Database Info

Privacy Concerns - Google Firmware

I am concerned that Google has their tentacles all throughout the OS, and I want to take all measures to stop that. I particularly don't like their search query tracking (I use ixquick) and their nav app, as their privacy policies are atrocious.
Before someone accuses me of being a hacker or criminal, I am simply not willing to hand over my 220 year old Constitutional rights for a transient fear campaign manufactured by The Machine. And I do not want my information used for profit without permission. I used to be a cracker, and know what is possible. I'll not respond to those who call me 'paranoid'; they are oblivious.
Of course I'll not be using the apps of that-search-engine-everybody-uses. Removing them forthwith, in favor of whatever GPL open-source apps there are available for various functions. Using self-contained nav software like CoPilot or TomTom.
So, have any devs investigated whether Android phones home at any interval? Have measures been taken to privacy-enable the Android firmware?
I hear that HTC has some sort of 'phone home' function. How to neuter that?
What good is Wifi? Is it that you can use that when available, not using up 3G bytes? I am asking what use it is on a mobile in consideration of mobility and the security problems -- what uses can this be put to, and how to secure the phone?
Where is the best place to find open-source apps?

I'm curious about this as well, not so much from a privacy standpoint, but how the hell can I stop the mysterious data that is flowing out of my phone when everything like background syncing and all data connections are turned off.

http://source.android.com/
This is all you need - you could remove/modify anything you want, so... what's your problem? And actually Google apps aren't in the Android sources, so you won't have them after compiling. Yeah, two birds with one stone.
Also you could disable WiFi if you don't like it.
Tachikoma_kun said:
how the hell can I stop the mysterious data that is flowing out of my phone when everything like background syncing and all data connections are turned off.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Errr... what ROM and how many apps do you have installed? There is no "mysterious data" on clean system, but 25% of apps use data connection for various reasons.

I'm on the stock 2.1 ROM for the Samsung Galaxy S. I turn all the background syncing, email, and stuff like that off, and overnight it can use about 1MB of data.
I don't have any "free" apps running that might download new banners or anything like that.

The background syncing does not turn anything off as far as I know.
To my knowledge it allows 3rd party apps the ability to check if the user has flagged this, but they do not have to respect this flag.

Tachikoma_kun said:
I'm on the stock 2.1 ROM for the Samsung Galaxy S. I turn all the background syncing, email, and stuff like that off, and overnight it can use about 1MB of data.
I don't have any "free" apps running that might download new banners or anything like that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Syncing is just... syncing. But there are many other things, that apps do. Spare Parts -> Battery history -> Network usage.

Brut.all said:
http://source.android.com/
This is all you need - you could remove/modify anything you want, so... what's your problem?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What's my problem, LOL? I am a 52yo real estate developer, not a coder. This is why I'm asking the question.

Quantumstate said:
What's my problem, LOL? I am a 52yo real estate developer, not a coder. This is why I'm asking the question.
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Click to collapse
i think he meant either put up or shut up, which is a pretty reasonable statement.
IMO it's anonymous user data.... let them build cybernet
otherwise say no to the T.O.S that is your constitutional right if you have "privacy" concerns

Brut.all said:
Syncing is just... syncing. But there are many other things, that apps do. Spare Parts -> Battery history -> Network usage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, will give that a try.

themapleboy said:
i think he meant either put up or shut up, which is a pretty reasonable statement.
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Click to collapse
I meant we all have access to the sources, so we don't have to "investigate" what Android exactly does - we just know, that it doesn't do any "mysterious" things. There are many people working with these sources for many months, I doubt there are some undiscovered things.

Brut.all said:
I meant we all have access to the sources, so we don't have to "investigate" what Android exactly does - we just know, that it doesn't do any "mysterious" things. There are many people working with these sources for many months, I doubt there are some undiscovered things.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
u know what they say about assuming...... it always makes you look like a jackass

Yeah, I mean we're not playing with iOS4 or anything.
In all seriousness, Android's been out for quite a while now and has been looked at by a LOT of people. Not saying that it's *impossible* but it's highly unlikely that anything nefarious is going on.
If you're still concerned, I suppose you could always opt not to install the Google Apps, but you'd be a bit limited, functionality-wise.
Sent from my Droid using XDA App

themapleboy said:
let them build cybernet
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
O' little do you know... many years ago I did work in Eastern Europe. You have no idea the paranoia a society can endure. For an idea, watch the old TV series Danger Man. Or the movie 1984.
If most young people share your view, it is a dark future. I'm glad I'll be dead.
herald83 said:
In all seriousness, Android's been out for quite a while now and has been looked at by a LOT of people. Not saying that it's *impossible* but it's highly unlikely that anything nefarious is going on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Understand. I just can not believe though that Google is not harvesting some sort of information, as that's their business model. They never discard any info they receive, and you can build a shockingly accurate portrait of someone from their searches over time. Google's CEO recently said, "If You Have Something You Don't Want Anyone To Know, Maybe You Shouldn't Be Doing It", echoing the Bush Doctrine of a Police State.
Maybe Android is innocuous for now, and I'm sure it's been examined. But I'm wondering what the results were? Why are ppl seeing data outflows?

I smell a rat...
Quantumstate said:
...Before someone accuses me of being a hacker or criminal, I am simply not willing to hand over my 220 year old Constitutional rights for a transient fear campaign manufactured by The Machine. And I do not want my information used for profit without permission. I used to be a cracker, and know what is possible. I'll not respond to those who call me 'paranoid'; they are oblivious...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Quantumstate said:
What's my problem, LOL? I am a 52yo real estate developer, not a coder. This is why I'm asking the question.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A 52yo real estate developer, whose not a coder, but used to be a "cracker" and knows what is possible? Anyone else here think this doesn't make a bit of sense?
It's funny, but it sounds like someone is trying to stir up some FUD by making claims that Android is somehow doing an "All your data are belong to us...". I hope Apple aren't paying your cheques!

@perpetualmotionuk: Be advised that there is a difference between mathematics and decryption, and coding. Yes I can do some coding, but not at a level necessary to analyze and modify an operating system.
If Apple were paying my 'cheques', wouldn't I come in with some sort of proof that monitoring is taking place? Rather than asking what others have found?
Now, rather than trying to tear people down, why don't you use that considerable nose to investigate this yourself?

No one's seen anything about info leakage?

Quantumstate said:
Understand. I just can not believe though that Google is not harvesting some sort of information, as that's their business model. They never discard any info they receive, and you can build a shockingly accurate portrait of someone from their searches over time. Google's CEO recently said, "If You Have Something You Don't Want Anyone To Know, Maybe You Shouldn't Be Doing It", echoing the Bush Doctrine of a Police State.
Maybe Android is innocuous for now, and I'm sure it's been examined. But I'm wondering what the results were? Why are ppl seeing data outflows?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Most of that data is pulled from search history, I suspect. Which you can disable, if I recall. Don't have my phone on me at the moment to confirm.

I just did a very simple test on an emulator: after ~15 minutes of running system there was 0 (zero, null) of network packets. Now I want to do the same on a device with clean system, but I think results will be the same or similar (SDK system is just normal Android - very similar to these from devices).
I have a feeling that even if I will catch zero packets as well, you will be asking whether Google send something mysterious through... errr... bluetooth? Some hidden antenna?

If you're worried about Google tracking your info...root the phone and don't install the Google apps. What do ya know...problem solved.
If you're still worried that people are tracking what you are doing see steps below.
1) Flush phone or give to a homeless guy to throw them off.
2) Destroy Computers.
3) Liquidate everything you own.
4) Walk into the woods and live off the land.
5) Kill self shortly after because they already have a file on you.
You say you're a 52 year old real estate developer...guess what...they're already tracking you. You're already helping to build "cybernet" just by living and breathing.
And if you are really worried about your "220 year old Constitutional Rights" then go read the Patriot Act and discover that you don't have ****.
I'm normally not one to flame...but you are an absolute idiot.

I'm not an English person, excuse for the syntax/grammar/... mistakes I'd could make.
hedjemunkee said:
I'm normally not one to flame...but you are an absolute idiot.
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Click to collapse
I don't understand WHY this person could be considered as "an absolute idiot" by ASKING if some 'data' are sent over the network through the phone.
Facebook, with it's ad system is sending information for each ad displayed (not alot, but still some !)....
ADS.GOOGLE do you have any idea about what's behind !?
I don't have the number (nobody have it) of webpages using it but it's huge. with this you can track navigation of people, establish profiles, link to a physical person. Without your consent.
I understand the concern of the "OP" here. I don't think the data sent are easy to "catch", or are systematically sent... maybe there is no, and you are paranoid. But it "COULD". So easily. I'm from the young tech generation.
And to quote
Quantumstate said:
If most young people share your view, it is a dark future. I'm glad I'll be dead.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
People who don't ask themselve the question, or wich refuse to be open minded enough to consider the right to ask this question ... could be surprised very soon. I'm not directly affraid of "google". I'm affraid of those 'blind' people.
You'll be dead in less than 10years !? I hope we can share some of the darkness you're talking about. your parent's generation started it, you continued it.
Anyway, back to the topic.
Why in my pocess list i've : (app id number) com.ap.SnapPhoto:remote
even when I do not use the camera !?
...when I notice my battery is being used more than usual I check the process list and I find this...
What's this "remote" !?
Maybe "remote" refers to "another app wich launch this app"... ? Otherwise... wow.

Google announces privacy changes across products; users can’t opt out

Do you think anyone can develope a program to prevent google from capturing this information about their users? Maybe at least on a android based platform even. This really chaps my a$$
Code:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/google-tracks-consumers-across-products-users-cant-opt-out/2012/01/24/gIQArgJHOQ_story.html?wpisrc=al_comboNE_b

Whats the big deal? Google cuts down on paperwork and the policies haven't changed, they are just merged/ It eliminated redundancies and wasted effort.
what difference does it make if you are giving your personal information to Gmail or to youtube? If google has it, Google has it, period. It is still a Google based service, combining the private policies of all of the services into one makes perfect sense.
Google has stated they still have no plans to change how they handle the data.

The big deal is I NEVER CLICK YES for gooble to collect anything on me, which means I "opt-out" now I have a contract on a phone I dont want to touch. great, a 700$ paperweight , not including the service. screw you google.

I will not tap "yes" for google
Are you sure that they are 700 $?

Rage! An ad/marketing company makes my OS and wants to show me ads relevant to me rather than random ads. A company wants to make money off of a product they've created and are heavily vested in? Who'd have thunk it?
Don't like it? There's other choices out there. WP7 is pretty hot ;-)

z33dev33l said:
Rage! An ad/marketing company makes my OS and wants to show me ads relevant to me rather than random ads. A company wants to make money off of a product they've created and are heavily vested in? Who'd have thunk it?
Don't like it? There's other choices out there. WP7 is pretty hot ;-)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wait til wp7 phones get ads lol
Have to say though to op its not like google are pushing ads to your device. If you browse net you get same problem. I think they have messed up somewhere cos on my laptop I always get ads for things I already have. But I don't get ads on my phone unless on a webpage or using an ad funded app so no different to a pc or any internet device.
Dave
Sent from my LG P920 using Tapatalk

mistermentality said:
Wait til wp7 phones get ads lol
Have to say though to op its not like google are pushing ads to your device. If you browse net you get same problem. I think they have messed up somewhere cos on my laptop I always get ads for things I already have. But I don't get ads on my phone unless on a webpage or using an ad funded app so no different to a pc or any internet device.
Dave
Sent from my LG P920 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Microsoft is a software company, Google is a marketing company.

z33dev33l said:
Microsoft is a software company, Google is a marketing company.
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Click to collapse
Hence the lol
But the point is google aren't sending ads any different than on a pc. Whatever phone pc or tablet people use makes no difference, google and others can and do still collect data when you browse.
And some collect other data even when you opt out such as wp7 collecting user data that caused them to get sued last year. Its impossible to have a smartphone and not have someone collect data of some sort.
Dave
Sent from my LG P920 using Tapatalk

mistermentality said:
Hence the lol
But the point is google aren't sending ads any different than on a pc. Whatever phone pc or tablet people use makes no difference, google and others can and do still collect data when you browse.
Dave
Sent from my LG P920 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am not fond of google. I use Bing and have visited YouTube maybe 3 times this year. That said, Bing does the same thing to me.

Well **** that.. i am going back to Symbian s60v3... At least i wont have the damn adds
~§~

Xxul said:
Well **** that.. i am going back to Symbian s60v3... At least i wont have the damn adds
~§~
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lmao.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium

z33dev33l said:
I use Bing...Bing does the same thing to me.
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Click to collapse
Bing probably does other things that would scare the hell out of you if you were aware of them. Google is nosy. M$ is evil.
Sent from HTC G2

Crashdamage said:
Bing probably does other things that would scare the hell out of you if you were aware of them. Google is nosy. M$ is evil.
Sent from HTC G2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Color me intrigued, what makes Microsoft more evil than google?

What would be the best way to avoid this?
a problem I could see is if like, I have my son over on a weekend and he jumps on...idk, nickelodeon. com or something, will it show ads for all the porn sites I visit?
I sure as hell wouldn't want him reporting that to his mother and even possibly the appropriate authorities...

just curious but in what way is this different, if not dramatically worse, than everything CarrierIQ was accused of a few months back.

I wonder if this will affect things like StartPage which bills itself as being completely private but is "enhanced by Google"

This is why I have dead email addresses. I've got one for Gmail just for my phone. Never use it for anything else. Just the phone.
Don't Be Evil, just make lots and lots of money.

The real problem is the internet. There are always the spammers that get a kick out of just breaking someone else's things, and that's why almost all websites log things. It also creates privacy concerns for those trying to follow the rules. So if it bothers you so much that Google knows you search for a laptop, and it suggests that there is a better, cheaper one, next time you use gmail, then you have problems. I personally love this, now when I go between Google services, I don't have to log in again. Google provides you with great services for free, why not give them the ability to advertise to you? The world is dangerous, get over it.
Or you could do the most practical thing, ad block. Its on Firefox and chrome, so that should cover almost everybody. If your stuck with ie, well, god help you.
Sent from my Bad-Ass Acer Iconia Tab a100

dead78 said:
just curious but in what way is this different, if not dramatically worse, than everything CarrierIQ was accused of a few months back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Carrier IQ records keystrokes, text messages and other private stuff Google does not. And without even telling anyone it was there.
Sent from HTC G2

nazsa said:
The big deal is I NEVER CLICK YES
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Click to collapse
You agreed to their terms of service. As has been pointed out, the information is used so they can show ads that pertain to you specifically. I view this as a good thing.
If you don't want a company to know your browsing and purchasing habits, you should buy a cabin in the woods and live off the grid, no electronics, no grocery stores, completely self sufficient.
Good luck!

[conspiracy theory] the government can tap phones even when on stand by....

Few days ago I was involved in a conversation where couple of people were sure that the government can tap our phones even when not in conversation but when they are actually in stand by on the table.
I tried to argue that when in stand by, android for example has very minimal processes going on, just enough to keep the time and realize when the power button is pressed or send notification.
The counter-argument was that there might be backdoors in the ROM for example which enables the authorities to get sound from the mic directly without the need of the OS as an interface.
I don't see how this can be done, but you as developers might want to provide some solid, technical arguments which would set the discussion once at for all

I guess if you're really that worried about it, there's always airplane mode.
Sent from my HTC PH39100 using xda premium

Worried about monitoring using a google/facebook/twitter device?
Pull some foil off your hat, and wrap it around the phone. Problem solved.
Just do what Eric says "Do no Evil" and who cares if the gummint is watching you!

I'm not worried at all as should be obvious if you actually read my post :>

Fking1 said:
I don't see how this can be done, but you as developers might want to provide some solid, technical arguments which would set the discussion once at for all
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I'm no developer but if you are going to lurk deeper on backdoors, you'll soon find out that bigger corporations than Gooogle have implemented backdoors in their systems.
Still, this doesn't tell you how it's done, but proofs that has been done and afaics is no problem to do it again.
If I remember correctly some time ago Indian government tried to force BlackBerry to backdoor their devices for Indian market.
So judge it for yourself, but don't think that this is some Atlantis conspiracy but is actually happening all over the place..

B33zal said:
Well, I'm no developer but if you are going to lurk deeper on backdoors, you'll soon find out that bigger corporations than Gooogle have implemented backdoors in their systems.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Care to elaborate?
Also it will be enough if someone says why it's impossible to pull audio from the mic when the phone is on standby

In all actuality if the gumment wanted to monitor you they already are....

Fking1 said:
Care to elaborate?
Also it will be enough if someone says why it's impossible to pull audio from the mic when the phone is on standby
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not impossible. Don't brick your head with such things. And why is that question anyway? Do you affraid that you can get caught?
If you are not doin anything against the law, after a while they would not even listen to you

chaki- said:
It's not impossible. Don't brick your head with such things. And why is that question anyway? Do you affraid that you can get caught?
If you are not doin anything against the law, after a while they would not even listen to you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well to be honest, i'm big time criminal in my country, so the answer to that question is critical to me :>

Fking1 said:
I tried to argue that when in stand by, android for example has very minimal processes going on, just enough to keep the time and realize when the power button is pressed or send notification.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just because a listening device is not always on doesn't mean it doesn't exist. A single push notification can activate a hidden app or feature, should a government have installed it.
Indeed, there are "lost phone" apps on the market that let you do similar things (though I'm not sure about listening in per se, more like gps, alarm sound, take photos).

so, it's technically possible?

Fking1 said:
so, it's technically possible?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is possible and google patented an ad technique that involved using the microphone to listen for background noises and words to produce better more personalised ad results but haven't implemented it yet.
Also you can remotely activate phone features as well as push data to a phone so yes it could be done but they would need at least an app installed on your phone to do so.
So unless you allow someone to install hidden apps on your phone there's no chance of it.
Dave
( http://www.google.com/producer/editions/CAownKXmAQ/bigfatuniverse )
Sent from my LG P920 using Tapatalk 2

Interesting.
What if the government forces Google, Apple and Rim to leave such backdoors accessible by them?
Android is open source but the kernel is not as far as i know?

Fking1 said:
Interesting.
What if the government forces Google, Apple and Rim to leave such backdoors accessible by them?
Android is open source but the kernel is not as far as i know?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
even if thats the case: just flash an own kernel like we all do.
i don't think there's something in android, because it's open source. someone would see that..
and the kernel problem is solved when you flash another one i guess
but those normal ppl out there.. the weird ones who doesn't flash their devices, they are ****ed then. xP

but are the kernels we flash open source? I guess even with custom ROM you use the default google kernel, since if it haven't been open source in the first place, i don't think anyone has written it from scratch.
The more important question is, can something like this be hidden in the kernel, or it needs to run in the OS as normal, but hidden app?

Fking1 said:
Care to elaborate?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
NSAKEY. I'd post links but I can't.

B33zal said:
NSAKEY. I'd post links but I can't.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
NSAKEY?
post them sripped or PM me

Is it possible? Yes is it likely? No. At least in the US they would need to prove you were a threat to national security to get a judge to sign off on it.
The android kernel is open source completely.
As an example there is a root binary that grants root access without user prompt or notification of any kind. So while it can be done I would not worry about it much.
FEMA chip anyone?
Sent for a corner cell in Arkham

dmhdogpro said:
In all actuality if the gumment wanted to monitor you they already are....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bingo
I do not worry about my Government, if they want me they
will come and get me (and I won't be able to stop them)
It is my fellow citizens whom scare me the most.

B33zal said:
Well, I'm no developer but if you are going to lurk deeper on backdoors, you'll soon find out that bigger corporations than Gooogle have implemented backdoors in their systems.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is true and some EULAs even suggest that there is no privacy on the data commited to the systems. Simple software we use daily (specially in the MS Windows world) is gathering info about what data you search, what you download, what kinda documents you type, etc. Even cloud storage services have a EULA that guarantee you no privacy (Box, Dropbox, Google drive, etc)
As for Android, I highly doubt the problem lies in the operating system, since it is open source and anyone can take a look at it.
Now if you want a conspiracy theory, then read on...
Have you guys noticed how many of the browsers in Play Store are from chinese developers? Specially Dolphin, which many of you adore. Who can tell it isn't secretly sending your browsing habits to the Chinese government? How many people have been sniffing traffic to/from Dolphin (using tcpdump, for instance) to make sure it isn't doing other things?
Chrome (and Chromium) is another example: most people simply have to access their google accounts from these browsers. These browsers effectively send private user data to google. The question here is: how is google making use of such data and who is it sharing it with (for a profit or not)???
It's almost a paradox that in the information age we are more and more willing to have privacy but we have never shared so much of their personal lives with so many as we do now. Take, for instance, Facebook, Google+, Twitter,
I could go on and on... but I gotta some wifi sniffing to do right now and some wardriving later.

transfer phone and all apps on it to another user

i have a galaxy s2 with many free and paid apps on it. i wish to transfer ownership of the phone and all applications including paid ones to a friend so that he does not have to buy all the paid apps on it again.
i would think it is possible since i paid for use of them if i wish to give up use under my name and assign use to someone else using the same phone i should be able to. i cannot find a way to do this in play store or in appbrain.
does anyone have a clue how to do this or know where to point me for instructions?
i would have better luck contacting Abraham Lincoln than i would trying to contact google.
as it is the phone will probably try to self destruct once i change the gmail account it runs under so i want to have this in place in the stores so it can verify and re-get the apps if necessary without hassle since the stores would know that he owns the phone and apps..
any help would be greatly appreciated.
Cody

I think you should try to contact Abraham Lincoln, that seems like a good plan of attack. Just Google his contact info...
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium

Apex_Strider said:
I think you should try to contact Abraham Lincoln, that seems like a good plan of attack. Just Google his contact info...
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL might be.. they seem to think of everything i cannot believe they didn't think of this. transfer of equipment and associated 'licenses' is very common.

Titanium Backup
Sent from my CM10 KF w/ Tapatalk

sweeds said:
Titanium Backup
Sent from my CM10 KF w/ Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i admit i am not familiar with titanium backup. outside of restoring any odd apps onto the phone so they run again, would that list the paid apps withi play store so when he gets an update to an app they wont try to charge him again? i want his apps account to totally recognize the s2 and all apps as 'his' without question so they will not try to charge him for them. i will have no rights at all to those apps on that phone. i have a galaxy note that i had to pay for all the apps again for it which is as it shoudl be.. it is a different phone...
i want to hand him the phone set up for his account such that when he goes to do anything with play store or appbrain they will recognize the phone and all apps on it free and paid, as his.

It is not possible to transfer apps from one user to another. It isn't even possible to transfer them to a different Google account that you use.
Read the Google terms and conditions and you'll see this on there - nothing you can do about it.
Sent from the darkest corners of my mind.

SimonTS said:
It is not possible to transfer apps from one user to another. It isn't even possible to transfer them to a different Google account that you use.
Read the Google terms and conditions and you'll see this on there - nothing you can do about it.
Sent from the darkest corners of my mind.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thank you. no i have not read their drivel. so then they on one hand scream freedom from being locked to a specific provider, and turn around and lock the phone in a far more sadistic and restrictive way. what we need is a company who believes in total freedom and implements such. they are no better than apple then..
wonderful.
i do not find a 'resolved/close' thread button so i will consider this thread closed.

Only one solution
gndmstr said:
thank you. no i have not read their drivel. so then they on one hand scream freedom from being locked to a specific provider, and turn around and lock the phone in a far more sadistic and restrictive way. what we need is a company who believes in total freedom and implements such. they are no better than apple then..
wonderful.
i do not find a 'resolved/close' thread button so i will consider this thread closed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only one solution is to put your gmail account on the phone of your friend. But of course he will have an access to all your mails etc, so I don't think it is a good solution !

HappyDr0id said:
The only one solution is to put your gmail account on the phone of your friend. But of course he will have an access to all your mails etc, so I don't think it is a good solution !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no. i did that once a few years ago for someone i trusted. that person abused the trust and bought all kinds of expensive apps and used my gmail email account as their own. i had to close everything out and start fresh so i will never do that again.
there is no earthly reason why a phone and all its installed apps cannot be moved from one account to another except google's apparent need for control or laziness in coding the proper routines.

gndmstr said:
thank you. no i have not read their drivel. so then they on one hand scream freedom from being locked to a specific provider, and turn around and lock the phone in a far more sadistic and restrictive way. what we need is a company who believes in total freedom and implements such. they are no better than apple then..
wonderful.
i do not find a 'resolved/close' thread button so i will consider this thread closed.
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They may well use an Open-Source software for their devices, which is a fantastic thing, but they are a business and exist to make money. You don't 'own' the apps when you buy them - you are just getting the right to use them. Anything beyond that would be considered on-selling, even if you are making no money from it. Do you think that Apple would let you transfer apps to a different account? Or Microsoft for that matter?

SimonTS said:
They may well use an Open-Source software for their devices, which is a fantastic thing, but they are a business and exist to make money. You don't 'own' the apps when you buy them - you are just getting the right to use them. Anything beyond that would be considered on-selling, even if you are making no money from it. Do you think that Apple would let you transfer apps to a different account? Or Microsoft for that matter?
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when you pay for an app you pay for a license to use that app. there is no reason why you cannot transfer that license to another person as long as you give up all rights to use that license yourself. i have done this with many microsoft applications and they support it. or at least they did as of the beginnings of xp. i would give the original disks to the person, remove the application from my machine and then i called msoft and advised them of the license transfer. they took the info and were happy. apple simply is not a contender in this situation. they are all about control. even moreso than microsoft and i would never have believed i just said that. dont get me wrong they make some incredible hardware and systems, i just totally am at odds with their business philosophies.

[Q] NSA Can Spy on Smart Phone Data

Surprise, surprise!
SPIEGEL has learned from internal NSA documents that the US intelligence agency has the capability of tapping user data from the iPhone, devices using Android as well as BlackBerry, a system previously believed to be highly secure.
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-http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/a-920971.html-
I believe that smartphones are a gold mine not only for spying agencies but also for commercial behavioral trackers. I would wish to see more privacy-aware development from the XDA community.
I am aware of Xprivacy, OpenPDroid and Replicant. What other work is done to make Android more privacy friendly?

I agree .... just recently a criminal in my area was found and arrested after the police called his cell phone provider and had them track him for them... now it's good that a criminal was caught but the possibility of abuse of the tracking abilities of these phones is too risky for me .... I would love to see some privacy apps come out that can get a handle on this issue.

Here they need a warrent if they want to track your Phone through the provider and over here the providers wont give any info if they dont have to as far as i know.

Not Anymore i found the Backdoor Nobody belive me but Why
The name of the Backdoor is SevenEngine.apk delet it and no more Spying
Sent from my GT-S5830i using xda premium

Red Hack group said:
Not Anymore i found the Backdoor Nobody belive me but Why
The name of the Backdoor is SevenEngine.apk delet it and no more Spying
Sent from my GT-S5830i using xda premium
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Click to collapse
Well... If you perhaps looked into what that app is, you'd find that it's the engine powering Samsung stock ROM email services?
Before you claim something is a backdoor, and that removing it leads to "no more spying", what about some proper analysis of the app?
The app is not present on stock version of Android either

This app dont appear is service list and used this week 190 Gb data connection Oo explain !
Sent from my GT-S5830i using xda premium

Red Hack group said:
This app dont appear is service list and used this week 190 Gb data connection Oo explain !
Sent from my GT-S5830i using xda premium
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If it's not in the service list, it's not a service...
190 Gb - really? I think you need to either check your stats are correct there, or look at the traffic you've sent/received in terms of Email.
You can't "call" a backdoor using these userland tools, as a good backdoor won't appear in them...

I would more worry about the millions of users who check e-mail on a device on public WiFi (secured with password or not).
So many people connect to POP accounts with the credentials sent in plain text format with no secure e-mail setup.
Same applies to some Apps not just the main App bundled with the system.
P.S. I am not talking about sending passwords by e-mail in plain text. (yet I worry for the masses that do that also.)
I am talking about those who have e-mail accounts setup on a device, but the e-mail client communicates with the e-mail server for log-in with an unsecured / unencrypted protocol.

zurpher said:
I am aware of Xprivacy, OpenPDroid and Replicant. What other work is done to make Android more privacy friendly?
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Good thread, thanks has been given. Have a look into my signature. This is the project I am very fire and flame for at the moment. If you would like to know when being traced down by law enforcement agencies or police, participate in developing this awesome app!

NSA's sole purpose is spying, they will die but do this. They try to spy on everybody not just in USA but all over the world. Smartphones are not the only target. They put their hands on everything, I am sure Windows and other OS and most popular software are full of hidden back-doors inserted by NSA. Of course it is done without warrants. It is approved by secret judges in secret courts. Thanks Snowden and other guys to poor more light on this.

Im glad this forum was started... I am very excited about android security as well and for a good reason: I have a lot of highly confidential patient files on my phone and tablet and would never imagine of giving them up.
For the communtiy who want more : there's an app out of beta but still in developement called network connections. google it. It monitors the current live connections and their IP address. In my opinion very useful but i think its needs a rigerous run. Ive been using wireshark but thats a bit too hectic given my time constraints. Oh and the dev has graciously put the pro version for free download for this week only. so give that a try and let me know.

Of course, lets not kid ourselves into believing Android is secure from highly funded and powerful spying agencies.

aejazhaq said:
I have a lot of highly confidential patient files on my phone and tablet and would never imagine of giving them up.
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Hahaha.. you suck in securing your files!

dharmabum02 said:
I agree .... just recently a criminal in my area was found and arrested after the police called his cell phone provider and had them track him for them... now it's good that a criminal was caught but the possibility of abuse of the tracking abilities of these phones is too risky for me .... I would love to see some privacy apps come out that can get a handle on this issue.
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Click to collapse
A cell provider can track you like this regardless of what type of phone you have. It's not a smartphone thing. All they need to do is see what cell tower your phone is connected too (any network, not just data). And since it's their tower they know where it is - hence they know your approximate location from you turning your phone on.
So if you don't want your provider to know where you are - don't connect to their network.

SecUpwN said:
Hahaha.. you suck in securing your files!
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hahahaha... yeah but I have to work off my tablet and theres so much in a days work unless the precess is automated I doubt I can do it every single time. The others just will probably have a hard time with APG anyway ... for now im sticking with the hospital address.

I'll be back said:
NSA's sole purpose is spying, they will die but do this. They try to spy on everybody not just in USA but all over the world. Smartphones are not the only target. They put their hands on everything, I am sure Windows and other OS and most popular software are full of hidden back-doors inserted by NSA. Of course it is done without warrants. It is approved by secret judges in secret courts. Thanks Snowden and other guys to poor more light on this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ya

zurpher said:
Surprise, surprise!
-http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/a-920971.html-
I believe that smartphones are a gold mine not only for spying agencies but also for commercial behavioral trackers. I would wish to see more privacy-aware development from the XDA community.
I am aware of Xprivacy, OpenPDroid and Replicant. What other work is done to make Android more privacy friendly?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course they are a data gold mine.
At one time everyone was warning of the day we'd have ID chips implanted in us to track our every movement. No need for that, we all willingly submit by carrying phones.
There is no privacy software that will help you. Your carrier can be compelled by secret courts to hand over any metadata associated with your account. This is not isolated to the US. Canada is doing it too, and probably many other countries.
If you want privacy, you can't connect to any networks.

flar2 said:
There is no privacy software that will help you.
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Have a look at THIS THREAD. It aims to develop a tool to at least warn people that they're being traced down. Developer missing. Post there and revive the project!

zurpher said:
Surprise, surprise!
-http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/a-920971.html-
I believe that smartphones are a gold mine not only for spying agencies but also for commercial behavioral trackers. I would wish to see more privacy-aware development from the XDA community.
I am aware of Xprivacy, OpenPDroid and Replicant. What other work is done to make Android more privacy friendly?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Really, all this NSA bs is nothing new. If you are just now aware that spy agencies can spy on you now, well welcome to the modern age. They could spy on your phone even before smartphones existed.
Now what they are mostly doing is "Data Mining" on top of being able to hear what you say and if you really think you can do something against it, think again. And BTW, every developed country does it. The whole evil NSA is just antiamerican propaganda. If you think the russians are not spying or the chinese are not spying, think again. Maybe this will ease your conscience a bit by knowing that everybody spies.
If you are afraid of being spied and you have valuable information, you should not be asking major geopolitical agencies to change their policy, instead you should get off the internet. These are matters of "National Security".
Wellcome to the information age.
Information is power.

shadowcore said:
Really, all this NSA bs is nothing new. If you are just now aware that spy agencies can spy on you now, well welcome to the modern age. They could spy on your phone even before smartphones existed.
Now what they are mostly doing is "Data Mining" on top of being able to hear what you say and if you really think you can do something against it, think again. And BTW, every developed country does it. The whole evil NSA is just antiamerican propaganda. If you think the russians are not spying or the chinese are not spying, think again. Maybe this will ease your conscience a bit by knowing that everybody spies.
If you are afraid of being spied and you have valuable information, you should not be asking major geopolitical agencies to change their policy, instead you should get off the internet. These are matters of "National Security".
Wellcome to the information age.
Information is power.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Too true, sadly.