Phone going in for service (with passcode) - wipe/then restore? - Security Discussion

Hey all - sorry if this is a noob question. Cracked my screen (Moto G5s plus) like a moron and took it to a local place for repair today. They ordered the part and I paid half as downpayment. They did ask for the phone password and like a moron I just gave it to them without thinking - should have given a fake one and changed it before I gave it too them. Oh well - lesson learned.
Anyway, I assume the only way to maintain any security at all while the phone is being repaired (AND they have the passcode) is to back up everything and factory reset before they get it, then factory reset it again after just to be sure; is this correct? Would you all recommend something like Titanium Backup to do this? Never used a backup/restore app but it would be great to use something that would reinstall all relevant apps, settings, wallpapers, widgets, etc. - hope maybe that's possible! If not I can just set it up again - no big deal. Just configuring work e-mail can be a pain so would be great if it could be done automatically.
Thanks a lot for the wisdom!

Related

[Q] Factory Data Reset after Root

Hello everyone. Please let me pre-apologize if I'm posting this in the wrong forum. I have spent much, much time reading similar posts on this question, and I am a newbie, but very quickly learning.
I'm only asking this just to be absolutely safe before I do it. -I am very New to android phones and have managed to Root my phone 1st try and have no issues, everything is fine, and I love the phone and this site.
=-QUESTION-=
I want to do a Factory Data Reset (settings/privacy/Factory Data Reset), and the phone is rooted (used KMS One click Root)
1.Is it safe to do this.
2.Should I do anything before I attempt it.
3.Should I expect the phone to be back to it's "factory" state afterwards.
xtra info:
I base my questions off of what I have already read/learned, I have a bunch of programs I installed for testing purposes (1st time android user & all free versions), now that I know what I want installed, I want the phone to start Fresh (I just like the way it runs after a factory reset) and after that, I am going to buy$ all the programs, which are mostly utility programs from the android market.
I already bought App2SD Pro, and want to buy many, many more. I have installed on my pc Eclipse and the full Android-sdk-Tools. Although I am not a Programmer, my intentions is to become one, if I can learn it all .....lol
There are no Mods or anything like that installed and nothing was removed by me. (system apps, etc.)
Bottom Line: - As a "Newbie", as You call it, I don't yet know enough to remedy any serious problem if one was to happen after doing this, the "factory reset after rooted already", So I want to be sure before I attempt anything. So I came here to ask the opinion of the experts, you.
...and on a last and somewhat unrelated issue, after rooting the phone using the KMS thing, I don't even know what it installed or what it did'nt at the time of rooting, and I state this out of confusion due to part of the Readme file stating afterwards on your phone goto the android market and download busybox - but it seems it was installed by the rooter (as far as I could tell) and Superuser.apk as well, since it was there after rooting. -But I know nothing of what these apps do, still trying to understand them.
...So this is where I'm at educationally with my phone, and ALL Respect to all of you.
Thanks for Reading.
My PHONE:
Samsung Galaxy Prevail
Model# SPH-M820-BST
Android Version 2.2.2
Build# FROYO.EE14
Kernel version: 2.6.32.9
Hardware version: M820.07
current added software:
ATK, App2SDPro, Astro, CacheMate for Root, DroidWall, ES File Explorer, LCDDensity, OperaMini, PdaNet, QuickBoot, RomManager, RootCheck, SD-Booster, SpareParts+, SuperManager, SuperUser, Titanium Backup.
(These are the utility programs I mentioned above), I currently only purchased the full version of App2SDPro, and want to purchase/reinstall all the rest at their paid full versions, but only after the factory reset is completed.
Also, after the phone was rooted, I tried to uninstall Superuser (I was trying to update it at the time) and from what I remember, it would not un-install, and still won't. (possibly some need to know xtra info for you)
I use XP-Pro/sp3, tweaked by me, and I am pretty familiar with it, but Linux is new to me, and I am just getting started on learning/using that in Oracle VM VirtualBox for educational reasons for now.
-THANKYOU, Again.-
I'm guessing this question is not interesting enough for an answer.
A factory reset should reset your phone to how it was when you got it. You will lose your apps, but any purchased apps will be remembered so you don't have to worry about that. Superuser is essential on a rooted device to grant apps SU permissions, so don't try to remove it.
k_nivesout thankyou. I have been sitting idle waiting to find out what to do, now at least I understand what Superuser is for and how important it is. -I understand what a Factory-Reset will do, as I have done it a few times already messin' around with it since I bought the phone 2 months ago., ..but.,...
You Stated:
You will lose your apps, but any purchased apps will be remembered so you don't have to worry about that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You mean I will lose the apps I installed myself, not the system pre-installed stuff (i think you guys call it bloatware) CORRECT?
AND
How will the system remember that I bought an App such as the one I did buy, App 2 SD Pro, I ask because I want to know if it's stored on the phone somewhere (meaning it's not a total reset/wipeout --my thinking is still in windows mode) or on the 16GB memory card I have in there, because I was planning on wiping that to start fresh as well, or does the market read/remember my phone id/login email, etc. when I connect and try to redownload/re-install it. ?
-In fact I would like to know that anyway for future reference before I start laying money down on lots of apps I want.
Hope you understand what I'm asking here.
ThanKyou.
Yes, you'll lose the market apps with the factory reset, but your paid apps are tied to your Google account. So whenever you set up the phone again with that account, it will associate those apps, even on a new phone.
I can't remember if its just on gingerbread roms, but the last few times I've done a factory reset, Google has remembered my free apps too, and started redownloading them automatically from the market.
I'm no expert. but here's what I have experience.
If you'll do a factory reset. All will be gone, your settings, apps etc but you the phone will retain its root.
Cool.
I got what I needed to know. Just wanted to go with the experience of others before I do anything involving systemwide things, don't want to wind up with a dead phone that will take weeks of trial and error to fix, especially as I'm new to the whole android thing/programming/linux, and also 'cause boost's customer service is chock full of lazy "I hate my job and don't want to be here" type tech support.
This is all I can afford at the moment and it is fine, and I'm glad I'm able to make it better and mess around and learn from using it. And this site too of course.
Thanks guys

Can't start apps + 80004005 marketplace.

Hello guys,
Since 3 days now I can't start any purshased app (only see the loading screen then close itself) and I can't buy any app on marketplace, even free apps, always get 80004005 error...
I really don't know wt* is going, I don't have touched my registry (ok just the device name for testing but I set it back to OMNIA7).
Only sideloaded apps works. :/
I already tried to resynch the Live account but don't solve.
Anyone have an idea ?
Thanks.
Changing the device name is one of those NO SERIOUSLY DON'T MESS WITH THIS registry values - I thought the handful of places that ever recommended doing so had put up warning to that effect a while ago, but maybe not. It appears to break the DRM scheme the marketplace uses.
As for things to change... I assume you've tried rebooting the phone already? Also, make sure the registry value is exactly what it used to be, case sensitive and so forth.
In worst case, a hard reset will completley fix it. Registry changes are, fortunately, just in the Flash storage and are wiped in a hard reset.
Yeah.. I did a backup and reseted the phone, now it works.
And I lost all my SMS one more time.
I really wish there was a good way to back those up. It's difficult to extract and restore the SMS store.
Hi ninjy,
this is a problem of the marketplace at the moment.
I got many emails from users that have this problem with my app Week View.
I wrote something about it on my blog: http://www.hannesbiribauer.com/wordpress/?p=800
The problem is also disussed in the Ms answers forum and there is a thread for it in the WPDevFeedback Forum: https://wpdev.uservoice.com/forums/110705-dev-platform/suggestions/7168298-provide-fix-for-c101a7d1-when-updating-80004005-w
greetings,
Hannes

Help: Is a New Cubot X6 image available? System is compromised!

Hello!
I would like to ask for help installing either a new Cubot X6 Android or a linux based system. Until recently I wasn't aware of what kind of aggressive trojans for Android happen to compromise a phone to a degree where the solution is to buy a new one. I do not want to accept that. Therefor I am here to ask for help.
WLAN enabled - the phone runs nutts. It causes unknown apps to be installed, ruining the function of the phone completely. I bought it via ebay, a used Cubot X6. I had the device years ago until i sat on it which happened to break the display, but I liked it and bought it again, used. (The used one cost 60 bucks, a replace-display would have cost 35, so I ran with the used one - big mistake as it turned out).
Now, it's root-system is compromised. I set it to only allow apps from trusted sources. I did not download any apps beside well known trust-worthy ones, like google-maps, WhatsApp, all together.
When I first enabled WLAN, it suddenly started to display a message of the shutting down of "org.rain.ball.update" and also "ssCleaner ("suc", "chengele") is trying to obtain your current position", "ymm" cancelled, and several others. If I allow WLAN it automatically downloads 10-20 apps, some of which correlate with my laptop visited websites (alibaba), others apps from sites I have never visited ("sexy videos"). Basically the phone gets so busy that it needs to be restarted to allow any control of the phone.
I tried to fix it with Avaast, Avira, and Malewarebytes without success. With Avaast it also displays: "/storage/sdcard0/.androidsdata/is.jar", but is unable to fix it. I guess I would have to erase the SD-Card too, if I were to have the system replaced, once. None of the above things can be fixed with the tools at hand. The deletions are always interrupted, nothing gets improved permanently.
I immediately did a "Reset to factory condition", but when I enabled WLAN I didn't even install an app - it all started again, as described above.
So, a quick Google-Research turned out, there are trojan-horses, that cover themselves by pretending to be system applications, so that it would be nearly impossible to get rid of the trojan - only solution: buy a new one (See this article wwwDOTblog.lookout.com/blog/2015/11/04/trojanized-adware/).
Now, while I have a broken device and a trojan device, one solution would be to mount the display of the compromised one onto the broken one. I know it's easy to break the display during this. That's why I am here to ask, if someone might have suggestions of what else could be done to have this fixed?
Maybe it would be possible to get an uncompromised mirror-image of a Cubot X6 from the internet that would replace every data on mine? Would it fix it, if I were to install this: "Ubuntu Touch - Version 15.04 Phone"?
Any help would be appreciated. If I were to take a wild guess, I'ld say the trojan horses might have been developed by Apple...... So what am I to do now? Buy a new one?
EDIT: If you were to not believe this to be true, I could shoot a video of it with my laptop. It's really strange, but it is as it is. EDIT 2: Avaast displays a message, the phone has been rooted.
Please help!! Thank you so much!!
You won't get the virus to YOUR phone from replying ...
Am I here at the right forum for this technical problem?
Thanks
Do a search for your rom and instructions on how to flash. It will replace system partition and problem should then be gone.
tys0n said:
Do a search for your rom and instructions on how to flash. It will replace system partition and problem should then be gone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will try that. Im total newb to smartphone software. any linking would be appreciated. thanks so far!
CubotX6 said:
I will try that. Im total newb to smartphone software. any linking would be appreciated. thanks so far!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A google search for "cubot x6 firmware" will give you some good results.
Here's also Cubot forums, with link to downloads.
Hope that will help, and be sure to read up on the subject on how to flash before you start
So many Thanks! You linked me to the perfect spot! Thank you!
While i will redo my laptop with linux soon, you got experience with having linux on the phone? If i wee to try and mes up, it still were possible to go bac to the original cubot files u linked to, correct?
Thank you!!

User Installed CA sprfw01 - what is it?

Hello,
I have a lg ls775 and under the user security certificates there is one called sprfw01. I have no idea why or what its for. Im on the sprint network. Is there a way i can inspect the cert or atleast figure out whats using it? Any info is greatly appreciated. Thnx guys!
Could this be from pairing my phone with some device ie. Smart watch or another phone?
Its actually under User credentials. Hope that can jog anyones memory as to what this may be.
I'm currently using the same phone as you and on the same carrier, and just noticed this user credential the other day as well. I didnt recognize it so I deleted it. I'm afraid I cant tell you if it really affected my device as it was already giving me some issues before I deleted the credential. At the time, and again today, I looked for the same answer as you and haven't found any additional information on it, so I can't be much help with exactly why it's there or what put it there.
However, I may be able to help put your mind at ease since I did happen to do a factory reset today and even though I deleted it before, it was back afterward. So my guess is that its not dangerous. (again, thats my opinion, hopefully someone can confirm if I am correct)
Some details to that lead me to think it's safe:
My LG G6 isn't rooted, and was not before the redo. (so technically nothing should have been able to reinstall it that was nefarious)
I didn't install any potentially shady apps when I did the factory reset ( at time of writing this, just a few big name apps from the play store, no random restored apks or anything like that).
I pulled my SD card out before the wipe and haven't put one back in yet, so that rules out something left over on there working itself back in somehow.
I allowed google to "restore" my most recent backup it made, but the most recent backup was AFTER I removed the credential so it shouldn't have been on there (google backups seems to restore very little anyway, and requests all backed up app downloads from the Play store) .
I have connected it to my home secured wifi.
No bluetooth connections yet.
No sharing to any devices or NFC usage, etc.
So from all of that, I believe it is either a Sprint thing, an LG UI thing, or something specific to the LG g6 model, and built into the factory settings. That's just my thoughts, but I thought maybe my experience might make you feel a little more at ease. Hopefully someone can reply with what the heck it actually is though, because little things like not being able to figure out the source of this drive me crazy even after all of that.
Just an update, I was looking through my LG V30+ and found the same credentials stored on this device too. No additional details on it's purpose were really gained from it though. Picture attached.
"User Credential" "sprfw01" also on LG ls 775
I saw the same thing and I searched "sprfw01" . I was wondering what it was. I also have this "User Credential" on an LG ls 775 on Sprint.
Passwords Saved Credential
I did some research into this and what I see is it's a credential from when you saved your passwords for an example unlock screen & any passwords like I have to specific websites.
Jusy my thoughts...
*Any good unlock or root for the ls993?

i dont understand what this means

had this same problem now for a while but cant sort it . so i got in toutch with samsung. the problem is i have no play store on my phone . had to send samsung reports on my phone . and this is the responce i got as pictured below
tazzuk2020 said:
had this same problem now for a while but cant sort it . so i got in toutch with samsung. the problem is i have no play store on my phone . had to send samsung reports on my phone . and this is the responce i got as pictured below
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try using fdroid and aroura store
Nameless Foe said:
Try using fdroid and aroura store
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah thats fine but i still want to know what the issue is
tazzuk2020 said:
yeah thats fine but i still want to know what the issue is
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tbh, im not sure about whats going on there... I have personally never seen that before. Hopefully someone will stumble across and have the answer. Good Luck!
Nameless Foe said:
Tbh, im not sure about whats going on there... I have personally never seen that before. Hopefully someone will stumble across and have the answer. Good Luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok thanks anyway
Someone here knows about this but not me. Couldn't find much about it;
App installation | Knox SDK
Samsung tech support sucks.
Sounds like a Knox issue. Somethings not configured correctly or got corrupted.
Did Playstore ever work?
Is the phone a carrier one? Carrier tech support can be much better than Samsung's if you get a knowledgeable tech.
Try deleting your Goggle account(s), full nuke them, then recreate your primary account.
Clear Playstore and Goggle Play Services app data.
Do not have any disabled or Firewall blocked, Android, Google apks for now.
Reboot and clear system cache on the boot menu (NOT a hard reset!).
Try again, reboot if it fails.
Make sure the Goggle account is working correctly; trying using gmail.
Reboots are generally needed after you correct the issue for Playstore, it's a pain.
You can try a hard reboot (NOT reset!) but doubt this will help.
A hard reset (factory reset) may get it but it could reoccur so try to find the root cause.
If it's a none stock configuration or rooted phone you'll need advance help from XDA members who play with these issues for fun, giggles and to learn new curse words. Lol, I haven't as yet... I already curse like a Nam Vet
If you don't find a solution bump this thread each day as needed. Be patient as their is a wealth of knowledge here within the site's members.
blackhawk said:
Someone here knows about this but not me. Couldn't find much about it;
App installation | Knox SDK
Samsung tech support sucks.
Sounds like a Knox issue. Somethings not configured correctly or got corrupted.
Did Playstore ever work?
Is the phone a carrier one? Carrier tech support can be much better than Samsung's if you get a knowledgeable tech.
Try deleting your Goggle account(s), full nuke them, then recreate your primary account.
Clear Playstore and Goggle Play Services app data.
Do not have any disabled or Firewall blocked, Android, Google apks for now.
Reboot and clear system cache on the boot menu (NOT a hard reset!).
Try again, reboot if it fails.
Make sure the Goggle account is working correctly; trying using gmail.
Reboots are generally needed after you correct the issue for Playstore, it's a pain.
You can try a hard reboot (NOT reset!) but doubt this will help.
A hard reset (factory reset) may get it but it could reoccur so try to find the root cause.
If it's a none stock configuration or rooted phone you'll need advance help from XDA members who play with these issues for fun, giggles and to learn new curse words. Lol, I haven't as yet... I already curse like a Nam Vet
If you don't find a solution bump this thread each day as needed. Be patient as their is a wealth of knowledge here within the site's members.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The phone is not rooted. I’m not getting options to factory reset . I’m not really clued up very much thf
tazzuk2020 said:
The phone is not rooted. I’m not getting options to factory reset . I’m not really clued up very much thf
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try what I suggested. Recreating your Google account will most likely fix it. Learn by doing.
Play with it. The stock Android OS are pretty much impossible to damage short of bad 3rd party apps. The more you play with it, the more you learn. Make sure all your critical data is completely backed up*; be prepared for a reload at any time to prevent data loss.
If you need to download apps from Playstore now and have a device that can connect to Playstore do this. Install the apps you want on that device then use ApkExport to copy those apps then transfer and install on the troubled device
APK Export (Backup & Share) - Apps on Google Play
Manage and extract your apps.
play.google.com
Google how to bring up the boot menu on your model. The clear system cache option is found there; it can cure many erratic behavior issues.
The hard reboot is a different key sequence, Google for that model.
Do not do a factory reset until you exhaust all other solutions if the load is still fresh and no viruses are present otherwise it's a waste of time.
If you feel you have no other solutions you can use it, but if it doesn't fix it or it reoccurs you'll be right back where you started.
Contact your carrier tech support, ask to talk to advanced tech support, escalate your case if need be. They will likely be more helpful than Samsung. Remember a tech that tells you nothing but to do a factory reset isn't giving you tech support. It's the easiest solution for them, not you!!!
Note: if it's an old OS load by all means punch in a fresh copy though; after a year or so, or any major firmware update a factory reload is good practice.
*back up to SD card if you have one and/or your PC. Back that PC copy up on at least one stand alone hdd. Develop a complete back up plan before you need it.
blackhawk said:
Try what I suggested. Recreating your Google account will most likely fix it. Learn by doing.
Play with it. The stock Android OS are pretty much impossible to damage short of bad 3rd party apps. The more you play with it, the more you learn. Make sure all your critical data is completely backed up*; be prepared for a reload at any time to prevent data loss.
If you need to download apps from Playstore now and have a device that can connect to Playstore do this. Install the apps you want on that device then use ApkExport to copy those apps then transfer and install on the troubled device
APK Export (Backup & Share) - Apps on Google Play
Manage and extract your apps.
play.google.com
Google how to bring up the boot menu on your model. The clear system cache option is found there; it can cure many erratic behavior issues.
The hard reboot is a different key sequence, Google for that model.
Do not do a factory reset until you exhaust all other solutions if the load is still fresh and no viruses are present otherwise it's a waste of time.
If you feel you have no other solutions you can use it, but if it doesn't fix it or it reoccurs you'll be right back where you started.
Contact your carrier tech support, ask to talk to advanced tech support, escalate your case if need be. They will likely be more helpful than Samsung. Remember a tech that tells you nothing but to do a factory reset isn't giving you tech support. It's the easiest solution for them, not you!!!
Note: if it's an old OS load by all means punch in a fresh copy though; after a year or so, or any major firmware update a factory reload is good practice.
*back up to SD card if you have one and/or your PC. Back that PC copy up on at least one stand alone hdd. Develop a complete back up plan before you need it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i cleared system cache. done a hard reboot. still the same . cant even find the option to do a factory reset. im not worried about backing phone up. the phone is a samsung a51. i have got another firmware downloading as we talk im not convinced its going to sort the problem
tazzuk2020 said:
i cleared system cache. done a hard reboot. still the same . cant even find the option to do a factory reset. im not worried about backing phone up. the phone is a samsung a51. i have got another firmware downloading as we talk im not convinced its going to sort the problem
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google it for that model. It's should be on the boot menu though. Also in settings as well.
I don't know what to say. This isn't that hard... small steps first.
I was completely PC illiterate 16 years ago. Was building up custom machines within the first year and probably crashed 50 or more XP loads, lol.
I was completely Android illiterate 6 years ago.
I'm 63 yo...
I have done little coding but you need to acquire a certain level of wherewithal to use PCs/Androids well, to keep them and your data secure.
You learn by doing and the Android OS is far easier to learn than XP or XPx64.
If you don't immerse yourself in it you will not learn.
It's fun to play with.
Explore it, play with it... you can't cause any permanent harm to a stock Android. You will occasionally need to undo a setting(s) change you made that may soak up a lot of time tracking it down but that's how you learn.
Go through all the settings and learn what they do.
Turn on Developer Options, play with it.
Google for the answers as your questions arise.
I'm constantly learning by doing that not just for Androids but a broad range of topics.
Lol, the internet is a whole pseudo library at your fingertips. Pretty cool.
blackhawk said:
Google it for that model. It's should be on the boot menu though. Also in settings as well.
I don't know what to say. This isn't that hard... small steps first.
I was completely PC illiterate 16 years ago. Was building up custom machines within the first year and probably crashed 50 or more XP loads, lol.
I was completely Android illiterate 6 years ago.
I'm 63 yo...
I have done little coding but you need to acquire a certain level of wherewithal to use PCs/Androids well, to keep them and your data secure.
You learn by doing and the Android OS is far easier to learn than XP or XPx64.
If you don't immerse yourself in it you will not learn.
It's fun to play with.
Explore it, play with it... you can't cause any permanent harm to a stock Android. You will occasionally need to undo a setting(s) change you made that may soak up a lot of time tracking it down but that's how you learn.
Go through all the settings and learn what they do.
Turn on Developer Options, play with it.
Google for the answers as your questions arise.
I'm constantly learning by doing that not just for Androids but a broad range of topics.
Lol, the internet is a whole pseudo library at your fingertips. Pretty cool.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No factory reset on boot menu. And nowhere to be seen on phone. I even typed it in to search bar on phone . Maybe this is all linked. Only option I have is to reinstall the firmware I have got downloading but that won’t be finished for a few hours
You should be able to factory reset from recovery. Google how to boot to recovery for your device
xunholyx said:
You should be able to factory reset from recovery. Google how to boot to recovery for your device
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nothing from boot menu.
tazzuk2020 said:
Nothing from boot menu.View attachment 5212005
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Part of the reason I left Samsung years ago. They do stuff different than any other OEM. You can't even use fastboot commands ffs
xunholyx said:
Part of the reason I left Samsung years ago. They do stuff different than any other OEM. You can't even use fastboot commands ffs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i got a feeling its to do with knox. is there anything i can do about this . i brought the phone 2nd hand. the phone works perfect apart from play store

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