Database Info

[Q] locking down/ restrict acces

Hello Xda,
i have an question about Android apps.
Is there an Android App what can lock down my device to 1 screen with an few applications? so they cant get to settings or open standard android apps. i need this for my employees that have android phones but do to much with it. i prefer they can use mail, phone, navigation, calender, and the business app.
is this possible same like at WM?
this is what i mean. http://app.mypidion.com/
anyone knows an app for this?

Veldmuus said:
Hello Xda,
i have an question about Android apps.
Is there an Android App what can lock down my device to 1 screen with an few applications? so they cant get to settings or open standard android apps. i need this for my employees that have android phones but do to much with it. i prefer they can use mail, phone, navigation, calender, and the business app.
is this possible same like at WM?
this is what i mean. http://app.mypidion.com/
anyone knows an app for this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're very mean or you have the wrong phones for your staff...
I don't know if I should tell you this...
Because the Google Launcher is open source you can modify it to remove options like screens, settings etc... but... they can always root it or download another launcher from the Market.
There are no system-level policies in Android for the behavior you're looking for.
Wrong phone really.

djmcnz said:
You're very mean or you have the wrong phones for your staff...
I don't know if I should tell you this...
Because the Google Launcher is open source you can modify it to remove options like screens, settings etc... but... they can always root it or download another launcher from the Market.
There are no system-level policies in Android for the behavior you're looking for.
Wrong phone really.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
xD i know we have used for 7 years RUggedized pda's now with WM and now we received 5 ruggedized pda with android for testing purposes. but is there really nothing like an app with what we can do that? because i am not so good at programming and dont want to modify the source and etc self.
they can't root it yet ( this are industrial pda's )

Veldmuus said:
xD i know we have used for 7 years RUggedized pda's now with WM and now we received 5 ruggedized pda with android for testing purposes. but is there really nothing like an app with what we can do that? because i am not so good at programming and dont want to modify the source and etc self.
they can't root it yet ( this are industrial pda's )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No app... you can get an app to password protect apps but that would be a pain to set up and maintain...
Also, you'd need to:
1. Prevent root
2. Prevent market
3. Prevent side loading of apps
4. Use a custom/modified launcher
^^^ And the manufacturers and carriers can't even do all of this...
This would be almost impossible unless you had a (very) customised rom. This would cost min €40k - €50k I would think (for commercial purposes), depending on the handset and level of modification/testing required. You would also have to pay for updates no doubt.
But what are you actually trying to prevent? There may be a better way.
E.g. there's no point in spending money restricting the "Calculator" app if you get my point?

i got ur point yes ,
apps i need to block are everything except the points i posted in first post. market is not installed standard because business rom. root is hard i think because nobody support that? or even take the time for that kinda pda? non consumer phones.
maybe other solution is it possible to autostart an app? cuz we can secure it to exit only with an admin pin and make inside the app a few buttons with mail / navigation
thanks for the info i will contact manufacturer about this point.

Veldmuus said:
i got ur point yes ,
apps i need to block are everything except the points i posted in first post. market is not installed standard because business rom. root is hard i think because nobody support that? or even take the time for that kinda pda? non consumer phones.
maybe other solution is it possible to autostart an app? cuz we can secure it to exit only with an admin pin and make inside the app a few buttons with mail / navigation
thanks for the info i will contact manufacturer about this point.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, if you really want to restrict it... then you could use your app as the Launcher, and include icons for other apps in your app/launcher and remove Launcher2.apk.
Still won't prevent somebody side-loading another launcher but it will appear very restricted and you would have to "hack" it to change it. This would be against your company policy to hack (?) so you could be okay.

ok thank you
removed launcher2.apk with terminal. they can try to hack it or take an loader by itself but in a few weeks Soti Mobi controll comes for Android support so we can look what they do, and they know that cuz we use it at WM also at the moment.
thankyou i will talk to 1 of the developers to make the application as launcher to

Veldmuus said:
thankyou i will talk to 1 of the developers to make the application as launcher to
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very easy, one entry in AndroidManifest.xml...

djmcnz said:
Very easy, one entry in AndroidManifest.xml...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
xD could u tell me which one than i can do it myself thankyou

Veldmuus said:
xD could u tell me which one than i can do it myself thankyou
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Code:
<intent-filter>
[COLOR="Blue"]<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />[/COLOR]
[COLOR="Red"]<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />[/COLOR]
</intent-filter>
The blue one should already exist, add the red one.
Press home button and DO NOT select it as your default when testing or you may NOT be able to get out of it...

Couldn't you just root the phones your self? No need for cwm. With the phone stooped you can installer the market and any other app you don't want using sdx app remover. Once that's done unroot the phone
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App

[GAME][RPG]Inotia 3

Just want to let you know guys that another good RPG is out and it's free on the market!
https://market.android.com/details?....normal.freefull.google.global.android.common
Enjoy

Thanks for the heads up! I'm amazed this game is free!

Does somebody know why it is free? I don't see any in game purchases yet...
I want developers to make some money so they will make another game later

Thnx for the headsup! Gonna chck it out!

Revin said:
Does somebody know why it is free? I don't see any in game purchases yet...
I want developers to make some money so they will make another game later
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its admob supported as of the moment
and yes the ad placements is sometimes distractive on gameplay as it blocks the whole screen
but i agree with you
they should make a paid version soon or else these devs'd go bankrupt

Is there an Inotia 1 or an Inotia 2 for our devices? Or was it only for iPhone/iPod/iPad?

Seems so many RPGs these days are really into these anime-style characters. It works for some games, but it's getting old.
I applaud the developers, though on their technical merits -- I'd just like to see some variety.

Does anyone know why the game needs so many permissions?

ccossin said:
Does anyone know why the game needs so many permissions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is a amazing RPG , Hooked on it now .

psouza4 said:
Seems so many RPGs these days are really into these anime-style characters. It works for some games, but it's getting old.
I applaud the developers, though on their technical merits -- I'd just like to see some variety.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think the quality of many of these games is very high though. They're all missing the mark. This looks good though and I hope we see more quality JRPGs. All we get are lousy, cliche knock offs with crappy graphics.
Thanks for sharing!

many permissions:
why?
PHONE CALLS
READ THE IDENTITY AND THE STATE PHONE
Allows the application to access the telephone functions of the device. An application with this permission can determine the phone number and serial number of this phone, if a call is active, the number that is linked to that call, and so on.
STORAGE
MODIFY OR DELETE CONTENT OR USB STORAGE ALTER OR REMOVE THE CONTENT OF THE SD CARD
Allows an application to write the USB storage and SD card.
SYSTEM TOOLS
RECOVER APPLICATIONS IN PROGRESS
Allows the application to retrieve information about tasks that are currently running or have run recently. Can allow malicious applications to access private information about other applications.
CHANGE STATE OF WIFI
Allows an application to connect to WiFi hotspots and log them, and make changes to the WiFi network configured.
CHANGE THE NETWORK CONNECTIVITY
Allows an application to change the status of network connectivity.

sghens said:
many permissions:
why?
PHONE CALLS
READ THE IDENTITY AND THE STATE PHONE
Allows the application to access the telephone functions of the device. An application with this permission can determine the phone number and serial number of this phone, if a call is active, the number that is linked to that call, and so on.
STORAGE
MODIFY OR DELETE CONTENT OR USB STORAGE ALTER OR REMOVE THE CONTENT OF THE SD CARD
Allows an application to write the USB storage and SD card.
SYSTEM TOOLS
RECOVER APPLICATIONS IN PROGRESS
Allows the application to retrieve information about tasks that are currently running or have run recently. Can allow malicious applications to access private information about other applications.
CHANGE STATE OF WIFI
Allows an application to connect to WiFi hotspots and log them, and make changes to the WiFi network configured.
CHANGE THE NETWORK CONNECTIVITY
Allows an application to change the status of network connectivity.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why does a game need my phone number and serial number?
Why does it need to know what apps are running on my phone?
Why does it need Market Billing Service permission? Isn't it free?
Why does it need to mess around with my network settings?
Of course, full internet access is required to transmit this info out into the ether.
I'm not going to try it until these questions are answered. Call me paranoid, but I think this game requires too much.

Thoughts when compared to zenonia? I was a huge zenonia fan and that game set the bar pretty high for other anime styled rpgs
Swift Key'd from my Desire HD

ccossin said:
Why does a game need my phone number and serial number?
Why does it need to know what apps are running on my phone?
Why does it need Market Billing Service permission? Isn't it free?
Why does it need to mess around with my network settings?
Of course, full internet access is required to transmit this info out into the ether.
I'm not going to try it until these questions are answered. Call me paranoid, but I think this game requires too much.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. This is required for almost all games especially when they are resource extensive. Because it seeks permission of the android OS to kill cached running apps to make room for itself.
2. IDK
3. It needs this one because this app is ad supported. How can it get ads if its not connected to the internet?

Gtj94 said:
Thoughts when compared to zenonia? I was a huge zenonia fan and that game set the bar pretty high for other anime styled rpgs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I think so too. Zenonia series was great, along with Illusia, another good game from Gamevil. For me, the best goes to Spectral Souls. It is beautiful 2.5D, good (super long) story, many characters (85!), for a tactical turn based rpg. Purely revamped classic.
But pretty costly though.
Sent from my HTC Desire HD using XDA App

I saw some codes/hacks for the iphone version of this game, is there any for us that you guys know about?

ccossin said:
Why does a game need my phone number and serial number?
Why does it need to know what apps are running on my phone?
Why does it need Market Billing Service permission? Isn't it free?
Why does it need to mess around with my network settings?
Of course, full internet access is required to transmit this info out into the ether.
I'm not going to try it until these questions are answered. Call me paranoid, but I think this game requires too much.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm on it.

chukis13 said:
I saw some codes/hacks for the iphone version of this game, is there any for us that you guys know about?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree I would love to know if there are any hacks for this.

/nod to the potential hacks as well. Zenonia 3 was too easy. 45 million zen anyone?

Squishie said:
/nod to the potential hacks as well. Zenonia 3 was too easy. 45 million zen anyone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nah, Don't want anything like that. Just really want to reset my stats.

Android Malware Now Capable of Recording Your Phone Calls !!!

A new find by the researchers at CA Security have unearthed a new kind of malware on andriod which can record infected devices conversations and uploads it to a remote server !
Andriodians beware
Source: http://community.ca.com/blogs/securityadvisor/archive/2011/08/01/a-trojan-spying-on-your-conversations.aspx

Another reason why it's important to check the permissions for an app before installing it. I'm bad about sometimes just hitting ok without looking but usually I'll go back and check afterwards just in case.
Check out Permissions Denied and Privacy Blocker in the market, they are both good apps that will prevent apps from getting permission to do stuff you don't want them to. Just be aware that the affected app may FC if it tries to do something and you have it blocked. I believe CM7 now is also able to block permissions on an app by app basis.

I usually have some sort of security installed on my phone. Regardless of checking apps before you install them, is this something I should continue to do? I flash new ROM's / ROM updates quite often, and I worry sometimes that it may be a good idea to make sure that Lookout, which is the anti-virus / anti-malware program that I use is installed before I do anything else.

I usually try to read the permissions, and some apps go out of their way to use permissions that are not necessary. I have been using Lookout Mobile Security, but I am not sure how well it works.

I think its time phone makers start inculcating permission management as in CM 7 in to there builds to help user's control these things. You could also use LBE Privacy guard, to control apps.

xHausx said:
Another reason why it's important to check the permissions for an app before installing it. I'm bad about sometimes just hitting ok without looking but usually I'll go back and check afterwards just in case.
Check out Permissions Denied and Privacy Blocker in the market, they are both good apps that will prevent apps from getting permission to do stuff you don't want them to. Just be aware that the affected app may FC if it tries to do something and you have it blocked. I believe CM7 now is also able to block permissions on an app by app basis.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Another nice app for this is called LBE Privacy Guard. I'm also a bit lax on checking before installing, but LBE will ask you in your notification window to confirm each perm. Allowing you to choose permit, ask each time it needs it, or deny access all together. I use it to deny access for network on games that don't need it to function and phone identification for almost all apps as most really don't need that info to work.

Which software to record calls?
Hi there,
as far as I know you cannot really record calls in Android becuase you can not intercept the phone directly. Therefore basically all phone recording software requires you to switch to speaker mode and records the call via the microphone (which may result in very bad audio quality, depending on your location).
Or is there now another (a better) way to record calls? Does an app exist, which records calls?
Kind regards,
∵ ToBe

ToBe_HH said:
as far as I know you cannot really record calls in Android becuase you can not intercept the phone directly. Therefore basically all phone recording software requires you to switch to speaker mode and records the call via the microphone (which may result in very bad audio quality, depending on your location).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That was my understanding of it as well.. heck for the Desire you need to be rooted, flash a specially-modified kernel, and have the correct radio ROM flashed.

ToBe_HH said:
Hi there,
as far as I know you cannot really record calls in Android becuase you can not intercept the phone directly. Therefore basically all phone recording software requires you to switch to speaker mode and records the call via the microphone (which may result in very bad audio quality, depending on your location).
Or is there now another (a better) way to record calls? Does an app exist, which records calls?
Kind regards,
∵ ToBe
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
there is one, works well with sony ericsson x10 mini pro, from android market
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.schass.recording.call&feature=search_result

I installed "LBE Security Service". (needs root) : works great
The author writes:
Protect your privacy by controlling the permission of each application to access your sensitive data.
- Block malicious operation from Mal-wares and Trojans.
- Block unwanted network traffic if you don’t have a unlimited data plan.
- Find out which application is trying to steal your privacy by checking the security log.

But apps like Angry Birds steal nearly everything from your (Position, Contacts ,SMS and so on) so i think there should be a general rule in the market which forbids things like Call recording(really man who needs this ^^) , and personal data stuff only the Position for apps who really needs this. And i mean nearly every free apps sells your data and this is not so cool i think you dont know nothing what happends to this data and I think there is alot to do on every mobile OS ( for every os is an angrybirds convert ^^), I knew at s60 (Symbian) there were a lot of antivirus kits to download(kaspersky, Bitdefender etc) maybe they will now see the market of android for antivirus softworks

dstyl said:
But apps like Angry Birds steal nearly everything from your (Position, Contacts ,SMS and so on) so i think there should be a general rule in the market which forbids things like Call recording(really man who needs this ^^) , and personal data stuff only the Position for apps who really needs this. And i mean nearly every free apps sells your data and this is not so cool i think you dont know nothing what happends to this data and I think there is alot to do on every mobile OS ( for every os is an angrybirds convert ^^), I knew at s60 (Symbian) there were a lot of antivirus kits to download(kaspersky, Bitdefender etc) maybe they will now see the market of android for antivirus softworks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
just checked and angrybirds has no permission to access anything you mentioned, it only has full network access for ads (cm7 permission revoked) and read network state, thats all.

Droid Wall
I think just by using droidwall you can already squish a lot of malicious intentions an app has.
Its allows you to set a whitelist (or blacklist) of apps that you would allow to block packets from being sent.
What's great about it is:
1. it doesnt drain your battery, because it doesnt run as a service, but modifies your device's iptables
2. one of its features is logging your network activity so you could see which apps are actually sending or downloading data... this is helpful if you got a doctored copy of your favorite game or app. In case that app was modified to spy-on-you you can still block it

wow, then I think that I'll delete my entire mobile memory and apps and then start installing apps over again but I have to read the permissions very well this time.
Google should do something serious about that!
Thanks.

@FadeFX
Sry my fault Only the iOS version of angry birds steals psw ,contacts etc.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704694004576020083703574602.html?mod=what_they_know
there are the most apps who are watching u so if you are unshure take a look
For Android and iOS users knows anybody sm about apps who steals your data on WP7 ?
______________________________
LG e900 MFG Unlocked Mango Beta 2 <------------ Nokia 6630

Pretty much all apps need some kind or the other kind of permission .. so the wise thing is to look up these permissions while installing app or use any one of the other apps to do that for you ..

Pretty much all apps need some kind or the other kind of permission .. so the wise thing is to look up these permissions while installing app or use any one of the other apps to do that for you ..
__________________
Phone: Htc Desire HD (ACE)
Rom: HONEY3D 1.1
Radio:12.48.60.23p_26.08.04.07_m3
Kernel :Kquicksall
Recovery: 4 EXT CWM 3.0.2.8
OC : No frills
Yes ,but if you use an iOS device there came no permission screen ,so you have to lock it up in the Appcontract what this app does in background , so it seems like the only way to get malware on an Android/WP7 seems to dont read the Permissions and only click ok ( imean if you install a FartMaschine or sth. and it needs your Position data to work there must be something bad in the background
I mean for kids who uses there phone or ipod or whatever this is a really big responsibilty and u cant except from an 10 or 14 year old kid to take care about that i think these data stealing apps should be forbidden ,if you read the article you see that from 101 tested apps 56 send user data to different networks. Both the Android and iPhone versions of Pandora, a popular music app, sent age, gender, location and phone identifiers to various ad networks so i think there have to be a cut by the law. For me it was a new world to because i had an s60v2 device from 2004 till the last month so i had to learn to take care what my phone knews about me.
_____________________________________________
LG e900 MFG Unlocked Mango Beta 2<----------Nokia 6630

I never look at the application permissions, but this made me rethink after installing some applications...

[REQUEST] Flexible list of apps by permission

Hi, I'm looking for an app that can create a list of apps based on the permissions of my choosing.
All of the programs that give insight in permissions / danger levels etc are somewhat static in the way they operate. It is either showing the permissions of a single app, or all apps with that one permission, or are using their own method of calculating the danger level of an app.
I for one think it is much more interesting to see which apps are posing a threat to my privacy or the privacy of my contacts, while others find it interesting to see which apps can cost you money.
If it would be possible to choose one or more permissions to create the list, rather then let the app do it for you, it then would be possible to look at the permissions from different perspectives (possible costs, privacy, security etc).
Perhaps some pre-defined perspectives can be delivered as well, but the main goal should be that you can select any number of permissions and then a list is presented with all the apps that have those permissions.
Any one know of such a program or is interested in developing one?

Hi,
My top recommendations:
LBE
http://market.android.com/details?id=com.lbe.security.lite
Permissions denied
http://market.android.com/details?id=com.stericson.permissions
Both give good overviews, and the ability to change permissions, but LBE also acts as a permission firewall also, and blocks and notifys you of any strange behavior from any apps and then proceeds, or denies the apps request, thus giving you complete control.
highly recommended.
Hope it's a start.
Regards

Edit:
Another one for consideration:
http://market.android.com/details?id=com.a0soft.gphone.aSpotCat.
Cheers

Another one:
YOu can select which permissions to check. For instance internet + reading sms is dangerous, but reading sms isn;t dangerous on it's own.
This apps let;s you choose your own set of what you mark as dangerous
https://market.android.com/details?...EsImNvbS52ZGVzbWV0LnBlcm1pc3Npb25tb25pdG9yIl0.

backhead92 said:
Another one:
YOu can select which permissions to check. For instance internet + reading sms is dangerous, but reading sms isn;t dangerous on it's own.
This apps let;s you choose your own set of what you mark as dangerous
https://market.android.com/details?...EsImNvbS52ZGVzbWV0LnBlcm1pc3Npb25tb25pdG9yIl0.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This sounds like what I'm looking for. I will give it a try, but I also mailed the dev why the app needs the permission to read the phone state & identity and internet access (even the paid version).
Reason for asking is this: I have installed over 150 apps and I recently noticed that when ever I make a call, my 3g-connection becomes active. Up when I start the call, up/down after the call. I really want to know which apps does this and to narrow down the list of apps that could do this it feels a bit strange to add yet another one which has the potential of doing it;-)
I already have aSpotcat, but the reason for my (re)quest(ion) was that I want to see all the apps that have the permission to read my phone state/identity or contacts and also have internet access. The combination of these permissions pose a much bigger threat than just the permission to read my contacts.
With aSpotcat you have to do this manually per permission or app.
The description of LBE is something I look forward to when I will root my Nexus S.....if I ever dare;-)
Thx for all the suggestions so far!

Thanks for the description. Gonna try all the apps and see which one suits my purpose.

i know permission explorer

I would recommend pdriod its super powerful and completely free right here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1357056

App Permissions - Little Help Please

I'm still newer to Android and today realized the permissions that apps request. Before I was quick to just accept & go. I was about to install an app that is requesting a LOT of permissions. Phone calls, hardware controls (pics/vids at any time), and network communication (SMS I believe). My questions are simple.
1. Do certain custom mods, like Synergy? Do some mods already implement certain things into itself to disable some of these features? I understand this is a mod-by-mod basis if so. Does Synergy do anything to disable this crap, anybody know?
2. How worried do I have to be about this? Will the app literally take pics and send them out without my knowledge? Or is it only the pics I take it can send out? How does this work?
3. Which of the permissions that apps request do I really need to keep an eye on and watch out for? AKA, what could take info/pics that I dont want it to?
4. Is Anti-Virus software REALLY necessary since I'm all rooted and such? I read articles saying it's useful and others saying it doesn't even provide much protection, and the chance to get something is quite rare if you only use google play/android market?
Thanks in advance for any and all help. I ditched Apple and AT&T for this thing, and with it being rooted, I am unbelievably happy I made the switch to both VZW and the S3! AWESOME phone, screen size, and customization!
Edit: Posted wrong forum....Shoulda been Q&A forum. Devs plz move.

1. Not sure. I haven't played with synergy.
2. What kind of app is it? This is huge into what kkind of permissions it needs. If its a live wallpaper app it shouldn't be asking to be able to read your contacts or send SMS. You just gotta think what does this app do and why does it need this permission. A launcher app like Apex or Nova needs A LOT of permissions. To be able to make calls and send SMS and work the camera as a launcher can do all of those. Does a game need the ability to do that though? No. It may ask to read your contacts so it can share crap with your friends though. It can be hard when you look at permission apps ask for to decide it its legit or not. If you can't decide just don't download.
I try to only download hugely popular apps that I know aren't malware. If its got over 100k downloads chances are it is a safe app.
Permissions are tricky and until you realize all an app can do you wont understand why it wants to do some things. It took me a good year of downloading apps and reading about things toto get a great grip on permissions.
The biggest thing is common sense. What does the app do and why should it need this permission. An SMS app needs permission to the camera and to send SMS that cost money and read your phone book and such. But if I download a live wallpaper or a weather widget...why would they need such abilities. That should raise a HUGE red flag. Anytime you see "can send SMS that may cost you money" in permissions try to figure out why it needs that. Cause the last thing you want is to DL it and tomorrow have $600 in txt fees.
I don't believe in anti virus on my phone. Yeah you can get em and some love em. But really. If you just use common sense and don't download suspicious things you shouldn't need one. I refer back to only download trusted apps. If it has less the 1k downloads. Be wary. It may be a new app that a dev just launched. Or it could be a reason for the lack of downloads. Look at reviews ALWAYS. Yes many are from morons. But some are helpful. Also if you want a popular game go straight to the devs for it in the market. Many times bogus apps are posted that spoof popular apps like angry birds. Download the one with millions of downloads. Not the one with a thousand.
The more you use your device the more you'll understand. I download plenty of apps from XDA with very few downloads in the market and have been safe. But this comes from knowing and trusting a developer. That's why these forums rock. You can get in on an app in its infancy and help test it and make it grow.
--Sent from GlaDos baked potato

Google is eventually going to have to step in and put a stop to this, but more and more apps are requesting permissions that they have no business requesting. It is unfortunate, especially when the intrusive app is one you would like to have.
I choose to completely disregard any app that asks for permissions it is obvious it doesn't need. The exception being internet access for ads, as incorporating ads into an app can be a legitimate way for an app developer to generate revenue. (And the unsightly ads can be removed with an ad blocker like AdAway, so it's kind of a win-win).
However, if there is an app that you just "need" to download or would just like better control of your phone, you could download an app called "Permissions Denied." This app let's you decide what permissions are granted to each app.

i use LBE Privacy Guard to help manage my permissions. You can mark certain apps as trusted and deny specific permissions for other apps. Also lets you know when a specific app is trying to access certain functions. Only had it for a couple days but liking it so far.
i used to run an anti-virus, AVG to be specific, but after a while just decided to get smarter about what i install and have been going without one.