Just a question - General Questions and Answers

Greetings,
Just a question, Why do some applications need access to something like
DISCOVER KNOWN ACCOUNTS
Allows an application to get the list of accounts known by the device
An example would be extended controls. Why would an application like this require such access? Correct me if i'm wrong, but I don't see a reason for this app to require access to my accounts...
Another situation is when an application that requires read/write access to sms/mms when it has nothing to do with sms/mms such as an alarm for instance. Are these applications reading/seeing my sms/mms messages?
Thanks.

Anyone?
Sent from my X10i using XDA App

While I could guess as to the reason, you would get a better answer from the developer. Emailing most active developers usually yields a quick response and they can explain how/why they programmed a feature and why it needed a certain permission.

Related

[Q] Desktop SMS application

Hi Gurus!
Is there any possibility exists to develop an desktop application to send and receive SMS for WP7 ??
Regards
I was actually thinking about making something like this, but there's a problem...A developer cannot send SMS or mail without user intervention, so all we can do is create the SMS, send it to the SMS function, and then the user has to press send himself. As far as I can see, it's not possible to automate it...
It can be automated if you write it as homebrew (ie. not for sale in the marketplace).
That said, this isn't something I would spend time on. I believe Microsoft has said they will bring back SMS sync to WP7 in which case you could send/receive directly from Outlook on the PC. Actually, I do this already as my carrier offers this as a free add-on service.
emigrating said:
It can be automated if you write it as homebrew (ie. not for sale in the marketplace).
That said, this isn't something I would spend time on. I believe Microsoft has said they will bring back SMS sync to WP7 in which case you could send/receive directly from Outlook on the PC. Actually, I do this already as my carrier offers this as a free add-on service.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you help me to get the starting point with this homebrew app. I have installed the unlocked emulator but which api should i used to acces the functionality in windows desktop app ?
shahidpak said:
Can you help me to get the starting point with this homebrew app. I have installed the unlocked emulator but which api should i used to acces the functionality in windows desktop app ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Guys, as of yet, we haven't figured out how to access the lower level SMS files. It probably won't be a reality for a while.. maybe until complete R/W filesystem access is achieved. At that point, you would have to make it device independent also which would increase the difficulty of doing such a thing. I would wait a while and monitor the threads discussing the different registry and filesystem findings before thinking of doing this. Right now it's a waste of time.

[Q] Security: Why some Apps read SMS

I want to know why some Apps read my SMS...
Downloaded "Go Keyboard" from the market and I think it is a nice App. But when I read the (German) comments, some people complaint about that this App can read your SMS.
What do you think?
Sent from Nexus S Limited Edition
If the keyboard should be smart it needs to learn from your typing. One way is to read your SMS/texts or emails.
So you think this is important for the app to work properly and can be neglected?
Maybe sounds like a stupid question but I am still an Android beginner.
Anyway there is nothing important in my messages that I should worry about...
Sent from Nexus S Limited Edition
Superskunk said:
So you think this is important for the app to work properly and can be neglected?
Maybe sounds like a stupid question but I am still an Android beginner.
Anyway there is nothing important in my messages that I should worry about...
Sent from Nexus S Limited Edition
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As nothing is save on the internet... it's up to you. The app isn't unknown and widely spread/used, I'd not worry about giving the requested permission.
Other apps however... different story. Rethink your decision everytime an app requests permissions.
If the app works w/o that specific permission is something I don't know. There's an app that can restrict specific permissions, requires root and I sadly don't remember the name right now.
Of course an app can work without certain permissions. But those permission make it more powerful and add functions. If you chopped off your arms, you couldn't entertain someone with juggling could you ?
madd0g said:
Of course an app can work without certain permissions. But those permission make it more powerful and add functions. If you chopped off your arms, you couldn't entertain someone with juggling could you ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lleKvepxp5E
Just saying
I wondered the same thing! I recently switched to KelLMSKing MIUI Mod and now when I get an SMS, I get two notifications. One is Car Locator wants to read my SMS. It is a GPS App where I can save my car's position in a parking lot and find it easily again. I have no idea why it would want to intercept my SMS messages, so I Deny it.. I looked it up and apparently in some countries, you can pay for parking by text message, and receive reminders that time is running out. That's a feature I'll never use, so I'll just tell it to remember to always Deny that request. The other notification is from Touchdown, which gets my Exchange Server emails for work.. I'm not sure what SMS it would be looking for, so I'll deny them, too
As for the keyboard, I have no idea why it would want to read incoming messages or how that would help it to learn your style.
I think it's more of a perusal of the messages for commonly typed words so that it knows the best words to recommend and predict. Like a scan, to add your speech to the dictionary.
I don't believe any developer is sitting up at night reading my texts. If he is, he should hit me back and help me out with some of my problems. <_<
What is Facebook's excuse then?
edit SMS or MMS
Allows application to write to SMS messages stored on your device or SIM card. Malicious applications may delete your messages.
receive SMS
Allows application to receive and process SMS messages. Malicious applications may monitor your messages or delete them without showing them to you.
read SMS or MMS
Allows application to read SMS messages stored on your device or SIM card. Malicious applications may read your confidential messages.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
praveenmarkandu said:
What is Facebook's excuse then?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Facebook just blatently wants info to target you for advertising... but because theyre so big most people don't care
Facebook needs that permission to verify your account. Afair there's an option to add your mobile# to your fb account.
An application in the market that has been around awhile should be fine. Google will remove malicious software as soon as they know about it. It is new apps asking these permissions that I would be weary of. I use the Go keyboard myself and love it with royal purple neon theme.
Sent from my Google Nexus S using XDA App

[Q] Is their a way to delay the sending of a text?

Hi guys!
I was just wondering if their is a tweak/hack/app/way to set a timer for a SMS.
Like telling your phone to send a specific text to a specific person on a specific time.
Could anyone help me?
Thanks!
In theory, such an app could be written. The official SDK doesn't support automatically sending SMS, but the APIs exist and a homebrew app could use them. I don't think anybody has ever bothered to write such an app, though.
That's sad/
Anyway, thanks for clearing this one up.
I'd like that ability too. Unfortunately (using the official routes) Microsoft only make available to developers the ability to create a text message, and then launch the phone's sms application - leaving it for the user to press send. The code isn't able to do the sending so an app wouldn't be able to do it via the phone's own SMS at a scheduled time. You would also have the problem that if you set it to be sent more than two weeks in advance, and didn't go back into the app during that time, the scheduling 'agent' that runs in the background on the phone would expire after two weeks (so the sms would never be sent).
There are however some web sites that do it - e.g. http://ohdontforget.com/
You might be better using a web site anyway due to them being always on (whereas a phone might be off or out of signal at the scheduled time).
It would be possible, however, to write an app that uploads the text to an on-line service (such as the one mentioned as it has a developer API) so that a web server could reliably take care of the scheduled send - and then perhaps sending a push notification to the phone to confirm it has been sent.
Hey, I think here is one app for that, I didnt have time to look it totally through...
http://download.pandaapp.com/windows-phone-app/auto-the-sms-manager-1.1.0.0-id1894.html
Did any1 try the app?

Is there any way to link my app to WhatsApp?

Hello everyone,
First off, I have to say that I am not a programmer nor do I have any knowledge about app developing. I am more of an entrepeneur looking for someone who can tell me if my ideas for a new app are impossible to put into reality or not. Also, I don't know if I'm posting this thread on the appropiate section (I just registered a new account just to ask you guys this question), so, if it is not where it has to be, please feel free to report it to the admins so they can move it to the appropiate section. Thank you.
So my question is: Is there any way to "link" my app to WhatsApp? In other words: Is it possible, for example, to make my app "block" some of the user's WhatsApp groups or chats? (that means, forbiding the user from sending any messages to that specific group or chat). Of course, it has to be with his permission and during a specific period of time (which the user would select from the app) or until he unblocks the group/chat in question (also from the app).
Or, for example, is there any way to "block" the phone's microphone when the user is using WhatsApp (thus forbiding the user from sending voice notes), or the camera (not able to send photos/videos), for the same matter? This, of course, with the user's permission and the same conditions as before, too.
I do know that it's possible to make an app block phone calls or text messages, but I want to know if it is possible for an app to block some WhatsApp functions or, why not, Facebook and other apps' functions.
Thank you in advance for your time!

auto encrypt/decrypt sms app request suggestion

Hi, I recently registered to ask this question: I found an app that can send encrypted text over the network, it also exchanges keys, and when it receives a text automatically decrypts in the SMS app, I'm wondering if anybody knows how to mod it so that I can also intercept outgoing messages and encrypt them? I know this is possible because there was a Google Voice app that could do that once, this would just be for encryption,
The app is linked here, it hasn't been developed for a long time
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.woodkick.pgpsmslite&hl=en&referrer=utm_source%3Dgoogle%26utm_medium%3Dorganic%26utm_term%3Dpgp+sms&pcampaignid=APPU_1_4BazVvf7EZKgjwOgnKa4Ag
sorry if this is in the wrong section or anything
mp232 said:
Hi, I recently registered to ask this question: I found an app that can send encrypted text over the network, it also exchanges keys, and when it receives a text automatically decrypts in the SMS app, I'm wondering if anybody knows how to mod it so that I can also intercept outgoing messages and encrypt them? I know this is possible because there was a Google Voice app that could do that once, this would just be for encryption,
The app is linked here, it hasn't been developed for a long time
https://play.google.com/store/apps/...sms&pcampaignid=APPU_1_4BazVvf7EZKgjwOgnKa4Ag
sorry if this is in the wrong section or anything
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you asking for a app that encrypts messages sent from a 3rd app? (Or encrypts mail? Or what?)
Or just a sms encryption app like smssecure ?
email encryption app ?
nutpants said:
Are you asking for a app that encrypts messages sent from a 3rd app? (Or encrypts mail? Or what?)
Or just a sms encryption app like smssecure ?
email encryption app ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
saying an appp I could send sms regular through my regular ap but it would intercepted and encrypt without needing to open up a special messaging app. so I could still use to stop messaging app
mp232 said:
saying an appp I could send sms regular through my regular ap but it would intercepted and encrypt without needing to open up a special messaging app. so I could still use to stop messaging app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No
I have not find anything that even remotely works like that.
Anywhere.ever.
I have spend a huge number of hours and days looking at various encryption apps and methods for sms and email.
And I have found nothing that lets you use your app, intercepts the text, encrypts it and sends it.
Nothing that even intercepts sms in Any way honestly.
And I hope that I never do add that would leave a huge security vulnerability in Android.
Yes I know that sms can be read by any app..
But not as far as i have found anything that intercepts incoming or out going sms.
The app you linked to is very similar to smssecure which is a open source sms encryption system formed from text secure when they went internet only messaging.
Sms secure is the standard for sms encryption.
There is even a version around that doubles the key length used.
I don't know of anything better for sms

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