Database Users

Kick ass apps wanted

Need an apk that signs my update.zip files from titanium blackup.
I don't understand why it hasn't been done. The code to do it is already in java! Search the forums for testsign.jar
I know everything you need to do to get it done but I don't have a development environment at my disposal. Help me out and I'll show you how to convert your jarred up code libraries to run on android!
Please and Thank You.
* edit - this question has been solved by brainmaster! ZipSigner if you find this application helpful please thank him below.
- Posted via mobile

New application proposal: ZeroNetAccess (ZeNA?)
Concept: an app that can block other apps network access.
Market alternative: DroidWall (root only, low market potential)
Methods: Maybe by modifying the apk manifest and resigning? Im not sure if there is a framework you could subclass for this.
Why: i turned off stats reporting for an app and i saw it writing reports to the web from logcat. Google took our rights away by not letting us do this from the application settings. Its my device and i have to pay the bill not google or the rude ppl who made the app. I will never understand why we were not given the right to administer mobile data access rights.
Potential: highly lucrative. People want to save money nowadays. In that respect voiding phone warranty for root access may not sit well with potential customer.
- Posted via mobile

Avid Droidery said:
New application proposal: ZeroNetAccess (ZeNA?)
Concept: an app that can block other apps network access.
Methods: Maybe by modifying the apk manifest and resigning? Im not sure if there is a framework you could subclass for this.
Why: i turned off stats reporting for an app and i saw it writing reports to the web from logcat. Google took our rights away by not letting us do this from the application settings. Its my device and i have to pay the bill not google or the rude ppl who made the app. I will never understand why we were not given the right to administer mobile data access rights.
Potential: highly lucrative. People want to save money nowadays.
- Posted via mobile
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For rooted devices try DroidWall

Application Proposal: Web Page to PDF/HTML Safari Plug-In
Concept: Seriously?
Why: Cant save pages from the browser I safari always reloads the page when you come back to it from other activities (pointless nethog!) whats the friggin cache for anyway? It is better to save an article copy that you could view on the computer later or add to your info library if you write books or do any kinda technical research than it is to save a bookmark that may become 404 not found. Researchers nightmare!
Methods: execute shell command wget on page source. Use regular expression to get media list. Build directory tree. For each media call wget. Done.
Potential: medium. Not many people are so technically inclined.
Usefulness: extremely high, especially with zip/+email caps.. Roundabout source code viewer for nosy/curious folks.
Average potential, stream lehigh usefulness I would sell for a buck 99. Free (1 ad per saved page, no zip email)
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3rdstring said:
For rooted devices try DroidWall
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you! Will do!
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Application proposal: WarBastard
Concept: wardriving app featuring google my maps! Maps are shared globally by locale. Signals can be pinpointed by triangulation through cross reference of mac address, signal strength and previously detected locations in a global locale based database. While we are at, throw in a google navigation intent, and a compass with distance to closest accesible AP! Dont stop there! I wonder where that cell tower is located?
Purpose: to aid weary travellers and cheap bastards to connect with their loved ones and services over open networks. Services could also be used for cellular network signal diagnostics across hundreds of thousands of devices.
Potential: astronomical I would pay 5 bux. Better yet 12 bucks per year. Free (1 ad per download of database, 1 ad per connect to AP. Possibly integrated with APs for increased revenue potential across the board.) The map data can also be used to find good places to set up an advertising AP 4 even more potential earnings.
Anybody wanna pay me to sit around and do this all day? Lol.
SERIOUSLY you are looking at my qualifications. Asking 50k p. yr. to start Project Mgr./Analyst/Sr. Developer. consulting options available. Willing to relocate. Pm for inquiries/proposals.
- Posted via mobile

Avid Droidery said:
Need an apk that signs my update.zip files from titanium blackup.
I don't understand why it hasn't been done. The code to do it is already in java! Search the forums for testsign.jar
I know everything you need to do to get it done but I don't have a development environment at my disposal. Help me out and I'll show you how to convert your jarred up code libraries to run on android!
Please and Thank You.
- Posted via mobile
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should use the search function: ZipSigner.
It implements in the Titanium Backup and signs it on your wish.

brainmaster said:
You should use the search function
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are correct. I should never have assumed that this wasn't already in the market. Actually I didn't really plan to use this to sign titanium backups. For my purpose however the concept is the same.
* edit Human beings arent the fastest search engine but collectively we are the most accurate information sources on the planet. feel free to quote me on this
I thought that it would be better to ask someone who might know than it would be to search for something that may not exist. If I had access to a computer I would have no questions to post. Only answers! Being that I am stuck on my android for the time being, I appreciate all the help I can get!
Thank you for providing me with another helpful for resource!
* Edit: Dear brainmaster, words cannot express my level of gratitude! I am truly overjoyed by the passing of this shortcoming. Signapktic is exactly what I was looking for and I never would have found this application had it not been for your assistance. The topic of this thread is kick ass apps wanted. Even though this is an application that no longer needs to be developed (because real developers don't reinvent the wheel unless absolutely necessary,) you have met or exceeded the topic issue with flying colors!
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New application proposal: Launchpad Homescreen Widget
Concept: a widget that will pop up an on screen menu (complete with icons) onClick similar to pc desktop start menus. Customizable shortcuts Horizontal or vertical (and scrollable) layouts by preference and Customizable folders.
Why: I would rather have a feature like this than an app drawer any day. This would allow individuals to organize launcher short cuts by task. It would also be great if it were possible to open files in the system such as pdf, video, music or text files with appropriate application. Another great feature would be the ability to launch shell scripts. I have searched the market and nothing like this was found.
Potential: high. will save customer time allow them to become more visually organized and task oriented as well as adding more visual appeal to the home screens. $5.99 I would buy it! Time limited trial only.
- Posted via mobile

[INFO REQ] Details on CIQ from DEV's

We have all seen this CIQ information in SFR thread and repeated all over the internet on various forums and blog sites.
Code:
What Is Carrier IQ? Why Should We Care?
3/31/2011: Hello, Slashdotters!
Put simply - and bluntly - Carrier IQ is a software package buried deep within Android by Samsung at the behest of Sprint. It has been in active use since the time of the Moment, if not before. The company that develops it, also known as Carrier IQ, bills it as "Mobile Service Intelligence". In their own words,
[T]he combination of the MSIP and IQ Insight lets you move seamlessly from broad trend data across many users, through comparative groups down to diagnostic data from individual devices. Now, not only can you identify trends, you have the power to drill down to specific instances, giving you the insight your specialists need to make a difference.
On its own, that description can vary from harmless, to worrying, depending on how you look at it. It's not until one drills deep down into the system and ferrets out every piece of the software that one truly knows what it contains. As some of you might remember, ACS took the first steps toward disabling the Carrier IQ software with the release of SyndicateROM and Xtreme Kernel 1.0. That, however, didn't even scratch the surface.
Carrier IQ's native libraries are plainly visible - libiq_client.so and libiq_service.so in /system/lib. During every boot, this service is launched - you can see it in Settings > Applications > Running Services as "IQAgent Service". These native libraries are called by non-native (Android application) libraries located in ext.jar (the client) and framework.jar (the service). Removal of these (rather obviously-named) libraries alone, be it the .so files or the libraries in framework or ext, will, obviously, break boot. So I - k0nane - had to dig deeper. To make a long story short, reference to the IQ Service and IQ Client were littered across the deepest portions of the framework, and some of the most basic functions of the Android system as we know it.
Carrier IQ as a platform is designed to collect "metrics" at any scale. What I found it to hook into is far beyond the scope of anything a carrier needs - or should want - to be collecting. Carrier IQ sits in the middle of, and "checks" the data of, SMS and MMS messages. It listens for and receives every battery change notifications. It hooks into every web page you view, and every XML file your device reads. It receives every press of the touch screen. It 'sees' what you type on the physical keyboard. It reads every number you press in the dialer. It can track which applications you use, what 'type' they are, how often, and for how long. It hooks into data sent and received.
.................
What I am asking in this thread is for any specific information about CIQ that Dev's who have worked with it are willing to provide from their personal experience with investigating and removing it. I am also asking Dev's and Forum Members who have come across other articles, threads in other forums, etc, to please provide information with links.
Code:
Provided by chris41g
to be effectively removed you only need to remove it from 4 files. it is referenced elsewhere scattered throughout... but the four main files are
DialerTabActivity.apk
ext.jar
framework.jar
services.jar
then in the kernels initramfs, you have to disable the service in the init.rc
Provided by mkasick
Here's all the files that reference "CIQ", "carrieriq", or "libiq" with instances unrelated to Carrier IQ removed:
/ (initramfs):
- init: /dev/ttyCIQ0 UART, presumably to communicate with radio.
- init.rc: Start iqmsd service if property:service.iq.active=1.
- lib/modules/dpram.ko: Implements ttyCIQ UARTs.
/system:
- app/DialerTabActivity.odex
- app/FactoryTest.odex
- bin/iqmsd
- framework/ext.odex
- framework/framework.odex
- framework/sec_feature.odex
- framework/services.odex
- lib/libiq_client.so
- lib/libiq_service.so
Of these, bin/iqmsd is a purpose-unknown daemon, and libiq_client.so & libiq_service.so the client & service native code. The client & service managed code is implemented in framework/ext.odex & framework/framework.odex respectively.
In addition, the following framework classes reference Carrier IQ in some fashion:
framework/ext.odex:
- org.apache.http.impl.client.DefaultRequestDirector
framework.framework.odex:
- android.inputmethodservice.InputMethodService
- android.net.http.Request
- android.webkit.{BrowserFrame,CallbackProxy,LoadLis tener,WebViewCore}
- com.android.internal.telephony.SMSDispatcher
framework.services.odex:
- com.android.server.BatteryService
- com.android.server.WindowManagerService
- com.android.server.am.UsageStatsService
Finally, libiq_service.so is used exclusively by framework/framework.odex (com.carrieriq.iqagent.client.NativeClient), and libiq_client.so is used by:
- bin/iqmsd
- framework/ext.odex (com.carrieriq.iqagent.service.IQService)
- lib/libopencore_player.so
I am seeking facts, file names, files, information on CIQ in the framework, specifically what files CIQ hooks into, etc. Thank you for taking the time to read this.
I received a response yesterday (June 15, 2011) from a group that has disassembled IQAgent & CarrierIQ.
in response to questions about CIQ's capabilities.
We have actually disassembled IQAgent/carrierIQ and captured its behavior to find exactly what it is sending back to sprint on the samsung optimus phone. The information we found it to collect was basic, such as cell towers, signal strengths, device battery. Nothing alarming on that phone, but Sprint could send a remote update to enable the surveillance features without the owner being aware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now while the above statement is about the Optimus, I was able to confirm through another source that IQAgent & CarrierIQ collection and transmission capabilities are set the same across all Sprint Android offerings.
During a telephone call with Sprint and in a follow up email Sprint responded to requests for information on Carrier IQ, who was responsible for the installation on Sprint's hardware and asked to directly address concerns over its potentially invasive nature.
the software that is in the Android phones is supplied by Google themselves as well as the manufacturer. We
(Sprint) has no control over the actual operating system supplied to us such as the Carrier IQ as it is indigenous to the Android platform.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Off the record, Google has denied this referencing that the Nexus S did not have CIQ installed on it because they would not let carriers install such software on their native Android devices.
In the same conversation and follow up email Sprint stated;
removing the Carrier IQ software from your Samsung Epic device can void your manufacturer warranty.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The representative was questioned on Sprint's use of the word "can" but could not elaborate on under what circumstances removal of CIQ would not void the warranty.
Update July 5, 2011
Sprint still refuses to address the concerns over Carrier IQ's potentially invasive nature. When directly questioned on if CIQ as it is installed on Sprint hardware is capable of the level of invasive data collection as previously reported by Steve Toplez, Sprint responds with complete silence.
I have since requested contact and an official response from both Sprint's compliance department and General Counsel. Once again, the silence is deafening.

Good thinking

Sweet ... but this might just start another debate ..

Lets hope it doesn't. I would really like to see this community come together and allow this information to be provided with little or no flaming, thread hijacking or warring.

Description of CarrierIQs Service
Mobile Service Intelligence
Mobile Service Intelligence is the process of analyzing data from phones to give you a uniquely powerful insight into mobile service quality and user behavior. Carrier IQ's Mobile Service Intelligence Platform (MSIP) is the smart database at the heart of our solution. It receives raw data (known as Metrics) from phones and converts them into reliable, repeatable Measures which feed into analytic applications. The MSIP delivers true enterprise grade performance, with its proven ability to process data submitted by millions of phones with outstanding integrity and security.
Get the Insight
We know you don't just want data, you want to solve business problems and identify new business opportunities. The IQ Insight application suite uses data from the MSIP to deliver true Actionable Intelligence, tailored to specific business areas. From the performance information to support the launch of a new phone or service to historical information to understand in detail customer behavior and usage patterns, the IQ Insight suite cuts through the complexity to allow you to focus on critical business issues, create and track Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and all in the knowledge that the data is measured at the point the customer experienced it – in the phone.
What's more, the combination of the MSIP and IQ Insight lets you move seamlessly from broad trend data across many users, through comparative groups down to diagnostic data from individual devices. Now, not only can you identify trends, you have the power to drill down to specific instances, giving you the insight your specialists need to make a difference. That is the power of Mobile Service Intelligence.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

http://www.freshnews.com/news/383257/carrier-iq-powers-android-platform-mobile-service-intelligence

twolostminds said:
Lets hope it doesn't. I would really like to see this community come together and allow this information to be provided with little or no flaming, thread hijacking or warring.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
as info is provided, you should compile it (in an easy to read format) in the first post so others don't have to read through (potentially) pages and pages of stuff.. (you can use 'code' HTML tags to 'condense' longer text into smaller boxes I think)
Just my .02
and hopefully the community can come together and compile good/relevant info without all the drama.

http://www.carrieriq.com/overview/IQInsightServiceAnalyzer/ServiceAnalyzer.datasheet.pdf
by the way, as far as framework.. to be effectively removed you only need to remove it from 4 files. it is referenced elsewhere scattered throughout... but the four main files are
DialerTabActivity.apk
ext.jar
framework.jar
services.jar
then in the kernels initramfs, you have to disable the service in the init.rc

http://www.carrieriq.com/overview/IQInsightDeviceAnalyzer/DeviceAnalyzer.datasheet.pdf
this datasheet, makes it sound like its installed for testing the phone, then turned off and can be turned on if needed for support..

daddymikey1975 said:
as info is provided, you should compile it (in an easy to read format) in the first post so others don't have to read through (potentially) pages and pages of stuff.. (you can use 'code' HTML tags to 'condense' longer text into smaller boxes I think)
Just my .02
and hopefully the community can come together and compile good/relevant info without all the drama.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will be updating the OP on a regular basis and once enough verifiable information is gathered I will be creating a Wiki-like posting.

i would think that if we are rooting and also using custom roms or taking features Sprint has built into the phone (Carrieriq) then would we not be violating the terms and conditions of service. And lets not forget that google can tell if we are rooted as we can not get movie rentals from the market. Also google and sprint are able to see what apps we have installed and if they see super user app then its a safebet we are rooted. If google wants to get rid of rooted apps they can by simply removing them from the market upon carrier request like vzw and att did for wifi tether.

chris41g said:
...
then in the kernels initramfs, you have to disable the service in the init.rc
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sorry noob here, I'm running stock EC05, how do I remove it from init.rc?

chris41g said:
http://www.carrieriq.com/overview/IQInsightDeviceAnalyzer/DeviceAnalyzer.datasheet.pdf
this datasheet, makes it sound like its installed for testing the phone, then turned off and can be turned on if needed for support..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know much about it but I do know it runs in the background at boot. To me, that's not "turned off."

dchawk81 said:
I don't know much about it but I do know it runs in the background at boot. To me, that's not "turned off."
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The service is running, with logging and reporting turned off, and can (presumably) be remotely activated..
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App

chris41g said:
The service is running, with logging and reporting turned off, and can (presumably) be remotely activated..
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right. So it's not truly off. Standby isn't off.
Since it's not off, I prefer it gone.

From what I've been able to gather from it it doesn't do much of anything. It has the potential to track stuff, but i'd bet stuff for marketing purposes and possibly troubleshooting remotely.
Everyone is all up in arms over removing it, but there or not it doesn't have any effect on your phone, or battery life.
As far as security purposes, you may as well stop using your phone all together, because thats similar to the kind of stuff google can collect from your phone at any point. Its not a big deal, its not important, and the performance gain for removing any of it is nil.

Well if it doesn't do anything at all, it doesn't need to be there.

chris41g said:
http://www.carrieriq.com/overview/IQInsightServiceAnalyzer/ServiceAnalyzer.datasheet.pdf
by the way, as far as framework.. to be effectively removed you only need to remove it from 4 files. it is referenced elsewhere scattered throughout... but the four main files are
DialerTabActivity.apk
ext.jar
framework.jar
services.jar
then in the kernels initramfs, you have to disable the service in the init.rc
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does anyone have a list of every file that references CIQ?

twolostminds said:
Does anyone have a list of every file that references CIQ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That would be an almost impossible task, without going through the source... and even then there are likely to be closed source files too....
The list I gave you is what is edited in a nociq rom though..
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App

chris41g said:
That would be an almost impossible task, without going through the source... and even then there are likely to be closed source files too....
The list I gave you is what is edited in a nociq rom though..
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are probably right, it would be impossible without access to both open and closed source. My goal is to put together the most complete and comprehensive information source on CIQ's implementation and capabilities as installed in Android. So any other references that have been found would be greatly appreciated.

Notification Bar ads for Android

While it has been rumored and feared practically since the operating system's creation, one of the nightmare scenarios for some unlucky Android users has finally become very real. Japan's second largest mobile carrier, KDDI, has gone where no carrier has dared before and has begun disguising advertisements as system notifications on their Android devices.
It seems that an app bundled with KDDI devices is the cause of the controversial ad system. The "au one market" is a secondary market application that comes with most of the smartphones on the carrier's service. This newest evil addition came in the form of an update which prompted the user with two warnings.
Quote
1. au one Market app stays resident even when you are not using the app, 2. notification space will be used to inform good deals to customers.
There are similar ad experiences from certain applications and services already in the U.S. but this is the first time we've seen this behavior from an actual mobile carrier. It's scary to think of this becoming common place so be sure to voice your opposition on this sort of guerrilla advertising to your carrier representatives before it's too late. This is also just all the more reason to keep your rootz skills as up to date as possible. Removing that carrier bloatware is becoming seemingly more and more essential these days....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Source: RootzWiki
Read for yourself here

since i've installed an app (don't know which one) i'm starting to something like this on my status bar... do you guys know anything about this?

This sucks... Are they even allowed to do this?

@gigeaky
Check if you have Easy Mp3 Download or DroID3Tagger. One of them should be the Ads source.

Install Airpush Detector or Addons Detector from the market to find the offending app.

Nothing root+delete offending app can't solve.
That said, still sucks, they'll probably end any warranty or whatever services they may offer if they find out. I guess you can still delete any traces of root and send it to samsung. They probably couldn't care less if you uninstalled some carrier app.
I don't mind ads at all while they aren't intrusive. I understand their purpose and their importance. But being randomly interrupted by some notification ad is the worse kind of interruption, as useless as it gets, not to mention the unsolicited data traffic and extra battery drain. I can even see them going a notch up and create random popups out of that you need to dismiss. Now, i like android the best of all mobile operative systems, but i draw a line here. If google ever enforced this at system level with no way around, i'd leave android completely.

I agree, I guess all those stuff is from carriers and not from Google so that I think it won't be difficult delete it.

gigeaky said:
since i've installed an app (don't know which one) i'm starting to something like this on my status bar... do you guys know anything about this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I seem to be getting similar notifications, I can't for the life of me work out what app they are related to...

PrivateOS on OnePlus X?

Hi everyone. I'll explain you. After i watched the documentary about Edward Snowden, i feel that someone is spying on me. I found the blackphone online, and his PrivateOS is awesome! I'm not a porter, so if someone may port the PrivateOS to our OnePlus X, it would be awesome!! Some guys, wanted to port it on xperia (sauce: http://forum.xda-developers.com/android/general/privatos-rom-1-0-1-t2833178)

If you want privacy buy a BlackBerry.

Hi, I had it on my Wiko Wax. I didn´t like it because de UI it´s not nice and it has a lot of security apps that I think it´s unnecessary for users like us. We have decent protection with security patches and the best security is the user. Maybe the blackphone rom is very secure yeah but if you want 100% security with this ROM just buy the blackphone, I don´t think it will be useful on our OPX. And yeah someone is spying on you. Google.

Exodusche said:
If you want privacy buy a BlackBerry.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Respect his idea, don't make fun.

sheraz1015 said:
Respect his idea, don't make fun.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you so much sheraz1015!
Yesterday, i found a video on youtube. This guy was explaining how to get your search history of Google.
I found that Google, was spying on me...they recorded with microphone of my OnePlus X my voice, every 2h!!
I was surprised that they recorded me also when i was sleeping!!!
I found also that they tracked my position, but my gps is always switched off!!
I didn't know that, but everyone who has google play services on the phone, they keep in history when you open
or close any app that you have. I'm pissed off!
Will someone try to port it, or make a secure rom, maybe not based on google apps?

WithoutValorFreedomDies said:
Thank you so much sheraz1015!
Yesterday, i found a video on youtube. This guy was explaining how to get your search history of Google.
I found that Google, was spying on me...they recorded with microphone of my OnePlus X my voice, every 2h!!
I was surprised that they recorded me also when i was sleeping!!!
I found also that they tracked my position, but my gps is always switched off!!
I didn't know that, but everyone who has google play services on the phone, they keep in history when you open
or close any app that you have. I'm pissed off!
Will someone try to port it, or make a secure rom, maybe not based on google apps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you send me the link please..

sheraz1015 said:
Can you send me the link please..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here it is dude
Sauce: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtmR9L0ITlM
Go to minute 2:03 also

Wasn't trying to be rude just herd blackberry has best security. But In this case I don't think it would matter. Thanks for sharing this don't think too many people know about it.

okay first: appreciate, that obviously there are other people concerned about their privacy.
second: there are people even more concerned about their privacy, like i.e. German's chancellor, making them pay 10,000$ for a cell phone - hacked. so how secure can som cell phone for some 100$ be?
next: about BlackBerry: where is ur privacy when all ur communication is routed through a private companies servers? As long as u do not fully trust such a company i'd call that surveillance too...
that being said: what do u consider to be secure regard ur privacy? first answer urself this question before making any progress. keep in mind, that ur cellphone is basically a full featured tracking system (which isnot a bad thing per se).
What do I mean?ˋWell for instance personally i don't consider photos synced to dropbox/google drive/microsoft's whatever to be private. they're located on servers inside the use, and as such accessable by officials whenever there's desire. also I do absolutely not consider my passwords to be safe when synced to my google account. Next i will not consider any call to be secure in a matter of "no one can listen"- that wont change unless u use end-to-end encryption which requires the called person to have an according setup. etc etc
i came to the conclusion that my phone simply is NOT secure! So if u do not intend to just keep ur hands off any device connected to the internet/gps u can be tracked. Just a matter of the effort to achieve that....
Now how can i just keep calm with all that. well i actually don't. its a compromise for me, as i just don't want to miss certain points which are provided by smartphones.
However I totally disagree with just handing over my private data making it needless to spy on me cause i instafacetweet**** whenever i'm at starbucks taking a coffee or sending private photos using services, that claim property of such (needless to call it by name..)
finally, to shorten this and maybe give u one or two hints especially regarding google apps etc:
- y handing google my actual name (u certainly won't be able to hide ur identity just because of this!! but referring to the last paragraph above this is step no1)
- personally i use opengapps pico which shrinks the amount of spyware down a bit (however there are some packages included safe to uninstall)
- regarding the "google tracks my app usage": well this is because u grant playstore/play services permission to do so (settings-->security-->app ausage access)
- also i have restricted access to pretty much anything for google apps as i only want playstore running(privacy guard or similar)
- using greenify (xposed required i guess) u can "uncover hidden synchronizations" which will (what a surprise) a HUGE list of syncs to be disabled in settings -->accounts-->google-->whatever
- also take a look in google settings (ads/"security")
- system administrator
etcetcetc...
if u want to minimize the chance one can create location profiles: mac spoofing (i guess thats the english term). also when u use buetooth headset, u ar visible for any near device. same goes for wlan search, nfc bla.
These are just a few things that make me personally feel a bit more comfortable using such devices. a huge part in this takes NOT using whatsapp/facebook or anything like that. i'm convinced computers don't understand social interaction, and as such they should only take a minor "transmitting" role in this and not tell me who/what i might like or what the f***
I actually do have friends and they will know if theres sth worth to know, which works the other way round too.
I hope I somehow stuck to the read thread (do u really say so? ) and maybe there were 1 or 2 points of use for u.
Whats most: the more u use/rely on such technology, the more of ur life can/will be exposed OR the more effort u will have to put into it to prevent that. (with the only result u increase the effort in spying on u/whatever).
Gesendet von meinem ONE E1003 mit Tapatalk

tet-bundy said:
okay first: appreciate, that obviously there are other people concerned about their privacy.
second: there are people even more concerned about their privacy, like i.e. German's chancellor, making them pay 10,000$ for a cell phone - hacked. so how secure can som cell phone for some 100$ be?
next: about BlackBerry: where is ur privacy when all ur communication is routed through a private companies servers? As long as u do not fully trust such a company i'd call that surveillance too...
that being said: what do u consider to be secure regard ur privacy? first answer urself this question before making any progress. keep in mind, that ur cellphone is basically a full featured tracking system (which isnot a bad thing per se).
What do I mean?ˋWell for instance personally i don't consider photos synced to dropbox/google drive/microsoft's whatever to be private. they're located on servers inside the use, and as such accessable by officials whenever there's desire. also I do absolutely not consider my passwords to be safe when synced to my google account. Next i will not consider any call to be secure in a matter of "no one can listen"- that wont change unless u use end-to-end encryption which requires the called person to have an according setup. etc etc
i came to the conclusion that my phone simply is NOT secure! So if u do not intend to just keep ur hands off any device connected to the internet/gps u can be tracked. Just a matter of the effort to achieve that....
Now how can i just keep calm with all that. well i actually don't. its a compromise for me, as i just don't want to miss certain points which are provided by smartphones.
However I totally disagree with just handing over my private data making it needless to spy on me cause i instafacetweet**** whenever i'm at starbucks taking a coffee or sending private photos using services, that claim property of such (needless to call it by name..)
finally, to shorten this and maybe give u one or two hints especially regarding google apps etc:
- y handing google my actual name (u certainly won't be able to hide ur identity just because of this!! but referring to the last paragraph above this is step no1)
- personally i use opengapps pico which shrinks the amount of spyware down a bit (however there are some packages included safe to uninstall)
- regarding the "google tracks my app usage": well this is because u grant playstore/play services permission to do so (settings-->security-->app ausage access)
- also i have restricted access to pretty much anything for google apps as i only want playstore running(privacy guard or similar)
- using greenify (xposed required i guess) u can "uncover hidden synchronizations" which will (what a surprise) a HUGE list of syncs to be disabled in settings -->accounts-->google-->whatever
- also take a look in google settings (ads/"security")
- system administrator
etcetcetc...
if u want to minimize the chance one can create location profiles: mac spoofing (i guess thats the english term). also when u use buetooth headset, u ar visible for any near device. same goes for wlan search, nfc bla.
These are just a few things that make me personally feel a bit more comfortable using such devices. a huge part in this takes NOT using whatsapp/facebook or anything like that. i'm convinced computers don't understand social interaction, and as such they should only take a minor "transmitting" role in this and not tell me who/what i might like or what the f***
I actually do have friends and they will know if theres sth worth to know, which works the other way round too.
I hope I somehow stuck to the read thread (do u really say so? ) and maybe there were 1 or 2 points of use for u.
Whats most: the more u use/rely on such technology, the more of ur life can/will be exposed OR the more effort u will have to put into it to prevent that. (with the only result u increase the effort in spying on u/whatever).
Gesendet von meinem ONE E1003 mit Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you very much for your dedication on a precise answering. All that you said.....you are right. Damn

I'm just trying out Nameless ROM. I noticed it has privacey guard as mentioned above. Whether it actually does anything who knows.

I'm paranoid about google services aswell.
Hence i installed a fresh build of CM13 / AOSP CAF
Installed F-Droid as primary market and replaced apps with open source replacements. (Replaced Chrome/AOSP browser with chromium etc.).
I also installed Firewall, adblocker+ and system manager for monitoring malicious apps and processes. Privacy guard & app ops also works wonders together
this not only gives u ability to customize android your way but also provides good level of security.
If you are still paranoid about identity, u can use orbot and tor network for anonymous identity. (Both found on F-Droid).
This also greatly improves battery life and keeps the phone snappy.
Hope this helps

In all honesty, just use Sailfish and remove everything you find funky. Private OS isn't worth porting. Another alternative would be to just flash any ROM without flashing GAPPs
---------- Post added at 04:02 AM ---------- Previous post was at 04:01 AM ----------
At the end of the day though, you are still at the mercy to some company... We have already lost this fight.

karan5chaos said:
If you are still paranoid about identity, u can use orbot and tor network for anonymous identity. (Both found on F-Droid)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree... in theory. however if u assume to be under surveillance, u better assume that u are not the only one inside the tor network to be under surveillance. u just need to observe a not too small amount of tor servers (which is still a relatively small amount, taking the capacity of todays intelligence services into consideration) to be able to reconstruct the whole path of any communication routed through that network. now also seeing that bandwidth is just lousy, there's just no point in using tor (except u want to access services, that require u to do so).
To cut a long story short, if u want ur internet traffic to be secure, u'll have to go for a vpn provider! (of course u have to trust that provider, as they are able to read anything u pass through that gate)
regards
t
P.S.: if u're interested in vpn service, pm me and i'll tell u my hoster which i think is one of the most trustworthy around and also provides some advanced methods other just don't.
(just to stick to the rules and not advertise here )

Attention: this phone is a spyware device!

According to Samsung customer support and some members of this forum, this device does not have a built-in way of blocking Internet access for specific applications!
Many of those apps have permissions like "storage", "phone ID", "contacts", "calendar", "camera", "microphone", etc...
Therefore, when those applications are given Internet access they will be able to send all our data via the Internet...
That's why it would be of crucial importance and vital to have a built-in way of blocking Internet access to those apps.
For example, if an application has access to your data, to your storage or your contacts, it stands to reason that it should not have Internet access...
The only explanation for the lack of such an integrated system of blocking Internet access for specific applications can only be explained by the fact that Samsung and Google intend to have all our data and info sent over the Internet ... probably for specific domains ...
Google, Samsung or any other companies should not have, simultaneously, access to our storage data, contacts, calendar, camera, microphone..., and Internet access to send out all those data and info...
Besides, most apps are proprietary... so nobody knows what info or data the app is really sending out...
(Curiously and as a side note, my son has a Huawei P10 and that device allows the user to block Internet access to specific apps).
Therefore, given that this Samsung device does not have a way to limit specific applications from reaching the Internet, the phone is a spyware device!

Niccolò Paganini said:
The only explanation for the lack of such an integrated system of blocking Internet access for specific applications can only be explained by the fact that Samsung and Google intend to have all our data and info sent over the Internet ... probably for specific domains ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its google that doesn't want to implement an internet permission, we can block apps from access to storage/location/contacts and whatnot but not the internet, blame google not samsung.

peachpuff said:
Its google that doesn't want to implement an internet permission, we can block apps from access to storage/location/contacts and whatnot but not the internet, blame google not samsung.
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Click to collapse
Well, blame them both. Samsung is knowingly 'accepting' the Google 'flaw' on it's phone. So Samsung is also culpable.

Talk about an Over the Top Melodramatic 1st post!
Stay off the internet - Get rid of your Smart TV - Live in a box... SMH
Sent from my SM-G955W ??

Niccolò Paganini said:
According to Samsung customer support and some members of this forum, this device does not have a built-in way of blocking Internet access for specific applications!
Many of those apps have permissions like "storage", "phone ID", "contacts", "calendar", "camera", "microphone", etc...
Therefore, when those applications are given Internet access they will be able to send all our data via the Internet...
That's why it would be of crucial importance and vital to have a built-in way of blocking Internet access to those apps.
For example, if an application has access to your data, to your storage or your contacts, it stands to reason that it should not have Internet access...
The only explanation for the lack of such an integrated system of blocking Internet access for specific applications can only be explained by the fact that Samsung and Google intend to have all our data and info sent over the Internet ... probably for specific domains ...
Google, Samsung or any other companies should not have, simultaneously, access to our storage data, contacts, calendar, camera, microphone..., and Internet access to send out all those data and info...
Besides, most apps are proprietary... so nobody knows what info or data the app is really sending out...
(Curiously and as a side note, my son has a Huawei P10 and that device allows the user to block Internet access to specific apps).
Therefore, given that this Samsung device does not have a way to limit specific applications from reaching the Internet, the phone is a spyware device!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't worry about it the NSA and Google already know everything about you.

without permissions 99% of your apps won't work. want to stop tracking ?dig deep into your account, real real deep to cut off a lot of privacy issues
then when you have time, google your name

pltctytc said:
....then when you have time, google your name
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Not much came out for me, just a Google+, Twitter, Photobucket and my company activity...
But: I must agree with OP to some extent...at the end it is weighting between functionality vs privacy.

Gregzi said:
Not much came out for me, just a Google+, Twitter, Photobucket and my company activity...
But: I must agree with OP to some extent...at the end it is weighting between functionality vs privacy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreeing to ANY extent with the OP's RIDICULOUS and ABSURD post & a Thread Title that is Entirely Misleading and Uninformed!
While everyone is entitled to their opinion - This Thread & Particularly it's Title are perilously close to warrant being Reported to the Mods!
It's a simple process to Disable Background Data for each and every Application that you decide to disable in Settings - Apps - Permissions - Data - Background /Toggle Off.
I made reference to Smart TV's as they are constantly "listening" in order to provide functionality - Then there's Laptop cameras which could be equally used to "spy" on their users... Are we to disable the functionality offered by Ok Google - Which is also "listening" to provide the functionality that we have come to expect from our technology?
Two Tin Cans and String are the bastion of the Paranoid & Conspiracy Theorists.
Sent from my SM-G955W ??

**** this I'm going back to a Palm Pixi so the NSA can't spy on me!

What if.....
The NSA IS Google?!

Seriously? You're downloading things from F-Droid and Yalp and you're concerned with what data individual apps are sending? If you don't trust an app to have an internet connection, why on earth are you using it? If you don't trust the company behind an app to use your data appropriately, whey are you using that app? Do you shut off all data so your internet/mobile provider can't sniff out what you're doing? Tin foil is relatively cheap.

Niccolò Paganini said:
The only explanation for the lack of such an integrated system of blocking Internet access for specific applications can only be explained by the fact that Samsung and Google intend to have all our data and info sent over the Internet ... probably for specific domains ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Surely this is "the only reason", surely. I'll assume you have thought through the entire process of creating a mobile phone operating system as complex as Android, and also every detail involved in creating an application ecosystem that scales to millions of user created applications access by billions of people that worldwide probably generates over a trillion dollars in overall economic revenue (including employment by business built around it, advertising money spent, etc). Surely you saw a foolproof way too easily do all of this AND follow seemingly arbitrary privacy rules? You MUST have also COMPLETELY ruled out every other innocent explanation using this model, including showing conclusively that it wouldn't cause ANRs, app crashes, or anything else. Right?
You also have data showing more than just you would revoke this permission right?
Right?

Mr. Orange 645 said:
What if.....
The NSA IS Google?!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You mean you only just realised this NOW???!

I have to say, I'm always amazed how little people care about the spying that's being done through their phones. Saying "live in a box" or "just don't use the app" is a stupid response. You can still want to be part of society (which nowadays REQUIRES using whatsapp/facebook/google) EVEN THOUGH you're uncomfortable with the privacy implications. Someone acknowledging and being aware of this, and trying to improve upon it (or even simpler, just demanding improvements by the companies you pay a thousand dollar for a new phone) is often ridiculed as if it wouldn't matter, or people accept it as an something that is required for the systems we use. Social networks could work totally fine without being centralized, google maps doesn't actually need to send your location to google to function, and no app that i know of needs to send your usage of the phone to their company to do whatever it promises to do. Yet many apps do. It's not so much about that it is possible, the problem is that it is allowed. It shouldn't be allowed, much of the data collection should simply be outlawed. But, since hardly anyone seems to care, I don't see that coming anytime soon. I've tried to find people interested in this, but not even on reddit /r/privacy/ this seems to be a major concern.

@the_toast
There's a difference between being responsible for the amount of privacy you have and the amount of personal information that has already been made available... long before people were even aware of the amount of personal information that was already gleaned from the Products and Services that you have been using for years. To some extent trying to reign in your personal information is like closing the barn door after the horse is long gone.
The guy who originally posted this Thread is focusing his "panic" on one device and THAT is naive and Grossly Misleading!
Whether it's FB (which I don't use) or signing up for a Loyalty card - Your personal information is everywhere! Using common sense going forward is the only rational approach, but standing on an imaginary mountain top and shouting to the world that one device is "spyware" is ridiculous and deserves to be called out ?
Sent from my SM-G955W ??

Ahh, the time of the Internet where everyone knows who you are, what you're doing, what you're buying, what sites you browse, your fetishes, etc. Most importantly, here in the U.S., your IP now can sell your internet history to anyone they please, even that time you looked up 2 girls and a cup. Sorry, Charlie, your life is no longer a private one and never will be again.

MiMtnBiker said:
Ahh, the time of the Internet where everyone knows who you are, what you're doing, what you're buying, what sites you browse, your fetishes, etc. Most importantly, here in the U.S., your IP now can sell your internet history to anyone they please, even that time you looked up 2 girls and a cup. Sorry, Charlie, your life is no longer a private one and never will be again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And if you Travel into the USA... Did you know THIS?
https://www.google.ca/amp/www.cbc.ca/amp/1.4494371#ampshare=http://www.cbc.ca/1.4494371
Sent from my SM-G955W ??

@shaggyskunk True, the OP is alarmist and uninformed. I was just put off by many of the answers, which basically said "why do you use Internet then". With respect to your post about searching phones - we can easily make this a scare thread (and people would be scared for good reasons). Let me continue:
- apps that want to use your microphone without apparent reason (of course also the ones WITH a good reason to use the mic) can track you through high-pitched sounds you cannot hear, which are emitted e.g. by some retailers to track you through their store.
- You talk about 1 in 13.000 people arriving in the US getting their phone/laptop looked at and potentially copied? How about knowing for 1Bn people (1 in 7 on earth) who they talk with, when they talk with them, and in which location they are whenever their phone has internet. That's Whatsapp.
@MiMtnBiker Gnn that's exactly my problem, people just accept it and believe it's never going to change. I'm not happy they know what kind of porn I'm looking at, and even less happy that they could sell the information (although I don't live in the US). If it is that way, it CAN be fixed, you CAN prohibit selling this information. Or to collect it at all. It's definitely better to know the big 5 have all my information but won't have all future information about me than to know they can continue like this forever

@the_toast
Many of the answers - including "live in a box" - "stay off the internet" were in direct response to the careless & irresponsible comments by the OP - like = like?
Not only your phone has the potential to gain access to your personal information - But your Laptop camera - Your Smart TV (that is "listening") But this technology is something that most people appreciate and expect their tech to provide them with the functionality that they want - Being aware of the capabilities of your Tech is prudent - being paranoid & frightened by it is just sad.
The issues of Privacy are extensive and if someone decides to pull on that thread - it's going to be never ending.
Common sense & being informed is the most appropriate way to go ??
Sent from my SM-G955W ??

the_toast said:
@shaggyskunk True, the OP is alarmist and uninformed. I was just put off by many of the answers, which basically said "why do you use Internet then". With respect to your post about searching phones - we can easily make this a scare thread (and people would be scared for good reasons). Let me continue:
- apps that want to use your microphone without apparent reason (of course also the ones WITH a good reason to use the mic) can track you through high-pitched sounds you cannot hear, which are emitted e.g. by some retailers to track you through their store.
- You talk about 1 in 13.000 people arriving in the US getting their phone/laptop looked at and potentially copied? How about knowing for 1Bn people (1 in 7 on earth) who they talk with, when they talk with them, and in which location they are whenever their phone has internet. That's Whatsapp.
@MiMtnBiker Gnn that's exactly my problem, people just accept it and believe it's never going to change. I'm not happy they know what kind of porn I'm looking at, and even less happy that they could sell the information (although I don't live in the US). If it is that way, it CAN be fixed, you CAN prohibit selling this information. Or to collect it at all. It's definitely better to know the big 5 have all my information but won't have all future information about me than to know they can continue like this forever
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Click to collapse
I'm afraid the only way you are going to change it is to completely get off the grid. Many people are oblivious to the fact that they are willingly giving up their personal information when they have their noses buried in their smartphones pert near all day. What's worse is that the politicians only seem to cater to the wealthy, and since they are salivating at the idea of getting their grubby hands on your info, this will continue. Unless there is a huge uprising and people assemble in protest of this, it will not stop. Heck, I don't even think it will stop, then. Nope, money is the reason as to why this won't change and, unfortunately, you have no say in the matter. Unless, that is, you do get completely off the grid.