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▌█▐ Free USB Tether method for Android - AziLink 2.0.2 ▌█▐
DOES NOT REQUIRE ROOT!
I came across this while searching for free USB tethering methods and apps. I am currently posting this message from this method and it is 100% free to setup and use. I know rooted devices can utilize the free Wifi tether, which I also have and I am also rooted but it kills my battery to use that so I wanted to find a USB solution.
I have compiled all needed files and zipped them for ease of download.
Download link: (---CLICK HERE!---)
Website: http://code.google.com/p/azilink/
Instructions from that site (which is also included in the .zip file):
[FONT="]Description:
AziLink is an application that allows USB tethering for Android-based phones, without requiring root access. It works by using a Java-based NAT that communicates with OpenVPN on the host computer. It's been tested on MacOS, Windows, and Linux. The connection will be forwarded over the phone's active network service, which can be either WiFi or 3G/EDGE.
Required files:
* ADB from the 1.1 or 1.5 Android SDK or from http://lfx.org/azilink/adb.zip
* OpenVPN 2.1 (not 2.0) from http://openvpn.net/index.php/downloads.html
* AziLink.apk from the download section or from http://lfx.org/azilink/azilink.apk
* AziLink.ovpn from the download section or from http://lfx.org/azilink/azilink.ovpn
Installation:
1) Install OpenVPN on the host. I use version 2.1_rc15, but any version should work. Apparently if you use version 2.0 you'll need to remove the NO_DELAY option from the AziLink.ovpn configuration file. You can find OpenVPN at:
http://openvpn.net/index.php/downloads.html
2) Enable USB debugging on the phone. From the home screen, this is under
Settings>Applications>Development>USB debugging.
3) Install the Android USB driver (if you don't already have one installed).
See http://developer.android.com/guide/developing/device.html for more information. The driver is included in the ADB download if you don't want to get the full SDK.
4) Install the program. You can either use ADB to install by typing
"adb install azilink.apk" with the file in the current directory, or you can browse (on the phone!) to: http://lfx.org/azilink/azilink.apk
Either way you might need to allow installation from unknown sources
under Settings>Applications>Unknown Sources.
Configuration steps:
1) On the host, run "adb forward tcp:41927 tcp:41927" to set up port forwarding. Be sure to use adb from the Android 1.1 or 1.5 SDK! The version from 1.0 will lock up under heavy load. If you don't want to download the entire SDK, you can get a copy of ADB+drivers from http://lfx.org/azilink/adb.zip
2) On the phone, run AziLink and make sure "Service active" is checked.
3) Right click AziLink.ovpn on the host (not in the web browser!) and select "Start OpenVPN on this configuration file." You can find this file at: http://lfx.org/azilink/azilink.ovpn. If you're using Linux or, god forbid, MacOS, you'll also need to manually set the nameserver to 192.168.56.1 (the phone's NAT IP address). This address is automatically forwarded to the phone's current DNS server.[/FONT]
Just wanted to point out there is also a wired tether app by same dev as wireless tether app and also comes built in with latest cyanogenmod.
I personally don't like anything that requires drivers as I often tether to my iPod and anything that requires a driver won't work with my iPod or many other common items I tether to.
However, everyone likes their own procedures, and I'm sure someone will find this useful.
r3s-rt said:
Just wanted to point out there is also a wired tether app by same dev as wireless tether app and also comes built in with latest cyanogenmod.
I personally don't like anything that requires drivers as I often tether to my iPod and anything that requires a driver won't work with my iPod or many other common items I tether to.
However, everyone likes their own procedures, and I'm sure someone will find this useful.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, depends on the device. In my case, I have a HTC Hero with Sprint (CDMA) and there is no cyanogenmod for it that I am ware of.
Pyr0TeK said:
Yeah, depends on the device. In my case, I have a HTC Hero with Sprint (CDMA) and there is no cyanogenmod for it that I am ware of.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
u sir, have failed, jk but here is a cyanogen rom from one of ur guys great developers Darchdroid v 2.7
Darchdroid 2.7 w/ Wired Tether
I'm trying to get the Wired Tether app (made by the same ppl as Wireless Tether than everyone knows and loves) to work with Darchdroid 2.7 but am having no luck!
If anyone has gotten it to work, please let me know how!
I've got the app installed, but Windows 7 does not recognize it as a network adapter...thinking its a windows driver issue, but need some help...
thanks!
thank you 4 ur nice help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
why not justdownload pdanet or easytether i have both and the wireless tether those two are very simple to use and works good
Two reasons that i use Azilink:
1: no PDANet usb support for linux
2: wired tether built into cyanogen, as well as the standalone app cause the 3g connection in my Eris to intermittently cut in and out while azilink does not. (PDANET solves this problem in windows)
u can giv a try to easy tether but its not free tho work fine and easy to use
EasyTether shares your Android smartphone connection with your PC. This app allows you to tether your Android to a desktop or a notebook computer. EasyTether uses exactly the same data plan that is used for the on-phone Internet access like in the built-in browser or e-mail app or youtube application. No additional tethering fees.
Features
* does not require root access
* supports Windows 7/Vista/XP (32-bit and 64-bit), Mac OS X 10.6/10.5/10.4, and Ubuntu 10.4+
* UDP support for games, for L2TP VPN (not PPTP!) and for some IM apps
* tether PS3, XBox 360 or Wii via Windows Internet Connection Sharing feature
* free lifetime upgrades for the full version
* USB support
* compatible with HTC Sync
* Bluetooth DUN will be added later.
* much cheaper than PDANet
* implemented as a normal NAT application with full TCP and UDP support
Is it possible to use Azilink with Voip?
I have nat error, so is it possible to forward ports?
Yup, thats dumb question, why to tether for voip if you can use wirless card
I have sagem dongle and it ... losses connection often while my phone is online all the time, and i don't want to spend money for some good wifi adapter, if i could use phone that i already have
Awesome
Anybody know where to find an apk in 2020? There are github sites but only source there. I don't consider EasyTether to be so wonderful, and I paid the $10 for it. It's not open source so I can't tell why it breaks but I've had to reinstall it maybe 20 times, it's a black box.
ab1jx said:
Anybody know where to find an apk in 2020? There are github sites but only source there. I don't consider EasyTether to be so wonderful, and I paid the $10 for it. It's not open source so I can't tell why it breaks but I've had to reinstall it maybe 20 times, it's a black box.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have u tried FoxFi
I probably should have checked back here, I'm learning to live with easytether. I wrote a little bash script to pkill the easytether-usb process, wait 1 second, then restart it. That for some reason seems to renew the phone connection. I can connect via ssh over wifi to the Pi that's serving as an AP/router, run that script and it's fixed. It's maybe not worked twice in 6 months, I need to do it half a dozen times a day or so. I can ssh from a computer or phone.
Hello all,
Its been a long time no speak on this forum for a while, I have finally made the jump from WM (HTC LEO/SE X1) to Android on a Dell Streak. Admittedly I am still waiting on a stable o2 sanctioned version of Froyo to put SENSE UI on!
My question here relates to Firesheep, an add on for Firefox that allows packet capture on public WiFi networks. I was wondering if anyone could port this application to android as a stand alone App, or if anything else similar had been developed?
I hope someone can give me an answer at least to the feasibility of this request.
+1
I too would love to know hehe
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App
It would require drivers for the wireless chipset in the phone to be put in promiscious/monitor mode to capture packets, as far as I know, neither is possible, unfortunately.
timekeeper said:
It would require drivers for the wireless chipset in the phone to be put in promiscious/monitor mode to capture packets, as far as I know, neither is possible, unfortunately.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Couldn't it run in firefox mobile
monitor mode in galaxy S
There is an app available in market called pixie who get the promiscuous mode for the wifi interface. I'm able to capture packets in Samsung Galaxy S (GT-I9000) with the app installed.
Now we're waiting for firesheep realease for android... it's impossible to install the XPI in Firefox mobile beta...
Yeah, I tried porting the XPI over to firefox mobile, but it wont work without a packet capture utility, like WinPcap, which is used with the normal Firefox Win version.
I would be definately interested in seeing where this goes though...
vit_mar said:
Yeah, I tried porting the XPI over to firefox mobile, but it wont work without a packet capture utility, like WinPcap, which is used with the normal Firefox Win version.
I would be definately interested in seeing where this goes though...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is also working in OSX so I guess libpcap should be enough to use it. By reading this http://seclists.org/tcpdump/2010/q1/98 it seems that there is support for Android. However you will need root access to use it.
This thread, discussing Shark for Root app, refers to a lot of functions that firesheep uses: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=725692
Perhaps using libpcap/tcpdump (as janfsd suggested), we can port this over. Root is a must though, true...
any updates?
i need this for my N1
Tanks
Bumping for an update on this project!
Found this thread in google. Try http://faceniff.ponury.net/ I've wrote it yesterday I wrote it to sniff only facebook accounts but it can be easily modified to other services.
Hello!!
This is awesome! wooow! I don't mean the fact that you can steal web session profiles,
but the fact that an Android application can open an interface e.g. WIFI and realise sniffing -
network monitoring without being run as root or system. To do so, an application should be
signed with the platform's key : http://stackoverflow.com/questions/6010796/run-secure-api-calls-as-root-android
How is this possible?? I am really wondering about that. Some time ago I tried to port
jNetPcap, so as to use it in an Android application for monitoring the WIFI. I successfully
ported it but I couldn't read the list of Android interfaces from its API and realise web
monitoring.. (see here for details: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/5966603/jnetpcap-on-android-problem-with-findalldevs-method,
http://jnetpcap.com/node/792)
I am really wondering how faceniff faces this problem??
e.g. Shark for Android runs an instance of libpcap in the background and derives the
appropriate information from the pcap traces..
What faceniff do to get the information it wants, e.g. the web sessions?? I am
really curious about that.. Any ideas?
faceniff runs as root....
Yes, but how is it possible to make an application that runs as root?
There is no Android permission you can use in Android manifest to give you
such privileges.. Even other Android applications that run only in rooted phones
cannot open an interface an capture traffic, and for this reason they run in the
background a tcpdump and process the pcap traces it produces (e.g. Shark for
Android).
is anybody here that knows how faceniff can capture packets??
I know how it works because I wrote it
It has a binary file which lies in /data/data/net.ponury.faceniff/
Then the java app executes "su" (to gain root permissions) and executes that binary file. And it grabs results from the binary showing them on the screen. Hope it helps.
I want to make an app that can share files using wifi hotspot capability of android phones. If there is any way please tell me how to accomplish that task or otherwise tell me why it is no possible.
I have a Shield TV arriving later today. On my previous Android box I setup a VPN with a kill switch via AFWall+. This involved the installation of the OpenVPN connect application with my VPN provider details, then I used AFWall+ to prevent any data that didn't originate via a VPN connection, effectively making this a kill switch. This involved allowing both the OpenVPN application and Android's VPN api full access. It's the latter I'm enquiring about, does this api exist on the Shield TV? I've heard that native VPN isn't possible as the normal VPN settings aren't present. But does that include the vpn service api itself?
No one?
Beefheart said:
I have a Shield TV arriving later today. On my previous Android box I setup a VPN with a kill switch via AFWall+. This involved the installation of the OpenVPN connect application with my VPN provider details, then I used AFWall+ to prevent any data that didn't originate via a VPN connection, effectively making this a kill switch. This involved allowing both the OpenVPN application and Android's VPN api full access. It's the latter I'm enquiring about, does this api exist on the Shield TV? I've heard that native VPN isn't possible as the normal VPN settings aren't present. But does that include the vpn service api itself?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i have the exact same setup on all my devices, including shield tv, although ive only had to allow the openvpn app, wifi/data/vpn access for things to work, ive never had to allow androids vpn ........is their a specific reason you grant android vpn access?does it not work otherwise?
I use the other openvpn app, by the way
I originally set it up on the tutorial in the link below, which mentions that the VPN Networking service needs to have full access. Is that service present on the Shield?
https://www.privateinternetaccess.c...otection-on-android-with-afwall-requires-root
Beefheart said:
I originally set it up on the tutorial in the link below, which mentions that the VPN Networking service needs to have full access. Is that service present on the Shield?
https://www.privateinternetaccess.c...otection-on-android-with-afwall-requires-root
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just checked for you, and yes, its there, mind you, im using zulu's full rom, not sure about stock rom but as with all my devices, i havent needed to allow this for vpn to work.
Unless theres a specific reason to do so, try without on your current devices, i suspect, vpn networking may only apply if you use androids inbuilt vpn found in settings
Edit
By the way, i dont know how far you wanna take it, but afwall has tasker plugin support, which i use to apply an afwall profile, i named "secure", that denies everything when screen turns off......aswell as other things in the same vain
Edit
I do it a little differently then what youre link suggests, i only allow the bare minimum of apps, those that i actually need internet for.......if an app has internet capability, but i have no need for that side of it, its denied, i dont whitelist ALL apps for vpn as your link suggests
I also suspect that guide was written for privateinternets method of using vpn on android, so maybe vpn networking applies if using private internet, but as for my openvpn app, its not needed.......neither is "GPS"
Cheers. Everything set up and working perfectly in stock, no DNS leaks. A combination of AFWall+, VPN and Xprivacy has the device locked down pretty well.
And what a device, the speed is in another league compared to other similar boxes and worth the extra money. I'm glad I returned my newly purchased Minix Neo U1, this thing is so much faster and not as restricted as I was lead to believe. With a bit of work the Shield TV, even on stock, can do as much as any other Android based TV box, even one based on vanilla.
Beefheart said:
Cheers. Everything set up and working perfectly in stock, no DNS leaks. A combination of AFWall+, VPN and Xprivacy has the device locked down pretty well.
And what a device, the speed is in another league compared to other similar boxes and worth the extra money. I'm glad I returned my newly purchased Minix Neo U1, this thing is so much faster and not as restricted as I was lead to believe. With a bit of work the Shield TV, even on stock, can do as much as any other Android based TV box, even one based on vanilla.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, ive said it before and ill say it again, the shields an impressive piece of kit for sure
Xprivacy.........snap
We seem to have a very similar setup........believe me, if you wanna take it further at some point in the future.......tasker.........although, fair warning, theres a learning curve
Just some of the more basic things i automate with tasker with plugins like afwalls
When screen goes off, tasker......
Turns off wifi/3g
Turns of bluetooth
Afwall secure profile
Greenify all preselected apps
turn off "unknown sources" for extra measure, as tasker turns this off after it detects an apk install anyway
Turn of "debugging", incase i turn it on one day out of need and forget to turn off
Media volume set to 4 edit:this ones a bit out of place
Aplly afwall profiles depending on what app you happen to be using
Many possibilities with tasker, VERY usefull for many things
Non security related....kinda......... could potentially be used for such if modified
I have a small bluetooth media remote which has the numbers 1 to ten, with tasker and xposed additions module, i fooled around with it, pressing 1 connects the shields bluetooth to the bedroom speakers, long pressing 1 connects to the living room speakers..........i can imagine my self doing some neat stuff with these combination of apps and future accesories
Also, i use it to turn the shields light led to dim to let me now at a glance if the shields on or asleep, without having to change the channel
food for thought for those with similar setups
Edit
By the way, you mention dns leak, i assume you used a test site to check for the leak, any chance of a link? Incase its something very new
This ones the one i use,
https://ipleak.net/
Detects webrtc leaks on the specific browser you happen to be using at the time
Edit
For those interested
More on webrtc here
https://www.privateinternetaccess.c...ome-and-mozilla-firefox-while-using-private-i
If you use firefox or chrome, you can disable manually following this guide
https://www.purevpn.com/blog/disable-webrtc-in-chrome-and-firefox-to-protect-anonymity/
I think there are addons aswell
Edit
"and not as restricted as I was lead to believe"
Yep, i had the same thoughts, just my own assumption really, that android tv was completely different, internally, to "standard" android , pleasantly surprised, no incompatibilities so far............................good to know that stock is like that too :good:
Cheers, I'll read into all that.
One issue I'm finding at the moment is that, on a reboot, AFWall+ doesn't apply as default on the Shield and has to be done manually. This doesn't happen on my Note 3 running Lollipop. I'm sure there is a simple explanation, I'll look into it a bit more.
That website is the one I user to check leaks but there are numerous others too.
Beefheart said:
Cheers, I'll read into all that.
One issue I'm finding at the moment is that, on a reboot, AFWall+ doesn't apply as default on the Shield and has to be done manually. This doesn't happen on my Note 3 running Lollipop. I'm sure there is a simple explanation, I'll look into it a bit more.
That website is the one I user to check leaks but there are numerous others too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im not sure i understand fully, afwall is not enabled? Or, afwall IS enabled, but your prefered profile is not "applied"?
On full android at least, afwall is enabled upon reboot i havent had any issues in that regard, (saw your other post) i dont need init.d script (usefull to have though, if/when possible)
Have you tried reverting all afwalls settings to default, to rule out that likely suspect
Another likely suspect, xprivacy, but that depends if you restrict everything like i do, including system apps , if so, have you checked xprivacies usage data for afwall and global apps?
Another suspect, could be stock firmware, but i have my doubts about that one
Assuming im understanding the issue correctly
Edit
I dont have "fix startup data leak" checked(as we dont have init.d), nor ipv6 support checked as your link described
I am asking myself - specifically for the G5 Plus, but probably in a more general sense - where the huge advantages and disadvantages of rooting are, considering that the G5 plus comes with a relativly clean Android 7.XXX and a not an old overloaded android version, which didn't use to have many of the capabilities that Android 7 offers. I know that my questions might particularily overlap with questions in other topics, but for sure not every question, especially specific G5 Plus questions.
Overall I am interested in the topics security and product-experience, if you want to call it like that. I ask myself: Is root still worth losing warranty or is it not? Keywords or keyquestions that cross my mind are:
OTA updates: I guess those won't be possible anymore?
Encryption: Will it still work and increase security if the phone is lost?
Backup functionality, especially in combination with cloud services: Is there something like -backup my whole phone down to the very core on some google server (best proteced with a password and some AES256 encryption)- so that I can restore it some day in an easy manner? How would you backup your phone and settings, etc. with and without root?
Safety: What could happen if I lose my (bootloader unlocked and) rooted phone: Will someone be able to read my passwords (e.g. google...) and other sensitive information directly from the phone, even if it was locked, in the moment I lost it? What is the worst thing that could happen?
Root Functionality: How does the root access / superuser specificly work, e.g. if I'd accidentally install an app or similar, which might contain a virus: Is an app like this instantly capable of messing my whole system or will I be able to manually confirm specific security related changes, especially system changes, that an app might try to do? With other words: Does root mean that the system will be wasted by even the tiniest mistake or is there some security buffer?
Unlock Bootloader only: Is it an option (or make any sense to you) to just unlock the bootloader and install a the G5 Plus TWRP recovery without rooting the phone and does this give any advantages or is this just a totally nonsensical option, which is maybe not even possible? If I got it right, rooting does not necessarily need to reset the phone in any way, while unlocking the bootloader enforces to do a reset, right? In this context I was also asking myself if unlocking the bootloader (now that I don't have wasted precious time on customizing my phone, yet) right now is a useful option (without any disadvantage besides losing the warranty) and if I ever experience the necessity to root, I will only need like 2 commands and it is done - without having to reset my phone again?
Root Must Have: Is there any specific functionality or reason - you would say - one should definitly root the phone for, as it is a must have functionality, which would be locked without root?: I only have virtual examples, e.g. if Nougat would prevent me from changing the volume to a level higher than 50 % and the absolute exclusive possibility to change this was to get root access. Another example , although really not that critical one, could be: I noticed that I am only allowed to install 5 different finger prints... root could give me the possibility to install infinite finger prints?
Feature Loss: Does one lose some other neat features or functionality that is usually provided by Google or Motorola if the phone is not rooted but not possible anymore if it is rooted?
Third Party Trust: How can you people trust the TWRP Backup or custom ROMs? Don't you fear that there might be a virus or trojan horse within?
Best regards and thanks in advance for your patience with a newbie
No response?
172 view, no answers :-/. Guys tell me: Is it due to the length of the text? Is it something else? I could split it up in several questions, but I though that this would be unwanted.
And I will be thankful for every help on either of the bold buzzwords, it is not like you need to comment on everything
Must have for me: correct timestamps when moving or copying files using TC. Only possible with root.
Unlock only: yes makes sense. Unlock is the part where you lose all data, and then you can use fastboot boot to make backup. Rooting itself should not lose any data, so it is advantageous to unlock early. Root has time.
Lost functionality: on most devices using Magisk 12 you can pass SafetyNet, which means you can use Android pay, play Pokemon go etc, but the apps trying to detect root/unlocked devices get changed and may not work anymore at some time. Probably you will have lost this possibility when starting with unlocked bootloader and need to install Magisk to get green SafetyNet. Magisk hides the unlocked bootloader.
OTA: do a backup of boot partition before rooting, do no modifications on other partitions than data, cache and boot and you should be fine restoring boot partition to do OTA. It's easy to overlook some app using root to write system, logo, recovery, something, but backup should help. Or install complete firmware, then OTA is possible again.
Note: I do not have the device, just saw the questions which have the same answers for all current Motorola Android devices - you may search in general forums or forums for similar devices for answers
OTA updates: if you are rooted you have tempered with the system partition and therefore ota are not easily installed
Encryption:it is possible to wipe the phone and use if you are unlocked
Backup functionality Google already does backup some settings natively. you can still do an adb backup even without root
Safety: if they are techies they know how to access files via twrp etc. but worst thing is they just wipe it and use the phone
Root Functionality: root gives some apps access to the system partition which is not possible normaly. if you installe some dubious app which wants access to root to mess with your system you are lost.
Unlock Bootloader only: you need to unlock the phone to root it. by unlocking your phone is wiped clean. than you can root it. the advantage of installing twrp are the "easy backups" and installing custom roms or even root. there are no real advantages or disadvantages anymore. earlier you had to unlock/root/install custom rom to have some extra functionalities but android did mature and has most functions built in
Root Must Have: there may be some system limits which you can bypass with root like headphne volume limit, reading wifi passwords or/and having systemwide adblock. I personally do not see a benefit anymore. I used to root for having system-wide adblock but I can achieve it with rootless apps like adguard.
Feature Loss: you will lose android pay. you can not use some apps like mario run or pokemon go. you will lose OTA feature.
Third Party Trust: actually I dont know. with the custom rom base growing I only trust official lineageOS as it is review by many people before building. therefore the chance is reduced to have some spyware feature in it
I too would like to know, has the source code to ANY custom ROMs been reviewed by third party to verify no malicious code?
Although I worry that some ROMs could violate my data privacy, root is something that I simply cannot willingly go without - if I don't have root access, it's simply not *MY* phone, it's a phone that is configured to someone else's [some company's] desires and priorities.
I'm disappointed that the built in tethering does an "entitlement" check - AFAIK it's actually illegal (or, at least against contracts the companies signed with the FCC) for the cell phone provider to attempt to control what a user does with their allotted amount of cell data. Yes, the cell provider company can decide how MUCH data you are allowed based on what plan you pay for, but they are not supposed to restrict HOW you use YOUR data. Therefore, I demand unrestricted "tethering" from any smart phone that I use.
There are other apps I like to use that require root access: Root file explorers, Titanium Backup, Smarter WiFi Manager, Greenify/Servicely etc., but most of all, I CANNOT STAND the intrusive obnoxious awful ads which seem to be prevalent these days! A good ad blocker is an absolute must! The blame rests squarely on the shoulders of the websites which allow such awful advertisements such as "pop behind" windows and particularly, ads which cause the web page scroll to constantly keep jumping away from what you are trying to read making the site basically unusable. There is also lately a prevalence of "click bait" ads/links which brings you to malicious/obnoxious websites which popup dialogs trying to stop you from closing the web page or navigate away - they put up big flashing red letters and say things like "We have detected a virus on your computer do not close this window or your passwords will be stolen and your data lost" and when you try to close the page it keeps popping up a dialog making it difficult. Sorry, but, such ads simply can't be tolerated - even this [xda] website sometimes has unpleasant ads, or at least there were times when I really regretted turning off my ad blocker when visiting this site in the past, that is for sure!
I usually use a "custom ROM", I miss exposed very much, but, I suspect there are too many malwares in the xposed repository these days? (I'm not sure of this, just suspicious).
I like to be able to change the color of my status bar clock to green and position it in the center as that is easier for me to use (see it quickly when I want). However, the standard launcher is far too limited in how customizable it is, so I use a combination of Nova Prime (requires root for some features) and Chronos Weather/Clock/Calendar widget which puts a larger clock right in the upper middle of my desktop so I turn off the status bar clock (Nova Prime feature, one that requires root).
Oh, and I like to use a custom "System Font", I'm not sure if we can do that without root? It really makes the phone feel like MY phone and look (and operate) how I want it to.
critofur said:
[...]
I'm disappointed that the built in tethering does an "entitlement" check - AFAIK it's actually illegal (or, at least against contracts the companies signed with the FCC) for the cell phone provider to attempt to control what a user does with their allotted amount of cell data. Yes, the cell provider company can decide how MUCH data you are allowed based on what plan you pay for, but they are not supposed to restrict HOW you use YOUR data. Therefore, I demand unrestricted "tethering" from any smart phone that I use.
There are other apps I like to use that require root access: Root file explorers, Titanium Backup, Smarter WiFi Manager, Greenify/Servicely etc., but most of all, I CANNOT STAND the intrusive obnoxious awful ads which seem to be prevalent these days! A good ad blocker is an absolute must! [...]
[...]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you explain the entitlement check a little further? Does it mean that with the current Android version and an unrooted/locked G5 plus it is impossible to use the Smartphone Mobile data connection, e.g. on a notebook via wifi tethering? This would be a real argument to root.
Did you try adguard, as ckret suggested? Is there a huge difference between an adblocker with root or an adblocker like adguard without root on the phone? I basically assume that with nougat it is possible to grant apps access to almost anything (except for root) - including to block features other apps use, e.g. advertisements. But I am actually not sure.
Maybe ckret knows more on this aspect, as he seems to know both adblock concepts - the rooted and the unrooted one with adguard?
Comparing DNS66 (local DNS server without root) with adaway (root):
+ You can select blocking per app with DNS66, adaway modifies hosts file which always is valid for all apps and system services
- You can not use another VPN while DNS66 is active
- You need to disable VPN under Nougat while using Download Manager (bug in Nougat, for all VPN services)
Personally I have root, but use DNS66. I don't need adblock when connecting to my computer at home (that's when I need to use another VPN) and am using Marshmallow ATM, but probably would continue using DNS66 when on Nougat. For PlayStore there is a workaround implemented, and if some download fails I'd know I need to disable VPN.
This is why I only said Total Commander copying timestamp is my only real killer app (besides Titanium Backup) which makes me need root. Android O is supposed to change the behavior implementing SDCardFS which shall allow setting timestamp without root.
sky-head said:
Could you explain the entitlement check a little further? Does it mean that with the current Android version and an unrooted/locked G5 plus it is impossible to use the Smartphone Mobile data connection, e.g. on a notebook via wifi tethering? This would be a real argument to root.
Did you try adguard, as ckret suggested? Is there a huge difference between an adblocker with root or an adblocker like adguard without root on the phone? I basically assume that with nougat it is possible to grant apps access to almost anything (except for root) - including to block features other apps use, e.g. advertisements. But I am actually not sure.
Maybe ckret knows more on this aspect, as he seems to know both adblock concepts - the rooted and the unrooted one with adguard?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
adaway:
adaway replaces the hosts file in your system with a custom hosts file which redirects some requests to 127.0.0.1 which results in ads not being shown
since it is deeplevel change of the hosts file the app requires root to change the file
pro:
* ads are blocked when resources are requested
* it is system-wide and everything is checked on demand
con:
* system slows down with big hosts file as every request must be checked everytime a site/app is opened
* if a wrong request is blocked your app/site might not show/work at all since it is a system-wide check
adguard:
this app has two different ways of blocking ads
vpn: a local vpn server is created on the system and all requests are rerouted through it. works the same way as adaway but without a root access.
pro:
* rootless method
* you can create a bypass for different sites/apps
con:
* you can not use a 2nd vpn connection while the app is active
* it may use a bit more battery as it creates a server but this should be negligible
proxy: this is nearly the same as vpn just you should be able to use a vpn connection
so big pro and con for me is that i do not have to reroute all apps through the adblock check
important apps (banking e.g.) are free to use the connection without being rerouted.
I know it might seem like a stupid question, but how often (and for which reason) do you use/need a(nother) VPN connection?
Does this also mean things like tethering or a WLAN access like eduroam - or is this something different?
I am actually not sure if I ever needed VPN on my smartphone
sky-head said:
I know it might seem like a stupid question, but how often (and for which reason) do you use/need a(nother) VPN connection?
Does this also mean things like tethering or a WLAN access like eduroam - or is this something different?
I am actually not sure if I ever needed VPN on my smartphone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you need a vpn connection if you want to access the intranet without being physically there
e.g. intranet of a company to access emails or if you are a student and got some special tool/e.g. which can only be accessed through the university connection
most times you will only use vpn on a notebook or pc but I hardly doubt most people will use it on their phones
ckret said:
you need a vpn connection if you want to access the intranet without being physically there
e.g. intranet of a company to access emails or if you are a student and got some special tool/e.g. which can only be accessed through the university connection
most times you will only use vpn on a notebook or pc but I hardly doubt most people will use it on their phones
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
... exactly what I was thinking about it. I've never been needing a VPN on my phone. On the notebook I need it on a regular basis, thats true.
I should have been asking "I know it might seem like a stupid question, but how often (and for which reason) do you use/need a(nother) VPN connection on your smartphone?", to state my question more precisely.
Using AVM Fritzbox as router makes it possible to use the standard phone via SIP. This only does work when you're in your intranet, directly or via VPN. Also I need to access my documents on my computer, my media library at home, to configure the router and more and therefore I use VPN on a regular basis. Yes, I do these things using the smartphone. But when using VPN, I do not need adblock.