[Q] Dodgy apps on GooglePlay - General Questions and Answers

Hi,
I came across a developer called "EA Games Google" who is clearly trying to get information from not very tech savvy users by requesting heaps of permissions. Also it seems that developer is using names and images from well known apps and games.
Here's the market link:
play.google.com/store/apps/developer?id=EA%20GAMES%20Google&hl=en
And these are the permissions all these apps have:
This app has access to these permissions:
Your location
precise location (GPS and network-based)
approximate location (network-based)
Your messages
receive text messages (SMS)
read your text messages (SMS or MMS)
Network communication
full network access
view network connections
view Wi-Fi connections
Phone calls
read phone status and identity
System tools
uninstall shortcuts
install shortcuts
read Home settings and shortcuts
Bluetooth
pair with Bluetooth devices
Bookmarks and History
write web bookmarks and history
read your Web bookmarks and history
Other Application UI
draw over other apps
Microphone
record audio
Lock screen
disable your screen lock
Your social information
read your contacts
Your accounts
find accounts on the device
Development tools
read sensitive log data
Affects Battery
control vibration
prevent device from sleeping
Your applications information
run at startup
Is there a way to stop this dodgy developer?

Report them to google
Sent from my YP-G1 using xda app-developers app

cheby said:
Hi,
I came across a developer called "EA Games Google" who is clearly trying to get information from not very tech savvy users by requesting heaps of permissions. Also it seems that developer is using names and images from well known apps and games.
Here's the market link:
play.google.com/store/apps/developer?id=EA%20GAMES%20Google&hl=en
And these are the permissions all these apps have:
This app has access to these permissions:
Your location
precise location (GPS and network-based)
approximate location (network-based)
Your messages
receive text messages (SMS)
read your text messages (SMS or MMS)
Network communication
full network access
view network connections
view Wi-Fi connections
Phone calls
read phone status and identity
System tools
uninstall shortcuts
install shortcuts
read Home settings and shortcuts
Bluetooth
pair with Bluetooth devices
Bookmarks and History
write web bookmarks and history
read your Web bookmarks and history
Other Application UI
draw over other apps
Microphone
record audio
Lock screen
disable your screen lock
Your social information
read your contacts
Your accounts
find accounts on the device
Development tools
read sensitive log data
Affects Battery
control vibration
prevent device from sleeping
Your applications information
run at startup
Is there a way to stop this dodgy developer?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Report them. Since I also heard that there are policy changes which bans home screen shortcuts. Once many of us report, Google will remove them without second thoughts. BAZING!!!

Related

[Q] App for App Permission Control (non-rooted device))

Anyone with the HTC Sensation with an app permission control? Certain apps require too much permission for their uses.. and i dotn know which one to get. i heard driodwall was good but it needs root.
I just downloaded Fandango.. and im looking at the permissions..half of those things worry me.
SERVICES THAT COST YOU MONEY
DIRECTLY CALL PHONE NUMBERS
Allows the application to call phone numbers without your intervention. Malicious applications may cause unexpected calls on your phone bill. Note that this does not allow the application to call emergency numbers.
SEND SMS MESSAGES
Allows application to send SMS messages. Malicious applications may cost you money by sending messages without your confirmation.
HARDWARE CONTROLS
RECORD AUDIO
Allows application to access the audio record path.
CHANGE YOUR AUDIO SETTINGS
Allows application to modify global audio settings such as volume and routing.
YOUR LOCATION
FINE (GPS) LOCATION
Access fine location sources such as the Global Positioning System on the device, where available. Malicious applications can use this to determine where you are, and may consume additional battery power.
NETWORK COMMUNICATION
FULL INTERNET ACCESS
Allows an application to create network sockets.
YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION
ADD OR MODIFY CALENDAR EVENTS AND SEND EMAIL TO GUESTS
Allows an application to add or change the events on your calendar, which may send email to guests. Malicious applications can use this to erase or modify your calendar events or to send email to guests.
PHONE CALLS
READ PHONE STATE AND IDENTITY
Allows the application to access the phone features of the device. An application with this permission can determine the phone number and serial number of this phone, whether a call is active, the number that call is connected to and the like.

Simple Friend Finder

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fp.simpleff
This is my first android app: Simple Friend Finder.. any comments/suggestions about it?
The google play description below:
Finding your friends just got easier!
If you know their phone number, this app will allow you to find their location with the touch of a button for free as long as they have this app!
This is NOT a stalking app!
If you send a request to a friend and they dont have this app, a link will be sent to them via SMS (with your permission)
This app is NOT ONLINE BASED. NONE of your information is ever shared with anybody unless you explicitly share it. Online access is ONLY used to download tiles for the Friends Map and images for Street View.
Works with ALL carriers and ALL android phones!
**FEATURES**
->Request Location - Ask a friend for their location
->Allowed list - Shows you people who allowed you to see their location, plus how far away they are from you
->Navigate - Allows you to navigate to a friend's location via GPS
->Street View - Allows you to see a panoramic image of where your friend is
->Friend Map - Allows you to see on a physical map where your friend is and a blue line connecting you to them.
->Map Texture - Allows you to switch the Friend Map texture from a satellite view to textured view and vice versa
->Update Location - Allows you to send an updated location to a friend
->Revoke Location - Allows you to pull your location from somebody you allowed access to your location
->Blacklist - Allows you to block certain people from requesting your location
->Privacy Setting - Blocks anybody who is not in your contacts from finding your location or Allows anybody to ask you for your location
More features will be coming soon!
**EXTRA FEATURE**
->Busy Mode - Puts phone into vibrate mode and automatically responds to text messages with your pre-determined message when activated
**More detailed explanation of features**
You can send a location request to someone asking for their location. If they accept your request, then you get access to their location.With that access, you can navigate to them via GPS,look at where they are with STREET VIEW, look at them on the Friend Map or send them an update on your location.
You can add people to your blacklist and block them from ever sending you a location request as well as revoke your location from individuals (in-case you don't want them to have access to your location anymore)
**DISCLAIMER**
The location/ points given to you from this app does not automatically continuously update (It DOES NOT allow you to stalk a person). All locations point to where the person was when they accepted your location request.
**Optimal Usage**
Read the startup screen (It only appears ONCE)
if you are using GoSMS, disable the option "disable other messaging app notifications"
Turn your GPS off if you are indoors, turn it on if you are outdoors for a more accurate location
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fp.simpleff

Security (tracking apps) comparison

avast! Mobile Security​
Features
Antivirus: Scans installed apps and memory card content on demand and new apps upon first use.
• Privacy Report: Scans and displays access rights and intents of installed apps.
• Anti-Theft (hidden component): Gives you remote control via SMS or Web (cell phone tracking, activate siren, memory wipe, etc.).
• Network Meter: Measures incoming/outgoing data transfers.
• Web Shield: Scans each URL that loads and warns you if it’s malware-infected. Includes USSD blocker.
• Widget: Gives you control of the app from your Android desktop.
• Web Interface: Provides remote control of anti-theft features (cell phone lock, GPS tracking, memory wipe, etc.).
or via SMS commands sent from another phone List of commands available at http://www.avast.com/free-mobile-security#tab5
• Remote Calling
Remotely have the phone call you elsewhere with screen blackened, so that thieves cannot see it. This way you can listen to the phone's surroundings.
• Remote History
Query the call log, contacts, and SMS messages remotely (with each forwarded as a separate SMS message, but able to be filtered).
• SiteCorrect: Automatically fixes mistyped URLs.
• Shield Control: Advanced settings for app, web, and messages scanning.
• UI Design: Great readability on Android cell phones and tablets.
• SMS/Call Filtering: Filters out particular contacts that you select.
• App Manager: Lists apps and their sizes (MB), CPU load, memory used, etc.
• Battery Save: Runs only when performing tasks.
• Firewall (works on rooted phones only): Serves as gatekeeper for network
traffic.
• Available Languages: Catalan, Czech, Dutch, English, French, German, Hungarian, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish.
Learn more: http://www.avast.com/free-mobile-security
Remotely control your phone after install at: https://my.avast.com[/QUOTE]
Lookout Security & Antivirus​
Feature Overview - *Premium* features noted with *stars*
SECURITY & ANTIVIRUS
Backed by the Mobile Threat Network, Lookout protects you from bad stuff that can slow down your phone or make unauthorized charges to your wireless bill with over-the-air, real-time updates.
• Detect and remove viruses and spyware that can hide in apps, email attachments, or phone files.
• Scan every number you click to call from your mobile browser and we’ll alert you if dialing the number might have unintended consequences, like wiping your phone.
• Schedule antivirus scans with weekly/daily options.
• **Block dangerous URLs that can steal your private information like logins and passwords - 40% of people will click an unsafe URL from their smartphone this year!
• **See the data that each of your apps can access with Privacy Advisor.
FIND MY PHONE
Ever lose your phone or have it stolen? It’s a horrible feeling and it happens to most people at least once a year. But not all hope is lost. Lookout gives you the best chance at finding your lost phone or tablet.
• Find your phone on a Google Map instantly from Lookout.com. (simply log-in!)
• Sound a loud alarm or make your phone SCREAM to find it even if it’s on silent!
• Automatically see your phone's last known location at Lookout.com to find it even when the battery is dead.
• Protect your phone from prying eyes! Get an email with the picture and location of anyone who tries to unlock your Android device.
• **Remotely lock your phone from Lookout.com to prevent unauthorized use. Add a custom message to help get your phone back faster!
• **Wipe your phone's data to rest assured that no one will have access to your info.
BACKUP & RESTORE
We all have things that we cherish on our phones. Save an extra copy of the personal data on your phone for those “just in case” moments. Access all your data online, quickly and easily, at Lookout.com.
• Back up your contacts automatically.
• Restore all your contacts to your existing phone or tablet from your Lookout.com account
• **Protect your valuable pictures and call history automatically.
• **Transfer your contacts, pictures, and call history to a new device from Lookout.com
*Learn about the latest security threats at https://blog.lookout.com
*Learn about our permissions at https://www.lookout.com/permissions
*Like us on Facebook at http://facebook.com/mylookout
*Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lookout
Lookout Security & Antivirus is available in German, French, Japanese, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese (Traditional and Simplified), Korean, Russian and Polish.
Google Playstore Link https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lookout&hl=en
Cerberus anti theft​
Cerberus is a complete anti-theft application, the best protection you can get to recover your misplaced, lost or stolen Android device. This is a free trial for one week, then you can buy a lifetime license for a small price (2.99€) from within the application: no monthly or yearly fees, just a one-time payment. License is associated to your Cerberus account, if you have multiple devices you can use all of them (up to 5) with the same account.
It has three ways to protect your device:
- Remote control through the website www.cerberusapp.com
- Remote control via text messages
- SIM Checker (for devices that have a SIM card): you will automatically receive alerts if someone uses your phone with an unauthorized SIM card
Remote control allows you to perform many operations on your device, like:
- Locate and track it
- Start a loud alarm, even if the device is set to silent mode
- Wipe the internal memory and the SD card
- Hide Cerberus from the app drawer
- Lock the device with a code
- Record audio from the microphone
- Get a list of last calls sent and received
- Get information about network and operator the device is connected to
- And much more!
Cerberus automatically enables GPS if it is off when you try to localize your device (only on Android < 2.3.3) and you can protect it from unauthorized uninstalling - more info in the app configuration.
The app works even if the device does not have an internet connection thanks to remote control by sms messages. Also, the SIM Checker feature allows you to know the new number to send texts to, if the SIM card is changed. Texts received and sent for Cerberus remote control will not start any notification and will not appear in the Messages application.
Cerberus does not drain the battery because there is no background service running: it will activate only if there is a remote control request and will stop afterwards.
More features for rooted devices: complete uninstall protection (a thief will be able to delete Cerberus only by flashing another ROM), GPS auto-enabling even on Android > 2.3.3. More info on the website in the Help section.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lsdroid.cerberus&hl=en
Prey Anti-Theft​
Open source, cross-platform anti-theft tracker. Prey lets you keep track of *all* your devices easily on one place. Android version supports:
- GPS + Wifi geo-location.
- SIM change detection.
- SMS or Push (On Demand) activation (2.2+).
- Lock phone/tablet for privacy (2.2+).
- Uninstall protection (2.2+).
- Loud alarm sound.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/...rch_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5wcmV5Il0.
- Alert messages to user.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Reserved.
Avast information updated. http://www.avast.com/free-mobile-security#tab5
Remote calling http://www.avast.com/free-mobile-security#tab3 similar to Cerebus's "Record audio from the microphone"
Remote History similar to "- Get a list of last calls sent and received"

[App][2.3+] Hermes

Hello fellow developers and/or Android enthusiasts,
I wanted to take a moment to start a thread on for the Android application (2.3+) Hermes. I would like to post the application first here to get your feedback, comments and improvement ideas.
Hermes (a.k.a Map My Location)
Hermes is an attempt to provide a sense of security to all the travelers of all over the world and especially the women who use the public transport to commute to their work place and back home.
Hermes is an application that lets a commuter be tracked while on the road, posting the whereabouts at regular intervals on popular social network. The posts are secured and are visible to only those whom the commuter has provided permissions to view. It also enables your friends and family to know your whereabouts by sending you a SMS containing a secret code.
The application consists of two main features:
Track Me
Live Track
TrackMe
Track Me enables your friends and family to locate you easily. They just need to send you a SMS containing a secret code ("hermes" by default). Upon receipt of this SMS, the application automatically sends a SMS reply to the sender containing the Google Maps link of your location.
Live Track
LiveTrack enables you to automatically publish your location on Facebook at regular intervals tagged ONLY to your friends and families. You just need to connect to Facebook and specify which specific friends in your friend list will be able to see the posted location on your timeline.
Why does it need so many permissions?
Read Contacts - Need to get the Name of the person sending request for Track Me
Storage (modify/delete SD card contents) - Needed to create logs and caching
Connect to Internet - Required to make post to Facebook on your behalf
Read SMS - Required to capture an SMS contaning Hermes secret code
Send SMS - TrackMe automatically sends SMS reply to the sender with Google Maps location. Note: Your carrier standard outgoing SMS charge may apply.
Access fine location - To capture your location
Access network state - Used to determine if application can post to facebook through network connection.
Run at Startup - Used to enable live track service after reboot
Prevent phone from sleeping - App wakes up the device at interval specified for LiveTrack
Why the application requires Facebook permissions?
Facebook permissions are required only in case you are using LiveTrack, since LiveTrack automatically publishes your location automatically at defined time inteval. Following permission is required:
Post on your behalf
The app posts my old/wrong location through TrackMe SMS
The application tries to retrieve your location from both GPS and cellular network and latest one is used. To ensure accurate location posting, the application will require either of following in order of preference. All of them might not be practically possible because of various reasosn such as battery constraints (GPS) or your current location (WiFi connected)
Your GPS is turned on
Your Mobile Data (2G/3G) is turned on
Your Wifi is connected
If none of the above is true, the application will post your last available location.
The application fails to post my location on facebook
If the application fails to post your location on facebook. Check the below conditions:
Your mobile have working internet connection (2G/3G/WiFi)
Your facebook account is connected in the application
You have selected the friends option (either Everyone, Friends, Friends of Friends, Custom)
If the internet is not available at the specified time of the making a facebook post, the application will post the location as soon as the network becomes available.
What is the ideal data/WIFI/GPS connection for this application
During my testing, the application works well with 2G connection, providing fairly accurate locations. GPS can be turned on if precise location is preferred during LiveTrack
I want to file a bug report, What should I do ?
Check github issues. Create a new issue and include the following details:
Version of the Hermes used
Version of Android/brand of phone used
Screenshots:

[APP][2.3+] iKeyMonitor Backup Spy App 4.1

iKeyMonitor Android Free version works as a backup tool for Android cell phones that logs keystrokes, SMS, Call history, WhatsApp messages, websites visited, captures screenshots and sends and save them on device. iKeyMonitor can be a helper for Android users like parents and employers who want to keep a backup of recent activities or monitor what has been done on Android cell phones - even if the activity logs are erased.
Key Features of iKeyMonitor Android Backup free Version
Backup typed keystrokes when using a customized US keyboard.
Log incoming and outgoing SMS and WhatsApp(Root) messages
Log call history
Track the websites visited in Chrome and Stock web browsers
Take screenshots(Root) at the time interval
Install
Download Apk from ikeymonitor.com/download
Open the Apk to install it
After install, find the "iKeyMonitor" icon in All Apps list and open it.

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