Related
I have a (4GB) Tronsmart TS7 (some times known as a Alps Glacier TS7). It's a Chinese MTK6589 based phone running Android 4.2 purchased from geekbuying.
For the most part the device is stock, there are next to no pre-installed apps apart from the usual, and the only additional apps I have installed are: Playstation, Steam, ColorNote, Shuttle+, Root Explorer DI Radio, Chrome & Gmail
The problem I have is that there are apps appearing on the device that I am not installing. So far it has been the same set of apps that appear:
Mobo Market
UC Browser
TrustGo Security
DU Battery Saver
337 Game Master
GameCenter
(there may be more)
These apps don't start appearing right after a factory reset, but start to arrive 1-2weeks later. They also seem to be packaged similarly; when I say packaged I mean opening them seems to prompt with the same menu & style (accept licence etc) before it gets to the main app. Also, after you open the app from the app drawer it then creates an icon on the desktop. Maybe opening it actually does the installing?
The apps themselves seem to be legit.
I have factory reset the device (twice), and changed my Google password but they are still appearing. They don't show up in my Play store history so they must be coming from elsewhere.
My main concern is that if it is downloading things without my permission, what might it be uploading ? Not to mention wasting my 3g data etc.
So I have a few questions:
Should I be (really) worried?
Is there a way to monitor this? eg connect to a wifi hotspot and packet capture the network traffic? or maybe use a process monitor (the ones I've tried so far haven't shown anything) to see if there is some sort of script in the background?
Can it be stopped?
Thanks in advance, I would be interested to know if anyone else has/had this problem?
I have the same problem.
I haven't tried flashing some other ROM yet, but I guess that is the only way to get it to stop installing those things.
Have you actually found any other roms to install?
For anybody's information:
You may have noticed how you always end up with a 'Tronsmart.mp4' video file appearing in your gallery app. This is damn annoying since it appears twice, once on the internal and once on the external SD card. There is an '\system\app\CopyTest.apk' file which creates both of these. Should be safe to delete it and thus prevent the file(s) appearing
I have actually decompiled this apk. It works as a service that runs when MEDIA_UNMOUNTED or MEDIA_MOUNTED is invoked, and does absolutely nothing else.
I have the same problem, those random apps installing and the video always in my gallery. I have managed to stop tge apps by using a firewall and allowing only my apps that i want to use the internet. I havent found a solution though to fix the problem. Probably tronsmart is spamming its customers...
mariosm1cy said:
I have managed to stop tge apps by using a firewall and allowing only my apps that i want to use the internet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What Firewall did you use? I might be able to use something like that to pinpoint the app that's causing this.
Sory for the late reply. I am usin "android firewall" free from google play store.
USB debugging disabled stopped it on mine
edit: not that easy, wasn't enough. made some cleanup by disabing/removing some system apps. seems to work so far although there are still some strange events like superuser crashing and right after that system downloader.apk reappearing. haven't seen any other junk coming back
these are the apk's i removed:
systemupdateassistant
systemdownloader
omacp
mtkbt
midtest
galaxy4
fusedlocation
engineermode
engineermodesim
cds_info
basicdreams.
Dear Sir/Madame,
I am having a few issues with my Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (GT-P5113) and I believe they may be related to apps installing themselves onto my tablet as system apps. I first started to have a problem with my music players – they will play fine until the screen times out then they stop playing until the screen is taken out of saver mode.
Another problem is that I am constantly getting a message that the system update has failed and I cannot update my tablet because I get a message saying my tablet has been modified. Finally, I am noticing that there are several apps that must be stored on my tablet as system apps – one is called sexy wallpaper, another is magic eye and I do not remember the name of the others but they just pop up even when my wi-fi is turned off.
I have tried to do a factory reset and a manual reset of the tablet to remove any apps but after the resets the wallpaper pops up again and the message of system update has failed appears. I have to believe all of the problems are related to the wallpaper app and/or the other apps that have forced themselves onto my tablet.
The other problem with my music players stopping when the display goes into saver began all of a sudden and I have had to change my display to timeout after 30 minutes so that I can listen to music on the tablet. It is not the worst option but it is a huge drain on my battery to keep the display on if I want to listen to music.
After I do a factory reset or a manual reset of the tablet, when setting up my device I have skipped the option of setting up the wi-fi but these apps show up as system apps. I move them to the trash bin immediately and it takes them a while to disappear from the apps or widget screen. I usually have to click on them after I have moved them to the trash bin to get them off the screen.
Also, I get the message that the system update has failed immediately after setting up the tablet following a reset.
I downloaded the firmware and the latest ODIN to do a flash stock ROM but I did not want to do anything until I knew that would be the best next step. Any assistance with these problems will be greatly appreciated.
The first answer to your problem is that happens when you are using a custom rom or kernel or on power saver mode, they set the cpu frequency to get low when the screen gets locked. so, when the screen goes off your cpu starts running on low frequency which is not enough to run music player seamlessly but good enough to save your battery.
Second msg is there because you have enabled root, congrats buddy. :good: so you won't be needing any more system updates from samsung now xda is your official update zone. the system files have been modified and thus system can't officially update.
Un-root is an option but since you are getting random apps installed on your pc, then it might be infected and staying on root is better since you can delete those apps causing you trouble. there are many ways to delete those apps even the samsung update app. You can get rid of. search for system app uninstallers.
or
Yes you can try the odin mode and flash stock rom, it will format and install with default. it's safe and will solve your problems.
I
would suggest you learn more from here, going back to stock and waiting for an official update which will never come out from samsung, xda is a great place to learn. best of luck
Billysam,
Thank you for your reply. So how did it get rooted because I did not do that? The wallpaper app that pops up was not installed on the tablet by me it just started to pop up like a virus. I had installed apps from aptoide (chess, dominoes, holdem poker, etc.) and there are pop up ads that will randomly show up when playing those games. However, I have not tried to modify the tablet in any other way since I got it a few years ago.
The only reason I even did the factory resets was to get rid of the pop up from the wall paper and several other apps that were constantly trying to install on the tablet. Because I do not have the unknown sources box ticked so that I have to verify and approve non-google apps that is the only reason the apps were not installing. However, even with the security protections that I mentioned turned on the apps began installing themselves so that is the only reason I tried to factory resets. I had already tried to do the system update before the reset and I was getting the message that my table had been modified so I started making the connection in my mind that the apps were being viewed as system apps.
I have no problem in going back to stock settings or even staying rooted is that is what has happened -- it is just that I did not root the tablet myself. Knowing that it has been rooted by these apps (or viruses possibly) is disconcerting to me -- I just hope the flash will actually remove them since your assessment has me alarmed. The table is not in power saving mode so if the rom or kernel has been customized again that would have been the result of these intruding apps. Currently, the app does not show but that is because I can send it to the trash and the Wi-Fi has been disabled. Once I enable the Wi-Fi the apps force their way back onto the tablet.
The "Unfortunately, System Update has stopped” message pops up all the time even with the Wi-Fi disabled. Of course that message started about the same time as the apps started installing themselves onto the tablet. I always had the automatic update setting on so I never paid attention to whether the tablet was updating. I just assumed Samsung was sending out updates whenever they were available. I guess, in hindsight I do not actually remember seeing any updates being downloaded from Samsung so your statement about waiting endlessly is definitely correct.
So when you say the Odin mode will install with default do you mean that the tablet will go back to the original factory settings and it will allow for the update to work as normal? Or will it still be rooted and I will need to get any updates from this Xda website? Again, at this point I do not really have a preference either way I just want to know as much as I can before I take any actions.
Another curious observation is that I have not enabled Wi-Fi as I stated earlier and when I go to settings to look at the application manager the only app that it shows is the “Galaxy Tab 2 Screensaver” taking up 23.52MB of space but I don’t know if that is a system app or if it is part of the self-imposed sexy wallpaper app that I had to delete. I ask because all the other system apps do not show up in the app manager under the settings – for instance alarm, amazon kindle, paper artist, playbooks, music player, YouTube, Polaris Office, etc. The Screensaver is of course one of the apps but none of the other 60 apps are listed in the application manager only the “Galaxy Tab2 Screensaver” – I did not notice if this Galaxy Screensaver was already there since I never change the screensaver settings on my tablets. When I compare this to the way the application manager looks on my 7” (GT-P3113) the 7” has all of the apps listed in the application manager.
Also, when I compare the Android Version (4.2.2), Kernel Version (3.0.31-1978026, [email protected]#1, Tue Nov 19 18:37:42 KST 2013) and Build number (JDQ39.P5113UEUCMK3) they are virtually the same. The only difference is the 7” has slightly different Kernel Version (09#1) and Build number (P3113) so I am confused by the initial statement of a custom kernel possibility or modification of the tablet except that the self-imposed app(s) make the tablet appear to be rooted or modified? Does that make any sense? I am not a tablet guy by any stretch of the imagination but I have had to troubleshoot many a laptop plus I have had more than a few Coby tablets that all tapped out of life at some point. The Samsung tablets were actually replacements for those Coby tablets (may they R.I.P.) – in short I am still very confused. Where can I get further help in understanding not the steps to flash the rom but an understanding of what that actually does?
tzxlyd said:
I had installed apps from aptoide (chess, dominoes, holdem poker, etc.) and there are pop up ads that will randomly show up when playing those games. However, I have not tried to modify the tablet in any other way since I got it a few years ago.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So you haven't flashed anything or tried to root. so you're clean in that manner. But Aptoide seems to be the culprit here.
"Aptoide Anti-Malware platform analyses applications in run-time and disables potential threats across all stores."
So, basically aptoide allows pirated apps, they could even give you access to the malware and viruses and not even let you know about it. So, even if you're installing a safe app like a game which is also available on the google play store(which is the safest place until now) malicious codes could be added to them over aptoide.
---------- Post added at 10:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:38 PM ----------
tzxlyd said:
Billysam,
The only reason I even did the factory resets was to get rid of the pop up from the wall paper and several other apps that were constantly trying to install on the tablet. Because I do not have the unknown sources box ticked so that I have to verify and approve non-google apps that is the only reason the apps were not installing. However, even with the security protections that I mentioned turned on the apps began installing themselves so that is the only reason I tried to factory resets. I had already tried to do the system update before the reset and I was getting the message that my table had been modified so I started making the connection in my mind that the apps were being viewed as system apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What a factory reset does?
It removes all USER DATA and restores the device back to factory settings providing that the device is not rooted. User data is defined as apps, call logs, contacts, and anything else the user has placed in the devices memory. Stuff that is on the SDCARD is not affected by a factory reset. A factory reset really only deals with the Data and the Cache partitions.
So, if your system is modified and you're not on a custom recovery(you get through flashing with odin). it will only delete data and cache, system apps will stay as it is. i.e system files modified in your case.
Unknown sources box doesn't help much either and verifying non-google app won't work since aptoide has already the permissions to allow.(that is how you could even get a pirated app installed through aptoide in the first place. makes sense? then the malicious apps also gets way in and use scripts to get into root)
---------- Post added at 11:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:51 PM ----------
tzxlyd said:
I have no problem in going back to stock settings or even staying rooted is that is what has happened -- it is just that I did not root the tablet myself. Knowing that it has been rooted by these apps (or viruses possibly) is disconcerting to me -- I just hope the flash will actually remove them since your assessment has me alarmed. The table is not in power saving mode so if the rom or kernel has been customized again that would have been the result of these intruding apps. Currently, the app does not show but that is because I can send it to the trash and the Wi-Fi has been disabled. Once I enable the Wi-Fi the apps force their way back onto the tablet.
So when you say the Odin mode will install with default do you mean that the tablet will go back to the original factory settings and it will allow for the update to work as normal? Or will it still be rooted and I will need to get any updates from this Xda website? Again, at this point I do not really have a preference either way I just want to know as much as I can before I take any actions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it's not a power saving mode, and kernel isn't modified either and no, this is not a root induced by you, but it's malicious activity, so don't stay like that.
Flashing stock firmware through odin
wipes/format system,
boot/kernel,
cache,
hidden partitions and rewrites them all like it came out of the box(except data on your external memory card.) It will leave no sign of any apps or hidden codes or any data that doesn't belongs to Samsung. So no root, completely the way you bought it the first time. no need of xda anymore and you can stay without it even making update possible to work. but then you're not getting any more updates from them. but xda here on xda have so much updates if you've seen already.
---------- Post added at 11:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:23 PM ----------
[/COLOR]
tzxlyd said:
The "Unfortunately, System Update has stopped” message pops up all the time even with the Wi-Fi disabled. Of course that message started about the same time as the apps started installing themselves onto the tablet. I always had the automatic update setting on so I never paid attention to whether the tablet was updating.
Another curious observation is that I have not enabled Wi-Fi as I stated earlier and when I go to settings to look at the application manager the only app that it shows is the “Galaxy Tab 2 Screensaver” taking up 23.52MB of space but I don’t know if that is a system app or if it is part of the self-imposed sexy wallpaper app that I had to delete. I ask because all the other system apps do not show up in the app manager under the settings – for instance alarm, amazon kindle, paper artist, playbooks, music player, YouTube, Polaris Office, etc. The Screensaver is of course one of the apps but none of the other 60 apps are listed in the application manager only the “Galaxy Tab2 Screensaver” – I did not notice if this Galaxy Screensaver was already there since I never change the screensaver settings on my tablets. When I compare this to the way the application manager looks on my 7” (GT-P3113) the 7” has all of the apps listed in the application manager.
in short I am still very confused. Where can I get further help in understanding not the steps to flash the rom but an understanding of what that actually does?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the reason the app stops, could be because bad, overwritten, conflicting data, or even in case when you're ram is pretty much choked up all apps could start misbehaving and stop responding.
simple test, try deleting system update app's data. in settings- app manager- all apps. if it's because bad data, it will sort things out.
any app under settings-app manager you find that has uninstall option ------ is not a system app.
the apps which you can only disable and can't uninstall ------- are the apps installed on your system partition.
So, don't be confused, focus, first clear data/cache of all the apps that you suspect or is getting stopped, then uninstall the apps which you can, get rid of aptoide, Galaxy Tab2 Screensaver. use google play store or amazon and install apps from them only, or sites which you can trust. if you want to disable samsung update, disable it as well, since it will never show any update anymore and won't be getting stopped.
See how it goes, if problem persists, then we will get over to flashing through odin
Billysam,
I got rid of the Aptoide apps when I tried to do the factory resets so they have been removed and as you say I guess the viruses were already embedded onto the tablet from using those games. Even with all of the Aptoide apps removed I am getting the update failure message and the wallpaper app (plus sometime others) are already on the tablet after the reset. I will look at the Odin flash and I saw the steps on Sammobile. I already downloaded the Odin and the firmware files that match the build of my tablet so I believe I am ready to proceed. Can you review the instructions I copied from the Sammobile website to ensure the steps are correct?
The Sammobile steps are as follows:
• Extract (unzip) the firmware file
• Download Odin v3.10.7
• Extract Odin ZIP file
• Open Odin v3.10.7
• Reboot Phone in Download Mode (press and hold Home + Power + Volume Down buttons)
• Connect phone and wait until you get a blue sign in Odin
• Add the firmware file to AP / PDA
• Make sure re-partition is NOT ticked
• Click the start button, sit back and wait few minutes
tzxlyd said:
Billysam,
I got rid of the Aptoide apps when I tried to do the factory resets so they have been removed and as you say I guess the viruses were already embedded onto the tablet from using those games. Even with all of the Aptoide apps removed I am getting the update failure message and the wallpaper app (plus sometime others) are already on the tablet after the reset. I will look at the Odin flash and I saw the steps on Sammobile. I already downloaded the Odin and the firmware files that match the build of my tablet so I believe I am ready to proceed. Can you review the instructions I copied from the Sammobile website to ensure the steps are correct?
The Sammobile steps are as follows:
• Extract (unzip) the firmware file
• Download Odin v3.10.7
• Extract Odin ZIP file
• Open Odin v3.10.7
• Reboot Phone in Download Mode (press and hold Home + Power + Volume Down buttons)
• Connect phone and wait until you get a blue sign in Odin
• Add the firmware file to AP / PDA
• Make sure re-partition is NOT ticked
• Click the start button, sit back and wait few minutes
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"Backup all your Important files before doing any troubleshooting"
Yes that's right.
Billysam,
I wanted to let you know that I was finally able to get back to this today and I followed your instructions on flashing the stock firmware through Odin. From what I can tell it worked just as you described – I was able to connect the Wi-Fi, then check the update and that update error did not appear. Additionally, the system loaded music player is working as it was prior to the problem and there has not been any wallpaper application trying to force itself onto my tablet.
I truly appreciate your assistance with everything. I may at some point in the future update my tablet to the latest android platform from the instructions contained within the XDA website. Especially, now that I know the caliber of expertise within the forums.
I believe from what you indicated that will require that I root the tablet to get to the most current android system but I am definitely going to take my time to fully research the steps required before I venture down that path. I will stay away from Aptoide as my app store from this point forward – I never had any problems with those apps previously – still I do not need the hassle since as you said they can be acquired from the Google store. Again, I truly appreciate your assistance.
tzxlyd said:
Billysam,
I wanted to let you know that I was finally able to get back to this today and I followed your instructions on flashing the stock firmware through Odin. From what I can tell it worked just as you described – I was able to connect the Wi-Fi, then check the update and that update error did not appear. Additionally, the system loaded music player is working as it was prior to the problem and there has not been any wallpaper application trying to force itself onto my tablet.
I truly appreciate your assistance with everything. I may at some point in the future update my tablet to the latest android platform from the instructions contained within the XDA website. Especially, now that I know the caliber of expertise within the forums.
I believe from what you indicated that will require that I root the tablet to get to the most current android system but I am definitely going to take my time to fully research the steps required before I venture down that path. I will stay away from Aptoide as my app store from this point forward – I never had any problems with those apps previously – still I do not need the hassle since as you said they can be acquired from the Google store. Again, I truly appreciate your assistance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glad that you've achieved a new level of expertise yourself. welcome to the community and do spend some time here, there are tons of great stuffs here that will take your android device to heights that no official stock update can give. rooting and getting on a custom rom not exploits your device or is harmful if you truly understand and utilise the power that it gives in your hand. you can take control of your device yourself rather than stay in the hands of malicious app developers and forced sponsored bloatwares.
Hi Everyone,
Long time no see, but I'm back with a quick question: I've noticed an unknown (to me) application on my Leagoo T5c running Android 7.0 called "zdemo".
It doesn't appear in my app drawer (I use a launcher called Rootless Pixel that I like a lot, because it's extremely light and easy on the eye), only in the Application list in Parameters, and I've uninstalled it, but I suspect it could have been malware, because all of a sudden, I've started to get unwanted popups in a few application, Blue Mail among them, so I suspect it could come back.
Do any of you know of this app? I Googled it and got nowhere.
It happens to me too. I have another one named media provider or something like that, it has a fake Android logo and it can be desistaled.
Yeah, I managed to uninstall it... Twice, which means it's coming back at more or less regular intervals. I suspect it's a malware, but MalwareBytes didn't find anything wrong on my phone, so I'm a bit stumped.
I suspect those malware were bundled with Rootless Pixel Launcher, because since I've uninstalled it, they're gone and haven't returned...
Zdemo appears in conjunction with System Input Method. I think the former is a trojan and the latter adware. I keep stopping and uninstalling the apps just to have them return. I think the gallery app is the culprit but haven't figured out how to clean it yet because its a system file.
Hi Donna,
Do you own a Leagoo phone too? I've had issues with rotten ROM from that brand before, but I thought that was a thing of the past.
If the Gallery app is indeed the culprit, then there must be a bad picture or video in it that you imported, maybe a cover from a music album you downloaded?
I for one know that all the music on my phone doesn't come from CDs I ripped...
The funny thing is, before I installed those two launchers I mentioned, I had no issues whatsoever. The Rootless Pixel Launcher contacted me via Play Store and defended himself from injecting any bad code into his launcher, and says that CPL Launcher is based on his own Rootless Pixel launcher, so it could be that the repository where the APK is stored has been compromised, and the malware is added to the files before it's made available to the Google Play store, but I can't be sure.
For reasons unknown, my first reply got lost somewhere, and I don't feel like rewriting it word for word. Do you have a Leagoo phone too? If so, which ROM do you have installed on it (mine was released in March 2018)?
I suspect those two malware come bundled with the launchers I mentioned, but the dev for Rootless Pixel launcher assured me his code is clean, and I tend to believe him. I think the repo where his code is stored could have been hacked, but I have no way to prove it, of course.
EDIT: my first reply finally made it to the thread. Sorry for the double post...
UPDATE: I finally did a factory reset, reinstalled all my apps (minus a couple I never used anyway) from the Play Store, put my music back on the device (not my pictures though, because I want to sieve through them first), installed Rootless Pixel Launcher again, and so far, so good, no malware in the applications list.
I'll give it a day or two, just to be on the safe side, then I'll modify my incendiary comment on the Play Store about Rootless Pixel Launcher...
Somebody created this code to bug people, had probably nothing to do uses your ip to track and install his popup window.
If I disconnect my wifi and use my phone without an internet connection zdemo and system input method don't come back. I should try on another wifi or in another country. Wonder if it could be tracked and maybe interesting to see where it leads. Could it be stashed on google play store? It seems curious that there is little info on the web about this problem as if somebody in a key position really f...-up
Yeah, I too find it hard to believe that those two malware aren't better documented on the Web. However, if you scan your device with MalwareBytes and look up the entire name of both, you find ***partial*** references, stating that they aren't "real" malware, just PUPs, which I find intriguing too.
On my phone, I've noted unwanted popups that were hard to close when they were installed, but nothing untoward once I got rid of them, so they're definitely adware, either separately, or working jointly, I don't know.
Hi,
Adaptive battery helps to boost performance if you tweak it enought. I did this on my own device and it blazing fast right now. No root required for this guide. Use at your own risk.
First Step:
Step by step:
1- Go to Settings - Apps & Notifications - See all apps - 3 dot - Show system
2- Tap to app
3- Turn off all Notifications of that app
4- If you cant turn off Notifications, Tap Advanced - Disable Notification dot
5- Turn off Background data
6- Tap Advanced - Battery - Background restriction - Restrict
7- Go back to See all apps
8- Repeat 2-7 steps until the last app.
Rules:
Dont do this to Clock and your most used apps. I didnt touched Telephone, Notifications, Sms related apps.
Second Step:
Disabled apps:
1- Android Auto
2- Android Setup
3- Android Setup (another one)
4- Basic daydreams
5- Bookmark provider
6- Carrier Services
7- com.android.providers.partnerbookmarks
8- Companion device manager
9- Default Print Service
10- Device setup
11- Digital Wellbeing
12- Files
13- Fingerpirnt test
14- Google
15- Home screen tips
16- HTML Viewer
17- Lens
18- Maps
19- Market Feedback Agent
20- Nfc Service
21- Photo Screensavers
22- Print Service Recommendation Service
23- Qualcomm Mobile Security (telemetry app)
24- Tags
25- PAI
26- ConfigUpdater
27- Storage Manager
28- com.android.wallpaperpicker (any other HD wallpaper app will not affect from it)
29- com.android.cts.ctsshim
30- com.android.cts.priv.ctsshim
31- Google One Time Init
32- Google Partner Setup
Third Step:
Permissions:
1- Deny all permissions on Disabled apps.
2- I gived only Physical Activity permission to Google Play Services app. (I cant do this on v11.0.10)
3- Google Play Store app has only Storage permission.
4- Go to: Settings/Privacy check the permissions to deny unwanted access.
5- Disable - Display over the other apps permission on Disabled apps.
6- Disable - Modify system settings permission on Disabled apps.
Fourth Step:
Developer Settings:
1- Lower Animator duration scale to 0,5x
2- Game Driver Prefences:
- Find your games and choose ' Game Driver ' for them.
- Find your most used apps (Firefox, YouTube, Nova launcher,.. etc.) and choose ' Game Driver ' for it.
3- Enable Wi-Fi Scan Throttling.
4- Background check:
- ANT HAL Service, disable
- Calendar Storage, disable
- ConfigUpdater, disable
- Dirac Control Service, disable
- GFManager, disable
- Spock, disable
(I disabled everything in there except Google Play Store app on my own device.)
Fifth Step:
Ad-Blocking:
1- Go to: Settings/Network&Internet/Advanced/Private DNS/Private DNS provider host name:
dns.adguard.com
2- Go to: Settings/Privacy/Advanced/Ads - Enable - Opt out of Ads Personalization
3- Go to: Settings/Privacy/Advanced/Ads - Disable - Enable debug logging for ads
Sixth Step:
Final:
1- Do the last thing: Restart your phone.
2- Enjoy!
Pros:
- Apps no longer restarts.
- Performance improves.
- Battery life improves.
- Ram management works as expected.
- It smoothens the UI.
- Device starts working as iOS'ish performance.
- Youre gonna love your phone again.
Cons:
- Dont think so.
Notes:
I did this to 182 apps plus the applications I installed (i didnt add them to that count). It takes time. Requires a lot of patience to do that. But the results incredible.
Warnings!:
1- Do not touch Reset app preferences button after this. You will be lose everything what you did so far. If you do, Slow performance will be back.
2- Do not disable Adaptive Battery.
How to Reset everything back to Default:
1- Go to: Settings/Apps and Notifications/See all x apps/Three dot/Reset app preferences
2- Go to: Settings/Advanced/Developer Options/Turn Off
3- Restart your phone.
4- Done!
Is this for real? Were you ok when you started this thread?
First of all 70% of the apps you disabled are extremely useful in the day to day world and are vital, that's why Google put them there, and that's why people with 3rd party Android modifications install them.
Android Auto, it's your phone fully integrated into your car, I use it every time, and that's why I waited for the full system integration of Android Auto in Android 10.
Carrier services, it's the STK service that it's extremely useful when you want to check the internal services from your carrier, like cost control, carrier updates, etc.
Print service, again, for real? This service enables your phone to print to cloud services or wi-fi printers, extremely useful.
Digital Wellbeing is the system version of activity tracker, I love it, it offers me all the devices privacy and limitation features that instead I would have to set myself. The black and white screen at night, the autoDND, and a tracker to see how much I use the phone.
And I can go on with my explanations. This is not a tutorial, this is how you can dumb down the phone even more than Xiaomi did. Breaking every system integrated functionality to what? Replacem them with 3rd party apps from god knows what developers on the Play store.
5- Disable - Display over the other apps permission on Disabled apps.
Are you for real again? This way you kill all the apps that use bubbles like whatsapp, phone, sms, facebook messenger and you can't use them during multitasking anymore.
2- Go to Settings/Privacy/Advanced/Ads - Enable - Opt out of Ads Personalization
Do you even know what this does? This removes the ad personalization, but it still tracks you. This is not a performance boost, this is still getting track but you get random ads instead of relevant ads.
1- Lower Animator duration scale to 0,5x
This is the worst thing a user can do. In the build.prop there is a setting that defines how many events per second can occur on the screen at a given time, decreasing animation time may overflow that limit and force the SoC to use more power. What you gained by disabling/crippling good services on your phone it's now being used by the processor itself, since you're forcing it's buffers.
- Device starts working as iOS'ish performance.
- Youre gonna love your phone again.
Again, this is a joke, isn't it? How can someone love a phone with broken HARDWARE features that cannot be fixed through app management, kernel issues, driver issues, etc? If you were to browse just a little XDA forums you'd see how much nonsense you wrote in this thread. This is not a performance boost, this a dumbed down phone with performance being as placebo as it gets.
I will report this thread to the moderators/admins, because this is not acceptable on a development forum. I never saw so much fake news in this place in my entire life.
I think you're being a bit too hard on the guy. If someone's browsing the XDA and finds this post, chances are they know a bit about the aforementioned settings and will not tamper with anything that they wouldn't want working properly. He just listed the things that he doesn't really care about too much, and also mentioned those that he didn't touch.
It is a tad bit misleading but I don't think this will be breaking anyone's phone, as it just takes a couple of "reverts to default" to set everything as it had been before.
TeoXSD said:
Is this for real? Were you ok when you started this thread?
First of all 70% of the apps you disabled are extremely useful in the day to day world and are vital, that's why Google put them there, and that's why people with 3rd party Android modifications install them.
Android Auto, it's your phone fully integrated into your car, I use it every time, and that's why I waited for the full system integration of Android Auto in Android 10.
Carrier services, it's the STK service that it's extremely useful when you want to check the internal services from your carrier, like cost control, carrier updates, etc.
Print service, again, for real? This service enables your phone to print to cloud services or wi-fi printers, extremely useful.
Digital Wellbeing is the system version of activity tracker, I love it, it offers me all the devices privacy and limitation features that instead I would have to set myself. The black and white screen at night, the autoDND, and a tracker to see how much I use the phone.
And I can go on with my explanations. This is not a tutorial, this is how you can dumb down the phone even more than Xiaomi did. Breaking every system integrated functionality to what? Replacem them with 3rd party apps from god knows what developers on the Play store.
5- Disable - Display over the other apps permission on Disabled apps.
Are you for real again? This way you kill all the apps that use bubbles like whatsapp, phone, sms, facebook messenger and you can't use them during multitasking anymore.
2- Go to Settings/Privacy/Advanced/Ads - Enable - Opt out of Ads Personalization
Do you even know what this does? This removes the ad personalization, but it still tracks you. This is not a performance boost, this is still getting track but you get random ads instead of relevant ads.
1- Lower Animator duration scale to 0,5x
This is the worst thing a user can do. In the build.prop there is a setting that defines how many events per second can occur on the screen at a given time, decreasing animation time may overflow that limit and force the SoC to use more power. What you gained by disabling/crippling good services on your phone it's now being used by the processor itself, since you're forcing it's buffers.
- Device starts working as iOS'ish performance.
- Youre gonna love your phone again.
Again, this is a joke, isn't it? How can someone love a phone with broken HARDWARE features that cannot be fixed through app management, kernel issues, driver issues, etc? If you were to browse just a little XDA forums you'd see how much nonsense you wrote in this thread. This is not a performance boost, this a dumbed down phone with performance being as placebo as it gets.
I will report this thread to the moderators/admins, because this is not acceptable on a development forum. I never saw so much fake news in this place in my entire life.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
novak.vujacic97 said:
I think you're being a bit too hard on the guy. If someone's browsing the XDA and finds this post, chances are they know a bit about the aforementioned settings and will not tamper with anything that they wouldn't want working properly. He just listed the things that he doesn't really care about too much, and also mentioned those that he didn't touch.
It is a tad bit misleading but I don't think this will be breaking anyone's phone, as it just takes a couple of "reverts to default" to set everything as it had been before.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Harsh, maybe. But a "a bit misleading" is an understatement. Killing parts of the core system is NOT a performance boost, it's like going to vacation all packed up and throwing everything down the road to your destination so you save fuel. This is not the first time he done posts like this (check the "I thought this is stock android, why does it has 200 apps?" thread). This kind of misleading threads are misinforming the users here, most of them who are just basic users coming from Mi Forums in search for solutions (since the phone is so broken due to poor updates). These posts then get copy and pasted to Mi Forums and there you go, you have a good amount of users now with crippled phones. The same happened to how to update to 11.0.2, there was a step there that made users lose their data, poor tutorials, poor understanding of technology and you made that user lose whatever was on his device.
I hope a moderator would close this thread and let it sink to the bottom of this forum, this is not quality information and it's not helping anyone. You say he said what he didn't touch? I beg to differ: "Notes:
I did this to 182 apps plus the applications I installed (i didnt add them to that count). It takes time. Requires a lot of patience to do that. But the results incredible." This was added later it seems, and out of 212 system core apps... 182... uhm... he kinda' killed everything and brags for "performance". Really?
Hahah, oh well, maybe he really likes bloatwarefree or any-warefree user interface :'D I think that the idea that he is coming from is not necessarily bad, I also disabled many google and system apps because they really do drain battery and throttle performance, plus I wasn't really using them too much. A good balance between functionality of the phone for any John Doe and functionality of the system itself is important though. He did overdo it most certainly, but then again, everyone should always be cautious when tampering with the system using the instructions from strangers on the internet...
TeoXSD said:
Harsh, maybe. But a "a bit misleading" is an understatement. Killing parts of the core system is NOT a performance boost, it's like going to vacation all packed up and throwing everything down the road to your destination so you save fuel. This is not the first time he done posts like this (check the "I thought this is stock android, why does it has 200 apps?" thread). This kind of misleading threads are misinforming the users here, most of them who are just basic users coming from Mi Forums in search for solutions (since the phone is so broken due to poor updates). These posts then get copy and pasted to Mi Forums and there you go, you have a good amount of users now with crippled phones. The same happened to how to update to 11.0.2, there was a step there that made users lose their data, poor tutorials, poor understanding of technology and you made that user lose whatever was on his device.
I hope a moderator would close this thread and let it sink to the bottom of this forum, this is not quality information and it's not helping anyone. You say he said what he didn't touch? I beg to differ: "Notes:
I did this to 182 apps plus the applications I installed (i didnt add them to that count). It takes time. Requires a lot of patience to do that. But the results incredible." This was added later it seems, and out of 212 system core apps... 182... uhm... he kinda' killed everything and brags for "performance". Really?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
novak.vujacic97 said:
Hahah, oh well, maybe he really likes bloatwarefree or any-warefree user interface :'D I think that the idea that he is coming from is not necessarily bad, I also disabled many google and system apps because they really do drain battery and throttle performance, plus I wasn't really using them too much. A good balance between functionality of the phone for any John Doe and functionality of the system itself is important though. He did overdo it most certainly, but then again, everyone should always be cautious when tampering with the system using the instructions from strangers on the internet...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, the whole point of this thread is? Lying to people, giving them false information and basically clickbait. That was the whole point, a clickbait thread with extremely bad information in it. Disabling apps, especially Google ones in an Google rom is bad. Tweaking developer settings (which are for developers and not users) is a bad idea if you don't know what is the point of X setting. Instead of making a thread like this explain how people can customize their phones explaining what features do, what is safe for disabling/deleting and what is the general purpose of this. He also said he has no problem, but can he use the feed on the home screen after disabling Google app. I bet he can't anymore. Can he use Google assistant anymore in Auto app for example? No because he disabled it when disabling Google. He doesn't explain the purpose, he doesn't explain that is a cascade of dependencies between some of the core apps. Even the lite version of GAPPS comes with Google (the app) as main and on. If it wasn't a dependency it would have been removed, right? This is coming from actual developers that prepare GAPPS packages for custom roms. Want another one? He disabled HTML Viewer, now when he's going to go into settings and go into about, it will crash when trying to open HTML elements like certifications and so on. That being said it will also crash whenever you're trying to view a help file based on HTML in any 3rd party app. Companion device manager, well if you have a nice companion device like smartwatch, smart headphones, anything smart, now it ain't smart no more, you killed it, but does he explain that? No, he just marks it as bloatware, when unfortunately it's a system core service and not a Google app.
Let me tell you a thing, as core apps, and as an operating system Android 10 is good, but the optimization on how the OS interacts with the hardware is faulty, and it's been proven numerous times. There are enough people who did actual research to do so, if you're disabling apps you may fix the battery drain and performance throttle until Xiaomi decides to break something else, somewhere else and then you're up for the task again to find and disable whatever you "don't need". Google kinda' patches sometimes the problem with it's own apps, but you ain't going to see a difference because the apps are now in a frozen state (talking about important apps here, not the extras). Now for the extras, I still don't understand why in 2020 Android don't let you delete extras app, this will both help people like you who like balance, maybe have some better 3rd party alternatives you like etc. and also help people like OP who has no idea what he's doing, killing the whole system and hoping for the best. iOS did this since... idk when, but from what I remember iOS 12 can lets you uninstall preinstalled apps that are not important and later reinstalling them from the store (books, home, and whatever else is there). Disabling apps in Android just keeps the memory clogged with useless data... so, where is the improvement? Ohh, a few minutes to hours of battery more...
Also, to give you another reason to read about it, when you say you disabled some system apps and you get better battery it's placebo. Why? Because while most of the system apps are optimized for the current API level the phone is running your 3rd party apps aren't... and from what I've checked on APKMirror, extremely few apps are actually fully optimized for Android 10 as target. Optimized system apps + not optimized 3rd party = low sot. Disabling system apps just compensates a little for the not optimized ones, the not optimized ones running the same as before. By disabling your system apps you just made room for more mess to run, which in the end, it's not optimal, it's just placebo.
So, tl;dr: informative threads, information, explanations, facts, data, demonstration not this joke.
TeoXSD said:
So, the whole point of this thread is? Lying to people, giving them false information and basically clickbait. That was the whole point, a clickbait thread with extremely bad information in it. Disabling apps, especially Google ones in an Google rom is bad. Tweaking developer settings (which are for developers and not users) is a bad idea if you don't know what is the point of X setting. Instead of making a thread like this explain how people can customize their phones explaining what features do, what is safe for disabling/deleting and what is the general purpose of this. He also said he has no problem, but can he use the feed on the home screen after disabling Google app. I bet he can't anymore. Can he use Google assistant anymore in Auto app for example? No because he disabled it when disabling Google. He doesn't explain the purpose, he doesn't explain that is a cascade of dependencies between some of the core apps. Even the lite version of GAPPS comes with Google (the app) as main and on. If it wasn't a dependency it would have been removed, right? This is coming from actual developers that prepare GAPPS packages for custom roms. Want another one? He disabled HTML Viewer, now when he's going to go into settings and go into about, it will crash when trying to open HTML elements like certifications and so on. That being said it will also crash whenever you're trying to view a help file based on HTML in any 3rd party app. Companion device manager, well if you have a nice companion device like smartwatch, smart headphones, anything smart, now it ain't smart no more, you killed it, but does he explain that? No, he just marks it as bloatware, when unfortunately it's a system core service and not a Google app.
Let me tell you a thing, as core apps, and as an operating system Android 10 is good, but the optimization on how the OS interacts with the hardware is faulty, and it's been proven numerous times. There are enough people who did actual research to do so, if you're disabling apps you may fix the battery drain and performance throttle until Xiaomi decides to break something else, somewhere else and then you're up for the task again to find and disable whatever you "don't need". Google kinda' patches sometimes the problem with it's own apps, but you ain't going to see a difference because the apps are now in a frozen state (talking about important apps here, not the extras). Now for the extras, I still don't understand why in 2020 Android don't let you delete extras app, this will both help people like you who like balance, maybe have some better 3rd party alternatives you like etc. and also help people like OP who has no idea what he's doing, killing the whole system and hoping for the best. iOS did this since... idk when, but from what I remember iOS 12 can lets you uninstall preinstalled apps that are not important and later reinstalling them from the store (books, home, and whatever else is there). Disabling apps in Android just keeps the memory clogged with useless data... so, where is the improvement? Ohh, a few minutes to hours of battery more...
So, tl;dr: informative threads, information, explanations, facts, data, demonstration not this joke.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nothing is clickbait in here. You will see the difference when you follow the steps. I am so happy with my phone.
Someone forgot to take his meds again...
TeoXSD said:
So, the whole point of this thread is? Lying to people, giving them false information and basically clickbait. That was the whole point, a clickbait thread with extremely bad information in it. Disabling apps, especially Google ones in an Google rom is bad. Tweaking developer settings (which are for developers and not users) is a bad idea if you don't know what is the point of X setting. Instead of making a thread like this explain how people can customize their phones explaining what features do, what is safe for disabling/deleting and what is the general purpose of this. He also said he has no problem, but can he use the feed on the home screen after disabling Google app. I bet he can't anymore. Can he use Google assistant anymore in Auto app for example? No because he disabled it when disabling Google. He doesn't explain the purpose, he doesn't explain that is a cascade of dependencies between some of the core apps. Even the lite version of GAPPS comes with Google (the app) as main and on. If it wasn't a dependency it would have been removed, right? This is coming from actual developers that prepare GAPPS packages for custom roms. Want another one? He disabled HTML Viewer, now when he's going to go into settings and go into about, it will crash when trying to open HTML elements like certifications and so on. That being said it will also crash whenever you're trying to view a help file based on HTML in any 3rd party app. Companion device manager, well if you have a nice companion device like smartwatch, smart headphones, anything smart, now it ain't smart no more, you killed it, but does he explain that? No, he just marks it as bloatware, when unfortunately it's a system core service and not a Google app.
Let me tell you a thing, as core apps, and as an operating system Android 10 is good, but the optimization on how the OS interacts with the hardware is faulty, and it's been proven numerous times. There are enough people who did actual research to do so, if you're disabling apps you may fix the battery drain and performance throttle until Xiaomi decides to break something else, somewhere else and then you're up for the task again to find and disable whatever you "don't need". Google kinda' patches sometimes the problem with it's own apps, but you ain't going to see a difference because the apps are now in a frozen state (talking about important apps here, not the extras). Now for the extras, I still don't understand why in 2020 Android don't let you delete extras app, this will both help people like you who like balance, maybe have some better 3rd party alternatives you like etc. and also help people like OP who has no idea what he's doing, killing the whole system and hoping for the best. iOS did this since... idk when, but from what I remember iOS 12 can lets you uninstall preinstalled apps that are not important and later reinstalling them from the store (books, home, and whatever else is there). Disabling apps in Android just keeps the memory clogged with useless data... so, where is the improvement? Ohh, a few minutes to hours of battery more...
Also, to give you another reason to read about it, when you say you disabled some system apps and you get better battery it's placebo. Why? Because while most of the system apps are optimized for the current API level the phone is running your 3rd party apps aren't... and from what I've checked on APKMirror, extremely few apps are actually fully optimized for Android 10 as target. Optimized system apps + not optimized 3rd party = low sot. Disabling system apps just compensates a little for the not optimized ones, the not optimized ones running the same as before. By disabling your system apps you just made room for more mess to run, which in the end, it's not optimal, it's just placebo.
So, tl;dr: informative threads, information, explanations, facts, data, demonstration not this joke.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here's my take...if an App has the option to disable said app, then it is not important to the overall function of the phone. There are many that fit this criteria - and obviously many that don't.
I did everything on this guide to v11.0.10 and its like butter smooth now.
These are new tweaks for Developer Options:
1- Find your most used apps (Firefox, YouTube, Nova launcher,.. etc.) and choose ' Game Driver ' for it.
Game Driver also improves other apps responsiveness not just Games.
2- Background check:
- ANT HAL Service, disable
- Calendar Storage, disable
- ConfigUpdater, disable
- Dirac Control Service, disable
- GFManager, disable
- Spock, disable
(I disabled everything in there except Google Play Store app on my own device.)
I added these apps to Disabled list:
- PAI
- ConfigUpdater
- Storage Manager
- com.android.wallpaperpicker (any other HD wallpaper app will not affect from it)
- com.android.cts.ctsshim
- com.android.cts.priv.ctsshim
- Google One Time Init
- Google Partner Setup
How to Reset everything back to Default:
1- Go to: Settings/Apps and Notifications/See all x apps/Three dot/Reset app preferences
2- Go to: Settings/Advanced/Developer Options/Turn Off
3- Restart your phone.
4- Done!
Note: Xiaomi blocked Disabling Location for Google Play Services. I am getting infinite loop on v11.0.10
Thanks a lot Man !
I don't know whether you are still using this device. But believed me I was so frustrated about the performance after the update. And I honestly don't care much about disabling hard critical apps in the system as the phone now works buttery smooth. All my required apps works and no one can tell the difference. Maybe android inside is crying and bragging what have you done what have you done screw the system the phone feels great . Thanks man ! :good:
This guide worked perfect. I didn't even follow all the steps but handpicked the ones that seemed to have most impact for me.
I am curious to try, what are the most valuable apps you think i should stop?
I am not really afraid to broke my phone as i thinking to move again to custom rom
JUST INSTALLED THIS
and its perfect now
[ROM][12][Daisy][OFFICIAL]Syberia Project
/* * Your warranty is now void. * * Syberia Team not responsible for bricked devices, dead SD cards, * thermonuclear war, or you getting fired because the alarm app failed. Please * do some research if you have any concerns about features...
forum.xda-developers.com
I've never rooted an Android. One of the warnings I see over and over is that rooted devices are more vulnerable to malware. I don't see any solutions for this though.
What extra measures will I need to take to keep my Android safe?
I use Norton 360 on my PC and Androids. Will this be of any help?
Are there any apps I can install to help with this issue?
Are there any system settings I should use for this particular problem?
Thank you
With stock or rooted the biggest threat is the user themselves. Most either install or download the malware themselves. A fully updated stock Android isn't invulnerable; there's no saving dumb bunnies...
Side loaded apps are high risk; at the least scan with online Virustotal and consider the results before installing. Keep email in the cloud and be careful if you choose to download anything.
All downloads stay in the download folder until vetted. Jpeg's and png's are suspect; open them there first before moving them and watch for strange behavior in that folder. Check the download folder daily for anything you didn't download, if found do not open, delete.
Keep thrash social media apps off the phone, all of them. They are targets and vectors for malware of all types.
Use a good firewall and police what apps are doing. Revoke internet access to all apps that don't need it. Know what apps have run at start permissions; do they need it? Updates and upgrades can cause more lost time then malware trying to find work arounds. Lock auto updates down, and download them only if needed. Updates and firmware upgrades can and do break things...
Most importantly cover your six and be prepared.
Critical data can not be lost, protect it!
Redundantly backup all critical data to at least 2 hdds that are physically and electronically isolated from each other and the PC. Be ready to do a full reload if needed.
If malware is found or suspected, isolate the phone and if it can't be completely deleted in an hour or two, nuke that load. Be ready to change passwords and secure accounts.
Never trust antivirus apps to detect malware or save you, mostly they just waste resources on an Android.
Thank you!
I'm already doing a lot of those things, especially social media apps.
One of the reasons I want to root my phone is that I can't uninstall, force stop, disable or take away permissions for some apps, like Facebook, Facebook App installer, FB app manager Google, ad nauseum. The same goes for the millions of preinstalled Samsung bloatware apps. They dont stay disabled and routinely restore permissions. Im sick of having to routinely check them all. I'll never buy another Saamsung again.
You're welcome. Welcome to XDA
I run 2 stock N10+'s, one on Pie, the other on 10.
I use package disabler to kill bloatware and services I don't want to run at bootup. You can also use a adb editing app to disable apks. Don't go too nuts; be wary of disabling any Samsung system apps. Most of these apps just sit unless needed. Dependencies... actions have consequences; understand what the app does and what other apps, services or UI functions are dependent on it!
Google play Services can be disabled when not needed; disable find my device as System Administrator first.
On Pie Karma Firewall is fully functional but not on Android 10 and up, although it will still block access. It uses virtually no battery.
Once you sort it out (learning curve ahead) stock Samsung's especially older ones like the N10+ are easy to run. They are the most customizable stock Android on the planet with an excellent UI. The current load on this one will be 2 yo this June; still fast, stable and fulfilling its mission. Security is simply not an issue.
blackhawk said:
You're welcome. Welcome to XDA
I run 2 stock N10+'s, one on Pie, the other on 10.
I use package disabler to kill bloatware and services I don't want to run at bootup. You can also use a adb editing app to disable apks. Don't go too nuts; be wary of disabling any Samsung system apps. Most of these apps just sit unless needed. Dependencies... actions have consequences; understand what the app does and what other apps, services or UI functions are dependent on it!
Google play Services can be disabled when not needed; disable find my device as System Administrator first.
On Pie Karma Firewall is fully functional but not on Android 10 and up, although it will still block access. It uses virtually no battery.
Once you sort it out (learning curve ahead) stock Samsung's especially older ones like the N10+ are easy to run. They are the most customizable stock Android on the planet with an excellent UI. The current load on this one will be 2 yo this June; still fast, stable and fulfilling its mission. Security is simply not an issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The more annoying Samsung apps I was referring to are the Bixby apps, AR doodle, Smarter things... those kind of apps. If they didn't re-enable themselves restore permissions, I wouldn't mind them so much. But they DO.
I won't be using that phone much longer anyway. I'm going back to Motorola.
I always buy factory or globally unlocked phones. That helps some. But Motorola recently started forcing FB. I can uninstall it, however I have to review updates to make sure it doesn't end up on my phone again. But then I review all updates before installing them anyway..
I always look up the system apps before making any changes. Like Google Easter Egg. Everything I could find says it's unnecessary.
All those mentioned apps can be safely disabled.
Bixby Vision is used for barcode scanning though.
Try the free Galaxy store icon packs, themes and the Good Lock family of apps including One Handed Operation plus.
Chose theme>icon pack>whatever wallpaper you want. The native high contrast theme looks good.
Play with it...
blackhawk said:
All those mentioned apps can be safely disabled.
Bixby Vision is used for barcode scanning though.
Try the free Galaxy store icon packs, themes and the Good Lock family of apps including One Handed Operation plus.
Chose theme>icon pack>whatever wallpaper you want. The native high contrast theme looks good.
Play with it...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually already ordered a new Moto. It will be here tomorrow. Well, it's after 1am, so I guess it'll be here later today.
I've disabled multiple Samsung apps, restricted data and battery, taken away permissions, not just in app settings, but in permissions setting, special access permissions... And all the other weird ways I keep finding out about that you wouldn't think would be a place to remove permissions. When my phone starts to slow down, or the battery isn't lasting very long, sure enough, Samsung has gone behind my back and reset my preferences again. I never had issues like this any of the Motorola phones I've had.