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I'm concerned that my ex has installed spyware on my htc incredible. Its scrolling screens and lighting up when not in use. I think she may be getting copies of texts, emails etc... any help is appreciated. greg
Hard reset if you cant find the program in the add/remove program menu
thx. trying to avoid that. My concern is that when I reload my email accounts, the program could be reloaded the same way purchased apps are reloaded. I dont know enough about the different ways these programs can be loaded to know I'll be safe after the tedious job of resetting up - loading apps - rooting this phone - etc. .....for as widespread as this problem is getting, I'd think one of you geniouses in the field would be able to seek out these threats. (not a malicious comment, some of the things I've found here are friggin genious)
gginsberg said:
I'm concerned that my ex has installed spyware on my htc incredible. Its scrolling screens and lighting up when not in use. I think she may be getting copies of texts, emails etc... any help is appreciated. greg
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Install Lookout Security!
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App
Or don't give your ex your phone, and she wont be able to install anything on it...
I like avg. It found some things lookout didn't. You can get it through the market.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App
Some people... No one I know would install crap like that on my phone.
If you are tyring to find something to confirm that she has installed, run both Lookout and AVG checks. Those are your only options at this point. I would absolutely hard reset my phone if I had that concern. Last, make sure you lock your phone with a pin number or password pattern. Make sure you uncheck visible pattern so no one will be able to guess your pattern.
lol I assumed the OP was a woman and the "ex" was a man, simply because I wouldn't think a woman would think to install some sort of sniffer application on her bf's phone lol
jconway said:
If you are tyring to find something to confirm that she has installed, run both Lookout and AVG checks. Those are your only options at this point. I would absolutely hard reset my phone if I had that concern. Last, make sure you lock your phone with a pin number or password pattern. Make sure you uncheck visible pattern so no one will be able to guess your pattern.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
and wipe off your screen often
thx all, I have been trying to factory reset. Goes to black screen. Do I need to unroot it? Also, whoever said "dont know anyone that would do that" , ya never really know em till ya leave em..... Thx for your help.
You can download our F-Secure Mobile Security for free. It does a pretty decent job of finding Android trojans. See http://f-secure.mobi
--
Mikko Hypponen
Chief Research Officer
F-Secure Labs
@mikkohypponen on Twitter
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...
Ran accross this article just now, relized you all had to read this. It appears HTC ****** up hard.
http://www.androidpolice.com/2011/1...e-numbers-gps-sms-emails-addresses-much-more/
Scary stuff.
I'm so damn tired of all companies taking the liberty to just monitor our lifes just how they like, no matter if its google, microsoft, facebook, apple or HTC. What anoyys even more is how we passivly is forced into accepting it, and just shrudd our shoulders about it. Reading this, I wish I was smart enough to strike back somehow.
The article says "Some Sensations" I'd like to know what that means
Good find.
Pikabat said:
The article says "Some Sensations" I'd like to know what that means
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try running the app...
errr ok this is scary though. i wanna ask what's htcLaputa.apk is?
Sent from my HTC Sensation XE with Beats Audio using xda premium
The offending app is HtcLogger.apk and I've only seen it in the newer ROMs - I automatically removed it before this story broke as it didn't sound useful. End of the day you just have to be careful when you install new apps (e.g. direct from trusted sources)
I really wouldn't worry too much about it, typical media hype
EddyOS said:
The offending app is HtcLogger.apk and I've only seen it in the newer ROMs - I automatically removed it before this story broke as it didn't sound useful. End of the day you just have to be careful when you install new apps (e.g. direct from trusted sources)
I really wouldn't worry too much about it, typical media hype
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is the example of how we/some of us just go used to this kind of things and started to accept things we never would have a few years back.
How exactly do you determine whats a trusted source? Obviously weve already had a bunch of malwares entering the market.
I use apps only from the company in question. 'Facebook for Android' from Facebook, 'Twitter' from Twitter, etc...only use about 20 apps all in anyway so I don't think I'm at risk
I'm not saying what's been found out isn't bad - it is - I just don't really care. People are far too paranoid these days
EddyOS said:
I use apps only from the company in question. 'Facebook for Android' from Facebook, 'Twitter' from Twitter, etc...only use about 20 apps all in anyway so I don't think I'm at risk
I'm not saying what's been found out isn't bad - it is - I just don't really care. People are far too paranoid these days
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im not using so much apps either, on the other hand I want to be able to try some "fun" app from androidmarket without fearing theft og my personal information.
Its not about paranoia to me, I couldnt care less about wheter or not some random dude can read my sms. But Im rather angry about the companies doing just as they like, mainly to direct commercials and ads conected to your personality. Did you know facebook, after their latest update, now saves a certain cookie after your logout and sends all urls you visit with your browser back to their server..?
Well, now Im going offtopic in my own thread.
Id like to see HTC comment on this atleast.
Again, if Facebook care if I open a YouTube video every now and then then that's up to them - I'm not interesting!!
Would be nice to see what HTC say but I'm not going to hold my breath!
Im starting to loose faith in htc
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using xda premium
I tried to run the app, seems like my Sensation is not affected (Dutch one, that is)
so, in order to gain any kind of advantage, those apps need to know this vulnerability exists, am i right? just deleted that apk file, along with some other ones.
As the Android Police blog appears to have melted, here's Aunty's take on it
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-15149588
Oh noes naughty people can access:
The list of user accounts, including email addresses (but apparently not usernames or passwords)
A log of recent GPS locations (so you can be stalked!!!!)
Phone numbers taken from recent call logs (so people you call can be stalked!!!)
SMS data, including recent numbers and encoded messages (meh if they want to read "Park 123 543" be my guest)
HTC's response:
"HTC takes our customers' security very seriously, and we are working to investigate this claim as quickly as possible," the company said in a statement.
"We will provide an update as soon as we're able to determine the accuracy of the claim and what steps, if any, need to be taken."
EddyOS said:
The offending app is HtcLogger.apk and I've only seen it in the newer ROMs - I automatically removed it before this story broke as it didn't sound useful. End of the day you just have to be careful when you install new apps (e.g. direct from trusted sources)
I really wouldn't worry too much about it, typical media hype
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there a way to tell if the offending app (Htclogger.apk) is on your phone without rooting?
jggonzalez said:
Is there a way to tell if the offending app (Htclogger.apk) is on your phone without rooting?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Remember it appears you are absolutely fine unless you install an app which is written to access the log files.
As Androidpolice says, the info could be used to clone your device, not only read some of your contacts. Now of course, you are fine as long as you do not install any malicious app, but I would even feel uncomfortable knowing that HTC can read ANY activity from my device at ANY point in time WITHOUT asking for my permission (or even after I denied that permission as shown in the video). The VNC thingie would also bug me cuz it is an app without any apparent use for the user and it does not serve a specific purpose - its just there until "someone" needs it. Now of course HTC wants to improve on user feedback and pulling it is much more convenient than asking for it, but if they want my opinion and see what I'm using they should at least ask me for it. That said, let's hope HTC addresses this problem in the very near future and does clarify why those apps are there and what purpose they serve. I will run the test app again after the next OTA for sure.
kwiggington said:
Im starting to loose faith in htc
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think HTC is the problem.
I believe the problem is Google.
Ever go to the Google Android market place and see what they want to run in the background before they let you in?
I don't go near the place.
majesensei said:
As Androidpolice says, the info could be used to clone your device, not only read some of your contacts. Now of course, you are fine as long as you do not install any malicious app, but I would even feel uncomfortable knowing that HTC can read ANY activity from my device at ANY point in time WITHOUT asking for my permission (or even after I denied that permission as shown in the video).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're misssing the point.
The phone has this feature so that should you enable "Tell HTC" it can then send the info to HTC, if you don't enable that it just sits on your phone as a system log.
xaccers said:
You're misssing the point.
The phone has this feature so that should you enable "Tell HTC" it can then send the info to HTC, if you don't enable that it just sits on your phone as a system log.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True, and I agree that this is not a scary thing for itself. I am not a fan of conspiracy theories, but think about a combination of things: The log is created and sits there. There is a VNC client embedded deeply in your system by your manufacturer for no reason, which gives access to your device from a remote location. I am from Germany and used to a debate about data preservation (which is illegal, in Germany), but there are other countries that have a much broader "grey-zone" for these kind of things. I wonder where those Sensations with the HtcLogger.apk are ([email protected]?). We are all running the same Android build (as long as we don't root our phones), some are affected, others aren't. I just find it weird, and I doubt that some rogue dev at HTC programmed these apk's just for the fun of it.
I am creating this topic because I think we could use a thread dedicated to see what is safe to remove and what is not.
Right now it won't have much, but I plan to provide good info. please post what you have been able to remove and even what Bootloops phone or just causes problems.
ALWAYS MAKE A BACKUP BEFORE TRYING THIS! BOTH NANDROID AND TITANIUM BACKUP
Ways to Remove Unnecessary Apps
One way and my personal favorite is to use Titanium Backup. It can uninstall these apps but can also back them up.
Another way is to use a file manager that can access /system/app. this is one of the harder ways since it can get difficult to know what is what because it just gives package names. ex. com.mobitv.client.tmobiletvhd.apk is the T-Mobile TV app
Safe to remove NOTE: This is how they appear in Titanium Backup. Always make a backup both TiB and Nandroid before starting
Buddies now 1.0
Custimize homescreen 1.o
Email 1.0 (this is the widget not the android email app)
Game Base
Gmail
Google Play Books
Highlight
Home screen tips
Lookout
Media Hub
More for Me
News & Weather
Ocean Weather
Polaris Office
Pro Apps
Slacker Radio
Social Hub (app)
Social Hub (widget)
TeleNav GPS
TwLauncher (only if you have a replacement launcher. Ex. Adw, go, Zeam, ...)
...
Unsafe to remove. Do not remove!
mediaprovider
...
Sent from my SGH-T769 using Tapatalk 2
If you do remove something you shouldnt
If you can boot, then just restore the app you removed in titanium backup.
If you bootloop you got two options
1. Restore Nandroid backup in CWM (good thing I did a Nandroid backup, right?)
2. No Nandroid Backup, its not guarantied but you might be able to use this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1591601 . A factory reset/data wipe may be needed in stock recovery
I will try to see if I can post backup files in case some one does remove something they shouldn't.
mediaprovider.APK and .Odex: http://db.tt/EQquH1Zi
Sent from my SGH-T769 using Tapatalk 2
I'll say it here again, "bloatware" is a misnomer of a term. Your phone will not work faster removing these applications. Personally I removed them because I didn't want to ever see the notification for them having an update in the store. Also, having them installed, but not running, has *zero* impact on your battery.
I point this out because if you're ever unsure about whether you should remove uninstall something, don't.
These are the apps I have personally chosen to uninstall or freeze, and my phone has worked flawlessly for several weeks:
Zinio
Yelp
Visual Voicemail (may be desirable to many, but if you use google voice it's not)
Telenav GPS (yes, your google maps gps will work just fine without it)
T-mobile Video Chat
T-mobile Name ID
T-mobile Mail
Slacker
Netflix
More for Me
MobileLife Family
Media Hub
Lookout Security (the app didn't even work for me so I found it useless)
Linear
Pro Apps
Kies air
Highlight
Game Base
Bonus Apps
411 & More
Personally, I always selected "make a backup" with TitaniumBackup Pro before removing an app, and if TBP ever gave the warning message about that app not being deodexed, I instead chose to freeze it.
Cirkustanz said:
I'll say it here again, "bloatware" is a misnomer of a term. Your phone will not work faster removing these applications. Personally I removed them because I didn't want to ever see the notification for them having an update in the store. Also, having them installed, but not running, has *zero* impact on your battery.
I point this out because if you're ever unsure about whether you should remove uninstall something, don't.
These are the apps I have personally chosen to uninstall or freeze, and my phone has worked flawlessly for several weeks:
Personally, I always selected "make a backup" with TitaniumBackup Pro before removing an app, and if TBP ever gave the warning message about that app not being deodexed, I instead chose to freeze it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True, it won't affect your phone much to remove these apps, but some of these still run in the background. I personally do this because I feel my phone runs a bit better and I just don't want them on my phone. I'm doing it for those who want to remove stuff but don't know what can be.
Sent from my SGH-T769 using Tapatalk 2
You think those apps, "run in the background?" The majority of those apps, and probably more, don't even load up at all, much less "in the background" unless the user of the phone INSTRUCTS THEM TO.
And you put twlauncher in the "safe to remove" category? If ADW, LauncherPro, or whatever else a person is using crashes or gets corrupted, good luck!
This thread just shouldn't exist, the information has already been posted, in the thread where the instructions to even allow it to be done in the first place.
Cirkustanz said:
You think those apps, "run in the background?" The majority of those apps, and probably more, don't even load up at all, much less "in the background" unless the user of the phone INSTRUCTS THEM TO.
And you put twlauncher in the "safe to remove" category? If ADW, LauncherPro, or whatever else a person is using crashes or gets corrupted, good luck!
This thread just shouldn't exist, the information has already been posted, in the thread where the instructions to even allow it to be done in the first place.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Look, on my phone, lookout mobile along with Telenav and a few others still loaded on the memory. What I'm trying to do is something helpful for the blaze community.
If you have something against me, don't post it here. Pm me or bring it up with a moderator. If you want to post something help, please do so. ( I appreciate the fact that you reminded me to include a warning about touch wiz launcher). This is an open community where we try to help each other, not argue.
Sent from my SGH-T769 using Tapatalk 2
I removed touchwiz first. I use rootuninstaller to remove what I don't want.
Sent from my SGH-T769 using XDA Premium App
Cirkustanz said:
I'll say it here again, "bloatware" is a misnomer of a term. Your phone will not work faster removing these applications. Personally I removed them because I didn't want to ever see the notification for them having an update in the store. Also, having them installed, but not running, has *zero* impact on your battery.
I point this out because if you're ever unsure about whether you should remove uninstall something, don't.
These are the apps I have personally chosen to uninstall or freeze, and my phone has worked flawlessly for several weeks:
Zinio
Yelp
Visual Voicemail (may be desirable to many, but if you use google voice it's not)
Telenav GPS (yes, your google maps gps will work just fine without it)
T-mobile Video Chat
T-mobile Name ID
T-mobile Mail
Slacker
Netflix
More for Me
MobileLife Family
Media Hub
Lookout Security (the app didn't even work for me so I found it useless)
Linear
Pro Apps
Kies air
Highlight
Game Base
Bonus Apps
411 & More
Personally, I always selected "make a backup" with TitaniumBackup Pro before removing an app, and if TBP ever gave the warning message about that app not being deodexed, I instead chose to freeze it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your comment is completely untrue - Android is an operating system; just like any other - Windows, Linux, iOS, etc...
By removing applications that run in the backround and take critical memory (RAM) you instantly make your phone run faster...many of these applications run in the backround and the only way to stop them is to:
* Freeze them
* Uninstall them
THUS - removing applications that aren't vital to a user; and are taking system resources away; instantly speeds your phone up...not only do you free ram but you also take away applications which are using processor power...
...your comment couldn't be further from the truth and has no form of logic to it...sorry to bust your bubble.
...and don't get your panties in a wad and upset because someone has called you out and clearly disagrees with your flawed train of thought over the matter
SOOO removing applications that are junk, that you don't want...bloatware, etc - WILL speed up your phone...
Although one program can be considered bloatware to one user, and vital to another - I prefer the term "junkware" - just like Windows (Microsoft); the companies get kick backs for installing software...(T-Mobile)
michaelstigers said:
Your comment is completely untrue - Android is an operating system; just like any other - Windows, Linux, iOS, etc...
By removing applications that run in the backround and take critical memory (RAM) you instantly make your phone run faster...many of these applications run in the backround and the only way to stop them is to:
* Freeze them
* Uninstall them
THUS - removing applications that aren't vital to a user; and are taking system resources away; instantly speeds your phone up...not only do you free ram but you also take away applications which are using processor power...
...your comment couldn't be further from the truth and has no form of logic to it...sorry to bust your bubble.
...and don't get your panties in a wad and upset because someone has called you out and clearly disagrees with your flawed train of thought over the matter
SOOO removing applications that are junk, that you don't want...bloatware, etc - WILL speed up your phone...
Although one program can be considered bloatware to one user, and vital to another - I prefer the term "junkware" - just like Windows (Microsoft); the companies get kick backs for installing software...(T-Mobile)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Samsung has actually optimized CPU and RAM quite well. Most of the "bloatware" does not take CPU or RAM, and some due. Removing them does not make a noticible difference on this phone, although on some past Samsung models it did.
And not to get off topic, but you can frame 'corrections' in a appropriate tone and not accuse him/her of being void of logic. Which wasn't even true.
Sent from my SGH-T769 using xda premium
Bulletblitz27 said:
Samsung has actually optimized CPU and RAM quite well. Most of the "bloatware" does not take CPU or RAM, and some due. Removing them does not make a noticible difference on this phone, although on some past Samsung models it did.
And not to get off topic, but you can frame 'corrections' in a appropriate tone and not accuse him/her of being void of logic. Which wasn't even true.
Sent from my SGH-T769 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
...if it quacks like a duck; and looks like a duck; and has logic like a duck - well, then it should swim in a pond, not be wrong; and give me no reason to correct it...
And you clarified my point even further - "most"...thanks
My posting was simply made so people were not under the WRONG assumption that taking a few minutes to get junkware off their O/S wouldn't make a difference. It will actually save a good amount of system resources; and give a much more rich experience that Google intended...
michaelstigers said:
...if it quacks like a duck; and looks like a duck; and has logic like a duck - well, then it should swim in a pond, not be wrong; and give me no reason to correct it...
And you clarified my point even further - "most"...thanks
My posting was simply made so people were not under the WRONG assumption that taking a few minutes to get junkware off their O/S wouldn't make a difference. It will actually save a good amount of system resources; and give a much more rich experience that Google intended...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, actually I did not clarify your point. My point was in contrast with yours. Rooting the phone has many other benefits than possibly speeding up a phone that's already optimized in this respect.
Sent from my SGH-T769 using xda premium
Who cares. No one should.
The amount of time "saved" from "freeing up resources" so the phone can "have as rich of an experience as Google intended" is much less than the time it took for either one of us to write our posts, or for any would-be person to read them.
It's a dead issue, do whatever you want. Including having some silly opinion.
Bulletblitz27 said:
No, actually I did not clarify your point. My point was in contrast with yours. Rooting the phone has many other benefits than possibly speeding up a phone that's already optimized in this respect.
Sent from my SGH-T769 using xda premium
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Click to collapse
1 thing that we need to remember, is that this message board is not for arguing our points. How about we simply agree to disagree over this matter? You clearly are not going to see it my way - and I clearly believe that taking junkware/bloatware is clearly beneficial to the phone.
I have seen it in action on many android phones that I have serviced, and I also saw how removing junkware off of my personal blaze freed up a lo of memory.
What we should do is now let users of the thread that have seen 2 different peoples point of view make up their minds for themselves. If we continue to go back and forth it does nothing but take up valuable space here on the thread and does a disservice to the users...a healthy debate and conversation is good / but this is beginning to become toxic and redundant!
Thanks for a different point of view however and no hard feelings
This message has been sent using my unlocked - ROOTED - Samsung GalaxyS Blaze 4G (With CWM) using the XDA PREMIUM Application (TapaTalk)
I could not have agreed more, and thanks for not taking a lot of offense to what I said.
Personally I am 1 that is always messing with my phone, so I put more time into it than most people ever would...gotta love ADHD and Ritalin
This message has been sent using my unlocked - ROOTED - Samsung GalaxyS Blaze 4G (With CWM) using the XDA PREMIUM Application (TapaTalk)
FYI
i wouldn't get rid of the default Gallery app (Gallery3D.apk) it seems like for some reason you can't set a Lock screen wallpaper it only has Wallpaper gallery as an option but if i want to set a Home screen wallpaper i can choose from Live wallpapers, Quickpic Wallpaper (an gallery app i downloaded), & Wallpaper gallery.
With Gallery installed the Lock screen options are Gallery & Live wallpapers and when i tap on Gallery i get a bunch of options including the Quickpic and i set that as default and when i go to Quickpic and say "set as" i get options to set as Home screen or Lock screen wallpaper now as i didn't before without Gallery installed
So yeah not sure why i need the default Gallery app to set Lock screen wallpaper but whatever
Use autoresizewallpaper instead..don't need the stock gallery..I got rid of mine
Sent from my SGH-T769 using xda app-developers app
'bloat' and boot...
Removing 'bloatware' from an android (linux) environment will only effect boot time (phone will be fully booted/usable faster). As it is so often pointed out in forums, once an app is cached (most of the time this happens during boot) it is not using cpu cycles and thus not eating away at any battery life (the RAM will have the same power draw whether it is being used or not) - that is until that app is opened (as any running app will use battery). So if you are looking for a more responsive phone removing bloat isn't going to help - you are literally better off buying a more powerful phone. However I can attest to removing bloat and speeding up boot times from using a 1st gen Exhibit 4g. Removing the 'bloat' decreased my boot time on my exhibit by 10-15 seconds! But beyond speeding up boot times there is no real reason to remove 'bloat' (unless you just don't want those crappy apps on your phone). Let's not get on a tangent on ram cleaners (task killers) please... as they are worthless and do eat away at battery life (as the os realizes it needs to re-cache those apps...) :victory:
anactoraaron said:
Removing 'bloatware' from an android (linux) environment will only effect boot time (phone will be fully booted/usable faster). As it is so often pointed out in forums, once an app is cached (most of the time this happens during boot) it is not using cpu cycles and thus not eating away at any battery life (the RAM will have the same power draw whether it is being used or not) - that is until that app is opened (as any running app will use battery). So if you are looking for a more responsive phone removing bloat isn't going to help - you are literally better off buying a more powerful phone. However I can attest to removing bloat and speeding up boot times from using a 1st gen Exhibit 4g. Removing the 'bloat' decreased my boot time on my exhibit by 10-15 seconds! But beyond speeding up boot times there is no real reason to remove 'bloat' (unless you just don't want those crappy apps on your phone). Let's not get on a tangent on ram cleaners (task killers) please... as they are worthless and do eat away at battery life (as the os realizes it needs to re-cache those apps...) :victory:
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Look, we dont need any more of those kind of posts. I understand it wont affect much, but some do want to remove certain apps like myself. I have wanted to rename post to safe to remove apps, but i dont know how to do that. Unless you have something to contribute to this, dont post things like those apps arent bloatware or that they dont do anything to affect performance. We are trying to help each other out.
Sent from my SGH-T769 using Tapatalk 2
no offence please
abraham.ramirez said:
Look, we dont need any more of those kind of posts. I understand it wont affect much, but some do want to remove certain apps like myself. I have wanted to rename post to safe to remove apps, but i dont know how to do that. Unless you have something to contribute to this, dont post things like those apps arent bloatware or that they dont do anything to affect performance. We are trying to help each other out.
Sent from my SGH-T769 using Tapatalk 2
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Click to collapse
Uh.. wha? I believe you misunderstood my post entirely. I never said that there is no point in removing 'bloatware'/preinstalled apps. The purpose of my post was only to inform. Please re-read my post (without bias). There's this false assumption that removing bloat will make a phone faster and it's just not true. Removing '411 & more' & 'netflix' is NOT going to make my quadrant score higher or give me more FPS playing games.
I may be over-generalizing here but this is what I have come to understand in regards to Android:
Need more storage & want faster boot times? ---> remove bloat/preinstalled apps.
Want better battery life? --> buy extended battery, adjust screen brightness to lowest viewing level.
Want a faster phone? ---> get a custom rom with OC/buy setcpu and OC or buy a faster phone.
anactoraaron said:
Uh.. wha? I believe you misunderstood my post entirely. I never said that there is no point in removing 'bloatware'/preinstalled apps. The purpose of my post was only to inform. Please re-read my post (without bias). There's this false assumption that removing bloat will make a phone faster and it's just not true. Removing '411 & more' & 'netflix' is NOT going to make my quadrant score higher or give me more FPS playing games.
I may be over-generalizing here but this is what I have come to understand in regards to Android:
Need more storage & want faster boot times? ---> remove bloat/preinstalled apps.
Want better battery life? --> buy extended battery, adjust screen brightness to lowest viewing level.
Want a faster phone? ---> get a custom rom with OC/buy setcpu and OC or buy a faster phone.
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Click to collapse
Okay, i see now. Sorry bout that. You are right. I have seen the same pattern with android that you describe and that is why i removed a few things from my phone
Sent from my SGH-T769 using Tapatalk 2
Does Android Really Need AntiVirus??
What good does it do?
Basically, we all know that these apps protect our phone from being infected with malicious files that we download everyday. Files from untrusted sites of course. It helps clean the phone if ever it gets infected. Question is, Is this true?
NOTE: All other sites except the playstore are classified as untrusted sites
Since Android is made out of the linux platform, it really is hard to penetrate. Studies show that linux systems are almost impenetrable to viruses or malicious files than most phones that are not based on these system. In fact based on experience, I have never heard of an Android phone being "infected" that seriously. Well, who knows.
Another factor is that, antivirus apps consume more battery life. It consumes 50% of battery life while on stand-by mode. It also makes the phone lag a bit since it is running even if you can't see it. It also lags start-up time since it takes a while to load.
Whether you decide to install or not, i'ts better safe than never... right?
I Am not in the favor of these apps. Moreover I dont use Them
Okay... So, what makes you an authority on antivirus on Android? What inside knowledge do you have that makes your opinion an actual valid one, especially when considering all the hundreds of reports of 1000's of malware apps running rampant on our "impenetrable" OS?
Like you've mentioned they are draining some serious batterylife in standby-mode but some like avast can be configured to not run till you start them. A few antivurs apps are coming with widgets, I'd highly recommend not using them because they are really slowing down the tablet and consume a huge amount of battery.
I practise the same approach with my PC, if you know what you are doing and how to do it a firewall + antivirus program may not be need but safe is safe. Android is a very open plattform so having a tool to keep the apps "honest" is not a bad thing in my opinion.
FloatingFatMan said:
Okay... So, what makes you an authority on antivirus on Android? What inside knowledge do you have that makes your opinion an actual valid one, especially when considering all the hundreds of reports of 1000's of malware apps running rampant on our "impenetrable" OS?
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Click to collapse
Most of the antivirus are fake i dont knnow why they make them. Since Android is based on Linux, and Linux needs Super user Permissions to do most of the things especially when you want to harm the device ( viruses) you need to modify system (root) programs and bins/libs/modules which can only be done if you have the root permission. If you have ever used the Linux OS (like Ubuntu) you have to ask roots first before installing any s/w
eg:
Code:
sudo apt-get install
here, sudo is literally this
Code:
superuser-do
You're ignoring all the malware type apps that don't need root. All they need is novice users who aren't paying attention to the permissions list and go and install apps that aren't quite what they're pretending to be. THAT is the primary cause of infection on Android, and it IS an existing problem.
FloatingFatMan said:
You're ignoring all the malware type apps that don't need root. All they need is novice users who aren't paying attention to the permissions list and go and install apps that aren't quite what they're pretending to be. THAT is the primary cause of infection on Android, and it IS an existing problem.
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Click to collapse
Time For some Source CODE !!
Can You get me an example of this ?? I will bring you the code asap
Why would I need to do that? Are you denying that there aren't 1000's of rogue apps out there, masquerading as legit apps, that are stuffed to the gills with malicious code?
Have you been living under a rock for the past few years? Are you still under that rock? I suggest moving out, perhaps into a cave with a view.
Calm Down Dude
Nachiket.Namjoshi said:
Does Android Really Need AntiVirus??
Whether you decide to install or not, i'ts better safe than never... right?
I Am not in the favor of these apps. Moreover I dont use Them
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here You go !
FloatingFatMan said:
Why would I need to do that? Are you denying that there aren't 1000's of rogue apps out there, masquerading as legit apps, that are stuffed to the gills with malicious code?
Have you been living under a rock for the past few years? Are you still under that rock? I suggest moving out, perhaps into a cave with a view.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nachiket.Namjoshi said:
Here You go !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You forget that most phone users are novices, and don't have a damned clue what they're doing when installing apps. I'm a professional developer by trade (not on Android), and if there's one thing I know very well, users do not read popup dialogs, ever. They just click the button to make it go away so they can get on with what they're doing.
You cannot use people on XDA as an example of what users are like. Most of us here actually have some tech savvy and know what we're doing, but we're less than 1% of the userbase.
Which makes antivirus apps, resource hogs that they are, pretty critical for the average user; to protect them from their own stupidity. Advising people NOT to use them is rather irresponsible of you, especially as you are NOT a security expert.
FloatingFatMan said:
You forget that most phone users are novices, and don't have a damned clue what they're doing when installing apps. I'm a professional developer by trade (not on Android), and if there's one thing I know very well, users do not read popup dialogs, ever. They just click the button to make it go away so they can get on with what they're doing.
You cannot use people on XDA as an example of what users are like. Most of us here actually have some tech savvy and know what we're doing, but we're less than 1% of the userbase.
Which makes antivirus apps, resource hogs that they are, pretty critical for the average user; to protect them from their own stupidity. Advising people NOT to use them is rather irresponsible of you, especially as you are NOT a security expert.
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Exactly. That is why I'm posting this here instead of a blog!! :')
Chillax buddy. Btw pdroid is better than antivirus apps bröder. I too am an app dev!
Sent from my GT-S5360 using xda app-developers app
I agree sir. this is true that some apps do such notorious things. but as a member of xda I am very care full about the permissions.
SHORTER
shorter: all files from internet cannot normaly harm your phone but if you download apk and instal it you can have problems (depends on app permisions) BUT it cannot totaly destroy your phone without SU permision (superuser)
normal files like mp3 mp4 cannot do anything
SORRY FOR MY ENGLISH and hit thanks if helped
FloatingFatMan said:
Why would I need to do that? Are you denying that there aren't 1000's of rogue apps out there, masquerading as legit apps, that are stuffed to the gills with malicious code?
Have you been living under a rock for the past few years? Are you still under that rock? I suggest moving out, perhaps into a cave with a view.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is exactly what happens. This thread is really pointless. I can copy your whole data while you are busy making threads like these or block access to any of your apps while I'm running. Antivirus is not just something which protects you against so called viruses but also malicious apps.
I agree, though AV's like avast and dr.web which are considered "light" still consumes a lot from my phone. I have observed that lately even though I have deep sleep app on my phone , I whitelisted the AV's it tooks at around 30-50% of my battery. I don't want to automatically kill the AV because it will become useless if it doesn't run on background. so I decided to just uninstall it and get my apk downloads from PC so that avast and malwarebytes on pc will be the ones that will scan my apks.