[Q] Is there a way around Exchange email -no root- rule - General Questions and Answers

My employer just opened up Android native email capability (to receive work email, calendar, apps) for my Note i717. Problem is, they won't allow Rooted devices.
I know there's several (6 I think) security certificates that get installed, but I was wondering if there's a way around this no-root rule.
1. If I unroot, get all certificates installed and then re-root will it nullify the certs?
2. Does anyone know enough about certs to answer if they're something that can be backed up and restored if I move to a different ROM in the future?
I've scoured the forum and have found info on bypassing the credential logins, but not pertaining to these questions above. Answers would be greatly appreciated.

It isn't really a rule...depending on your environment
b3furuya said:
My employer just opened up Android native email capability (to receive work email, calendar, apps) for my Note i717. Problem is, they won't allow Rooted devices.
I know there's several (6 I think) security certificates that get installed, but I was wondering if there's a way around this no-root rule.
1. If I unroot, get all certificates installed and then re-root will it nullify the certs?
2. Does anyone know enough about certs to answer if they're something that can be backed up and restored if I move to a different ROM in the future?
I've scoured the forum and have found info on bypassing the credential logins, but not pertaining to these questions above. Answers would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unless your company is using a type of MDM platform (Codeproof, Good, MobileIron, AppSense), they will not be able to detect that you have root access to your phone. Some companies instruct users to install a separate MDM application in order to access their email. Most Exchange servers can be connected to without installing the MDM software. If they don't force an MDM client, they won't know you are rooted.
Depending on the version of Exchange, you can use a 3rd party email app like K-9 to access the email which would also bypass the additional security policies that will be installed if you were using the built-in Exchange support. I use Touchdown, therefore the app is protected by a PIN but not my phone, so I can still unlock the phone without having to type a 6 digit number every, single, time.
The way I see it, the company's data is still protected, and I am not overly inconvenienced, it is a win-win.

Unless your company is using a type of MDM platform (Codeproof, Good, MobileIron, AppSense), they will not be able to detect that you have root access to your phone. Some companies instruct users to install a separate MDM application in order to access their email. Most Exchange servers can be connected to without installing the MDM software. If they don't force an MDM client, they won't know you are rooted.
Depending on the version of Exchange, you can use a 3rd party email app like K-9 to access the email which would also bypass the additional security policies that will be installed if you were using the built-in Exchange support. I use Touchdown, therefore the app is protected by a PIN but not my phone, so I can still unlock the phone without having to type a 6 digit number every, single, time.
The way I see it, the company's data is still protected, and I am not overly inconvenienced, it is a win-win.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Apologies, I did forget to mention they instruct to install Mobile-Iron.
Their process is such:
1. Install Mobile-Iron
2. Encrypt Device & set 6 digit pin
3. Install Certificates
4. Email configuration
5. Sync email, calendar, clients to phone
They do note "If your device is rooted, this process will not complete successfully."
Reviewing the steps, it looks like the whole process is done within Mobile-Iron.

No dice so far
Still can't find anything on the net for this. If anyone can help answer this I'd greatly appreciate it.
I'd love to be able to check on emails without having to open and boot my laptop. Also, it would be great to have my calendar sync so I don't miss meetings.

Related

[Q] Do Android apps like twitter, dropbox encrypt passwords?

On a browser, you can initiate an SSL connection to log into your facebook or twitter account by using https...what about these apps on Android? Do I need to worry about people intercepting my passwords??
That's entirely dependent on the application. Dropbox can use a secure channel of communication or it could communicate in the open. Based on it's methods, I'm inclined to believe it's secure but I've not tested it.
Twitter had a large push towards it's OAuth login mechanism. However, there are documented methods that don't require applications to use it. So, again, it entirely depends on the application. Really, regardless of how this is done, your password shouldn't be passed in the clear.

SplashID v7 upgrade security issue

Besides the issues SplashData has with their SplashID v7 android upgrade losing many customers data, there is also a very worrying security issue which splashdata ignores = and actively censors, my messages regarding this on their FB page have been deleted and I am blocked from commenting our writing there)
Here is the issue:
The new SplashID version 7 had a cloud sync feature (30 day free trial, then for a fee). When first starting the upgraded version (which may have been installed automatically on Android if one allows auto upgrades!), one first has to again enter one's email address/username, and then the password (which is the one used to encrypt one's database containing all one's private, sensitive data!). Then the upgrade asks whether one wants to try the cloud sync feature.
Even if one declines and opts to stay with the existing Wi-Fi sync feature only(which does not need a cloud account), the upgrade goes ahead and automatically creates such a cloud account on splashdata's servers.*and it uses the same password* for this. (In fact as further part of the upgrade procedure one needs to log into those cloud servers using that password after receiving an activation link in email.
So, splashdata leaks the master password which one uses to secure one's most private data (credit card pins, login password etc) into their cloud, without telling that this will be fine, not asking permission.
There is no info whether the password is stored securely (doubt it), whether it is in ask cases transmitted securely (doubt that too) and anyhow, once this has happened one had lost control over that most important password. It's burnt.in the wild, out of one's own control
Note that changing the password on one's own copy of SplashID us a good idea after that, but any old copy of one's encrypted database that might still live on any old disk backup, cloud service (dropbox etc) or SD card somewhere, us now vulnerable.
And because splashdata in their 'wisdom' associated one's email address (and thus identity) with that password, it's easier for hackers to fund it.better companies than splashdata have lost password in the past.
It is even a very bad idea to user the same password for s cloud service as one uses for securing one's private data. Forcing this into users without permission or warning is almost criminal.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2
sejtam said:
Besides the issues SplashData has with their SplashID v7 android upgrade losing many customers data, there is also a very worrying security issue which splashdata ignores = and actively censors, my messages regarding this on their FB page have been deleted and I am blocked from commenting our writing there)
Here is the issue:
The new SplashID version 7 had a cloud sync feature (30 day free trial, then for a fee). When first starting the upgraded version (which may have been installed automatically on Android if one allows auto upgrades!), one first has to again enter one's email address/username, and then the password (which is the one used to encrypt one's database containing all one's private, sensitive data!). Then the upgrade asks whether one wants to try the cloud sync feature.
Even if one declines and opts to stay with the existing Wi-Fi sync feature only(which does not need a cloud account), the upgrade goes ahead and automatically creates such a cloud account on splashdata's servers.*and it uses the same password* for this. (In fact as further part of the upgrade procedure one needs to log into those cloud servers using that password after receiving an activation link in email.
So, splashdata leaks the master password which one uses to secure one's most private data (credit card pins, login password etc) into their cloud, without telling that this will be fine, not asking permission.
There is no info whether the password is stored securely (doubt it), whether it is in ask cases transmitted securely (doubt that too) and anyhow, once this has happened one had lost control over that most important password. It's burnt.in the wild, out of one's own control
Note that changing the password on one's own copy of SplashID us a good idea after that, but any old copy of one's encrypted database that might still live on any old disk backup, cloud service (dropbox etc) or SD card somewhere, us now vulnerable.
And because splashdata in their 'wisdom' associated one's email address (and thus identity) with that password, it's easier for hackers to fund it.better companies than splashdata have lost password in the past.
It is even a very bad idea to user the same password for s cloud service as one uses for securing one's private data. Forcing this into users without permission or warning is almost criminal.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ouch, that sounds a bad idea. If the user doesn't want a remote account made, they should respect that. Can you give me any more details about this, I would like to contact them and request some proper response to this. While they might not be leaking the plaintext password, anything that can be "opened" with your password is a significant enough leak, as it would allow an attacker to verify they have the right password.
pulser_g2 said:
Ouch, that sounds a bad idea. If the user doesn't want a remote account made, they should respect that. Can you give me any more details about this, I would like to contact them and request some proper response to this. While they might not be leaking the plaintext password, anything that can be "opened" with your password is a significant enough leak, as it would allow an attacker to verify they have the right password.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not much more that I already said. I am a long-time user of their SplashID (Mac) Desktop and Android app to store all my credit card, bank acount and yes, many systems passwords in.
The database they use is encrypted with a 'master password' which one has to enter on ones' Android (or iPhone, etc) or Desktop everytime to
unlock and decrypt (in memory), so that one access the data.
The same password is used on both the mobile and desktop of course.
A few days ago, an upgrade to SplashID v7 was made available on the Google Play store. I don't allow 'automatic' updates (though I am sure a lot of folks do!), but this time I also did not really check what the upgrade offered, and clicked 'UPDGRADE ALL' when it was offered along with a nunber of other upgrades. So it got installed.
When i subsequently opened SplashID again, it told me about all the shiny new features (cloud sync etc) and as normal asked me for my password (it also asked for my email address. I though that this was for them to check my purchase/license ans what features woudl be enabled)..
I thought that it would then show me my data. But wrong. Instead it offered me a selection whether I want to use the new 'cloud sync' feature (30 day free trial, later for $$), or stay with the normal 'wifi sync'.
I opeted for the latter (because I don't trust having my data sent to the cloud).
Anyway, the next thing I get is a message: (paraphrasing) "we have created your cloud account, you will get an email and will have to verify your email). Sure enough, I get an email:
Thank you for signing up for SplashID Safe Personal Edition!
To activate your account, please verify your email address by clicking the link below: Verify Email
Then check your email for our SplashID Safe Welcome message.{/QUOTE]
The link goes to: https://www.splashid.com/personal/webclient/login.php
I had to again ther enter my email address, and *the same password* that I entered before (which I thought would be for my private data-store).
Yes, that same password was used to create my account on their cloud server, even though I opted for the Wifi Sync *only* and never
asked for a cloud-sync.
Nor did the app tell me that the same password would be used to secure that aco****.
The issues with this are self-evident:
a) my most secure password, the one used to secure my data on my mobile and on my desktop is now 'leaked' to their cloud account
b) I have *no* idea how secuerly that password was transferred (in clear, encrypted, just a hash), nor how securely it is stored
c) it clearly is linked to my cloud-account on their website, so
- someone somehow learning that password could 'verify' it by accessing that account
- if someone hacked their system and accessed their database, that link would be apparent to them
d) I have nost *all control* over securing that password myself. It is 'burnt', 'in the wild'
e) Any pass backups of my secure SplashID database that may live on SD cards of mine, on backup disks, which may have
been copied to the cloud (dropbox, others) are now vulnerable. It is no use for me to change this password here now, as
old copies that may still exist somewhere are still encrypted with this password (and I cannot change them back).
Yes, I am trying to limit exposure for that password data file as much as possible, but eg Titatium Backup may have at some point in teh past backed it up and copied a backup to the cloud (yes, that is also encrypted, but once that featire failed).
More that that, of course users who are not as security conscious may have opeted for 'could sync'.
While I have not tried this feature myself, it sounds to me like thsi does copy the teh data to SplashID's cloud and
there secures it too only with that one single password.
So many users wh may not have thought all this out may have opted for the 'CloudSync' trial, and not only have their
password 'leaked'/'burnt' now, but also have all their data in the cloud, again secured only with a password that is no longer in their sole possession.
In fact, any secure, trustworthy system would have
a) been *very* upfront about what they are going to do with the password and the cloud account
b) used a separate password to secure the cloud account
c) only stored my encrypted copy of the database in their cloud, without *them* having the password for it
d) done any syncing on the client (ie, transfer the complerte encrypted password to the mobile or desktop where the comparisonupdates would happen) and then copied back again a secured file, that was encrypted on the mobile).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
More discussion on SplashID's own site: http://forum.splashdata.com/showthr...ically-send-in-background-to-splash-id-server

[Q] Exchange Email Device ID Change

Hello,
I am hoping someone can help me out. I have my work email setup on my phone using their webmail address. If I use the standard address, i am required to have Maas360 installed, which is not an option with me being rooted. Anyways, if I have the email program I use, which is either Nine or Mail Wise, setup for ActiveSync, my business server will catch it and block me. So, I have to setup the email app to scan for new emails every X minutes.
The problem I am running into, is I did not know that I had to have ActiveSync turned off, so now my device is banned when using Nine mail. So, I tried the same with Mail Wise, and got banned again. Now, on my third app, AquaMail, I have realized the problem, and its working great. However, I would prefer to use Nine mail. When trying to go back into Nine and recreate my account, i get an error that my device is blocked. I get the same error on Mail Wise. Both list a different Device ID. NineXXXXXXX and MailWiseXXXXXXXX. Is there a way to change this ID? I tried creating a new ID in Titanium Backup and that didn't change the IDs in the mail apps.
Thanks to anyone who can help!
you could ask the app developer (he should know it^^) or ask you sys admin. Normally it isn't that hard to unblock a phone (had done that enough).
I tried that. Sent an email a few days ago and haven't heard back.
Do you got a solution? I have the same problem, thx
Reply after very long time, but maybe could help someone else...
Nine email device ID is stored in a text file /data/data/com.ninefolders.hd3/deviceName. Could be changed with root rights. Changes become effective after re-start of Nine
Hey man, i'm in the same boat.
Thanks so much for sharing the solution.
Can you help me how to setup Nine so that it doesn't get blocked again?
Bump
Bump. I have the same issue. Any solution for non-rooted phones?
DKbluefish said:
Reply after very long time, but maybe could help someone else...
Nine email device ID is stored in a text file /data/data/com.ninefolders.hd3/deviceName. Could be changed with root rights. Changes become effective after re-start of Nine
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I recently tried to give Nine a DeviceID by amending this file. The Device ID is saved in the file, but Nine is always announcing the hexadecimal equivalent of that ASCII Device ID to the server. So if your approved ID by the server is in hex format, you can reverse it and put that into the file.
If not (which is my case), I would appreciate anyone who can indicate if there is a string that enforces Nine to keep the Device ID of the file without hex-transformation...

Is there a portable password manager that can also log into my computer?

Hello,
I was wondering if there is a password manager out there which can be stored on a flashdrive so that I can plug it in to log into my PC among other applications and websites?
I have never used a password manager before, and since recent scandals involving password theft, I feel like a lot of people are posting about the benefits of a password manager, so I felt I should try a password manager as well. I want to go the whole nine yards though. I want an immersive experience to REALLY get a feel of whether or not I will use a password manager, so I want to change everything, including my google password and Microsoft password, and let my password manager handle keeping them.
However, my Microsoft password is linked to my PC, so my computer password changes when my Microsoft account password changes. If I change it to some randomly generated strong password I would not remember it and would depend entirely on the password manager, which is why I want to know if there is a portable application that can log into my PC for me as well.
Also, my google account is linked to my phone, and it keeps record of my call history, text messages, and contacts. These are things I want to be retained whenever I get a new phone, factory reset my current phone, or clean install a custom ROM, so is there a password manager that handles this as well? The problem with apps is the fact that we need Google Play Store to download and install them officially, and we need a google account to access Google Play Store. I know that I can sideload an apk from my computer to my phone, but let's say I get a new phone at Best Buy and just CAN'T wait to get home and start using it. When I boot up it'll ask for my Google account so it can restore my contacts at the very least, but I'd be dependent on my password manager and will not be able to login without it. Is there something I can do that will allow me to login immediately upon turning on this shiny new device?
I've tried Dashlane, they don't have a remedy for the things above, and it seems like most password managers do not. On top of Dashlane's android overlay doesn't pop up when adding a google account, whether it just be for gmail or other google services. I am pretty sure that my request is a stretch, and if so, I'll probably just continue to manually type in my own passwords, but I figured I'd ask and see if anyone knew of an app that might do what I want or is migrating in that direction.
Thanks,
Weilun

Can you migrate Authenticator app data to new phone?

I'm planning on getting a new phone in the next few months. I'm a windows 10 hold out. One of the main reasons holding me back besides finances right now, is the microsoft authenticator app, which I use very heavily for personal and work. I probably have over 20 accounts setup.
I know I will have to disable and setup TFA again for all those accounts on on a new app with whatever device I ultimately end up with. But I'm wondering. In the future going from android to android device, is there an easier way to migrate authenticator apps?
I've never used the Microsoft app but I think it uses a standard method similar to Google Authenticator and others:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time-based_One-time_Password_algorithm
You might be able, somehow, to export the secret key and other parameters (these could be common defaults).
But I bet apps don't allow that easily in order to protect it from unintended disclosure.
Maybe there's a way to sync to an online Microsoft account, and from there sync the new phone? Microsoft Authenticator is available also on Android.
What I do when adding the info for a new account is write down the secret key, and any other parameters, in a password manager. From there they can be entered into other apps, or used directly.
hkjo said:
I've never used the Microsoft app but I think it uses a standard method similar to Google Authenticator and others:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time-based_One-time_Password_algorithm
You might be able, somehow, to export the secret key and other parameters (these could be common defaults).
But I bet apps don't allow that easily in order to protect it from unintended disclosure.
Maybe there's a way to sync to an online Microsoft account, and from there sync the new phone? Microsoft Authenticator is available also on Android.
What I do when adding the info for a new account is write down the secret key, and any other parameters, in a password manager. From there they can be entered into other apps, or used directly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it uses the same method as the Google app. I don't have any loyalty to the Microsoft app, that's just what was available for me on Windows. But sadly, no they don't have any MSA sync feature, otherwise I would gladly keep using the Microsoft app on when I do make the switch. I do jot down the secret key or the extra one use passwords when available, but there are several that don't offer one and you just take a picture of the QR code. Or at least, I didn't notice it.
But mainly my question is: Is there an authenticator app, be it google or some other brand that will actually migrate the TFA stuff from device to device. I've gotten so used to using TFA but now that I have so many accounts, it's a task I dread, having to deactivate and reactivate TFA just because I need to upgrade my device.
Here's one password manager that's supposed to support TOTP:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=keepass2android.keepass2android
It's probably more complex to use than stuff like MS/Google Authenticator.
A short search on the web suggests even Google Authenticator doesn't have a simple way to export/import or sync across devices.
But there are other suggestions here:
https://android.stackexchange.com/questions/63252/how-do-i-back-up-google-authenticator

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