Database Info

[Q] device admin app??

Is there a way (app?) to prevent others from installing apps on my phone? Like something that would require a password every time an app tries to install? Im running ICS on a G2X and it has a device admin section but i have no option to set it up. any ideas would be helpful. thanks.

Device admin is for certain options in an app, like turning the screen off. You have to enable it for that app, like a special permission, and disable it before you can uninstall the app. Only certain functions in certain apps require device administrator, and you must not have anything installed that uses it.
However if you could password protect the package installer using an app locking program then this would prevent others from installing apps. I don't know if any of those apps allow password protecting the package installer since I don't use them, but this would do it. You would need to password protect any means of uninstalling the app as well - settings, market, any uninstaller apps, your home replacement if it allows you to drag and drop to uninstall, etc. This would be a pain, and you'd be better off just password protecting the entire phone.

Thanks for the help. I'll try locking package installer and see how that goes. I'm just trying to keep my wife from installing apps that monitor my phone activity lol.

[Q] App and privacy issue

I'd like to pone a privacy problem.
In Android ,installed apps require permissions to operate. Permissions to access the Phone Id (also the IMEI) or the position of the device or the access to your calls seem very common in most apps on the market.
Permission for the position seems ok for a Gps navigation program but also for an alarm clock? Where do they sent my data and what use they do?
I use LBE privacy guard but it is enough?
what do you think?

Toriko said:
I'd like to pone a privacy problem.
In Android ,installed apps require permissions to operate. Permissions to access the Phone Id (also the IMEI) or the position of the device or the access to your calls seem very common in most apps on the market.
Permission for the position seems ok for a Gps navigation program but also for an alarm clock? Where do they sent my data and what use they do?
I use LBE privacy guard but it is enough?
what do you think?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
are you a thief?? :laugh:

Most of the permissions are for ads bases on location
Batcom2

xxXismakillXxx said:
are you a thief?? :laugh:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, but I'm thinking about it. Seriously, have you ever wonder why you get web searches, translations and other services for free and yet the companies that handle the sites are billionaires? Because they sell your personal data and your commercial preferences to other companies without your permission. Think about it when you post your personal data on the web.

zelendel said:
Most of the permissions are for ads bases on location
Batcom2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not so sure about that. However if I buy an ad free app , there shouldn't be any ads. And why an alarm clock need my phone id and can access my call log? It's fishy.

Toriko said:
I'd like to pone a privacy problem.
In Android ,installed apps require permissions to operate. Permissions to access the Phone Id (also the IMEI) or the position of the device or the access to your calls seem very common in most apps on the market.
Permission for the position seems ok for a Gps navigation program but also for an alarm clock? Where do they sent my data and what use they do?
I use LBE privacy guard but it is enough?
what do you think?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rule of thumb: Every app that asks for unique device numbers, location and a backchannel does so because it contains advertisement. Advertisers simply love to track customers and find out as much as possible about them in order to deliver ads that actually result in a sale (contrary to popular belief, they don't do that just to annoy the crap out of everyone).
Personally, I don't use LBE privacy guard. I haven't seen the source and that pretty much means it is as much a blackbox as the apps, it is suppose to protect me from. For me, rooting and installing a firewall to simply block the backchannel does the trick.

If u filter out apps for their permissions, u will have nothing but the system apps left on the phone! even I used to check permissions b4 downloading at the beginning. Then as I downloaded a lot of apps i was lazy enough to give a dang to wat permissions the app wants! just see through the comments (reviews) to know if there are any issues with the app! That's it.! And nowadays the app developer tries to explain the reason for each permission the app asks for. So sooner all apps are gonna be explaining their permissions! (hopefully)

zelendel said:
Most of the permissions are for ads bases on location
Batcom2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is true although some use it to collect app usage information for the purpose of improving the app. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to determine exactly why a particular permission is requested.

onyxbits said:
Personally, I don't use LBE privacy guard. I haven't seen the source and that pretty much means it is as much a blackbox as the apps, it is suppose to protect me from. For me, rooting and installing a firewall to simply block the backchannel does the trick.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Installing a firewall won't solve the problem, because you can't stop apps that need connection : together with the access to the net they send your data. LBE allows the access for the app but block the transmission of your id together with other data.
Anyway LBE also works as a firewall. There's another app that works the same way (Pdroid) but supports only Gingerbread.

[Q] Do I need Mobile Security, along with those following root necessary apps?

1)I have rooted the Android phone. Xperia Tipo.
2)Installed the Root explorer, Permissions Denied, Droidwall, Startup Manager, Adfree, Busybox, Titanium Backup.
3)I was planning to use the Comodo Mobile Security (including antivirus and a live monitoring firewall)
Do I need to remove anything from the previously installed set of apps? Because even if I have droidwall, It only blocks applications as a whole. I cannot stop the apps from doing specific spying like- phonebook photo, access. etc.
The ****ty google has lot of apps that keep logged in. I tried to block one service from startup, and youtube stopped working.
I dont want to permanently block them. I only want these apps to login and access only when I need.
What should I do?
I know I asked two or more questions in one topic, despite of the title. But, hope someone tells me.

Dude I can understand what you want because I also hate such google apps running in background so do the following
Go to (settings<apps<all)and find the app you want "for example" take YouTube select it and click "Disable"
(before tat click force stop to save RAM) The app will be freezed and will not run until you again go and enable it...
PS:The disabled app will be in the dead bottom in (settings<apps<all) you can go there and "Enable" it again when you really need to use the app.
HIT THANKS IF I HELPED YOU:thumbup:
Sent from my
xperia tipo rooted
using xda app-developers app

Yup...he's right dude....

Try Anti Theft Mobile Security
Try out Mobisecurity.net
It not only tracks location of lost mobile but also lock mobile remotely, send SIM change alert along with switched SIM number, wipe personal data when fallen into wrong hands.

(Potential) Malware found on Elephone S3 right out of box?

Hi guys
I recently purchased a Elephone S3 from Everbuying.com. I heard people talking about how notorious these Chinese phones are having malware installed on them, so I decided to give the malware check a go and use about 10+ popular Malware detection apps (Avast, Kaspersky, Avira, Trojan Killer, you name it) currently available on Play Store.
Out of all those, excluding warnings that doesn't really matter in this regards (Malware specific), the below two apps gave me those respective warning results.
I have done some research, but i don't think I found any relevant info in this regards. So, for all the guru out there, the question is obvious, should I be worried about these "non-deletable" apps (if not rooted)? If they ARE malicious, can I be worried free by turning off ALL permissions for the apps and in some case, disable the app (I can disable the Beauty Center, not ELE Launcher).
Thanks to you all for any input!
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
App - Beauty Center
Message - Android/PUP.Riskware.Cooee.a
App - ELE Launcher
Message - Android/PUP.Riskware.Cooee.H
Stubborn Trojan Killer
App - Beauty Center
Message - General Trojan
App - ELE Launcher
Message - General Trojan

bagachin said:
Hi guys
I recently purchased a Elephone S3 from Everbuying.com. I heard people talking about how notorious these Chinese phones are having malware installed on them, so I decided to give the malware check a go and use about 10+ popular Malware detection apps (Avast, Kaspersky, Avira, Trojan Killer, you name it) currently available on Play Store.
Out of all those, excluding warnings that doesn't really matter in this regards (Malware specific), the below two apps gave me those respective warning results.
I have done some research, but i don't think I found any relevant info in this regards. So, for all the guru out there, the question is obvious, should I be worried about these "non-deletable" apps (if not rooted)? If they ARE malicious, can I be worried free by turning off ALL permissions for the apps and in some case, disable the app (I can disable the Beauty Center, not ELE Launcher).
Thanks to you all for any input!
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
App - Beauty Center
Message - Android/PUP.Riskware.Cooee.a
App - ELE Launcher
Message - Android/PUP.Riskware.Cooee.H
Stubborn Trojan Killer
App - Beauty Center
Message - General Trojan
App - ELE Launcher
Message - General Trojan
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
go ahead and disable Beauty Center, as far as ELE Launcher, that seems legit. But if you don't like it, just replace it with something like Nova Launcher.

mattzeller said:
go ahead and disable Beauty Center, as far as ELE Launcher, that seems legit. But if you don't like it, just replace it with something like Nova Launcher.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi mattzeller, thanks heaps for the info! This might not be a good question, but just for my information, generally speaking, is there a way to distinguish between a real harmful malware (actively stealing personal info) and an app that has more access and integration to the phone's OS than others by looking at the information provided? In other words, is there any obvious give away sign?
Thanks again for the help!

bagachin said:
Hi mattzeller, thanks heaps for the info! This might not be a good question, but just for my information, generally speaking, is there a way to distinguish between a real harmful malware (actively stealing personal info) and an app that has more access and integration to the phone's OS than others by looking at the information provided? In other words, is there any obvious give away sign?
Thanks again for the help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well look at reviews of the app, see if it is installing other apps without your consent, or constantly nagging you to download other apps. Generally 99.99% of apps on Google play are safe. Occasionally some crapware gets on there, but if you take a look at its rating and reviews (not just the highlights) you should be good.
Sent from my SCH-R220

bagachin said:
Hi mattzeller, thanks heaps for the info! This might not be a good question, but just for my information, generally speaking, is there a way to distinguish between a real harmful malware (actively stealing personal info) and an app that has more access and integration to the phone's OS than others by looking at the information provided? In other words, is there any obvious give away sign?
Thanks again for the help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Always check the apps permissions. I absolutely refuse to install an app that has permissions that it shouldn't be using. However, if the app you're about to download needs permissions related to the app features, that's OK with me.
I see so many Play Store apps that are just total spyware in my book. Flashlight apps are a good example of this. There is zero reasons a flashlight app needs to read my contacts or a data connection. Just be mindful of reviews and permissions and you'll be OK.

KernelCorn said:
Always check the apps permissions. I absolutely refuse to install an app that has permissions that it shouldn't be using. However, if the app you're about to download needs permissions related to the app features, that's OK with me.
I see so many Play Store apps that are just total spyware in my book. Flashlight apps are a good example of this. There is zero reasons a flashlight app needs to read my contacts or a data connection. Just be mindful of reviews and permissions and you'll be OK.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't worry about apps with excessive permissions, I just revoke the permissions I don't like.
Sent from my SCH-R220

mattzeller said:
I don't worry about apps with excessive permissions, I just revoke the permissions I don't like.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's the best way to do it.
I do the same thing, but I see lots of people posting here that aren't too tech savvy. For them be mindful of what you download.

mattzeller said:
Well look at reviews of the app, see if it is installing other apps without your consent, or constantly nagging you to download other apps. Generally 99.99% of apps on Google play are safe. Occasionally some crapware gets on there, but if you take a look at its rating and reviews (not just the highlights) you should be good.
Sent from my SCH-R220
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the advice. Yes, I am aware that common source/cause of malwares are side load apps and rooted device. So I am always fairly cautious about any apps i installed via non-play store source. However, these two caught apk are installed right out of box. That kinda annoys me. I don't jump on the bandwagon and say Chinese phones are infested with malwares and I believe a lot of the time people just over exaggerate and blow some minority out of proportion.
However, the truth is, this is the first Chinese phone I got and it came with two identified malwares. To be fair, it might not be particularly malicious, but it's enough to make me have second thought about my purchase....

KernelCorn said:
Always check the apps permissions. I absolutely refuse to install an app that has permissions that it shouldn't be using. However, if the app you're about to download needs permissions related to the app features, that's OK with me.
I see so many Play Store apps that are just total spyware in my book. Flashlight apps are a good example of this. There is zero reasons a flashlight app needs to read my contacts or a data connection. Just be mindful of reviews and permissions and you'll be OK.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the comment! Yes, I am quite careful about the app I get to choose to install, but I have little control over these apps that come pre-installed on these chinese phone and got detected as "malwares"

mattzeller said:
I don't worry about apps with excessive permissions, I just revoke the permissions I don't like.
Sent from my SCH-R220
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yap, what I did for those two apps I mentioned are turning off all permissions access to them, disable app for the one I can and turn off background data access. Hopefully it will freeze them for good and stop them from playing naughty.
Just a question though, say I do all those above (e.g. switching off permission, force stopped etc), technically speaking, can a malware still be "active and do what they "meant" to do"? I meant after all, they are meant to do something "out of control" right?

bagachin said:
Yap, what I did for those two apps I mentioned are turning off all permissions access to them, disable app for the one I can and turn off background data access. Hopefully it will freeze them for good and stop them from playing naughty.
Just a question though, say I do all those above (e.g. switching off permission, force stopped etc), technically speaking, can a malware still be "active and do what they "meant" to do"? I meant after all, they are meant to do something "out of control" right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, if you revoke the permission to view your contacts, it is the system that is blocking the apps ability to view your contacts.
Though I think you are being a little paranoid.
Everyone freaks out out all the permissions apps require, when the app actually never uses most of the permissions it asks for, at least not in the way you think. You wouldn't think the launcher needs permissions to access your contacts, but it does. How else is it going to allow you to make a call, or display an incoming all, or missed call/text badges.
I mean take a look at the litany of permissions Nova Launcher and TeslaUnread require, yet we all know the app is not malware. As long as you install from legitimate sources, you will be fine. Like I said in my first post, disable the Beauty app, the other is the Launcher. If you don't like it, install a different one.
Sent from my SCH-R220

Who would you rather have snoop in on your calls? China, or USA.. Because it is one or the other.. me personally, I will take the country in which I do not reside...

mattzeller said:
No, if you revoke the permission to view your contacts, it is the system that is blocking the apps ability to view your contacts.
Though I think you are being a little paranoid.
Everyone freaks out out all the permissions apps require, when the app actually never uses most of the permissions it asks for, at least not in the way you think. You wouldn't think the launcher needs permissions to access your contacts, but it does. How else is it going to allow you to make a call, or display an incoming all, or missed call/text badges.
I mean take a look at the litany of permissions Nova Launcher and TeslaUnread require, yet we all know the app is not malware. As long as you install from legitimate sources, you will be fine. Like I said in my first post, disable the Beauty app, the other is the Launcher. If you don't like it, install a different one.
Sent from my SCH-R220
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately the way things are with the permissive Android system, we have to be a little paranoid. The built in system apps like launchers and permissions can't be disabled easily unless the user is technical enough to know about rooting using apps like xposed/xprivacy.

How I got malware on my OP6 and how I got rid of it (at least I think so)

So I was looking for an app to make the top radius match the bottom radius on the corners while using the option of hiding the notch (I already have one different working app for that now). Someone suggested a very shady link to download an apk but since I'm desperate and dumb I just downloaded and installed it. However, after installation there was only a "done" button but "open" button was greyed out, there was no new app on app drawer and there was no new app in application list in settings. I started getting worried that I had just installed some bitcoin mining software or another kind of malware.
I got even more worried because if I tapped on the apk again it was asking me if I wanted to UPDATE the app instead of if I wanted to install it so it was already installed and it had permissions to access gps, phone history, and read, modify and delete USB storage.
After a while during the day, my phone started doing random noises from the speakers like audio from ads but without opening any app, then later it started opening random chit on google chrome and that is not even my default browser (my default is samsung browser), it opened those very intrusive ads that tell you you have a virus and you cannot go back you have to close the whole tab or app it also opened some ads with sexual content a few times.
I always thought all free anti-virus app on the play store were completely useless and just bloating apps but I started installing a bunch, most didn't detect absolutely anything after the option "scan all apps" I tried kaspersky, avast, AVG, Norton, etc. then I installed this (it's called "hi security" so not known brand and I thought it was going to be the worse but after opening it was powered by "McAfee" so at least McAfee is known):
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ehawk.antivirus.applock.wifi
And it actually detected some malware after scanning all apps, there was an app with completely blank name on device administrators that I never gave permission to become device administrator as far as I remember, so I unchecked that app from admin and then the antivirus app was able to uninstall it.
After the virus cleaner uninstalled the app I haven't had any more issues with audios or ads opening on chrome. Do you think I'm safe now or could I still have some spyware?
I posted some screenshots showing everything.
I doubt that anyone wants the apk but if a developer wants it for reverse engineering or whatever reason I can post it the the name "MALWARE_do_NOT_install.apk" or something like that

If you are afraid of malware then flashing stock room is the best bet to get rid of it

vwite said:
So I was looking for an app to make the top radius match the bottom radius on the corners while using the option of hiding the notch.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, that all sucks!
Back to your top radius matching the bottom problem, here is what your're looking for!
I saw it on some guys youtube channel
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.thsoft.rounded.corner&hl=en_US

Bro if security is top priority dont unlock bootloader and root because if you root your device you need to be careful i use af wall and also in settings i will control the permissons of all the apps you need to be conscious because in today's world internet devloped along with it many hackers many trojan rats are devloped so first study some blogs how to use android mobile safely finally if you root and use right apps you can secure device tonhigh level .apps like x privacy lua afwall will secure your device and super user authentication should be set to promt not allow by default

surface13 said:
Well, that all sucks!
Back to your top radius matching the bottom problem, here is what your're looking for!
I saw it on some guys youtube channel
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.thsoft.rounded.corner&hl=en_US
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
good app, that's the one I've been using for a while It has a few issues but overall good
Manivannan9444 said:
Bro if security is top priority dont unlock bootloader and root because if you root your device you need to be careful i use af wall and also in settings i will control the permissons of all the apps you need to be conscious because in today's world internet devloped along with it many hackers many trojan rats are devloped so first study some blogs how to use android mobile safely finally if you root and use right apps you can secure device tonhigh level .apps like x privacy lua afwall will secure your device and super user authentication should be set to promt not allow by default
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not rooted at the moment, phone has been doing everything I want except HBM but I don't think I'll root just because of that because I also use samsung pay plugin for my gear s3 and don't want to risk it

First of all dont trust any antivirus app except major companies like AVG, Avira etc. Always download from playstore. Don't give permission to browser to install app (unknown sources) in 8.1.0 u can do that.
Now scan all apps.. And remove them. Malwarebytes is best to remove hidden malware on any platform.
Good luck.
If u r ready to format and clean ur internal memory then, format ur handset from settings, download whole stock rom and flash it from recovery..
Regards.

herecomesmaggi said:
First of all dont trust any antivirus app except major companies like AVG, Avira etc. Always download from playstore. Don't give permission to browser to install app (unknown sources) in 8.1.0 u can do that.
Now scan all apps.. And remove them. Malwarebytes is best to remove hidden malware on any platform.
Good luck.
If u r ready to format and clean ur internal memory then, format ur handset from settings, download whole stock rom and flash it from recovery..
Regards.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, as I said on first post AVG and Avira were useless for this infection but both "Hi Security" and Malwarebytes premium were able to do the job

vwite said:
Thanks, as I said on first post AVG and Avira were useless for this infection but both "Hi Security" and Malwarebytes premium were able to do the job
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I mentioned Avira nd AVG as antivirus. Malwarebytes is best bro for malware infection. I m using it since 2009 for pc. Every time it does the job.
Also for ur round corner.. I suggest u search for "round R" a app found on xda in 2011 or 12, since then It does it job beautifully.
Regards