Hey MoPho's - I've been using LBE privacy guard for a few months, and it seems to be working pretty good. I also do have aVast antivirus installed which has its own firewall/permissions, but I have left that disabled to have LBE nanage everything.
Now, my only main concern with LBE is just the uncertainty of how trustworthy or safe in better words the app actually is. A few posts here and there from our boards pound on these concerns of not being able to get in touch with developer, not open source, and if any data is leaking back to wherever (China origin?)
I see that droidwall has been suggested as an alternative, but from some comments - droidwall isn't always consistent in monitoring or loading up prior to app launch or allowing a notification versus manual navigation to droidwall to re-config newly installed apps.
Now, I don't install much and keep on main markets - having something like LBE was awesome to knock off a ton of unecessary permisions... saying that we need to monitor each permission prior to installing is a given, but some of them are just getting out if hand, and thus a permissions manager is so helpful.
I'm not sure of droidwall has improved / there seems to be also another permissions denied app, but haven't digged up on further info.
Thanks for chiming in - running stock OS sprint 2.3.4 with root only.
It would be still great to hear an opinion Posted from a month ago - cheers.
I use it as well and would like to hear some input!
Sent from my Motorola Electrify using Tapatalk 2
Pdroid is open Source and more advanced. But I couldn't try it because im on the cm9. Its only support gingerbread right now. Please test and inform us about it if you are using deodexed gingerbread.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1357056
Ah thanks, yeah unfortunately I am running simply stock sprint rom on the photon with 2.3.5 OS rooted via torpedo method. I clicked on over to the link though - looks great as pdroid was a big one people mention... and it being open source. If there was a way to run it without further modifying the photon stock os, that would have been awesome...
Anyways, if there was an alternate open source to LBE that's easy to install on a stock rooted photon - would be cool. Otherwise, it'd be great to hear that I probably shouldn't be as concerned to this app being closed sourced and to disregard all the questionable threads here on where our data if any, is being collected and sent to wherever. I saw a few posts on reddit.com about this, and nobody was too alarmed when scanning through LBE code... obviously, that's beyond my scope of knowledge - hence asking here
Unfortunately I've uninstalled LBE already as it seems that at this moment it is a dummy program when it comes to blocking other applications to connect to the Internet (the reason I had it installed in the first place).
To test it out I used LBE to block an app that relies on the Internet to work and that other app kept updating with new content nevertheless.
I even restarted my phone (as some apps need a phone restart to fully work) and unfortunately there was no change. LBE doesn't seem to work for that purpose (at least not on my phone) so I was a little suspicious about it and removed it.
To be honest I didn't have much time to tinker with the other options in the app, but if it doesn't seem to be any good at one thing it's supposed to do I have doubts it would do it's job for the remaining functions.
Will be looking for an alternative. Suggestions are welcome.
Update: I've just tried the translated LBE Security Master App and this one seems to work.
Find it here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1422479
Related
I posted this in another forum but I want to know what you guys here think about android security.
How worried are you all about security on the android platform? Don't you find it a little unnerving that anybody could upload and app to the android market and there is no verification of the app like on IOS platform. Anybody could write an app that looks legit but does devious things. All this along with there are very very few security applications and they are in the infant state. Don't you find it very dangerous? How do you try to maintain security on your android device? Don't download apps? Only download from known publishers? Or do you roll the dice and download anything? If you use a security app which one?
the_main_app said:
I posted this in another forum but I want to know what you guys here think about android security.
How worried are you all about security on the android platform? Don't you find it a little unnerving that anybody could upload and app to the android market and there is no verification of the app like on IOS platform. Anybody could write an app that looks legit but does devious things. All this along with there are very very few security applications and they are in the infant state. Don't you find it very dangerous? How do you try to maintain security on your android device? Don't download apps? Only download from known publishers? Or do you roll the dice and download anything? If you use a security app which one?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are viruses for Android.....right ?
Besides , if you're smart enough you can check whether an app needs such permissions when installing , through the Mart or an .apk .
I don't like the way iOS works , they give too limited functionality .
Forever living in my Galaxy Ace using XDA App
the_main_app said:
I posted this in another forum but I want to know what you guys here think about android security.
How worried are you all about security on the android platform? Don't you find it a little unnerving that anybody could upload and app to the android market and there is no verification of the app like on IOS platform. Anybody could write an app that looks legit but does devious things. All this along with there are very very few security applications and they are in the infant state. Don't you find it very dangerous? How do you try to maintain security on your android device? Don't download apps? Only download from known publishers? Or do you roll the dice and download anything? If you use a security app which one?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i dont use a security app, i use common sense.
a game doesn't need access to my contacts...
notepad app doesn't need access to my private information...
this is why android phones are for the power users and shouldn't be used by soccer moms and grandmas - because they have no clue what they are doing with these phones except for when a phone call or text message comes in... let them have the iphones.
but if you are tech savvy, and want to squeeze every bit of user capability out of your phone, a high end android phone is for you.
the people that are tech savvy also have the awareness because they treat their phone like a computer, and not a phone.
just my thoughts.
I think the best thing would be if android embraced that the user can choose which permissions to give to apps. I mean, an app may want to know your location, you denies it, and the app continnues happily without using that functionality, or quits saying its essantial.
cobraboy85 said:
i dont use a security app, i use common sense.
a game doesn't need access to my contacts...
notepad app doesn't need access to my private information...
this is why android phones are for the power users and shouldn't be used by soccer moms and grandmas - because they have no clue what they are doing with these phones except for when a phone call or text message comes in... let them have the iphones.
but if you are tech savvy, and want to squeeze every bit of user capability out of your phone, a high end android phone is for you.
the people that are tech savvy also have the awareness because they treat their phone like a computer, and not a phone.
just my thoughts.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
very well put, unfortunately most dont think like this..
It is always a good habit to check the permissions an app needs before installation.I personally think that a system should be implemented in android market where all apps are erquested to give informaation on "Why they need certain permissions?".Certain apps do that.
An antivirus program is also useful in my opinion.I use Lookout antivirus,as i find it simple to use and does not slow down my phone.I tried avg but it slowed down my phone terribly.
hiitti said:
I think the best thing would be if android embraced that the user can choose which permissions to give to apps. I mean, an app may want to know your location, you denies it, and the app continnues happily without using that functionality, or quits saying its essantial.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But, as a matter of degree, this just what we wish. The fact may be far beyond our imagination. Sometimes, malware still run certain functionalities even you cancel it. It's worse that some apps run secretly in system. I'm a little scared about security issue based on my PC.
cobraboy85 said:
i dont use a security app, i use common sense.
a game doesn't need access to my contacts...
notepad app doesn't need access to my private information...
this is why android phones are for the power users and shouldn't be used by soccer moms and grandmas - because they have no clue what they are doing with these phones except for when a phone call or text message comes in... let them have the iphones.
but if you are tech savvy, and want to squeeze every bit of user capability out of your phone, a high end android phone is for you.
the people that are tech savvy also have the awareness because they treat their phone like a computer, and not a phone.
just my thoughts.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But a game might ask for internet/network permissions which you would probably accept. How do you guard against this? How can you prevent a malicious app that asks for relavent permissions but abuses them?
I never take the time to study the permissions required when I download an app from the market.
I tend to avoid the low number of d'load apps..... partly as there is less feedback to judge.... and partly as any app thats worth the download will have high stars and many d'loads.
Works for me so far.
Netquins running in the background just in case...... but whose to say they dont upload my contacts for spamming?
Prof Peach said:
I never take the time to study the permissions required when I download an app from the market.
I tend to avoid the low number of d'load apps..... partly as there is less feedback to judge.... and partly as any app thats worth the download will have high stars and many d'loads.
Works for me so far.
Netquins running in the background just in case...... but whose to say they dont upload my contacts for spamming?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But what about new apps that may be legit? They won't have any reviews yet or stars. If everybody did the same as you it would never get reviews or stars? There's got to be a better way, don't you agree?
the_main_app said:
But a game might ask for internet/network permissions which you would probably accept. How do you guard against this? How can you prevent a malicious app that asks for relavent permissions but abuses them?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's the only question above that can't be answered by LBE Privacy Guard.
Someone mentioned a game that wants access to your contacts. What if you really want the game? You just don't allow it access to your contacts and then play it anyway.
Most apps ask for access to your IMEI (you'd be surprised how many!) With LBE they don't get it.
Antivirus software is all well and good, but it's not the same as on a PC where pattern matching can be used. AV software on Android basically opens the apk file and has a look round to see if anything looks suspicious. Other than that, there's nothing it can do to stop a clever developer bypassing it.
Seriously, if you have concerns then get LBE and start restricting permissions access on an app-by-app basis.
johncmolyneux said:
That's the only question above that can't be answered by LBE Privacy Guard.
Someone mentioned a game that wants access to your contacts. What if you really want the game? You just don't allow it access to your contacts and then play it anyway.
Most apps ask for access to your IMEI (you'd be surprised how many!) With LBE they don't get it.
Antivirus software is all well and good, but it's not the same as on a PC where pattern matching can be used. AV software on Android basically opens the apk file and has a look round to see if anything looks suspicious. Other than that, there's nothing it can do to stop a clever developer bypassing it.
Seriously, if you have concerns then get LBE and start restricting permissions access on an app-by-app basis.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this.
i was JUST about to say the same thing about the android "anti-virus" scam... not really a scam, but a false sense of security. as you said, not the same at ALL. people need to get out of the PC mindset with these phones. this is not windows, it's linux.
and i'm going to give LBE a shot. seems pretty legit.
for all of those running antivirus "software" on your phone, how many of you have actually run a virus scan and had it give a detailed description of a malicious "virus"....
Liking lookout
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
ummm, anyone ever heard of antiviruses (Kapersky, maybe?)? Or at least look up the app's access to things... If it accesses something you don't want it to access (or think the app doesn't need to access it), don't install it!
I know out-of-the-box Androids aren't so vunerable to viruses, compared to rooted ones... So...?
First look up the developer of the app, then if you trust him, install, if you never heard of him, google it (or look at the comments at where you're downloading from), and if you had experience with the developer before (and if the experience is bad, like trojans, etc.), don't install!
(I don't understand half of what I'm typing XD...Don't blame me for misspellings, please )
Cant say I can rave or not when it comes to the anti virus apps.
Have used Lookout in the past and currently using netquin.... neither of which ever flagged up a virus, malware or whatever.
Its nice to think its running in the background but dont know whether it will do anything if its needed.
I was tempted to download a load of apps in a zip file but 20 secs in my Avast siad there was a virus. I'd like to think the market would have its own precautions but having searched the site, cant see any mention of its security for the apps we download.
Its a different thing altogether but we cant take the fact that its the market and relax...... the worst virus my laptop ever had came in an update from Microsoft...... and another directly from google tools.
Kapersky for Android then? You can pick up free full non-trial versions on the web...
About the Market - yes, that's true. You'd expect them to check if apps are infected or at least leave a bot to do it...
Sorta lame...
The best security is the brain.akp just like brain.exe is on windows - best thing it's free, godgiven and everyone got a copy
Zeze21 said:
The best security is the brain.akp just like brain.exe is on windows - best thing it's free, godgiven and everyone got a copy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah but not everyone got the full version. A few of my friends got a corrupted exe and then this girl I know got the 30 day trial
not that good
Prawesome said:
It is always a good habit to check the permissions an app needs before installation.I personally think that a system should be implemented in android market where all apps are erquested to give informaation on "Why they need certain permissions?".Certain apps do that.
An antivirus program is also useful in my opinion.I use Lookout antivirus,as i find it simple to use and does not slow down my phone.I tried avg but it slowed down my phone terribly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have both Lookout and AVG, neither has stopped my phone from getting up to 10 junk downloads, you have won an ipad, iphone etc., a day, not sms or email, I have to have every form of external contact turned off, the moment I get wifi or mobile access it starts downloading spam.
If anyone knows of a way to stop it I would appreciate the feedback
Moved to proper section
Anyone with easy access to Linux want to run the latest NC CM 7.1 stable through THIS to see if it works? I think it would be useful to be able to control access to data directly vice random permission blocking. I think it would be VERY useful to be able to not have apps not work because of access that you chose to block which is what this claims to do.
Edit: CM7.1 stable from racks11479 in post 5 - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=20923834&postcount=5
Edit(s): Latest Mirage from gumnaam.sur usually found near the bottom
tonydl said:
Another nice advantage is that we won't need an IMEI Generator with this app anymore - as PDroid can generate a random/fixed value here
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there a patch available for Nook
Not sure I see the necessary Nook patch for install.
Thomas Droid said:
Not sure I see the necessary Nook patch for install.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think that JJ was asking for someone to run the auto-patcher script to create a Nook-specific patch.
I'm running Pdroid on my Evo and it is a really sweet app. Would love to have it on the Nook as well, but I don't have access to a Linux machine to run the script.
PDroid
Heck yea.. I use it too on my EVO CM7. Incredible how these apps try to get more their fair share of us. Got alot of apps to run on full block.
You requested and I had a minute so here you go. This is patched for the latest stable for CM7.1 for the Nook Color of course.
**As usual the disclaimers of me not being responsible for what happens to your devices is stated! Whatever you do, just don't blame it on me, go ahead and "blame it on the rain" if you want! **
PDroid Patch for Nook Color-CyanogenMod 7.1:
PDroid-v1.27-update-cm-7.1.0-encore-signed.zip
MD5: b0fe3b81d045f2ee291bdd7ed25fd187
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
PDroid Restore Patch for Nook Color-CyanogenMod 7.1:
PDroid-RESTORE-update-cm-7.1.0-encore-signed.zip
MD5: b5d326969a4f2b52717c4bb3c4130d93
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Enjoy!
-Racks
Great to finally have this.
For what it is worth, I initially installed the pdroid patch on the mirage 7.2 kang, but no dice. pdroid runs, but the battery icon and many settings are scrambled and/or unusable.
Back to cm7 stable it is. Pdroid is that great.
Many thanks to the Dev and the script runner.
Yea I tried too but put my Nook into SOD . I read elsewhere the suggestion to clear dalvik cache?..
I clear davlik with every flash just be sure. I can't say for sure that it would cause SOD just because Orbison so common with 7.1. I had eliminated the problem by upgrading to the Mirage kang with the SOD patch, but rolled back to 7.1 specifically to apply the patch for pdroid.
I am one of those paranoiacs that guards their info super jealously. It is a burden.
With the large number of people rolling up to MiRaGe though, I am hoping to stumble across a patch so I can permanently run that ROM until ICS comes out. I have burned the card for racks cm7.2/9 nightly dual boot, but haven't installed it yet. I will do so, but probably wont stick with it full time until I find a pdroid patch for the 7.2 kang at least.
If any of you kind souls has already made one, please let me know.
My Patch
Here's my patch for the MiRaGe Kang Build CM-7.2-RC0, build date 01-13-2012.
I made the patch on Ubuntu 11.x 32bit.
It works perfectly for me. The only time I get SOD, is when I keep WIFI on all the time, and the nook goes to deep sleep. But that SOD is regardless of whether I have pdroid installed or not. So I am sure pdroid has nothing to do with that SOD.
When WIFI off is set to 'never when charging' then I don't get any SOD.
Hope some of you can find this patch useful. and if so, please click 'THANKS'.
Paranoia is a very healthy thing
I wish I could thank you twice. I have been running tests with Droidwall, Shark for Root and Sharkreader among other apps, and you literally would not believe the amount of data that gets sent from your tablet, no matter how you try limiting permissions. I have found LBE to simply not stop it. Uninstalled two previously trusted apps just this morning after discovering they were sending packets to ad sites. I may share that info, after some more confirmation, but for now I am just glad I can control/block their information through PDroid.
If I have data sent out, I at least want to control its quality. Seriously, I don't have a PC where I am at, so I am relying on the kindness of strangers like you to keep me from chewing the walls.
Update: Atfter I applied tis patch, everything seems to work with Pdroid, but my battery icon reads as if it is charging when it is not plugged in, and has phone data bars instead if any battery indicator when the charger is attached. I had a similar problem when I tried the 7.1 stable patch on the mirage kang in the first place, although far more drastic that time. This is livable as is, although since I applied mirage's theme, i can't just replace the icon, or can I? Anyone know a fix?
Edit 2: changed the battery from icon to percentage in settings. No pictoral representation, but who cares, the info is there. Thanks again for posting that patch!
so this does work for Phiremod 7.1
I can verify it.
Well the 1st link works for it obviously, because it is 7.1 not 7.2
Patch for Mirage Kang build 7.2-RC0 build 0126
Here are the patches for the latest Kang build 7.2.
I installed them directly on top of the kang build, w/o having to reboot in between.
i.e. in CWM , wipe cache/dalvic-cache, then install kang build, then install pdroid patch, then reboot and enjoy.
Hit 'Thanks' if you found these useful.
My man! Every new build its a hard choice to either go without Pdroid or stay with older build. Until i can run thebpatcher through my nook itself, I will be relying on the largesse of the forum members ifbibwant to update. Luckily for me and others like me, XDA consistently takes care of its own.
Thanks again to you and the ones before you. This is shaping up to be a nice companion thread to the ROM thread. I'm going to link to your post in that thread, so more people can find it.
Thanks for your work, gumnaam.sur!
I use your patch with the 01132012 Kang build, no problems so far (I didn't have even the battery icon problem reported by mateorod - though I use the special transparency theme).
patches Kang Build 02012012
Patches for the latest Kang Build (02012012).
Stay paranoid
Thanks a lot for building and sharing these files gumnaam.sur!
Another nice advantage is that we won't need an IMEI Generator with this app anymore - as PDroid can generate a random/fixed value here
I ran this and just can't see the advantage in running it unless I'm really paranoid about the what I do getting into strange hands. I don't do banking or anything other that I'm really concerned about others getting info about. Is there something I should be concerned about?
I am a little paranoid which is why I don't do banking and such from any android device. It even drives me nuts knowing my wife does some banking from her non-rooted droid incredible phone. It just seems to me that overall android is not secure enough to use for anything private. Am I missing something?
Sent from my NookColor running CM7.2 -RC0 MiRaGe -
KANG 02012012 using TapaTalk
I use Pdroid in conjunction with several other apps which gives me a pretty good idea of what is sending data from my phone. Any app I don't think needs to communicate with the internet for functionality, I block with the firewall and use the log to do discovery on any blocked packets. I have caught several apps (market, no less) attempting to send packets to bogus http sites (most likely keystroke captures) and also to group ad sites that presumably disburse to the developers by the visit.
Any app I feel does need internet access, I pair Pdroid with Shark for root and Shark Reader, and use a winnowing process to analyse any suspect traffic.
I have found very few market apps that are involved with much more than unethical ad traffic, which while irritating and scummy, is a little less than dangerous. I just believe in stymying the efforts of unscrupulous developers ad publicizing any results I find. Last week I found that the trending market app Cartoon Wars was using its permissions to register users info with KRNIC, which is the National Internet Registry of south Korea. I, personally, like to know when my info is being sold to foreign intelligence commissions, info related to permissions as varied as network location and imei(good luck on the nook, right?) to incoming phone numbers (HA!)
I use Pdroid to compromise the integrity of the data should anything fall through the cracks. The more unnecessary permissions I find, the more attention I pay. Good developers explain theirir permissions, and avoid asking for unnecessary ones. I should feel comfortable buying cables on amazon, and Pdroid helps me get there.
Wow! You've definitely got security. I'm just not as worried I guess, but I'm glad there are people like you that are keeping an eye out. I just can't see using so much time spying on the spies.
You have convinced me into looking into this further though. So thank you.
Sent from my NookColor running CM7.2 -RC0 MiRaGe -
KANG 02012012 using TapaTalk
Yeah, I I have trust issues.
Well, I’m sure that it isn’t a secret for anyone, CM7 has been and still is my favorite rom for my Defy(s). I’ve been using it since the day Quarx’s brought IP Tables support to it – hence allowing me to use Droidwall as an Android firewall. I could then selectively allow/deny internet access to any installed app [having internet access permission that is…]. This is a first and important security step, but like anything, this has limitations; apps that do ‘really’ need internet access are then free to send (and receive) whatever their Android permissions allow them to get a hand on. For that, CM7 has a neet feature called ‘permissions management’ that allows you to control each app’s permissions individually. This option works fine BUT the problem is that the apps that you control that way often lose functionalities, stop working altogether or even throw you an error message telling you that the app’s permissions have been altered and that you will not be able to use it unless you reset them.
So how to solve this potentially very critical security flaw without losing apps functionality? ==> PDroid.
Thanks to xda user measel, I’ve just recently discovered this wonderful piece of software and I don’t think that my Defy will ever live without it from now on. The app itself is not really a new one and I’ve decided to create this thread to spread to word around and in the hope that it will be helpful to other Defy owners conscious about their data privacy.
WHAT IT DOES:
• More than just blocking apps Android permissions, it lets you control each individual app’s access to private information (user + system);
• It allows you to block and, in some cases, let you either use random or custom private data;
• It will also (if desired) warn you on any root or privacy info access, all that with an easy to figure out and use user interface [see pics];
• And best of all, applications will not crash when their access to private data is blocked unlike with Permission Denied (using LBE Privacy or alike or with CM7).
Disclaimer: I’m only the messenger and I take no credit or responsibility for anything that you’ll do with your phone from here on.
HOW TO:
Original thread by the dev [go have a read and give your thanks to svyat]
Pre-requisites:
- Make sure that you did not use Titanium Backup to integrate sys Dalvik into the rom [if you don’t know what that means, chances are that you didn’t; ignore it];
- a PC running Windows;
- a CM7-jordan/Jordan-plus build;
- PDroid patcher v1.31 (v1.27 also work but the latest version (v1.32) from the link above doesn’t work for the Defy. So I’m attaching v1.31 here which I’ve found with a little digging through that thread;
- the PDroid.apk itself [Market link] or [Dropbox link from the dev];
=> If you don’t have access to a PC running Windows or just don’t want to go through the trouble of patching process described below, you can head over to measel’s CM7 nightlys | info collection thread and locate the build you are using; he was kind enough to provide us with patches for most of recent Jordan builds. So go and grab your applicable patches and give thanks to him.
=> If you’re running CM9 or CM10, this patcher will not work for you, but there are alternatives - namely: the ‘auto-patcher’ or even the PDroid v2 [I’ll give links to those later]. Just go read the last few pages of the original thread, there are quite a few mentions/redirections to those over there. [please don’t ask me about questions about those as I did not try them just yet]
Note: PDroid is an ongoing but currently ‘on hold’ project [because, like someone said before: devs sometimes have a life outside Android...] which works perfectly fine as it is if you follow the next few steps below.
Zero off: Make a nandroid backup of your current phone setup.
First off: Create the patch for your rom:
To work, PDroid first needs you to mod 3 framework files and push them onto your phone. To do so, all you need to do is to execute the PDroidPatcher.exe. file [extract it from the zip attached] and point it to the CM7 build you are using. Let it do its thing and it will create a CWM recovery flashable zip and an undo (RESTORE) one.
Second: Flash the patch:
Just boot into recovery, wipe cache and dalvik and install the patch and boot up.
Third: Install the apk
That’s it!, you’re now ready to go your list of installed apps and start controlling your privacy accesses.
Warning: again, go read the original thread for a how to on how to backup your PDroid settings and/or use TB to do so.
HOW TO USE:
Well, it’s all pretty obvious and with a bit of common sense, you will easily figure out how and what to set up. By default, nothing is blocked and apps are free to access data. So you’ll have to go through your list of installed apps and set up each individual data access and then try them out. For example, logic would tell us not to block the ‘GPS/Network Location’ data to maps related apps nor block ‘Accounts credentials’ to apps dealing with user IDs and passwords like Email or social apps.
I can’t give you detailed instructions here (it’s not the point of this thread anyway), but if like me you already use Droidwall, you can first leave alone all the apps that you’ve black listed for internet access [pic 2] since they won’t do anything with your private data if they can’t send it back home… There is also an option within the app to ‘hide all the safe apps’ [which do not have an internet permission]; check it to reduce the size of your list of apps to configure.
From experience, I’d also suggest you to keep an eye on the apps requiring a password to run since blocking Device or Subscriber ID might mean that you’ll have to always enter passwords each time you run the app that would otherwise be remembered by those apps. As a rule of thumb, I pretty much choose the ‘use random’ option whenever it is available (just to minimize problems with the app on blocking completely – I’m not even sure this is a valid argument here…) or block everything else when it’s not and finally, I leave ‘Network Info’ allowed since it basically only lets apps know if you connected to internet or not [who cares if they get your wifi’s SSID or not…].
But again, you’ll have to fine tune the whole thing for each and every app and run them to check for full functionalities – but at least they won’t crash on you… Finally, you can pinpoint potential problems/solutions by turning off the general PDroid notifications option and by turning on a specific app’s ones [pic 3].
Happy privacy enhancement!
/AL
As usual!
Quality guides from lovely []AL[]
I don't want a tapatalk sig!
nogoodusername said:
As usual!
Quality guides for lovely []AL[]
Why not move to Android Apps forums?
I don't want a tapatalk sig!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"lovely AL" wow! you surely are the first person to tell me anything like this here on xda.
..not sure if I should be flattered or run away by homophobia - hehehe! :laugh:
Well, I didn't mean to make it a guide when I started writing it, but like always I had things
to say and the post got longer and longer.. so I guess that we can call it a sort of guide...
But I truly like the app and believe that along with Droidwall, that should be installed on every phone.
In fact, Google should look at this and incorporate something similar into Android.
OK, I'll go reply to your PM now... cheers!
Edit for your question: because like I wrote in the OP, I'm just the messenger and not the dev of the app.
The app also works mostly for on phones running CM7 and even not all the phones support it either.
So I wouldn't publish this widely without at least asking permission to the dev. But here for Defy owners fellows,
I know it works fine and again, I think that it is pretty much an essential app to have.
9 downloads/1 thank;
Leeches, I see leeches everywhere!
Shhhiiiiii- You got me excited! I thought I'd find a patch for the Quarx rom! So far auto-patcher can't patch Quarx's CM10 roms. Nor do I understand why that's so but that's why I'm not a dev.
Excellent app
Arch Linux User ..
KicknGuitar said:
Shhhiiiiii- You got me excited! I thought I'd find a patch for the Quarx rom! So far auto-patcher can't patch Quarx's CM10 roms. Nor do I understand why that's so but that's why I'm not a dev.
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Well... sorry to hear that; I had no clue that it doesn't work with Quarx CM10. It seems to work for some other JB builds/phones... But like I wrote on the OP, I haven't tried any of this on CM9/JB yet. So again, too bad that this thing is a no go for now. I hear that Quarx is very busy outside Android's world as of lately so it might not be a good time to ask him about this - might also be low on his priority...but who knows, someone might read this and find an answer for you.
ps: quite an avatar you got there :silly:
an thanks for the link to the auto-patcher thread; it might be useful to others and it'll save me the search when I update the OP with it and your comment eventually...
juan296 said:
Excellent app
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Well thanks but again, just I'm just a messenger here and not the dev... :highfive:
Actually, I use DroidWall , so.. can uninstall this app? And right now, JUST USE pdroid! Right?
Arch Linux User ..
juan296 said:
Actually, I use DroidWall , so.. can uninstall this app? And right now, JUST USE pdroid! Right?
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Click to collapse
I still use both...they are quite different apps and don't do the same at all. Droidwall is a firewall that let you control if an app has access to internet or not; PDroid controls what private information each app can access.
Like I wrote on the OP, any app that is blocked by Droidwall doesn't need a PDroid setup, but apps that need internet connection could be free to get private information from your phone if you don't use PDroid...
Basically, PDroid has no way of blocking all internet access; it only blocks apps from reading private info (or scrambles it by returning info like random network location or sim ID#...)
There's apps I want to use but I don't see why they need to have access to read my records and have network access.
Is there something that I can control the permissions of apps so I can install what I want and not let it have the permissions it wants?
I thought I had found something before I replace my phone but I can't remember... When I first got the Rezound it was my first smartphone and I installed a lot of apps and didn't pay too much attention to permissions, but this time, on my replacement I'm being more careful and it's interesting to see how many apps ask for permission that they definitely do not need.
Avast! will let you firewall apps, preventing them from getting network access.
PDroid allows you to invidually control each individual permission for every app. However it needs to be baked into the rom.
More info on PDroid 2.0: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1923576
Info on Auto-Patching PDroid into a ROM: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1719408
Windows tool to patch PDroid into a ROM: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=31648393&postcount=690
LBE Privacy Guard is what you're thinking of I think
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lbe.security.lite&feature=search_result
CharliesTheMan said:
LBE Privacy Guard is what you're thinking of I think
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lbe.security.lite&feature=search_result
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Thanks, that's the sort of thing I need. That particular one is getting a lot of bad reviews but they seem to be due to it not working with Jelly Bean. Might give it a go or try one of the other suggestions that come up.
avast! is good as well for blocking network connections, I like that. But there was an app I was looking at that wanted to read my personal stuff and I couldn't see why it should do that so I need something that I can set that sort of thing with.
Hello!
I'm making this post to maybe start a discussion about app safety. I come from iOS, so the first thing that caught my attention when installing apps on my new Android device were the permissions. At first I wasn't really paying attention to what they ment and just went along and installed anything that looked awesome.. But as I've been getting deeper into this thing I've been getting more and more paranoid about any App I install..
Now to clarify:
My device has not been rooted.
Galaxy S4, Android Version: 4.3
GT-I9505
Now for the reason why I made this post. I came across Cartoon Defense 4 (I can't put links in my post since I'm new so I had to remove it, it's on Google Play though) yesterday by chance, which seemed cool to me, so I thought I'd install it. But the permissions it needed seemed a little shady to me.. Not all of them, but at least one:
android.permission.KILL_BACKGROUND_PROCESSES
What could this app need this permission for? This is the first time I've seen an app need this permission.. Looking around on the internet to find out what this permission ment brought me to an androidforums post which said this:
Kill background processes
Hardware controls
URI: android.permission.KILL_BACKGROUND_PROCESSES
Risk: HIGH
Protection level: UNKNOWN
Official Description
Allows an application to call killBackgroundProcesses(String).
Details
This permission is a bit of a tricky one. Often this is used by what are called "task killers". These apps supposedly free system resources by closing apps running in the background. However the usefulness of such apps is minimal at best. They can help close an app that is misbehaving, however a user can already do that themselves through the Android settings under "Apps" or "Manage Applications". Conversely this permission has some potential to maliciously close anti-virus or other security related apps. As with anything I would treat this with caution. Few users should ever need an app with this permission. Rather, it could be an indicator of malicious intent (especially if not requested by a task killer or system performance tuning app).
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So, my question kindof is.. Does this app really need this permission or is it malicious? I've checked the other versions and they all needed this permission from the first one, which has plenty of 5 Star reviews, but still.. It's something that alarmed me..
I hope someone can help me out on this, any input is appreciated!
EDIT: I think I should mention that I'm not trying to run a cracked version or anything. It's the Google Play install I'm talking about.