How do we make Android more secure both Devs and Users? - General Questions and Answers

How do we make Android more secure both Devs and Users?
I love android and rooting/customizing but at the end of the day I feel exploits/virus are becoming to common these days. I see videos on YouTube of people taking control over users phones without the user knowing its happening which is very scary. Same thing with keylogs being sent over to shady people without your knowledge. The list goes on but the question remains. How can we Devs/Users make android more secure?

You can Use Apps Like CMSecurty Or Avast

You can try anything you want really but keep in mind. Your security is only as good as the hacker trying to get passed it. If they want it bad enough they will get it and there really isnt anything anyone can do about it except going off the grid.

Properly speaking, there is no secure system in the world, so do the android system. So it is necessary to install antivirus program and never open or download anything from iffy Websites.
The Android is relatively safe.

Lol the scary part is people actually fall for apps like cm, avast, etc.. They all gimmicks man they don't actually do anything and by the time it is detected it's too late.. It's already in. A Linux system like Android isn't really susceptible to viruses like a normal PC would be and the most you can do is maybe stops some malware spamming ads and collecting statistics. Like @zelendel said if someone wants in there's no stopping them and Android itself has built in protection no antivirus gimmick app can come close to especially with Google servers scanning apps also.. You are the weakest link in your security so common sense is a better antivirus. I still can't find one proven case of an Android having a real virus and YouTube videos are always fakes
Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk

Related

[Q] Trojan in titanium back-up

Hey guys, thanks for the great site and forums, finally rooted my x10 at the weekend!
I just connected my phone to my p.c, and kapersky flashed up that a trojan had be found. I told it to delete the archive, but the only info i can find in the log is this:
Code:
23/11/2010 22:09:12 Task started
23/11/2010 22:09:12 Processing error H:\default-capability.xml Read error
23/11/2010 22:09:12 Processing error H:\customized-capability.xml Read error
23/11/2010 22:14:48 Detected: Exploit.Linux.Lotoor.g H:\TitaniumBackup\com.z4mod.z4root-465652ce32a10d8a11a10d54c3215767.apk.gz/com.z4mod.z4root-465652ce32a10d8a11a10d54c3215767.apk/res/raw/rageagainstthecage
23/11/2010 22:14:48 Untreated: Exploit.Linux.Lotoor.g H:\TitaniumBackup\com.z4mod.z4root-465652ce32a10d8a11a10d54c3215767.apk.gz/com.z4mod.z4root-465652ce32a10d8a11a10d54c3215767.apk/res/raw/rageagainstthecage Write not supported
23/11/2010 22:16:01 Task completed
Cause for alarm?, or is this genuine (i realise that z4root uses an exploit to root!)?
What do you guys recon?
I'm sure there are some that will say I'm wrong but that is just part of life. With that being said, just ignore it. Anti virus scanners pick up things all of the time as trojans when they are not. I frown on running these things to be honest because they are one of the biggest causes for PC problems and most do not even realize it. I'm not saying that keeping a scanner on your PC and running a scan every few days is not a good idea. HOWEVER, having something that is knows as a "security suite" is just overkill and does more bad than good in the long run.
Just my opinion and 13 years of experience talking. I've done work for the DA's office, judges, many businesses around 3 states. More often than not, these "security suites" do not pick up anywhere CLOSE to everything that is getting on your PC start with and end up flagging things that are safe. It's become such a problem that 80% of the software companies (including the ones that make these suites) will warn you to turn off the scanners/suites before installing their software.
Anyone want to tell me I'm an idiot, go ahead. Just letting you know now that I'm not going to respond. If you want to live in fear and bog down your PC with all of this software, be my guest.
I agree with you, Jagpoag. Besides, people associated with software security firms have got to make a living somehow so it's not uncommon for antivirus apps to detect something that is indeed safe but fit the definition of a Trojan or a virus to scare computer users into investing more money into their product(s). It's business.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
I would say false positive, the likelihood of it being an infection is very slim. Kapersky does have very good detection rates, but nonetheless every AV makes mistakes.
In my experience it's common for certain AV's to pick up files from another OS that it (the AV) wasn't made for as viruses. AVG used to pick up a Mac OS X file as a virus, but I'm fairly sure that's been remedied as that was a little over a year ago, possibly longer. Bottom line; I highly doubt it's an infection, being a fairly popular application you would think someone would have noticed if it was doing anything suspicious. Nothing to worry about in my opinion.
Z4Root is an app used to ROOT your Android phone, of course it includes some sort of exploit.
com.z4mod.z4root >> Exploit.Linux.Lotoor.g
I agree; A false-positive. Your log said it was untreated.. I would leave it that way.
If you're using an exploit you're probably going to trigger that reaction by anti-malware detection software.
It cant be said better jagpoag, i now already run for about like 15 years without a scanner and or firewall(but monitoring my ports manually tho) and if you just use common sense while browsing and download, there is no risk of getting viruses or trojans or mallware or whatever, but in my case im a programmer and designer for over 10 years so i know what to trust and so on.
but i understand indeed the low-end pc users beeing scared of getting an scary virus or so and bricking there pc full of anti virus crap xD
but again nice said jagpoag.
greetz

New iOS Privacy Feature,, Why Not On Android ?!

Hello,
I am so angry and disappointed at the Android team, I am a huge fan of Android and I will stay that way ..
we were begging for years to the Android team to make Android more secure and I was hoping to see them do so in 4.2
instead Apple introduce an Amazing feature in iOS 6 which is privacy control where you can prevent any app from accessing you data,
WHAT THE HELL GOOGLE !
we need that feature more than they do, and I don't know for how long we will wait, I don't want to uninstall a nice game because it can access my contacts or for the "Fake" Anti virus softwares to catch these apps because of unnecessary permissions.
I am mad because I love Android, and because there are a lot of people who hate Android because they think it is full of malware .
please guys, don't tell me to install LBE or other software because if this feature is not coming from Google then its not worth it.
Thanks.
logic5 said:
Hello,
I am so angry and disappointed at the Android team, I am a huge fan of Android and I will stay that way ..
we were begging for years to the Android team to make Android more secure and I was hoping to see them do so in 4.2
instead Apple introduce an Amazing feature in iOS 6 which is privacy control where you can prevent any app from accessing you data,
WHAT THE HELL GOOGLE !
we need that feature more than they do, and I don't know for how long we will wait, I don't want to uninstall a nice game because it can access my contacts or for the "Fake" Anti virus softwares to catch these apps because of unnecessary permissions.
I am mad because I love Android, and because there are a lot of people who hate Android because they think it is full of malware .
please guys, don't tell me to install LBE or other software because if this feature is not coming from Google then its not worth it.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ios users need it more as unlike android users they have less control over their system. We can see exactly what permissions are needed before installation and can always install a permissions manager so we can do that already so it makes sense for google to concentrate on improving the os overall.
But yes it would be a nice feature just not really the most important.
Dave
( http://www.google.com/producer/editions/CAownKXmAQ/bigfatuniverse )
Sent from my LG P920 using Tapatalk 2
mistermentality said:
Ios users need it more as unlike android users they have less control over their system. We can see exactly what permissions are needed before installation and can always install a permissions manager so we can do that already so it makes sense for google to concentrate on improving the os overall.
But yes it would be a nice feature just not really the most important.
Dave
( http://www.google.com/producer/editions/CAownKXmAQ/bigfatuniverse )
Sent from my LG P920 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You mean ios users AND non-rooted android users (vast majority) need it more, right?
C'mon, google haven't implemented this yet cuz it slaps them right in the money, no personal info, no targettizing. They could improve an already impresive os with this feature, which is implemented already on some custom roms and 3rd party apps.
dxppxd said:
You mean ios users AND non-rooted android users (vast majority) need it more, right?
C'mon, google haven't implemented this yet cuz it slaps them right in the money, no personal info, no targettizing. They could improve an already impresive os with this feature, which is implemented already on some custom roms and 3rd party apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It could well be money minded however it could also be that if users stop specific permissions (gps, contact access etcetera) the app would fail when accessing that feature and cause people to naturally blame the os (after all not all users are tech savvy).
I agree it would be a good feature but I'm not sure there is a big need for it.
As I said we can see before installing an app and stop installation if we don't like a feature accessed by that app which ios users can't do so easily.
Dave
( http://www.google.com/producer/editions/CAownKXmAQ/bigfatuniverse )
Sent from my LG P920 using Tapatalk 2
Use pdroid
Sent from my Sbeaned SGH-T989 with KKO
Never gonna happen
logic5 said:
Hello,
I am so angry and disappointed at the Android team, I am a huge fan of Android and I will stay that way ..
we were begging for years to the Android team to make Android more secure and I was hoping to see them do so in 4.2
instead Apple introduce an Amazing feature in iOS 6 which is privacy control where you can prevent any app from accessing you data,
WHAT THE HELL GOOGLE !
we need that feature more than they do, and I don't know for how long we will wait, I don't want to uninstall a nice game because it can access my contacts or for the "Fake" Anti virus softwares to catch these apps because of unnecessary permissions.
I am mad because I love Android, and because there are a lot of people who hate Android because they think it is full of malware .
please guys, don't tell me to install LBE or other software because if this feature is not coming from Google then its not worth it.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
That said,
FINE GRAINED PRIVACY TWEAKING WILL NEVER COME TO ANDROID THOUGH UNLESS THERE IS A FORK OF ANDROID
The whole point of Android, from Google's perspective, is to get your personal info. Don't forget, Apple's customer is YOU... Google's customers are their advertisers. Don't ever expect fine grained Blackberry or iOS-style privacy controls in Android; it will never happen.
ArcticFish said:
Use pdroid
Sent from my Sbeaned SGH-T989 with KKO
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not always an option, some devices don't have AOSP/AOKP/CM ROMs
Also pdroid is just now getting record audio blocking and still doesn't control gallery access etc.
brashmadcap said:
+1
That said,
FINE GRAINED PRIVACY TWEAKING WILL NEVER COME TO ANDROID THOUGH UNLESS THERE IS A FORK OF ANDROID
The whole point of Android, from Google's perspective, is to get your personal info. Don't forget, Apple's customer is YOU... Google's customers are their advertisers. Don't ever expect fine grained Blackberry or iOS-style privacy controls in Android; it will never happen.
Not always an option, some devices don't have AOSP/AOKP/CM ROMs
Also pdroid is just now getting record audio blocking and still doesn't control gallery access etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dude nobody cares. If I ask about privacy controls to any of my friends (iOS and Android and WP7/8), they just say "what's that?" or "you're such a nerd nobody cares"
Besides, I'm just one guy in a world of 7 billion. Do you really think Google gives a f*ck about about me? Who cares if they have my info, because they can't do anything with it
Sent from my DROID2 using xda premium
gagdude said:
Dude nobody cares. If I ask about privacy controls to any of my friends (iOS and Android and WP7/8), they just say "what's that?" or "you're such a nerd nobody cares"
Besides, I'm just one guy in a world of 7 billion. Do you really think Google gives a f*ck about about me? Who cares if they have my info, because they can't do anything with it
Sent from my DROID2 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No one gives a f*ck, until they give a f*ck.
Most people don't care, but for some that do care about all that personal information being broadcasted through the air, shouldn't there be an option? Remember when facebook, whatsapp and even gmail apps didn't use https to connect over wifi? Anyone with basic wifi knowledge could access ALL broadcasted information by sitting at a Starbucks. Depending on the app's permissions this was very compromising for the unsuspecting (if the app dialed home with your contact info and phone numbers, for example). But that's just one example besides the point.
The point is, would you share all that personal information with the first random person you see walking down the street? Well, if that person works for google, you might be doing so already.
dxppxd said:
No one gives a f*ck, until they give a f*ck.
Most people don't care, but for some that do care about all that personal information being broadcasted through the air, shouldn't there be an option? Remember when facebook, whatsapp and even gmail apps didn't use https to connect over wifi? Anyone with basic wifi knowledge could access ALL broadcasted information by sitting at a Starbucks. Depending on the app's permissions this was very compromising for the unsuspecting (if the app dialed home with your contact info and phone numbers, for example). But that's just one example besides the point.
The point is, would you share all that personal information with the first random person you see walking down the street? Well, if that person works for google, you might be doing so already.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The main thing is, if they won't do anything with the information, I might as well tell them my SSN. It's a whole nother story if they plan on identity theft of the like
Sent from my DROID2 using xda premium
dxppxd said:
for some that do care about all that personal information being broadcasted through the air, shouldn't there be an option?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What your on about, denying apps internet access to prevent leaking data publically, is good but that still would not stop apps you give permission to from leaking data and so someone could still intercept your data.
For total security from leaked data you would need to encrypt the data before it leaves your phone ideally but because of androids nature we do at least have choices, just not built in ones.
Yes it would be a nice option but it just isn't something most people want so there is no pressure on google to create it.
Dave
( http://www.google.com/producer/editions/CAownKXmAQ/bigfatuniverse )
Sent from my LG P920 using Tapatalk 2

[TIP] Does Android Really Need Antivirus ?

Does Android Really Need AntiVirus??
What good does it do?
Basically, we all know that these apps protect our phone from being infected with malicious files that we download everyday. Files from untrusted sites of course. It helps clean the phone if ever it gets infected. Question is, Is this true?
NOTE: All other sites except the playstore are classified as untrusted sites
Since Android is made out of the linux platform, it really is hard to penetrate. Studies show that linux systems are almost impenetrable to viruses or malicious files than most phones that are not based on these system. In fact based on experience, I have never heard of an Android phone being "infected" that seriously. Well, who knows.
Another factor is that, antivirus apps consume more battery life. It consumes 50% of battery life while on stand-by mode. It also makes the phone lag a bit since it is running even if you can't see it. It also lags start-up time since it takes a while to load.
Whether you decide to install or not, i'ts better safe than never... right?
I Am not in the favor of these apps. Moreover I dont use Them
Okay... So, what makes you an authority on antivirus on Android? What inside knowledge do you have that makes your opinion an actual valid one, especially when considering all the hundreds of reports of 1000's of malware apps running rampant on our "impenetrable" OS?
Like you've mentioned they are draining some serious batterylife in standby-mode but some like avast can be configured to not run till you start them. A few antivurs apps are coming with widgets, I'd highly recommend not using them because they are really slowing down the tablet and consume a huge amount of battery.
I practise the same approach with my PC, if you know what you are doing and how to do it a firewall + antivirus program may not be need but safe is safe. Android is a very open plattform so having a tool to keep the apps "honest" is not a bad thing in my opinion.
FloatingFatMan said:
Okay... So, what makes you an authority on antivirus on Android? What inside knowledge do you have that makes your opinion an actual valid one, especially when considering all the hundreds of reports of 1000's of malware apps running rampant on our "impenetrable" OS?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Most of the antivirus are fake i dont knnow why they make them. Since Android is based on Linux, and Linux needs Super user Permissions to do most of the things especially when you want to harm the device ( viruses) you need to modify system (root) programs and bins/libs/modules which can only be done if you have the root permission. If you have ever used the Linux OS (like Ubuntu) you have to ask roots first before installing any s/w
eg:
Code:
sudo apt-get install
here, sudo is literally this
Code:
superuser-do
You're ignoring all the malware type apps that don't need root. All they need is novice users who aren't paying attention to the permissions list and go and install apps that aren't quite what they're pretending to be. THAT is the primary cause of infection on Android, and it IS an existing problem.
FloatingFatMan said:
You're ignoring all the malware type apps that don't need root. All they need is novice users who aren't paying attention to the permissions list and go and install apps that aren't quite what they're pretending to be. THAT is the primary cause of infection on Android, and it IS an existing problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Time For some Source CODE !!
Can You get me an example of this ?? I will bring you the code asap
Why would I need to do that? Are you denying that there aren't 1000's of rogue apps out there, masquerading as legit apps, that are stuffed to the gills with malicious code?
Have you been living under a rock for the past few years? Are you still under that rock? I suggest moving out, perhaps into a cave with a view.
Calm Down Dude
Nachiket.Namjoshi said:
Does Android Really Need AntiVirus??
Whether you decide to install or not, i'ts better safe than never... right?
I Am not in the favor of these apps. Moreover I dont use Them
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here You go !
FloatingFatMan said:
Why would I need to do that? Are you denying that there aren't 1000's of rogue apps out there, masquerading as legit apps, that are stuffed to the gills with malicious code?
Have you been living under a rock for the past few years? Are you still under that rock? I suggest moving out, perhaps into a cave with a view.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nachiket.Namjoshi said:
Here You go !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You forget that most phone users are novices, and don't have a damned clue what they're doing when installing apps. I'm a professional developer by trade (not on Android), and if there's one thing I know very well, users do not read popup dialogs, ever. They just click the button to make it go away so they can get on with what they're doing.
You cannot use people on XDA as an example of what users are like. Most of us here actually have some tech savvy and know what we're doing, but we're less than 1% of the userbase.
Which makes antivirus apps, resource hogs that they are, pretty critical for the average user; to protect them from their own stupidity. Advising people NOT to use them is rather irresponsible of you, especially as you are NOT a security expert.
FloatingFatMan said:
You forget that most phone users are novices, and don't have a damned clue what they're doing when installing apps. I'm a professional developer by trade (not on Android), and if there's one thing I know very well, users do not read popup dialogs, ever. They just click the button to make it go away so they can get on with what they're doing.
You cannot use people on XDA as an example of what users are like. Most of us here actually have some tech savvy and know what we're doing, but we're less than 1% of the userbase.
Which makes antivirus apps, resource hogs that they are, pretty critical for the average user; to protect them from their own stupidity. Advising people NOT to use them is rather irresponsible of you, especially as you are NOT a security expert.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly. That is why I'm posting this here instead of a blog!! :')
Chillax buddy. Btw pdroid is better than antivirus apps bröder. I too am an app dev!
Sent from my GT-S5360 using xda app-developers app
I agree sir. this is true that some apps do such notorious things. but as a member of xda I am very care full about the permissions.
SHORTER
shorter: all files from internet cannot normaly harm your phone but if you download apk and instal it you can have problems (depends on app permisions) BUT it cannot totaly destroy your phone without SU permision (superuser)
normal files like mp3 mp4 cannot do anything
SORRY FOR MY ENGLISH and hit thanks if helped
FloatingFatMan said:
Why would I need to do that? Are you denying that there aren't 1000's of rogue apps out there, masquerading as legit apps, that are stuffed to the gills with malicious code?
Have you been living under a rock for the past few years? Are you still under that rock? I suggest moving out, perhaps into a cave with a view.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is exactly what happens. This thread is really pointless. I can copy your whole data while you are busy making threads like these or block access to any of your apps while I'm running. Antivirus is not just something which protects you against so called viruses but also malicious apps.
I agree, though AV's like avast and dr.web which are considered "light" still consumes a lot from my phone. I have observed that lately even though I have deep sleep app on my phone , I whitelisted the AV's it tooks at around 30-50% of my battery. I don't want to automatically kill the AV because it will become useless if it doesn't run on background. so I decided to just uninstall it and get my apk downloads from PC so that avast and malwarebytes on pc will be the ones that will scan my apks.

Ok....i give...need some solid information.

I have googled and searched my fingertips to the bone. Whenever i ask a technical question, i get answers from the clueless and the blind. I am beginning to hate this game.
So here we go. Stock android 4.4.2 ....rooted. How do you control which apps autostart and load in the background? Right now I have been trying to kill the Music app. Nothing works. It always restarts. So that means there is a sticky setting in some file somewhere in the system that needs to be edited that more than likely can not properrly be controlled from the childish controls android offers. In windows this is controlled in the registry and the startup process. Where is this in android? Why does no one share this information?
Yes i know it's dangerous. Yes i know not to putts around in the operating system. But if youre rooted, give us the data to control things.
So i await a learned response that probaly only one of the "developers" can answer. Because it sure as s€£%t ain't out there to be found.
Signed, royally frustrated
I'm reminded of that saying "You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar." Not sure why your posts are so charged but many seasoned developers and posters aren't going to engage in conversation with someone who uses condesending and self righteous tones.
I've never seen detailed posting of how it works, nor do I care to know, but by installing Greenify you can effectively control what you wish to control. Greenify allows you to hibernate applications keeping them asleep until manually called.
Some applications have associated services that are used by other parts of the system or other applications and therefore stay loaded to provide that service. If you also install Xposed Framework it will allow Greenify to inject itself further to keep applications that you choose to hibernate from being called upon by other applications (facebook for example has services that often get called upon by other applications for various reasons and so it can be hard to keep hibernated).
Sent from my SM-P900 using Tapatalk
muzzy996 said:
I'm reminded of that saying "You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar." Not sure why your posts are so charged but many seasoned developers and posters aren't going to engage in conversation with someone who uses condesending and self righteous tones.
I've never seen detailed posting of how it works, nor do I care to know, but by installing Greenify you can effectively control what you wish to control. Greenify allows you to hibernate applications keeping them asleep until manually called.
Some applications have associated services that are used by other parts of the system or other applications and therefore stay loaded to provide that service. If you also install Xposed Framework it will allow Greenify to inject itself further to keep applications that you choose to hibernate from being called upon by other applications (facebook for example has services that often get called upon by other applications for various reasons and so it can be hard to keep hibernated).
Sent from my SM-P900 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am sorry. I did not intentionally want to come off as charged or spraying vinegar. Quite the opposite. But I have found, after reading tons of post, that we are living in the land of the blind and hardly anyone with sight is actually participating or for that matter even providing a modicum of usefull data. Beginning to think that I don't blame them.
It seems, after deep searching and research that children are actually in charge. What other explanation can you give for an operating system that is struggling with "basic" features found in DOS or windows 3.1 from 20 years ago. Similar to the slow evolution of linux, itself which only now, barely, is win xp like in its features after decades as a skeletal nightmare to load and setup.
You may not have caught the news a few months ago, but Samsung was floating the idea of abandoning android for a flavored and skinned version of linux for future devices, both phones and tablets.p, starting with the China market.
Tell me that Microsoft did not head that off by providing reciprocal licensing to Samsung for windows 10 to abandoning linux. Would not be suprised if we start seeing win10 handsets in the near future here.
Once android looses support from major manufacturers, then it is DEAD.
Read every other post and you will see the lament about the quality of google store apps.
So when I ask a specific, technical question requiring a precise answer.....which requires actual proframming skill.....which has yet to appear...you can see how the lack of response to that colors the situation.
If I offended anyone, I apologize. I get excited sometimes. Repeatedly slamming ones head against the wall, figuratively tends to make you anxious.
At this rate, my raw participation on these boards may be curtailed if I continue with this sense of useless effort.
Sorry to make anyone upset. You can let the kids back in the room. I think there is ice cream.
Have you considered freezing the processes you want to prevent from running with Titanium Backup?
ShadowLea said:
Have you considered freezing the processes you want to prevent from running with Titanium Backup?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Titanium backup would work. The other option since you are rooted is to just remove the offending music app. I don't mind the samsung music app, but I don't find it absolutely necessary either. You could also uninstall the updates and force stop the app. That should also keep it from starting.
Another option that I haven't looked at completely but might work is the app "tasker" that lets you assign certain apps to start only when you want them too. So you could have the music app start only when you tap on media files. But I haven't tried this myself.
The problem currently with asking technical questions about the note pro is that it's a low selling device from 2014 so it just doesn't get much action on the forums anymore. It's a bummer for such a great device but that's how it is.
mjkurke said:
Titanium backup would work. The other option since you are rooted is to just remove the offending music app. I don't mind the samsung music app, but I don't find it absolutely necessary either. You could also uninstall the updates and force stop the app. That should also keep it from starting.
Another option that I haven't looked at completely but might work is the app "tasker" that lets you assign certain apps to start only when you want them too. So you could have the music app start only when you tap on media files. But I haven't tried this myself.
The problem currently with asking technical questions about the note pro is that it's a low selling device from 2014 so it just doesn't get much action on the forums anymore. It's a bummer for such a great device but that's how it is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Low selling are not the words. More like abandoned. Samsung has moved away. My questions where android specific. "Freezing" apps, using a convoluted set of more apps to control unwanted apps, ridiculous. It is all ridiculous. Either root gives control or it does not.
I want full control, what runs, what doesn't, what runs in the background. Is that not why we root? So a comprehensive list of whats what WOULD RREEEAAAALLLLYYY HELP.
I am alone in the wilderness screaming at the trees demanding to know why it rains.
Do you understand?
Options like freezing in Titanium or using Greenify have already been addressed. Tasker is good for starting things but not so good at keeping things killed, not the proper tool to use for the job of keeping apps from loading.
My strategy:
1) Freeze anything that's safe to freeze that I know I'll never use in Titanium first. That way they never pre-cache into memory.
2) Greenify applications that I rarely use so that they don't pre-cache, taking care not to greenify applications that need to stay loaded to operate properly (like email clients, weather apps or messaging apps).
In the end on a clean boot my application/precache list is full of my commonly used apps. I worry not about how much free RAM I have, as long as the list of apps in RAM/cache is populated with the stuff that I commonly use.
NOW, all of that said if you're looking for something that works like windows startup manager then installing Xposed Framework and then BootManager is the way to go. I've done this in the past but find that employing freezing and greenify is good enough for my own needs so I've stopped.
globalsearch said:
Low selling are not the words. More like abandoned. Samsung has moved away. My questions where android specific. "Freezing" apps, using a convoluted set of more apps to control unwanted apps, ridiculous. It is all ridiculous. Either root gives control or it does not.
I want full control, what runs, what doesn't, what runs in the background. Is that not why we root? So a comprehensive list of whats what WOULD RREEEAAAALLLLYYY HELP.
I am alone in the wilderness screaming at the trees demanding to know why it rains.
Do you understand?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am starting to suspect you have greatly misunderstood the meaning of root access. From what it sounds like, you seem to think it miraculously gives you access to settings and functions that non-rooted users can't see. Which is why you can't seem to get the answers you seek.
There is no such thing as a root-menu. Android does not have that functionality build into its GUI.
Root access simply means administrator access to the system's root directories. Hence the word Root.
You will always need additional apps and software to root access to change functionality. Titanium Backup, Xposed, SuperUser/SuperSU, etcetera.
If you want those options in the system, you'll need a customROM.
ShadowLea said:
Root access simply means administrator access to the system's root directories. Hence the word Root.
You will always need additional apps and software to root access to change functionality. Titanium Backup, Xposed, SuperUser/SuperSU, etcetera.
If you want those options in the system, you'll need a customROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right and even with a custom ROM you can't run away from using 3rd party utilities to make the tweaks. Custom is usually a good start though as they are typically debloated. Civato's is good for lightly modified stock with xposed baked in.
Sent from my SM-N910T3 using Tapatalk
Now we are getting somewhere. So what you have all told me is that stock android, even when rooted, is still a sandbox with all kinds of limitations to customization. Even with apps to tweak some of it.
This is the nail in the coffin for me and android then. Im not in the least interested in all those custom roms where there is always some shortcoming or lack of support for a feature that does not work properly.
Thanks all. I am done.
globalsearch said:
Now we are getting somewhere. So what you have all told me is that stock android, even when rooted, is still a sandbox with all kinds of limitations to customization. Even with apps to tweak some of it.
This is the nail in the coffin for me and android then. Im not in the least interested in all those custom roms where there is always some shortcoming or lack of support for a feature that does not work properly.
Thanks all. I am done.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
for what its worth I do have your answer, better late than never right?
anyways android is built on a linux kernal and normally access to the linux command line does not come pre-installed to keep normal people from messing up their system.
so you will need to download a terminal emulator app if you don't already have one if you plan to do this from android. (Alternatively you can do it from the android debug bridge while connected to a computer if preferred)
First you will want to get the package name for the app you want to disable.
you can do this with a root file browser app by going to system / Data / App and then finding the package you want to disable.
however since it sounds like you want to do this manually we will go over the terminal process:
open a terminal window.
type: su
Hit: enter
the terminal will ask you for root access, go ahead and grant it.
to list the android packages type: pm list packages
hit: enter
This will show a list of the installed packages (Apps)
find the ones you want to disable.
now type: pm disable insertpackagename
hit: enter
for example to disable youtube type: pm disable com.google.android.youtube
Hit: Enter
that's it.
you will likely want to restart your launcher or even just restart the tablet afterwards as most launchers don't constantly poll for disabled apps so it will need a refresh.
also you probably already realise this so I apologise if its redundant but make sure you know what you are disabling
as with any linux environment disabling system packages and packages that another application is dependant on can cause trouble.
firefly6240 said:
for what its worth I do have your answer, better late than never right?
anyways android is built on a linux kernal and normally access to the linux command line does not come pre-installed to keep normal people from messing up their system.
so you will need to download a terminal emulator app if you don't already have one if you plan to do this from android. (Alternatively you can do it from the android debug bridge while connected to a computer if preferred)
First you will want to get the package name for the app you want to disable.
you can do this with a root file browser app by going to system / Data / App and then finding the package you want to disable.
however since it sounds like you want to do this manually we will go over the terminal process:
open a terminal window.
type: su
Hit: enter
the terminal will ask you for root access, go ahead and grant it.
to list the android packages type: pm list packages
hit: enter
This will show a list of the installed packages (Apps)
find the ones you want to disable.
now type: pm disable insertpackagename
hit: enter
for example to disable youtube type: pm disable com.google.android.youtube
Hit: Enter
that's it.
you will likely want to restart your launcher or even just restart the tablet afterwards as most launchers don't constantly poll for disabled apps so it will need a refresh.
also you probably already realise this so I apologise if its redundant but make sure you know what you are disabling
as with any linux environment disabling system packages and packages that another application is dependant on can cause trouble.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Finally. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
globalsearch said:
Low selling are not the words. More like abandoned. Samsung has moved away. My questions where android specific. "Freezing" apps, using a convoluted set of more apps to control unwanted apps, ridiculous. It is all ridiculous. Either root gives control or it does not.
I want full control, what runs, what doesn't, what runs in the background. Is that not why we root? So a comprehensive list of whats what WOULD RREEEAAAALLLLYYY HELP.
I am alone in the wilderness screaming at the trees demanding to know why it rains.
Do you understand?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just thought I would clarify a bit here, I know how confusing it can be coming from windows, I made the switch myself not so many years ago and had a lot of the same questions.
to explain root, the closest comparison I have imperfect as it may be is that root access is similar to windows admin access.
the noticeable difference in a lot of cases is what comes pre-installed.
for example in windows if you have an admin account it automatically unlocks access to the command prompt which was already pre-installed.
in android root access gives you the option to use a terminal but often one is not pre-installed, in fact even a file manager is often not included.
this is actually not a limitation of android so much as a limitation put in place by the specific device manufacturer as to what comes pre-installed.
for example a lot of cheap android tablets running google AOSP (Android open source Project) code actually do come with terminal apps and in some cases even come pre-loaded with root access.
in comparison a lot of more well known devices do not come with this pre-loaded to prevent people from breaking things. (For a windows comparison, its hard to delete the system32 folder without admin access, a file browser and command prompt right?)
As far as samsung abandonment, its a bit trickier there.
Basically what you would normally be used to is the Microsoft scenario.
1. Microsoft - Microsoft makes the OS but it runs on hardware made by others.
a. hardware issues go to the hardware manufacturer for as long as they support it.
b. OS updates are handled by Microsoft, they have more or less full control of the OS as it is closed source.
2. the Samsung Scenario - The hardware is made by the manufacturer, the bootloaders are locked, the OS is made by Google and then tweaked by the manufacturer.
a. all official updates come through the manufacturer (In this case Samsung) after google releases the open source code, samsung then alters it as they like and then they release an update.
b. Samsung is the sole support for the hardware and software as google no longer supports the software for the most part after its been altered.
c. it takes a lot of time and work for samsung to develop an update and push it out and then deal with all of the issues that come with updating the OS.
d. its often easier to leave a device that comparatively very few people bought on an OS that they knew was usable rather than spend all the time and money updating it and dealing with all of the related issues.
With that in mind this tablet has been out for about 2 years now which is a huge amount of time for this type of hardware.
All that being said Samsung very recently released the update to android 5.1.1 for this tablet
so it is definitely not abandoned yet, in fact its had more attention than even other devices by the same manufacturer but I suspect 5.1.1 will be the last official update we see.
if you have one of the note variants with an unlockable bootloader as well as a bit of time on your hands I would very much recommend trying a custom rom if you are worried about samsung abandonment.
you may have to try several different ones though, as you'll find a mix of roms that may seem almost half baked, more alpha release style but are cutting edge (I like those ones myself) to roms that are even more stable than the original.
My apologies if some of this is redundant information, I just thought I would throw in my two cents in case it helps
Two points . . for what its worth . . 1) the use of package manager's disable command effectively does the same thing that freezing in Titanium does, the main difference being that you're using a GUI to do it (there can be differences in how the apps are flagged though and using the pm command means not having to rely on yet another app); 2) disabling/freezing means you'll be unable to ever launch said application unless you enable the app again manually (using the package manager PM commands or Titanium).
Main reason in my initial response I didn't go straight to freezing/disabling apps is because that approach isn't exactly the same thing as managing startup in the context of the example given about managing what apps start up on boot in Windows (i.e. msconfig command and unchecking startup options). When someone takes an app out of startup in Windows the software isn't permanently disabled (unavailable) it is merely prevented from preloading when the system is started. So . . in reference to the music app referred to in the original post, if the goal is to be able to use the stock music app but just not have it load itself into memory on its own then the solution isnt disabling it or freezing it, its to hibernate it with something like Greenify or prevent it from starting using something like Boot Manager and Xposed Framework.
Firefly6240 got exactly what I was asking for. Freezing and hybernating, et al, is not total control. When i kill an app and i want it gone. I want it gone. Example, the google music, google books and google films. I gave stopped, killed even "uninstalled" in Purify and in Kingroot. On random reboot, the buggers are back. Fireflys solution is ceasars thumbs down. Wonderful. He understood the TOTAL control I was looking for.
Also, i loaded android terminal to run the commands.
By the way, Knox and EML are next on my list.
Thanks again firefly6420
globalsearch said:
Firefly6240 got exactly what I was asking for. Freezing and hybernating, et al, is not total control. When i kill an app and i want it gone. I want it gone. Example, the google music, google books and google films. I gave stopped, killed even "uninstalled" in Purify and in Kingroot. On random reboot, the buggers are back. Fireflys solution is ceasars thumbs down. Wonderful. He understood the TOTAL control I was looking for.
Also, i loaded android terminal to run the commands.
By the way, Knox and EML are next on my list.
Thanks again firefly6420
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK good, then I misunderstood the question. Hibernation has its place, it's just not what you wanted, you wanted complete uninstallation basically.
Sent from my SM-P900 using Tapatalk
like it or not, OEMs, even Google cannot just give the public ready-made controls to such things because the way a lot of (non-essential but) pre-installed apps are designed they depends on other apps being present and/or running.
AppOps was a classic example cuz once ppl found it and made public how to take advantage, a lot of dependant apps and services were affected and people called in to their OEMs complaining of broken phones when it was simply tinkered permissions.
there is no mobile OS more robust than android. all have their forms of depth, appeal, features and restrictions but none embrace admin access & leaving open the ability to do it more than android (just need the carrier and sometimes OEM to leave the bootloader the hell alone lol)
if you want a smartphone with admin privileges out-of-the-box and full control of all system services etc, I would recommend an Ubuntu phone. they're about a year into commercial availability which is still kinda fringe but stable and will lack certain major perks of owning either iOS (yuck!) or Android. there is a couple Ubuntu/android dual boot phones out there too, and that comes with the issue of storage space after holding 2 OS's
in another year or 2 Ubuntu phones should be more plentiful and bring over some popular apps and active development but I don't anticipate seeing it take off quite like other mobile OS's cuz when it comes to feeding the masses, more options and less restrictions can have the same effect as asking an 80 year old to put in an address on your navigation in the car while you're on the highway. it's a learning curve simple to some that seems too simple not to understand but can be bad for business.
I think android and iOS beat this problem initially because when they started, there weren't any other well-established alternatives. BlackBerry and some fringe PDAs were about it...
Note pro 12.2
I was/am dealing with the Note Pro 12.2 specifically. Not other handsets. This device is coming up on two years and support has been waning. When I bought it all was well. Less than a few months later the damned KitKat update came and suddenly I found myself without proper access to the external sd card, that had worked perfectly when i purchased the unit. I was furious. Especially when we where being told that it was for our own good and google was pushing internal memory over external. Damn them. I bought samsung BECAUSE it had the sd slot. And when Samsung did not provide the fix to the platform.xml file I was livid. 5.01 came out and Samsung destoyed support for most external blue tooth keyboards. And so it goes, one stupid blunder after another. Their updates destroyed my workflow.
So yes, damned right I want full control of my device, because they have shown they have NO regard for our needs and DO NOT ADDRESS our concerns. Just buy our stuff and shut up. Well in this case, i was sold a product that they later incapacitated.
I can not abide with that. I tried so hard not to root, for a year and a half. I shut off automatic updates on EVERYTHING because even updates from google play would sometimes destroy a goid priducy. I started saving apks from versions of apps that worked. I stayed stock 4.4.2 because everything worked but the sd write. How many threads do we have here where people upgraded to marshmellow and then begged to get back to kitkat? Last week after reading thread after thread of problems and convoluted fixes and a gazillion rom versions each of which has its own imperfections and then reading that the new samsung tablet was released windows 10. I knew it was over.
At that moment the decision was inevitable. I rooted and IMMEDIATELY fixed the sd write issue. And i unrooted. Two days of random reboots and i roited again, this time to take the bull by the hirns and control this thing. I became increasingly frustrated with the lack of displayed technical knowledge here at xda and the tons pf advice from also clueless posters. I tried everything. Even got scolded by an admin who has been here less time than me. (Follow the rules, follow the rules...don't you dare to ask the important questions)
Not till the reply from firefly6240. Now he knows something. And he shared a little with me. Which i greatly appreciated. I have a direction now. And the tweaks I have done have increased my battery tije, the screen reojse time and overall improvement of the environment. All on 4.4.2.
I still have some minor issues, but google and android code monkeys WILL NO LONGER CONTROL MY DEVICE, MY PROPERTY.
It is time people take control of the ELECTRONIC items which we purchase with OUR hard earned money and stop letting manufacturers turn those devices into nothing more than sales portals to make more money and deny us control or the ability to JUST SAY NO.

Security updates on older phones

My wife and I have have an s8 and a Note 8. We love our phones, and we don't really like the new phones. However, Samsung has decided to end security updates this year on these models.
Are there other alternative ways to get security updates, so our data is not at risk?
If you're running on Pie I wouldn't worry.
My Note 10+ has had any updates in over a year.
No issues. I've run outdated Androids for years with no malware forced reloads.
React quickly though to any suspected malware; if you can't delete it, factory reset.
Be ready to reload at anytime as you should be anyway. Keep at least 2 redundant copies of all critical data on at least 2 hdds that are physically and electronically isolated from each other.
Most malware infections are the result of the user doing something they shouldn't do.
Just watch what you download (check the download folder regularly), be careful what you install, and use a cloud app like gmail for email.
Keep trash apps like FB, WhatsApp etc off the phone. Use Brave browser and install Karma Firewall (freeware with almost no battery usage).
I avoid using wifi always. There's also a long standing bluetooth hacking vulnerability in pre Q OSs... be aware of that.
Pre Pie OS's are suspectable to rootkits that require a reflash to exterminate.
Scan with Malwarebytes every week or so; it picked off 2 nasty trojan preloaders for me before they could be activated about a year ago.
Use online Virustotal to scan any apk or file you're not sure about.
blackhawk said:
If you're running on Pie I wouldn't worry.
My Note 10+ has had any updates in over a year.
No issues. I've run outdated Androids for years with no malware forced reloads.
React quickly though to any suspected malware; if you can't delete it, factory reset.
Be ready to reload at anytime as you should be anyway. Keep at least 2 redundant copies of all critical data on at least 2 hdds that are physically and electronically isolated from each other.
Most malware infections are the result of the user doing something they shouldn't do.
Just watch what you download (check the download folder regularly), be careful what you install, and use a cloud app like gmail for email.
Keep trash apps like FB, WhatsApp etc off the phone. Use Brave browser and install Karma Firewall (freeware with almost no battery usage).
I avoid using wifi always. There's also a long standing bluetooth hacking vulnerability in pre Q OSs... be aware of that.
Pre Pie OS's are suspectable to rootkits that require a reflash to exterminate.
Scan with Malwarebytes every week or so; it picked off 2 nasty trojan preloaders for me before they could be activated about a year ago.
Use online Virustotal to scan any apk or file you're not sure about.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, you must have a wife who understands that. Trying to tell my wife not to click something because it is probably a virus is like telling a 3 year old they can't have the adult red juice.
Basically, what this is though, is confirming that at min. We need a phone for the wife, for the aforementioned reasons.
JackWorthing said:
So, you must have a wife who understands that. Trying to tell my wife not to click something because it is probably a virus is like telling a 3 year old they can't have the adult red juice.
Basically, what this is though, is confirming that at min. We need a phone for the wife, for the aforementioned reasons.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was fortunate and didn't marry or unfortunate
She doing what old people do... threatened her with an iphone
That trojan preloader was a tricky little devil and manage to download it's self without a download notification. You really need to be alert.
Teach her to close that browser page rather than click the mystery box. Occasionally I even close the browser and clear the cache if it's really invasive. Rarely anything more than that; it doesn't seem to happen on Brave, more on the Samsung browser on iffy sites. If I can learn to navigate in the gutter, she can too.
You can do is look at her phone at the end of the day. Maybe get the paid version of Malwarebytes. Unfortunately it won't stop everything.
I have no recommendations as I think Android is in a flat spin, Android 11 is just wretched. Even if you get a phone running on 10 it will soon be updated to 11... unless you disable updates.
10 would be more secure but overlay apps don't run on it and it guts Karma Firewall.
JackWorthing said:
So, you must have a wife who understands that. Trying to tell my wife not to click something because it is probably a virus is like telling a 3 year old they can't have the adult red juice.
Basically, what this is though, is confirming that at min. We need a phone for the wife, for the aforementioned reasons.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Download this app and tell her to scan your device regularly with this antivirus. It's the best one I found on playstore. It also scans for any harmful files : https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...BMA16BAgfEAE&usg=AOvVaw2ovEreBbhkoaiQCAgeyV81
And you too do the scams !!!!!
Arc android said:
Download this app and tell her to scan your device regularly with this antivirus. It's the best one I found on playstore. It also scans for any harmful files : https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.protectstar.antispy&hl=en_US&gl=US&referrer=utm_source%3Dgoogle%26utm_medium%3Dorganic%26utm_term%3Dprotectstar&pcampaignid=APPU_1_OxGrYNnyOsfd9QOVxI-IBw&ved=2ahUKEwiZ_OS9pOHwAhXHbn0KHRXiA3EQ8oQBMA16BAgfEAE&usg=AOvVaw2ovEreBbhkoaiQCAgeyV81
And you too do the scams !!!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There will always be new threats without definitions. It may help but the phone's user is the #1 security threat.
I don't even let Malwarebytes run in the background because all those apps eat battery with little to show for it. Android is relatively secure, even outdated versions unless you do...
blackhawk said:
There will always be new threats without definitions. It may help but the phone's user is the #1 security threat.
I don't even let Malwarebytes run in the background because all those apps eat battery with little to show for it. Android is relatively secure, even outdated versions unless you do...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah you are right actually.

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