Apps accessing the camera - General Questions and Answers

Is it possible for an app to stealthily access your phone's camera? I realized there are apps which access the phone camera but don't have any reason to. The app blanks the screen on random occasions, and that's when I suspect the app take pictures without me knowing it.
Sent from my X10a

i think some might be accessing it.But there are worst facts.Manufacturers and Mobile networks can access your camera/microphone 24/7

[email protected] said:
i think some might be accessing it.But there are worst facts.Manufacturers and Mobile networks can access your camera/microphone 24/7
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So technically, are you saying it can be done without you seeing the obvious?
We users normally know when the camera is in use because we see the view on the screen. But if an app can hide that status it becomes an avenue for all malicious intents of the app developers.
Sent from my X10a

BTW, I'm not worried about the phone companies/networks. At least I can chase them. But the app developers are usually hard to chase.
Sent from my X10a

Related

[APP] Visidon AppLock - Mobile face recognition for Android

I noticed that there is some discussion about this application in this forum, so I decided to make an official thread.
The description from the market:
Fast, convenient and cool way to protect your mobile with face recognition.
Protect any application (i.e. SMS, Gallery, E-Mail, Facebook, etc.) on your phone using face recognition. Convenient and cool way to increase safety of your private apps and content.
Visidon AppLock lets you choose the apps to be protected. Your face is a key to open them! Application uses the frontal camera of your mobile and verifies in real-time that the face matches the one allowed to access the private apps.
NOTES AND TIPS:
1. You must have a front facing camera in your device to use the face recognition feature. Otherwise it is disabled and you are only able to use password verification.
2. This application was developed and tested with Samsung Galaxy S GT-I9000 and Acer Iconia A500. User experience may vary with other devices due different hardware (e.g. camera etc.).
3. In addition to the applications you wish to protect, you should also add Visidon AppLock itself and any application that can be used to close or unistall applications or services (task manager, settings etc.) as well as any application that can be used to install new applications (market, myfiles etc.) to the protection list to get your mobile fully secured.
4. If the preview image is upside down or sideways, please try to set different camera orientations from the settings tab.
5. The default security level is medium. If it seems too low (i.e. other people can get in too easily), you can set it to maximum from the settings tab.
6. The most accurate recognition will be achieved when all the training images are taken directly from front (i.e. no profile images etc.). Also, you should take training images in different illuminations (in those environments where you usually use your mobile). Sufficient amount of images per person is about 5 to 10.
Btw. this app requires at least Android version 2.3, since we use the frontal camera API.
Link to marketplace: https://market.android.com/details?id=visidon.AppLock
Remember to watch the youtube video! It gives you the basic idea about how to use it.
Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FVWmeuj3T4
Any comments, bug reports, suggestions etc.?
VisidonSupport said:
Thanks. We'll take those suggestions into consideration, but what do you mean by tasker options/plugins?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tasker is an automation app for Android. It's really useful. For eg: if your app had Tasker integration, I could say, write a Tasker profile to disable the lock when I was at home, or when I performed a certain gesture.
http://tasker.dinglisch.net/developers.html
VisidonSupport said:
6. The most accurate recognition will be achieved when all the training images are taken directly from front (i.e. no profile images etc.). Also, you should take training images in different illuminations (in those environments where you usually use your mobile). Sufficient amount of images per person is about 5 to 10.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What do you mean "per person"? Does that mean I can add more than one person's face as a key? That would be neat!
deejaylobo said:
Tasker is an automation app for Android. It's really useful. For eg: if your app had Tasker integration, I could say, write a Tasker profile to disable the lock when I was at home, or when I performed a certain gesture.
http://tasker.dinglisch.net/developers.html
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK. Thanks, we'll look into it.
deejaylobo said:
What do you mean "per person"? Does that mean I can add more than one person's face as a key? That would be neat!
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Click to collapse
Yes.
When I hit the market link, it says request can't be found..
Sent from my Nexus S 4G
kijp15 said:
When I hit the market link, it says request can't be found..
Sent from my Nexus S 4G
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is strange. It works for me :/
Please try to search from the marketplace with "visidon" as search word.
VisidonSupport said:
That is strange. It works for me :/
Please try to search from the marketplace with "visidon" as search word.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is what it tells me on the web market: "This app is incompatible with your Vodafone IN Samsung GT-I9100."
kalpik said:
This is what it tells me on the web market: "This app is incompatible with your Vodafone IN Samsung GT-I9100."
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you use custom rom? Also, this app is copyprotected, so it might prevent you from finding the app if you have unlocked device.
VisidonSupport said:
Do you use custom rom? Also, this app is copyprotected, so it might prevent you from finding the app if you have unlocked device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I am on a custom ROM which is rooted. You don't allow install on such ROMs?
yeah cant install it as well
kalpik said:
Yes, I am on a custom ROM which is rooted. You don't allow install on such ROMs?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's more about that Google doesn't allow.
This is sort of gray area. I understand why you want to use rooted/unlocked phones, but it also enables piracy. Although this is free app, we still would like that the marketplace is the only distribution channel for this, so we won't be sharing this directly.
We are going to discuss this in depth and we might change our distribution politics, but don't hold your breath
Is it possible to protect launcher/home app? For example I can't see launcherpro in app list, when I try to protect it.
Entropyst said:
Is it possible to protect launcher/home app? For example I can't see launcherpro in app list, when I try to protect it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm. If the app can be started from the launcher, you should see it.
Anyway, there are some issues in this. I addressed them in the previous thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=15667199&postcount=38
heres the file for direct dload from the original post for those (like me) running custom ROMs and get an incompatibility message on the Market.
/h2
It would be awesome if you could make it use the rear camera if there is no front one. I don't have an FFC but it would still be cool to feel dorky and turn my phone around to unlock things. If it isn't a big deal to add that, it would be a great way to expand your userbase even if we don't have quite as accessible functionality as those with FFCs.
Sent from my MIUI SCH-i500
The app isn't available on my Market. I'm using a Brazilia Motorola Atrix.
what about an unlock screen?
Ha. An unlock screen would be cool.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G
runs fine on HTC EVO 4G w/ CM7_#121.
ability to use it for the lockscreen would be slick.
Running on thunderbolt mostly well have it set to always run as service and not keep unlocked when screen on, every once in a while it stops running randomly. I wonder if its because I have too many apps locked? Add this to lock screen and I couldn't ask for more
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA Premium App

WARNING - Camera360 Security Risk

The latest Camera360 update demands a strange and dangerous permission - "Change WiFi State". This is defined as follows:
"Allows the app to connect to and disconnect from Wi-Fi access points, and to make changes to configured Wi-Fi networks."
The apps already has internet access. But change WiFi state means it can not only turn your WiFi on and off, but it can add or delete to your access points, and read/change other information like encrypted passwords.
I emailed the developer (in China) and they just keep emailing me back asking what version I am using. He obviously doesn't want to answer the question!
I've noticed this "permission creep" in many other apps. The latest Firefox Android app wants access to global system setting, address book, and accounts. The latest YouTube app can take pictures and videos without your knowledge.
There are a few apps that I no longer update. I also use DroidWall to block cameras and other apps from internet access.
Stay Away from Camera360!
I use droidwall as well, actually extensively. I block everything but the necessities.
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda app-developers app
Thanks for the heads up.
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda premium
Now that look at it, some of the permissions that Camera360's Chinese developers want are pretty scary:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=vStudio.Android.Camera360
Here are the most dangerous as of today:
NETWORK COMMUNICATION
FULL INTERNET ACCESS
Allows the app to create network sockets.
YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION
READ SENSITIVE LOG DATA
Allows the app to read from the system's various log files. This allows it to discover general information about what you are doing with the tablet, potentially including personal or private information. Allows the app to read from the system's various log files. This allows it to discover general information about what you are doing with the phone, potentially including personal or private information.
PHONE CALLS
READ PHONE STATE AND IDENTITY
Allows the app to access the phone features of the device. An app with this permission can determine the phone number and serial number of this phone, whether a call is active, the number that call is connected to and the like.
SYSTEM TOOLS
RETRIEVE RUNNING APPS
Allows the app to retrieve information about currently and recently running tasks. Malicious apps may discover private information about other apps.
CHANGE WI-FI STATE
Allows the app to connect to and disconnect from Wi-Fi access points, and to make changes to configured Wi-Fi networks.
Camera 360 Browser Popups!
The Chinese developers that made Camera 360 removed the draconian permissions. But now, it has a more evil behavior. When you start your phone, Camera 360 starts a background process that displays popup ads on some websites with the default Android browser!
Thread on it here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=33130018
Uninstall Camera 360 and watch your phone and your browser run faster!
Uninstalled :good:
Shouldn't this thread be a sticky, and, posted somewhere owners of all different models of phones will see?
Also, surely there must be some kind of app which lets you install apps without actually granting them those permissions? Some kind of permission stripper?
I'm not sure of any apps that control permissions directly but the is one called DroidWall which can block apps from communication over WiFi and/or your mobile network. Needs superuser/root access.
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda app-developers app
Pdroid, need to make a patch for ROM of choice, but it works like a charm!
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
Bob Tums said:
I'm not sure of any apps that control permissions directly but the is one called DroidWall which can block apps from communication over WiFi and/or your mobile network. Needs superuser/root access.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have DroidWall, and Camera360 is blocked internet access. But it is still able to hook into the Android browser and show popups.
Not sure how that happens. You can try downloading AdAway from the market and see if that gets red of it.
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda app-developers app

Pop-up ads while navigating phone UI. WTF?!

Ok, at first I thought I was crazy or mistaken, but I totally just got a full screen pop-up ad while navigating the UI.
What could be causing this? I don't have any ****ty applications installed. Only legitimate ones from major companies.
How is it possible I've getting pop-ups within the UI? This time I was merely clicking a folder on my home screen to access an application when suddenly a fullscreen ad showed up from Google's ad network.
wedouglas said:
Ok, at first I thought I was crazy or mistaken, but I totally just got a full screen pop-up ad while navigating the UI.
What could be causing this? I don't have any ****ty applications installed. Only legitimate ones from major companies.
How is it possible I've getting pop-ups within the UI? This time I was merely clicking a folder on my home screen to access an application when suddenly a fullscreen ad showed up from Google's ad network.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you provide us with a list of applications you have installed?
egofreak said:
Can you provide us with a list of applications you have installed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, I've just tracked it down.
I'm using my friend's app which displays ads on start-up from Google. If I enter the application and then leave the app quickly before it serves the ad, it will end up serving the ads after you've already left the application.
I know he isn't trying to do anything malicious and just called him to ask about it. He was surprised it did that. This seems like an Android bug.
A vision of the future.
wedouglas said:
I'm using my friend's app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With friends like that... just kidding.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
meangreenie said:
A vision of the future.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Free AD suppported mobile phones....wait let me patent that then troll companies with it

[Q] Prevent uninstall of phone locator?

Hi,
I've installed AndroidLost on my phone, so I can track it if it gets stolen. The app is hidden from the main app drawer and can't be directly uninstalled.
However, if I go to Device Administrators in the settings, I can deselect the item (which is named Personal Notes in there). Once deselected, it obviously becomes completely useless, and can't administer the phone.
Obviously,doing all of this requires a degree of knowledge, but not all thieves are completely stupid, so would be able to do it.
Is there a way of password protecting the device administrators, so that the app can't be disabled without a pass code? If not, is there an alternative app that can control the phone from a website that can be 100% hidden from view?
Thanks for any suggestions!
MetalOllie said:
Hi,
I've installed AndroidLost on my phone, so I can track it if it gets stolen. The app is hidden from the main app drawer and can't be directly uninstalled.
However, if I go to Device Administrators in the settings, I can deselect the item (which is named Personal Notes in there). Once deselected, it obviously becomes completely useless, and can't administer the phone.
Obviously,doing all of this requires a degree of knowledge, but not all thieves are completely stupid, so would be able to do it.
Is there a way of password protecting the device administrators, so that the app can't be disabled without a pass code? If not, is there an alternative app that can control the phone from a website that can be 100% hidden from view?
Thanks for any suggestions!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can use some 3rd party apps like audio manager or Avast anti virus to lock down the settings....
Android sometimes proves to be frustrating when it comes to security concerns......
eatsleep said:
You can use some 3rd party apps like audio manager or Avast anti virus to lock down the settings....
Android sometimes proves to be frustrating when it comes to security concerns......
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks.. I've tried Audio Manager, but that seems to be only capable of hiding the actual app, which the app does by itself. It's preventing someone from unchecking it under Security>Device Administrators that I'm trying to achieve, and unless I'm not using AM properly, I can't find any way of using that to hide it.
MetalOllie said:
Thanks.. I've tried Audio Manager, but that seems to be only capable of hiding the actual app, which the app does by itself. It's preventing someone from unchecking it under Security>Device Administrators that I'm trying to achieve, and unless I'm not using AM properly, I can't find any way of using that to hide it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You didn't got the point...
Hide or lock the settings..... My friends use this technique.....
eatsleep said:
You didn't got the point...
Hide or lock the settings..... My friends use this technique.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks.. Audio Manager didn't really suit my needs, although it was more or less able to do what I wanted.. In the end I went with an app called AppLock, which puts a passcode on any app, including settings, but also has root capability, preventing it from being uninstalled, closed, etc. it also seems a little slicker.

HOW TO MODED THE APK USING APKTOOL M

Hello everyone here. i have a problem here with one of the app that i (works with) if i installed that app into another android phone and login into both app. The app normally detect a linked account, and the app will start misbehaving with it's pop-up (linked account) so you have to log out into one account, then you could have access to another without that pop-up.
Here my question is how can i remove this pop-up link by moded the app ( its strings file) using apktool M so i can both login into both account without such notification. Thank in advance
my advice would be to contact the developer. especially if you work with that app, modding an app might get you in hot water at your job.
Fytdyh said:
my advice would be to contact the developer. especially if you work with that app, modding an app might get you in hot water at your job.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would rather jump into deep sea than stay at beach front watching other people swimming
Callme911 said:
Would rather jump into deep sea than stay at beach front watching other people swimming
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Click to collapse
i dont think this modification is something you can do on the app side. the app clearly checks if you are already logged in onto another app. thus, even if you do disable that pop-up, the app will check with its server and forbid you from using said app.
Fytdyh said:
i dont think this modification is something you can do on the app side. the app clearly checks if you are already logged in onto another app. thus, even if you do disable that pop-up, the app will check with its server and forbid you from using said app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought that's the way out

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