[Q] Restric privileges on the tablet for other users - Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi everyone! First of all sorry for my english, second, I'm here because I've a big problem.
I need to lend some tablets to some friends for testing an app. The problem is that I don't complete trust in them (or they are too smart or they aren't very familiar with digital products), so I'm afraid that they can make some trouble voluntarily or not.
I'm searching for something that can block the access to determinate applications of the tablet (for example: phone, settings or other installed apps) and the install of new app. Something like a limited user of the tablet, that allowed you to running only some default apps.
I've tried to test some apps that allow you to open the app just by entering a code or a sequence, but they aren't very safe. I always find a way to bypass them. Moreover this type of application don't block the install of new app.
Do you have any solution? What can I do to create this sort of "Limited User"?
Thanks to everyone

You could try the app called "SwitchMe". It should be able to help.

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[Q] permisions [Noob Alert]

Being a Noob to Android I thought I'd install some location based profile software which is one of the things that Android owners always say they can do which is lacking from the iPhone.(where I come from)
Lamma seems to be recommended but the permissions it asks for include:
"Add or modify calendar events and send email to guests without owners' knowledge. read calendar events plus confidential information"
clicking on the detail is even more scary.
Android tells you what it's going to do - but do users actually allow this? Most apps seem to want permissions that you would have to be mad to accept.
Can I not install any useful app without agreeing to terms that are unacceptable?
What am i missing? Do people just allow unrestricted access? Not install any app? or is there a way of installing apps but not giving them stupid access?
I can't believe people allow that sort of access - I must be missing something.
Some custom after market ROMs allow to drop any permission by user but it may render app useless.
Most of the time apps are not malware, but sometimes they may be. You can contact developer of the app requesting for reasons of these permissions and he may reply better.
you can always use auto start manager app within the rom toolbox to control the permissions of the apps..
Confucious said:
Being a Noob to Android I thought I'd install some location based profile software which is one of the things that Android owners always say they can do which is lacking from the iPhone.(where I come from)
Lamma seems to be recommended but the permissions it asks for include:
"Add or modify calendar events and send email to guests without owners' knowledge. read calendar events plus confidential information"
clicking on the detail is even more scary.
Android tells you what it's going to do - but do users actually allow this? Most apps seem to want permissions that you would have to be mad to accept.
Can I not install any useful app without agreeing to terms that are unacceptable?
What am i missing? Do people just allow unrestricted access? Not install any app? or is there a way of installing apps but not giving them stupid access?
I can't believe people allow that sort of access - I must be missing something.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You really have to think about what the app could be using the permission for, for example something like tasker pretty much needs every permission going because it allows you to set anything up as a profile etc.
The rule of thumb is to look at the app reviews, look at the permissions and just think about what the app could be using it for.
Sure a soundboard style app shouldnt need to make phone calls but many apps do need permissions that at first glance you might not think are needed.
And if your really in doubt email the developer and ask them to explain why they need this permission.
Surprise :laugh:
http://www.xda-developers.com/android/manage-individual-app-permissions-with-xprivacy/

[Q] making an unremovable app

Hi.
I tried to search but couldn't find any solution for this issue.
I know making a real unremovable app is impossible, but I hope I'll be able to find a way to make an app harder to remove.
I want to make some kind of parental protection app.
it should be installed easily without much technical knowledge ( preferred that it will work on unrooted devices).
the app should be hard to remove or disable by the phone user.
who ever installed the app should be able to remove (probably with a password in the app settings).
I don't care if technical users will be able to easily remove the app.
I also don't care if the users will know that the app is installed on their device
I guess the simplest solution will be to some how hide the app from the app drawer.
I saw some where that Cerberus has that option but I guess it requires a root.
another solution might be if there is an option in the android os itself setting an admin password that will not allow
the user to install or remove any apps without the password.
any ideas if how to approach this ?
This is surely not a complete answer, but maybe a point to start with.
In android, you can write services: http://developer.android.com/reference/android/app/Service.html
A facility for the application to tell the system about something it wants to be doing in the background (even when the user is not directly interacting with the application). This corresponds to calls to Context.startService(), which ask the system to schedule work for the service, to be run until the service or someone else explicitly stop it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And there is a possibility of receiving a message if the uninstaller of an app is started: http://developer.android.com/reference/android/content/Intent.html (ACTION_UNINSTALL_PACKAGE).
Google will probably help you on how to use these things
Thanks I'll have a look
David:D said:
This is surely not a complete answer, but maybe a point to start with.
In android, you can write services: http://developer.android.com/reference/android/app/Service.html
And there is a possibility of receiving a message if the uninstaller of an app is started: http://developer.android.com/reference/android/content/Intent.html (ACTION_UNINSTALL_PACKAGE).
Google will probably help you on how to use these things
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

[Q] Block apps from being installed

Hi All,
Just more of a generic question. One can potentially use AppLock app and friends to protect some sensitive apps with the code, but the protection is relatively weak with the fact, that anyone can go to play.market with their android credentials and get the needed app propagated on the device. Hence, even totally locked-down smartfone which does not allow to run playmarked or install apks directly, could get any type of software via playmarket web-interface.
Would it be possible to somehow prevent this kind of propagation?
Thanks in advance

Question regarding root access to memory space, low-level actions and best env.

Considering this is my first post - Hello, greetings, hi.
Straight to the question.
I have a certain amount of tasks that I do on my PC and for convenience, I've developed a program that does majority of these tasks for me (basically fetch new mail from my countless e-mails, messages from facebook etc. and put them into one single window displaying inside a widget.
I would certainly love to automate things on my phone aswell, but for that I need several things that I have to ask you about first.
Answer as many as you wish, thanks for any help!
1. Do I need root access to emulate human behaviour in certain apps? Behaviour such as screen click, drag etc.
2. Do I need root access to have unsafe access to memory chunks of other software? Probably similar access as one would require in order to make a cheat/hack for a game.
3. Can emulation apps work in background and still emulate clicks even when in fullscreen app such as facebook etc?
4. What's the best envirnoment for developing an android app, one that supports programming in C#?
Thanks again!

Is it possible to block apps from being installed on my device by Package Name?

Hello there!
I use a Motorola Moto G6 that's running on Android 9 Pie (Build no. PPS29.118-11-1) and I was wondering if there was a way to block certain apps from being installed on my device by their package name. I want to be able to do this for the same reason I use very strict settings on Digital Wellbeing: self control.
I know that you can install and block apps and I know that you can use parental settings on your phone but that simply won't help in this situation. I'm also aware that an app with these capabilities might not be available. My question isn't if it's possible now or with the utilities currently provided through apps developed for my Android OS; I'm trying to figure out if it's possible to block apps by their Package Name in any way and if it's impossible to make (in theory) an app that can do it.
I'm not sure how it can be done. Can it be done by having an app that reads through an app that's attempting to be installed and generates bricked app directories where it should chuck out the app's resources so it can't be installed? Maybe. Can it be done by cancelling the installation request of an app that has a Package Name matching one inputted into a list on the hypothetical app in question? Not sure. If anyone knows the answer to those two proposals or has their own suggestions, please do your best to answer my post and keep in mind, this has to be done without the phone being rooted.
An additional but important factor: this is about self control. I can easily bring myself to not remove or otherwise disable restrictive measures on my phone, but I'd like to know if I can make it so that you cannot remove a Package Name that has been blocked in the phone no matter the method used in the first part (other than uninstalling the blocker app, of course).
Regards,
Yoki Aza

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