Hotspot Hack - ONE Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

For several months, my hotspot hacked worked just fine on T-Mobile, but now it's not working. Usually it was built into the ROMs and there wasn't any issues. Wondering if anyone has a fix. I'm currently running the newest version of CAF Blisspop, stock kernel.

So what model/brand phone do you have? What version of Android are you on? If you can provide that info, you should get some guidance here in the forum or by private message. I'm sure you've searched the forums too. Think of some keywords devs use to describe that specific ROM feature and then search again. Seems to me this info isn't readily available for obvious reasons. But you can find it if you're persistent.
FWIW, I dont believe T-Mobile is changing the way they look for tethering violations, they're still using user agents and overall data usage as far as I know. I've tried various modded apps and various native HotSpot mods, and the only common theme T-Mobile has cited to me is the user agent. I've been warned three times, and thabkfully they still haven't taken away my unlimited data. I personally don't bother anymore, I have unlimited data and just download anything I need to my phone and copy and paste it over to my computer while connected. Unless there is some brilliant tethering mod out there that's undetectable, sooner or later they'll figure you out. I think once you hit 30 GB of data in a month, they watch your account. That's a ton of data to use on a phone alone in a month unless you stream movies/videos constantly. Wish it weren't this way, but you've got to play their game to stay in the game. Just my two cents.

Related

[Q] Motorola Citrus Android 2.1

I have a Motorola citrus trying to get to wifi tether I think I got it rooted with superuser and downloaded wifi tether from market but the phones power cycles when i try to tether. Can anyone help me?
I just tried and had the same result as the original poster, looking for answers I found nothing. Though I did find this post so, BUMP for an answer please.
tethering on 2.1 citrus
I had the same result as above.
I successfully rooted with z4root
tried both
wireless tether for root
and
wifi tethering mesh
Same results, as soon as you start the tethering process, phone restarts..
side note: I know I am rooted as these apps only run if so, i've tried it..
anyone find a hack for running a few apps like 'mint' that are not available in market on the citrus.. even though 'mint' and my local banks app runs on android 1.6 and up
motorola support says the citrus only runs apk files, yet I found a work around to run java apps, just not 'mint' or my banks app runs
this is kind of like bait and switch, the citrus was advertised as being android 2.1 yet its a rather limited version.. its like fedora linux calling itself redhat linux although its based on redhat it isnt..
found one
'Barnacle Wifi Tether' from market worked on my citrus, i'll find out when i get my bill if its good or not regarding the tethering fees. but it worked in a 1 minute short test..
I came across some reviews which reminded me(on of all reviews one person with tmobile was charged):
so i would like to remind people some basics of tethering
1. dont do computer operating system updates on tether
2. dont download torrents or do filesharing on tether
3. dont use a extreme amount of data..
that said I would recommend using a firewall on you computer to block any applcations that might do any of above, and use it when your tethering...

[Q] Does the G2x have the Carrier IQ rootkit?

Does the T-Mobile G2x come with the Carrier IQ rootkit installed? If so, I'd like to block it. I'm running a rooted Android 2.2.2 (I like the camera) and don't want to do anything that would prevent me from possibly upgrading to ICS should it become available. So where do the stock rom users stand?
-roadtrip72-
I would also like some more information on this. I'm running CM7, but what of the other stockish ROMs? Is this something that is removed by the devs?
Well they did have LogMeIn apps installed in the stock roms, but didn't have actual launcher icons for them... kinda scary.
CM7 based roms won't have anything like this installed as they are built from the ground up. Stock-based roms, which I don't think so, still could. Would be nice to get a real answer.
Ok so I have been researching this for the G2x and not really found much positive test results. I'm currently running 2.3.3 stock everything and I downloaded the apk from here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=17612559&postcount=110
From my results the main apk for ciq was not found and nothing ran nor was logged. So I guess no, the g2x stock doesnt have ciq installed. Anyone else confirm this?
Well you can always check and or get rid of the Carrier IQ thing that tracks your information.
You need a rooted phone to do so and then go here to download the app because it is not on the android market.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...&postcount=110
*Note: do a backup of your phone before you do this just incase. I haven't checked if its on our phones just yet but more than likely it probably is
**Update: Having trouble with the app on my g2x with stock rom/faux froyo kernel.05. It keeps giving an "Error copying Busybox" so the App won't update to the pro version that you need. Waiting for Dev response
Does not look to me like CiQ is on the 2.3.4 Rom, but it is possible it may be on the 2.3.3 Rom... Most concerned about LMIRescue.apk and LMIRescueSecurity.apk ... both of those are troubleshooting apps for T-Mobile which in the past has been suggested stands for "LogMeIn"... sounds a lot like ciq or similar. These files were not included in the 2.3.4 Tracfone leak. I have not, however, actually checked a running 2.3.3 with the tools TrevE offered. I did check my copy of the 2.3.4 and it did not find the CiQ service or binary. That is not to say it may not be obfuscated in such a way that TrevE's tool isn't aware of yet though.
However, one thing to note is that a couple of the app usage logs it pulls up I am pretty sure are NOT related to CiQ, and have been around in almost every build of Android since the beginning - specifically the log that tells how much time you've spent in each app. What is IMPORTANT is, is there an app on the phone that's sending the data. That, I can't say for sure.
I saw that article on CNN and was like effing great. After I rooted my phone and saw that logmein crap I froze that right away, lol. Somehow didn't sit with me. Android is great, but let me tell you do NOT trust Google and what they do. I am convinced there's something underlying and sinister about them.
Google=Android
Cell phone=giving up your privacy
I'm going to freeze that lmi crap thing now as well.
I garuantee the g2x has the ciq but its probably hidden or it IS somehow related to logmein. 1984 wasnt a story it was a prophecy. Scary indeed.
And I'm on stock froyo and rooted.
meh...
No CIQ in 2.3.4 but it collects usage stats and periodically sends them to Google. Not sure how to stop that behavior. Also, many of the apps in the Android market use Google's SDK to collect their own usage stats and the apps send them to the devs. They say it is to improve their apps. That is why most apps have permission for network data, even though the app doesn't require network data to work.
jboxer said:
No CIQ in 2.3.4 but it collects usage stats and periodically sends them to Google. Not sure how to stop that behavior. Also, many of the apps in the Android market use Google's SDK to collect their own usage stats and the apps send them to the devs. They say it is to improve their apps. That is why most apps have permission for network data, even though the app doesn't require network data to work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Isn't there an opt out for Google analytics during the setup wizard that everyone skips when you first set up the phone after a wipe?
Sent from my LG-P999 using Tapatalk
just
Its A work around. But I install Lbe and droidwall or prdroid. With pdroid and Droidwall you can lock down pretty much all services (need root). Lbe is OK but not nearly as good as pdroid. This of course would be ideal for your random Apps that abuse internet use or private data

Motorola Solutions TC55

Hello,
I have a TC55 from Motorola Solutions (i.e. the enterprise division that does not belong to Google). It is a rugged phone with a big battery (4400 mAh), but certainly not the sleekest design. Not sure if there is much interest in this kind of device, and I am certainly no developer - but in case anyone is investigating the TC55, here are two things I found so far:
It does not come with any Google apps: no Maps, no Gmail, no Play store and so on.
It is easily rooted with Framaroot using the Gandalf exploit.
(I cannot post this info into the Framaroot thread due to my low post count).
Anyway, maybe this helps someone. I will be happy to try to answer any questions about the TC55, but keep in mind I am no pro and I am not keen in messing around in its internals much more than I have done already.
Elanguescence said:
Hello,
I have a TC55 from Motorola Solutions (i.e. the enterprise division that does not belong to Google). It is a rugged phone with a big battery (4400 mAh), but certainly not the sleekest design. Not sure if there is much interest in this kind of device, and I am certainly no developer - but in case anyone is investigating the TC55, here are two things I found so far:
It does not come with any Google apps: no Maps, no Gmail, no Play store and so on.
It is easily rooted with Framaroot using the Gandalf exploit.
(I cannot post this info into the Framaroot thread due to my low post count).
Anyway, maybe this helps someone. I will be happy to try to answer any questions about the TC55, but keep in mind I am no pro and I am not keen in messing around in its internals much more than I have done already.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I heard my company is planning to go with these soon for entry level supervisors such as myself. I'm trying to figure out exactly what it is. All the specs and brochures from Motorola keep calling it a mobile computer in a smartphone "form factor" but never actually call it a phone. I didn't see anything in any of the specs to lead me to believe for sure that it was a phone or if it was just an Android computer in a smartphone form factor.
Anyway, I just wanted to confirm, that, you're certain this is a phone, correct?
Thanks.
- Byron
bfollowell said:
Anyway, I just wanted to confirm, that, you're certain this is a phone, correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, definitely. You can call and get called, and you can send and receive SMS. It also supports wired headsets, and it is supposed to work with Bluetooth headsets, though I do not have any to test.
Elanguescence said:
Yes, definitely. You can call and get called, and you can send and receive SMS. It also supports wired headsets, and it is supposed to work with Bluetooth headsets, though I do not have any to test.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the info but it looks like mine is going to be crippled.
Sort of a let-down really. Yes, it "can" be a phone. Or without a sim card it can be a really powerful Android based mobile computer. That's what it is going to be for most of us. Only a few supervisors with area management approval are going to get units with the phone features working. Still cool. Just not as cool as I'd thought it was going to be.
- Byron
bfollowell said:
Thanks for the info but it looks like mine is going to be crippled.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see, sorry to hear that. It sounds weird to me to do that, but then again I have no clue about this type of work.
Maybe the crippling could be worked around or undone by people with good Android knowledge - but I suppose it might not be the best idea to go against company policy.
Elanguescence said:
I see, sorry to hear that. It sounds weird to me to do that, but then again I have no clue about this type of work.
Maybe the crippling could be worked around or undone by people with good Android knowledge - but I suppose it might not be the best idea to go against company policy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think they're doing anything all that special to cripple it. They just won't all have sim cards or a cell plan. Pretty much as simple as that.
I won't be doing anything to circumvent that though or rooting it or anything like that. It's not like it's a gift and it belongs to me or anything. After almost 22 years, I've kind of grown to like my job and getting a paycheck every two weeks.I'd kind of like to keep it for another 15 or 20 years. Who knows, maybe my manager will decide that I need cell service with mine.
I work for a large automaker in the U.S. We have over 2.8 million square feet under roof. Personally, I can be anywhere on in the plant, on the roof, in pits & sub-basements underneath or anywhere on or near the 50 acre plant site at any given time. A lot of what I need to do on a daily basis is through our intranet portal. They're putting in something like 500 new wi-fi repeaters/extenders all around the plant as well. They're purchasing these for over 300 first line supervisors at my site alone. I'm pretty sure they're doing this corporate-wide so I hate to think what they're spending on these things as a corporation. I'm sure it would bankrupt many small nations! In addition to giving us portal access away from the desk, these are meant to replace our aging industrial radio system. As expensive as these are, they're still much cheaper than $1.5 to $2k per person for a radio that has no other built-in functionality and these do seem pretty ruggedized.
Still a shame about the phone functionality though.
- Byron
Can you see what browser it comes with? Can you install (untrusted) APKs directly without rooting it?
FYI, in case anyone's wondering, there is a version with Google apps on the way (if it isn't already orderable).
Sent from my Moto X
tfnico said:
Can you see what browser it comes with? Can you install (untrusted) APKs directly without rooting it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Browser is a standard one, which comes with other devices. Name is Browser.apk and version is 1.0.9
It's possible to install unsigned APK's without rooting.
google account
Hi,
I got stucked with trying to get google calendars from my google account to TC55.
I found one solution to setup google account as a corporate one, but it's not available anymore due to change in google policy.
I can setup google mail via email account, but that doesn't bring me my calendars to the device.
I tried to install gapps but without success.
Is there any other way?
Thanks.
Motorola work on google apps for TC55.There is in beta.
Elanguescence said:
... here are two things I found so far:
It does not come with any Google apps: no Maps, no Gmail, no Play store and so on.
It is easily rooted with Framaroot using the Gandalf exploit.
(I cannot post this info into the Framaroot thread due to my low post count).
Anyway, maybe this helps someone. I will be happy to try to answer any questions about the TC55, but keep in mind I am no pro and I am not keen in messing around in its internals much more than I have done already.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Obviously u rooted, can u install gapps in it?
RjCode said:
Obviously u rooted, can u install gapps in it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No idea, I haven't tried. As far as I understand gapps are usually installed via flashing a zip from recovery, and the stock recovery of the TC55 does not have that option, it only allows reflashing a whole image, if I understand it correctly. Either way, I have come to appreciate the open source alternatives and do not want to get Google on my phone, so I will not try, sorry.
However, going by this thread over at the Motorola support forum, it seems it won't take long until there is official gapps support:
https://developer.motorolasolutions.com/thread/4989
Motorola has now released a TC55-firmware with Google apps. Here are the release notes:
https://atgsupportcentral.motorolasolutions.com/content/emb/docs/ReleaseNotes/Release%20Notes%20-%20%20TC55_RevAPlus_GMS_01%2074G_v10.htm
According to the support email they sent me, to get the actual release you need to perform the following arcane ritual:
Resolution Type is : Software Download
Resolution Id is  : 95562
Resolution Title is : TC55 Update Image v1.74 with GMS (Google Mobile Service) Release Note & Factory Reset & Enterprise Enabler package
restrictedSW :
T55N0JGMVRUEN17400.zip 321 MB TC55 OS Recovery Update package
T55N0JGMVAUEN17400.apf 321 MB TC55 OS update package file for deployment using MSP
If you require access to OS files for TC55 1.74 GMS then call the local Support Desk and provide following information:
a. Site ID
b. Serial #(s)
c. Phone #
d. Customer name (First and Last)
e. E-mail address
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't ask me what the local support desk number is, or the site ID, or why they have to make this so complicated.
Hi Elanguescence,
I think I screwed up my tc55 by enabling the multiuser function without first creating the white list. Now all the users (with admin rights) does not have access to all the programs, including Applock Administrator and Multiuser administrator.
To cut things short, do you know of a way to reset the device? I don't mind setting it to factory default and start over. I've googled it and some said to launch Rapid Deployment and scan a barcode from there... but my Rapid Deployment just says "Service Not Ready, Please Wait" and get stuck there.
Any help appreciated. Thank you.
Any TC55 users here? Should be getting my unit w/ GMS soon... How do you guys like it?
Is the bootloader locked?
Sent from my Moto X
Hey!
I want to Buy one TC55 for me. Normally i hate Android and the Google stuff on the Phone but some Motorola Salesman told me there is a version with out.
Now i use an Sybian Device. That mean i am "offline" the hole time and when i need Internet the Phone connect the the Internet.
So how about that phone can i work "offline" to?
I will also use an VPN Tunnel to block on my backend all Connnection i dont want. Does all Data trough this VPN Tunnel ?
How about the Barcode Scanning does it work good?
I know for 2D i need to use the Cam but how works it when i am in some other Application?
Nobody?
Ok. I just bought a TC55 from a Friend and I was wondering if someone would post the update to get GSM and the Factory Reset packages. I went to the page and it requires all the information posted above before. Mine is rooted, but i am trying to install GAPS but the recovery is the basic and cannot. I manually installed Google Play and the Google Play Services but Google Play services keep crashing and the Play Store will not connect, any ideas ?
the are 2 versions one with google s... service and the other without.
So i belive you have the first?
(Can i ask you some question about that phone?)

Google is still ignoring the MVNO Problem / What can we do?

Hello xda-guys, devs, user and everyone else.
Since I got an Android phone, i startet to love it and still up today I can't imagine to have another mobile OS. When I swapped a few years ago to a MVNO, the pain begun:
When using your Android phone with a MVNO, it is saying that you are roaming. So you have to activate "data usage while roaming", get a lot of annoying warnings and if you live near a border, you can look forward to a very high phone bill.
This issue is only on Android, no Windows phone, no iOS, not even and unbelievable old Nokia does have this problems!
The problem is (well?) known at google since 2009 (!!!) and all over the world, but google is ignoring it:
https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=3499
Unfortunately, most people around the world don't even know that this is a problem! Even the manuals from the MVNO's are saying that you just have to activate data usage while roaming, altough they know that this can rise your bill when you live near a boarder... (Or do they want exactley that?!)
I love my Android, but without any hacks or rooting to solve this problem, it is useless!
I don't want anymore to be forced to root my phones and search for a hack, patch or anything else when there is a new version.
Only Samsung implementet it in their firmware which solves this problem. But it can't be that I need to use only Samsung phones in the future?
With upcoming root "problems" of Lollipop and also ART it is getting more difficult to find solutions for that problem.
Maybe here on XDA, there are more people haveing the same annoying problem and are maybe also as fed up as I am about that problem.
So there is my question, what can we all together do, that this problem will be solved once and forever directly by google?!
I can't imagine that this is taking more time then two days of coding by one person sitting on the right place...
Sorry for my bad english and I hope that there are many other people like me sitting there and are also as fed up as I am about that problem. If i start to think about it, I would like to throw my phone away and start useing my brick old Nokias again.... I just can't understand why this problem isn't fixed since years...
PS: If I posted this in the wrong section, I'm sorry. Please move it then to the right section.
Seems that the national roaming issue isn't annoying anyone other?
This is definitely annoying me. My Xperia T had support for my MVNO built in, but my Huawei didn't until the last update (EMUI 3 beta). Xposed framework stopped working after an update, so I couldn't use the National Roaming plugin anymore. I was forced to enable roaming and download an app called network status notification. That way I could at least see if I was using 2g or 3g.
I have no idea how we can ask Google to do something about it, but if someone here on XDA can fix it, why can't Google fix it?
PS: EU roaming option would come in handy too
National roaming improved
Improvement of "National Roaming" plugin
http://forum.xda-developers.com/xposed/modules/xposed-national-roaming-t2420249/page8#post58718130
Testers wanted.
viper2097 said:
Seems that the national roaming issue isn't annoying anyone other?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i use the app from this site
https://blog.sprinternet.at/2013/12/android-roaming-statusicon-entfernen-inlands-roaming-mvno/
it works great for me!
it is open source but i don´t know how build apps... if somebody knows how to do the app is more then 1 year old but it works on lollipop and kitkat!
you only need root! no xposed!
direct link to the .apk
http://www.sprinternet.at/uu_wiki/MVNOroaming.apk
Thank you for this tip! I've searched a lot and found only script based solutions or the way via the xposed framework -which I actually do not need!
I'll try this in the evening.
But unfortunately, there is still no solution from google or without root...
That Google ignores it is unbelievable, but due the fact that I have root tyrol made my day with this tipp

Kid's first phone to turn off internet connectivity (mobile & Wi-Fi) : Mod old Verizon Galaxy S5 or Gabb Wireless?

Experienced heartbreak in purchasing slider & flip phones off of eBay, which worked for seller only days before, but then learning that Verizon will not activate any new lines for 3G, slider, flip, CDMA devices. This has always been a great way to give kids a first phone, a phone that will only do call & text. So, turned to old family inventory or new companies that specialize in a modern phone with internet or social media interaction. Enter Gabb Wireless or Pinwheel. Landed on Gabb Wireless, but my bride wants me to try to mod an old Verizon bone stock Galaxy S5. Of course...& I'm sure many of you have been there...some guy we know was able to do it with his kid's phone...so now I should be able to do it. Never mind this guy is a software dev and most likely using an iOS phone. So, gauntlet thrown down, challenge issued. I've been doing a lot of digging & don't know if this can be done with this build. Here's what we have:
G900V, bone stock Verizon
Build number = MMB29M.G900VVRU2DQL1
Security patch level = 8/1/17
Let me know if any other specs would be helpful.
Thank you kindly.
EternalWorth said:
Experienced heartbreak in purchasing slider & flip phones off of eBay, which worked for seller only days before, but then learning that Verizon will not activate any new lines for 3G, slider, flip, CDMA devices. This has always been a great way to give kids a first phone, a phone that will only do call & text. So, turned to old family inventory or new companies that specialize in a modern phone with internet or social media interaction. Enter Gabb Wireless or Pinwheel. Landed on Gabb Wireless, but my bride wants me to try to mod an old Verizon bone stock Galaxy S5. Of course...& I'm sure many of you have been there...some guy we know was able to do it with his kid's phone...so now I should be able to do it. Never mind this guy is a software dev and most likely using an iOS phone. So, gauntlet thrown down, challenge issued. I've been doing a lot of digging & don't know if this can be done with this build. Here's what we have:
G900V, bone stock Verizon
Build number = MMB29M.G900VVRU2DQL1
Security patch level = 8/1/17
Let me know if any other specs would be helpful.
Thank you kindly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure why you don't just go buy a burner flip phone from Walmart? I thought those could still be activated.
If not, you'd have to disable the portion of the kernel that handles data. Let's be honest, this is a ~10 year old device so you won't find much assistance unfortunately.
Oh yeah, forgot, this is Android 6.0.1.
As for the query, you're right...I could do the burner/fip/slider thing, perhaps...but, truly, it appears all carriers across the board are throwing off 3G devices as fast as they can. I did see some of the rough service basic phones have 4G capability, but can't justify price on those things. Tough balance to strike as we're doing some traveling where VZW is the only network that's really reliable...& trying to get a child the best camera possible on the devices we have, so they can take pics of stuff they may never see again. Old basic phones are pretty challenging to text on, too. Anyway, we have an old iPod Touch someone threw away, plus the S5. S5 has the better cameras. But it's one of the last builds they sold for Verizon...and I don't ever remember there being a way to unlock the bootloader on that build...the G900V. But, regardless, I still can't find a way to shut down mobile & Wi-Fi on it. I think they have a Verizon family app that will let you shut down the web, but it is extra per month, of course. Appreciate the feedback, for sure. This is just the DIY kinda life, I reckon: constantly trying to refurb, reuse the old stuff, fix stuff yourself, do without...all to live w/in your means & save dinero.
EternalWorth said:
Oh yeah, forgot, this is Android 6.0.1.
As for the query, you're right...I could do the burner/fip/slider thing, perhaps...but, truly, it appears all carriers across the board are throwing off 3G devices as fast as they can. I did see some of the rough service basic phones have 4G capability, but can't justify price on those things. Tough balance to strike as we're doing some traveling where VZW is the only network that's really reliable...& trying to get a child the best camera possible on the devices we have, so they can take pics of stuff they may never see again. Old basic phones are pretty challenging to text on, too. Anyway, we have an old iPod Touch someone threw away, plus the S5. S5 has the better cameras. But it's one of the last builds they sold for Verizon...and I don't ever remember there being a way to unlock the bootloader on that build...the G900V. But, regardless, I still can't find a way to shut down mobile & Wi-Fi on it. I think they have a Verizon family app that will let you shut down the web, but it is extra per month, of course. Appreciate the feedback, for sure. This is just the DIY kinda life, I reckon: constantly trying to refurb, reuse the old stuff, fix stuff yourself, do without...all to live w/in your means & save dinero.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I mean there is a way to unlock the bootloader if you look on XDA. https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/...ootloader-using-dev-bootloader-kk-mm.3337909/ The Verizon S5 was the worst model out of all of the US carrier variants.
EternalWorth said:
This has always been a great way to give kids a first phone, a phone that will only do call & text. So, turned to old family inventory or new companies that specialize in a modern phone with internet or social media interaction. Enter Gabb Wireless or Pinwheel. Landed on Gabb Wireless, but my bride wants me to try to mod an old Verizon bone stock Galaxy S5.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know this thread is almost a year old, and I'm sorry I'm late to the party, but I had the same idea!
My kids had been using Gabb Wireless for a while, and we were mostly happy with the service, but I wanted the option to install other useful apps on their phones without giving them access to the web. So, I bought a couple of old Galaxy S5 SM-G900V (Verizon version) phones, and I think I've succeeded in modifying them in a way that will prevent the kids from surfing the internet or installing their own apps. I thought I'd post my method here, in case anyone is still interested. Here's what I did:
Install Safestrap Recovery. (Follow this guide, up to and including the step where you install Safestrap. Skip the remaining steps in the guide.)
Boot into Safestrap Recovery and flash jrkruse's “slightly de-bloated” stock Marshmallow rom from here.
Use either ADB or Safestrap to remove any system apps that would allow kids to browse the web or download their own apps. (To delete unwanted system apps using Safestrap recovery, click Mount and make sure the system partition is mounted. Also make sure the “Mount system partition read-only” box is unchecked. Then go back and click Advanced > File Manager, and edit or remove system files as desired.) The web browser is already removed from jrkruse's rom, but I also removed the following apps:
from /system/app:
Gmail2
SamsungSetupWizard
SecEmail_K
InteractiveTutorial [This is the Samsung Help app.]
SamsungAppsWidget_Phone_Carrier_VZW
from /system/priv-app:
Velvet [this is the Google search app]
SamsungUpdates [this includes the Samsung Apps store and “Galaxy essentials,” which would allow kids to download and install their own apps]
GoogleOneTimeInitializer
SetupWizard
from /data/app:
com.android.vending-1 [this is the Google Play Store]
Edit the settings APK file to disable the option to remove the option to install apps from “uknown sources” (Settings > Security > Uknown Sources) so that users can’t enable that option. This will prevent kids from installing apps by sideloading (e.g. copying apps from a friend's phone via SD card.) Apps can still be installed via recovery or ADB, but most kids won't know how to do that.
To edit the settings APK properly, you could follow this guide, but I used a much hackier method and basically just sabotaged the security_settings_misc.xml file inside SecSettings.apk, so that the settings app crashes if the user tries to open and modify those settings.
I've attached my modified settings file. You can put it on the phone's SD card, then use Safestrap to copy it to system/priv-app/SecSettings. Save the original settings file first (or just rename it and change the filename extension) so that you can restore it later if needed.

Categories

Resources