260952
Sorry I had to BOLD the line for you guys, it's a shame to modify some other comments.
Another thing, if someone even said that Antiviruses are needed for Android I would never use it.
The story is exactly the opposite when I use my Desktop PC fyi.
Regards.
ithehappy said:
Well you should've created this thread without the 'Do' and '?'. Everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion. You didn't like my post IGNORE it, don't quote me and advice me what I need to do. A '?' thread should only be created where everyone can share his/her opinion and then it's up to the Thread starter what he/she will take from all the answers.
Anyway, keep using what you are using.
@jonny68- Have you seen such a thread like that in this 8 + months?
This is what Chris Dibona, Google's Open Source Program Manager said,
Source:
http://tech2.in.com/news/android/go...-antivirus-apps-in-android-marketplace/260952
Sorry I had to BOLD the line for you guys, it's a shame to modify some other comments.
Another thing, if someone even said that Antiviruses are needed for Android I would never use it.
The story is exactly the opposite when I use my Desktop PC fyi.
Regards.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You forgot the rest of this story:
"Honestly, anti-virus software are not needed on mobiles, just as long as you don’t download random apps you should be just fine" ...
Most people in here download and install tons of apps, modifications and tweeaks on rooted phones ... LOL
Why not just instal a free one?
Better safe than sorry...
Send from my GT-I(OVER-9000) using XDA App.
ithehappy said:
Well you should've created this thread without the 'Do' and '?'. Everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion. You didn't like my post IGNORE it, don't quote me and advice me what I need to do. A '?' thread should only be created where everyone can share his/her opinion and then it's up to the Thread starter what he/she will take from all the answers.
Anyway, keep using what you are using.
@jonny68- Have you seen such a thread like that in this 8 + months?
This is what Chris Dibona, Google's Open Source Program Manager said,
Source:
http://tech2.in.com/news/android/go...-antivirus-apps-in-android-marketplace/260952
Sorry I had to BOLD the line for you guys, it's a shame to modify some other comments.
Another thing, if someone even said that Antiviruses are needed for Android I would never use it.
The story is exactly the opposite when I use my Desktop PC fyi.
Regards.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
M sorry, if it hurted u.
Everyone has absolute right to express their views.Be it wrong or right.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
Well Google are hardly gonna freely admit the fact that there are some rogue apps in the Android Market which contain trojans as this will put off many people (not just talking anti-virus here), the simple facts are despite the nonsense by Chris DeBona or whoever is the fact that you are taking a calculated rick by not having some type of protection on your phone, this is even more so if you do happen to download apps from other sources but even in the Android Market you can never be totally sure, Lookout Mobile Security is totally and utterly 100% legit and used by many thousands of people and business' alike,clearly there are some rogue apps masquerading as anti-virus apps but also others too.
Smartphones are like pc's now. What you can do with your computer your smartphone does it for you on the go. You have so many apps you browse over the net even if you are using the wireless one from home say for example anything can come through..Say if you are downloading a rom or a leak you never know what might be in them...As the OP and Jonny said above.."always be safe than sorry" that is how i see things
http://androidship.com/2011/05/29/the-android-anti-virus-epidemic/
Read that.
If you plan on downloading apps without looking at who makes them or looking at any reviews, then yes, there's a chance you can get an app that causes issues.
And that applies for ALL os's. How many apple laptop/desktop users run an antivirus? Android is built on the same type of platform, unix.
That doesn't mean an 'antivirus' app will do anything special. It uninstalls apps the same way you do under manage applications.
Sent from my páhhōniē
I all true sense you need to have read the permission that the applications needs when you install a app. If your are lazy enough to not do that have application like LBE security installed to monitor what each applications is up to ... i believe rather then a antivirus a good app fire wall is needed.
You probably don't need one, just as any power Windows user doesn't. That said you'd be crazy to not have one in Windows. Difference being a desktop has a tremendous amount of resources and allocating some to an antivirus program is no big deal. Not so on a phone. Plus there's the consideration of battery impact.
In a nutshell I'd say you'd be just fine without one.
I feel much the same way about antiviruses on Android as I do about hand-holding paid antivirus programs on Windows. If you know what you're doing, you don't need them at all. On the other hand, if you're going to download hundreds of dodgy applications at random and pay no attention to reviews/permissions/odd behaviour, then more fool you, get an antivirus app.
LBE privacy guard is a different story, since it performs a rather different function, and allows you to enjoy apps like Facebook without giving them access to the likes of text messages and phone ID.
You guys know Samsung have their own lightweight security suite in Samsung apps, yeah?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
ithehappy said:
Well you should've created this thread without the 'Do' and '?'. Everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion. You didn't like my post IGNORE it, don't quote me and advice me what I need to do. A '?' thread should only be created where everyone can share his/her opinion and then it's up to the Thread starter what he/she will take from all the answers.
Anyway, keep using what you are using.
@jonny68- Have you seen such a thread like that in this 8 + months?
This is what Chris Dibona, Google's Open Source Program Manager said,
Source:
http://tech2.in.com/news/android/go...-antivirus-apps-in-android-marketplace/260952
Sorry I had to BOLD the line for you guys, it's a shame to modify some other comments.
Another thing, if someone even said that Antiviruses are needed for Android I would never use it.
The story is exactly the opposite when I use my Desktop PC fyi.
Regards.
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Click to collapse
I totally agree, like task killers and power managers, useless...
I hate the kind of pseudo-logic that is thrown around in these discussions, which paraphrase to look something like this...
LogicLord221 said:
<insert random bull**** about why their point is valid> there's a million million trojans out there and platform x is so insecure, I read this and this which says we're all in danger!
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Basically, the point people are trying to make is that danger lurks everywhere, and you need to protect yourself, or you'll be sorry later. Scare tactics at best.
While I am an advocate for protection by prevention, that doesn't automatically lead to the conclusion that you need antivirus software for your device! It's that kind of bull**** logic that annoys the **** out of me. To quote the Oxford English Dictionary:
"Prevention"
Pronunciation: /prɪˈvɛnʃn/
noun
[mass noun]
The action of stopping something from happening or arising.
Phrases:
Prevention is better than cure.
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Do you see the problem here? It doesn't say "The action of installing an antivirus", it says to stop something from happening. There are many ways to go about preventing infection of your device:
1) Check what you're downloading comes from either a) a reputable source, b) is backed by a reputable source, or c) is backed by numerous (>50-100) positive comments, reviews, etc. This means, don't download that app that has a bunch of one-star reviews, and has people screaming "TROJAN!" in the comments field.
2) Stick to the Market. While it's true that a lot of the infected content will indeed come from the Market itself, Google do a good job of removing offending apps, so compared to other sources of content (e.g. just downloading the APK from a server), it's a lot safer.
3) Don't pirate ****. This is probably the number-one source of malware on Android. Don't be a cheap dumbass.
4) Stay away from 'questionable' material. This includes, but isn't limited to:
- porn
- pirated content
- file sharing sites
5) Have some common sense! I can't stress this one enough, you can have the most advanced piece of software in the world, but if you're acting like a reckless child, you don't deserve to use the device, and you're bound to find yourself neck-deep in malware. Apart from the above, take some active steps to secure yourself. Change your browser settings to run Flash content on-demand instead of automatically, (if possible) set it to have you manually accept cookies, etc. Perhaps the best use of common sense would be in checking the permissions you allow an app access to when it's installed. Look, if an app that is designed to parse a line of text is requesting full internet access, access to SMS capabilities, etc., it'd be best to leave it alone, don't you think? Moreover, if something's requesting superuser permissions, it'd better have a damn good reason why. Read the permissions, and understand what you're allowing.
...because in the end, that's the hard truth -you're the one allowing access.
If you follow these simple steps, you'll protect yourself from 99% of malware. If you're worried about that 1%, don't be. Android malware hasn't progressed to the point where it's a major threat yet, so even if something does get through, it'll more than likely be nothing too major, and you'll figure out something's up pretty quick anyway. This may not be the case in say 12 months, but for now, it's fine.
If you're really paranoid, keep an app on standby, and run a scan every week or two, but disable any background process it has, it's more of a waste of time anyway. On a final note, keep in mind that it's been shown multiple times that Android antivirus software is, to be blunt, rubbish at detecting even the most common pieces of malware.
Remember, prevention is better than a cure
Im using kasperky mobile security cause i got a 1 year licence from a magazine.. But i never got an alarm until now (1,5 months), so i think atm its not necessary to use it .. Perhaps in some months when there are more viruses out in the web^^
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk
screamworks said:
3) Don't pirate ****. This is probably the number-one source of malware on Android. Don't be a cheap dumbass.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Most Android apps are of such low quality they don't deserve to be purchased.
Sent from my SGH-I897

ContentGuard yes or no?

Hello everyone. I've been always very keen into adding content guard to my rom. Recently I found out that there was 38% of pirated apps on an android system. I have to admit that I don't own any app which gets me premium apps right now, but I like the flexibility to explore if an app is good or not before buying. At the same time it becomes a flaw because android does not provide any sort of protection.
So the debate starts here, should this be included on the rom? Yes or no, but more importantly why?
Remember that when you install an app which was not bought, you are taking from a dev his "food supply".
Thank you,
Jorge
I liked the idea when its first implemented by Dave in Exodus, safeguard developer interest and protect user from any infected app
Hi AFAIK there are some options to return bought app in a play store within some limitted time. Also there are a lot of free test versions of apps.. just saying because i was always on side of freedom of choice.. And finally if it really give us more protection it is necessary thing but i am aware if some xposed or root apps can be blocked ... its a really hard decission Jorge lets wait for others opinions...
Yep removing thieves is always the best option! Do it I'd say --- and be prepared for idiots hatin' lol
Transmitted via BACON
gerciolisz said:
Hi AFAIK there are some options to return bought app in a play store within some limitted time. Also there are a lot of free test versions of apps.. just saying because i was always on side of freedom of choice.. And finally if it really give us more protection it is necessary thing but i am aware if some xposed or root apps can be blocked ... its a really hard decission Jorge lets wait for others opinions...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello. Basically what this does is protects the developer interests by not permitting apps which give the ability to have access to premium apps for free. The list is :
https://github.com/ContentGuard/Ant...roid-6.0.1/src/utils/AntiPiracyConstants.java
Only apps which MAIN purpose is pirating, are blocked.
So most likely you won't be affected
If you have any other questions, I'll try to answer these the best way possible
Alex
I would say that it is a good idea, but the number of people that don't like the idea would lead to a negative effect on the ROM and its users just like it happened to Exodus when it first got implemented.
Therefore I would be against the idea of implementing ContentGuard into the ROM.
Sent from my OnePlus One using XDA Labs
BTW i think if they dont want content guard they can just compile ROM wothout it.. simple solution
Just stepping in here as a moderator on XDA. Our point of view is: We do support apps like this. XDA has a rule against discussing or requesting warez. If we find any posts that are asking for help, or asking for links to download warez apps, EG an app that is on playstore but needs to be bought, or an app that has in app purchases, if a user is trying to bypass these, we remove it. So from an XDA standpoint developers are free to add ContentGuard into their rom. We have no issues with that at all.
Well I don't know what is possible with these blocked apps, i.e. if they can be used for legit things or if they are used solely for pirating other apps ecc.
If the sole purpose of those apps, is stealing, I would include this into the ROM. And If people would complain I would just tell them that stealing is not a supported feature on this ROM.
I mean, you can't go around stealing in RL, there are alarms, walls, tresors ecc. this is just an anti-theft-system for digital goods.
Stone_88 said:
Well I don't know what is possible with these blocked apps, i.e. if they can be used for legit things or if they are used solely for pirating other apps ecc.
If the sole purpose of those apps, is stealing, I would include this into the ROM. And If people would complain I would just tell them that stealing is not a supported feature on this ROM.
I mean, you can't go around stealing in RL, there are alarms, walls, tresors ecc. this is just an anti-theft-system for digital goods.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The criteria for adding an app is whether the main purpose of the app is piracy
Alex
I'm happy either way, I don't use pirated apps and love my devs, so if it helps them add it.. If people want to use these apps then they aren't supporting their devs anyways so freeloaders and theives can get lost..
jgcaap said:
Hello everyone. I've been always very keen into adding content guard to my rom. Recently I found out that there was 38% of pirated apps on an android system. I have to admit that I don't own any app which gets me premium apps right now, but I like the flexibility to explore if an app is good or not before buying. At the same time it becomes a flaw because android does not provide any sort of protection.
So the debate starts here, should this be included on the rom? Yes or no, but more importantly why?
Remember that when you install an app which was not bought, you are taking from a dev his "food supply".
Thank you,
Jorge
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is completely useless because there exists a xposed module which easily disables the content guard again. Have fun blocking xposed
hellcat50 said:
This is completely useless because there exists a xposed module which easily disables the content guard again. Have fun blocking xposed
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well related to that, contenguard has also a solution where xposed module doesn't work.
Would like to know your opinion. Do you favor piracy? Why do you think is useless to fight for a more honest enviroment? Thanks
hellcat50 said:
This is completely useless because there exists a xposed module which easily disables the content guard again. Have fun blocking xposed
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The module doesn't work
TheCrazyLex said:
The module doesn't work
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's working for sure...
I think it's quite stupid to implement anything, which has no effect. If you want pirated apps there are ways also with this module.
Sent from my A0001 using XDA-Developers mobile app
lampshade90 said:
It's working for sure...
I think it's quite stupid to implement anything, which has no effect. If you want pirated apps there are ways also with this module.
Sent from my A0001 using XDA-Developers mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The real question i would like to see your opinion, would be this.
Google haven't done much to protect developers work.
As you know many developers donate their time for free to develop apps. And consider some apps should be used for a small fee.
Same as you going to a store and having the option to steal or to buy a book.
Sometimes we think " ah those companies are gigantic" , but they also pay to alot of people to work. Shouldn't that matter ?
As a human beeing, i've donated to xda, donated blood to hospital, donated my free time to help poor people in Portugal, donated my time to help timor (around 1996-7 when i was a kid). But when i'm providing a service, where the deal is i'll do this and in exchange i'll receive something. Don't you believe it is fair?
The big problem with the anti piracy measures, which in my opinion should be implemented by google , do not work effectivly for users. In exchange many of us get used to that reality. Right? But should we? Or should we try do something?
I came up with this thread because, I've thought about Content Guard as a measure which is not efficient to change and become a safe working enviroment for people which dedicate their lives to android. But I think we can see this as a simbol of wanting things to change from some people which are frustrated for not beeing sucessfull in their work.
So I ask you, as all users here. We live and fight our lifes to be happy. Should we embrace and try better solutions to find a balance where more people becomes happy (developers), and in exchange they'll be putting more time, doing a harder work to deliver a better app.
What do you think?
As you know i'm Democratic, and I love to discuss ideas. So please, feel free to share yours. I'll be happy to understand your perpective as it is important to find a common ground together.
Thanks
jgcaap said:
Well related to that, contenguard has also a solution where xposed module doesn't work.
Would like to know your opinion. Do you favor piracy? Why do you think is useless to fight for a more honest enviroment? Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Although I do not pirate apps, I would rather not have contentguard. Google could've easily have anti piracy measures on stock roms considering that a high percentage of apps are pirated, but they didn't, because it compromises the openness of android (I know there are a lot of additional factors to this as well.) Developers of roms shouldn't have to take it upon themselves to force users to not install certain applications because even if contentguard is present, people who pirate can easily switch over to other roms, which means that contentguard only hurts the privacy people who actually pay for apps.
I understand what the rom developers are trying to do with contentguard, but it is not effective on a large enough scale to be a viable stop to piracy, unless it is implemented google themselves (a couple thousand of people running a custom rom which happen to have contentguard vs about a billion android devices).
TLDR: No
jgcaap said:
The real question i would like to see your opinion, would be this.
Google haven't done much to protect developers work.
As you know many developers donate their time for free to develop apps. And consider some apps should be used for a small fee.
Same as you going to a store and having the option to steal or to buy a book.
Sometimes we think " ah those companies are gigantic" , but they also pay to alot of people to work. Shouldn't that matter ?
As a human beeing, i've donated to xda, donated blood to hospital, donated my free time to help poor people in Portugal, donated my time to help timor (around 1996-7 when i was a kid). But when i'm providing a service, where the deal is i'll do this and in exchange i'll receive something. Don't you believe it is fair?
The big problem with the anti piracy measures, which in my opinion should be implemented by google , do not work effectivly for users. In exchange many of us get used to that reality. Right? But should we? Or should we try do something?
I came up with this thread because, I've thought about Content Guard as a measure which is not efficient to change and become a safe working enviroment for people which dedicate their lives to android. But I think we can see this as a simbol of wanting things to change from some people which are frustrated for not beeing sucessfull in their work.
So I ask you, as all users here. We live and fight our lifes to be happy. Should we embrace and try better solutions to find a balance where more people becomes happy (developers), and in exchange they'll be putting more time, doing a harder work to deliver a better app.
What do you think?
As you know i'm Democratic, and I love to discuss ideas. So please, feel free to share yours. I'll be happy to understand your perpective as it is important to find a common ground together.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For me it seems, that you haven't understand the meaning of capitalism.
Some people will live some people will die. Some people will be rich, some poor, same for companies.
That's the world.
I think it's up to the developer. There are ways to make piracy harder. The harder you will make it, the more people will buy it. If you're not capable of programming an app, which is hard to Crack you should definitely change your job to something you're good at.
Your social engagement might be good for you, for me it would wasting my small amount of time. From your text you could get an intention that it's god given what you will make out of your life. It's definitely not.
I don't care if you implement this. You will make it harder to use pirated apps but it's still possible and it's work for you. So I have no opinion to this topic I just wanted state out, that it will be work for you, less people will use your rom and if you want pirated apps it's still possible.
But honestly noone will buy an app due to your implementation. Maybe it will gain you experience but nothing more....
Sent from my A0001 using XDA-Developers mobile app
lampshade90 said:
For me it seems, that you haven't understand the meaning of capitalism.
Some people will live some people will die. Some people will be rich, some poor, same for companies.
That's the world.
I think it's up to the developer. There are ways to make piracy harder. The harder you will make it, the more people will buy it. If you're not capable of programming an app, which is hard to Crack you should definitely change your job to something you're good at.
Your social engagement might be good for you, for me it would wasting my small amount of time. From your text you could get an intention that it's god given what you will make out of your life. It's definitely not.
I don't care if you implement this. You will make it harder to use pirated apps but it's still possible and it's work for you. So I have no opinion to this topic I just wanted state out, that it will be work for you, less people will use your rom and if you want pirated apps it's still possible.
But honestly noone will buy an app due to your implementation. Maybe it will gain you experience but nothing more....
Sent from my A0001 using XDA-Developers mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well is also true we live capitalism. But the way you express it is like it doesn't have flaws. Do you really believe that?
I haven't decided on adding yet. I like to listen to people, to speak and discuss. For you might be a loss of your time... But for me is information gathered among different people which I believe it is important, or I would be rather selfish on doing things without asking questions. No ? =p
Hehe.
Thank you for your honest answer.
f41lbl0g said:
Although I do not pirate apps, I would rather not have contentguard. Google could've easily have anti piracy measures on stock roms considering that a high percentage of apps are pirated, but they didn't, because it compromises the openness of android (I know there are a lot of additional factors to this as well.) Developers of roms shouldn't have to take it upon themselves to force users to not install certain applications because even if contentguard is present, people who pirate can easily switch over to other roms, which means that contentguard only hurts the privacy people who actually pay for apps.
I understand what the rom developers are trying to do with contentguard, but it is not effective on a large enough scale to be a viable stop to piracy, unless it is implemented google themselves (a couple thousand of people running a custom rom which happen to have contentguard vs about a billion android devices).
TLDR: No
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks

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