Many of you have probably already read the news:
Apple, Google Receive Phone Users' Locations
I must say, they're doing it to a degree beyond what most of us may have assumed was taking place.
How can we stop this? Do we know if cooked ROMs also do it?
Update 4/25/2011 5:00PM ET:
- Here's how I stop Android from phoning home.
- I dont' use this, but here's a sweet google removal script.
- A seperate thread for discussion: Why the data Android sends to Google is less anonymous than Apple's implementation
Update 4/26/2011 9:25PM ET:
- [Q] How do we protect our Android device from the CelleBrite UFED?
Update 6/8/2011 5:24PM ET:
- Use Autostarts to stop apps from opening behind your back!
Its not that they care where you are personally, you're more of an anonomous statistic to them. They use these huge mountains of collected data to decide which markets are the most potentially lucrative fir them to invest their zillions of dollars of advertising and marketing money into. You and I will likely never be directly affected by our locations being disclosed, save for more accurate search suggestions from our google search widgets.
Sent from my HTC HD2 using XDA App
I'll ask again to try and keep this thread on topic. Anyone who wants to discuss why the companies do it is free to start another thread and discuss that there.
How can we stop this? Do we know if cooked ROMs also do it?
Droidwall...
I was so mad when I heard what they were doing, I wanted to throw my phone out the window. How is it even legal for them to do this, regardless of where its anonymous or not its still bs and I want that crap off my phone. I am a newb to the whole android and software thing and I wish I could help.
There out to find your house and steal your prized poodle. Honestly if its for marketing then it what it is. Honestly if you want to get mad at something, get mad at T-Mobile for throttling 4G speeds. I see what your saying but I would like them putting the right ads for my area and know quickest way to the quickie-e-mart.
Also we are using their OS.
Every other OS is monitored also.
Sent from my UD Glacier
What's with the useless comments defending these companies?
Can anyone answer the question - DO cooked ROMs also track your location?
According to this article, Android tracks the last 50 mobile masts and last 200 WiFi networks.
This is a problem, anyone have the solution?
I found this comment on one of the articles, does this explain it?
All mobile phones keep a record of the locations and unique IDs of the most recent mobile masts that it has communicated with. It's called the neighbour cell list and normally it enables the phone to connect to the network more quickly than it otherwise would. GSM mobile phones have done this since about 1992.
To see the benefits storing the neighbour cell list compare the time it takes a mobile to find a network after it is switched on in a new location, e.g., after a long flight, with the time it takes to find a network when the phone is switched on in the location where it was switched off.
The difference in the iPhone case is that the iPhone is keeping this information for such a long period of time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wrapper said:
I found this comment on one of the articles, does this explain it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is about the iPhone storing, not about a device sending GPS location data day and night.
So far, the only mentioned potential solution is Droidwall.
I'm going to play around with that.
There's a related app named HiSurfing, but one reviewer says that does not work as well as DroidWall. Seems DroidWall does a better job of keeping things from slipping out when they've been blocked.
Darnell_Chat_TN said:
So far, the only mentioned potential solution is Droidwall.
I'm going to play around with that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only viable option I can see to block is "10052: Network Location, Google Calendar Sync, Google Services Framework, Google Contacts Sync."
Problem is, I use some of these.
I have ultimate juice defender it has a section in it where you can control how and when apps connect to the network, but I don't know if it will stop the Droid from phoning home.
wrapper said:
The only viable option I can see to block is "10052: Network Location, Google Calendar Sync, Google Services Framework, Google Contacts Sync."
Problem is, I use some of these.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea, it uses a different listing number on my device, but "Network Location, Google Calendar Sync, Google Services Framework, Google Contacts Sync" may be the one to disable to stop the device from phoning home. I sync my data locally (via MyPhoneExplorer), so I can't think of any personal need for those, I've disabled that from all network and WiFi connectivity.
I've done some testing (blocking an app I could test with) and the firewall continues to work even after exiting DroidWall and even after killing DroidWall with a task killer. That's good to see so it won't be any burden on the battery.
I'm not any expert that can test for "certain" whether my device has really stopped phoning Google with my location data, but this seems to be the best shot for now.
Darnell_Chat_TN said:
I've done some testing (blocking an app I could test with) and the firewall continues to work even after exiting DroidWall and even after killing DroidWall with a task killer. That's good to see so it won't be any burden on the battery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's because DroidWall is just an interface for iptables, the built-in firewall. So your battery life will not change at all, that's correct.
I'm not any expert that can test for "certain" whether my device has really stopped phoning Google with my location data, but this seems to be the best shot for now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could connect to your wireless network, run a sniffer like Wireshark on your PC and check whether any packets are transmitted to Google servers.
frosty_ice said:
You could connect to your wireless network, run a sniffer like Wireshark on your PC and check whether any packets are transmitted to Google servers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or turn on my router's logging and check there, yea either of those would work.
Not sure if/when I'll get around to it .
droidhell said:
I have ultimate juice defender it has a section in it where you can control how and when apps connect to the network, but I don't know if it will stop the Droid from phoning home.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that seems like the best app if it works, any way to verify?
slapshot136 said:
that seems like the best app if it works, any way to verify?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm new to Droid, I really don't know how to test and see, it does stop other app really well, as far as a OS I don't know.
From what i here it's all stored in a location history file.
One simple solution might be to routinely delete this file.
Doesn't exactly solve the problem.
Might we consider expanding the subject to protecting our privacy? If not, I apologize in advance, as I think it is all connected.
It is probably Darnell's call, as he started the thread.
In the meantime, please consider this article: http://bit.ly/gCynrh
So let me understand this. I buy access to a network for my phone, which I also paid for. My location information, which is the result of my purchases is being used to generate income. So I'm allowing my spent cash to generate data and be leveraged to generate income. My information wouldn't exist with out my investment in the technology, so I own it.
I'm paying to be stalked !!!
Reduce my bill, provide remuneration for my investment in this technology, prove that it's anonymous, remember since I paid for the means to generate the data- the data belongs to me.
BTW for $1.50 I'll wire the battery to switch off, try getting data then.
I'd rather have an app which monitors my relevant info and bills the users for access to it.
This is an interesting article on how phones are being used to collect loads of personal information. There are a number of privacy tools out there for Android (Droid wall, pdroid).
What applications, procedures or methods do you employ for keeping your privacy?
Anyone know of an AT&T S3 ROM that has Pdroid enabled?
Going under the locations services section of settings and limiting what services can use your location data is one way to maintain some level of security if your paranoid about privacy ;-)
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium
shimp208 said:
Going under the locations services section of settings and limiting what services can use your location data is one way to maintain some level of security if your paranoid about privacy ;-)
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I turn off that option as well. I use Droid Wall to try and limit some of the apps from communicating, however it doesn't appear to prevent all data communications as the apps can tie into other services (I think), and transmit data from the web (port 80).
How paranoid about security do you want to get?
creedicd said:
I turn off that option as well. I use Droid Wall to try and limit some of the apps from communicating, however it doesn't appear to prevent all data communications as the apps can tie into other services (I think), and transmit data from the web (port 80).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct also if you disable data communications for certain apps it will break them resulting in Force closes. It sucks you can't just disable it from sending information while still allowing the app to use data permissions for legitimate tasks. I suppose if you were super paranoid about your privacy and willing to spend some (Or a lot depending on how in depth you want to get) you could decompile the APK file of apps that transmit personal data and search for services that transmit that data and disable it in the XML files or make smali edits. Overall seems like it would be a lot of work for really not much gain, but I suppose it all depends on how far you want to take your personal security.
I was trying to search for an android app that can generate network traffic (UDP) for stress testing a network. I spent quite a lot of time trying to google it and cannot find anything on it.
If anyone happen to know any related app please let me know.
newplayer101 said:
I was trying to search for an android app that can generate network traffic (UDP) for stress testing a network. I spent quite a lot of time trying to google it and cannot find anything on it.
If anyone happen to know any related app please let me know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you brief yourself I am not getting ypu what type of app you need
Regards,
Zeuscluts
Sent from my SM-N900 using Tapatalk
Zeuscluts said:
Can you brief yourself I am not getting ypu what type of app you need
Regards,
Zeuscluts
Sent from my SM-N900 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your reply.
I am looking for an app solution for network stress testing or an app that can stream UDP data from an Android device to a server which could be a PC or another Android device.
There are a lot of these kind of software for Window machine that I could just run two instance of the software one on the destination and the other on the sender and have it just stream UDP packet and take statistics like packet lost %, jitter, and so on. However, I cannot get hold of many window pc, so I want to know if there is already a solution for Android devices for task like this.
Thanks
“Onavo effortlessly extends the value of your existing data plan.” – Dave Johnson, CBS MoneyWatch**If you have installed a custom ROM, please read the instructions at the bottom of our App description**- Get as much as 5X out of your Android’s data plan- Traveling? Save up to 80% when roamingOnavo Extend lets you get up to five times more out of your data plan without changing the way you use your phone. With Onavo Extend, engage in more app activities, photo sharing, web browsing and more on 3/4G without breaking your data cap. The app lets you compress your mobile data so that you can do more with your Android’s mobile data month after month. And, ifyou travel abroad, Onavo Extend helps you stay within your roaming plan and saves you money while helping you do more with your data plan.Onavo Extend is now even more powerful with its revolutionary universal data caching tool that usesyour SD card to minimize data consumption of 3G/4G traffic without risking the freshness of your cached data. You can easily control the percent of your SD card allocated to the creation of your universal cache for a personalized Onavo Extend experience. The app also lets you optimize pictures when you share over 3G/4G, giving you control of how much data you use when you share photos. The Onavo Extend Widget helpsyou easily monitor how much data Onavo Extend saves you by app for increased app transparency!OS note: Onavo Extend is only supported for specific ICS devices.IF YOU’VE INSTALLED A CUSTOM ROM:Some ROMs and kernels are missing important networking support that Android 4.0 APIs, and Onavo Extend, rely on.If you’ve received a message saying your version of Android is unsupported, or if the application always says “service paused”, please contact us via the “Feedback” menu item so we can help.Trying a different ROM or kernel should help as well.CURRENT VERSION: 1.2.9exREQUIRES ANDROID: 4.0 and up
aashish.dxa said:
“Onavo effortlessly extends the value of your existing data plan.” – Dave Johnson, CBS MoneyWatch**If you have installed a custom ROM, please read the instructions at the bottom of our App description**- Get as much as 5X out of your Android’s data plan- Traveling? Save up to 80% when roamingOnavo Extend lets you get up to five times more out of your data plan without changing the way you use your phone. With Onavo Extend, engage in more app activities, photo sharing, web browsing and more on 3/4G without breaking your data cap. The app lets you compress your mobile data so that you can do more with your Android’s mobile data month after month. And, ifyou travel abroad, Onavo Extend helps you stay within your roaming plan and saves you money while helping you do more with your data plan.Onavo Extend is now even more powerful with its revolutionary universal data caching tool that usesyour SD card to minimize data consumption of 3G/4G traffic without risking the freshness of your cached data. You can easily control the percent of your SD card allocated to the creation of your universal cache for a personalized Onavo Extend experience. The app also lets you optimize pictures when you share over 3G/4G, giving you control of how much data you use when you share photos. The Onavo Extend Widget helpsyou easily monitor how much data Onavo Extend saves you by app for increased app transparency!OS note: Onavo Extend is only supported for specific ICS devices.IF YOU’VE INSTALLED A CUSTOM ROM:Some ROMs and kernels are missing important networking support that Android 4.0 APIs, and Onavo Extend, rely on.If you’ve received a message saying your version of Android is unsupported, or if the application always says “service paused”, please contact us via the “Feedback” menu item so we can help.Trying a different ROM or kernel should help as well.CURRENT VERSION: 1.2.9exREQUIRES ANDROID: 4.0 and up
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow.
cud u just organize this.
After studying chemistry physics and maths i cant really decode the sentences in there
???
Sent from my GT-S5282 using XDA Free mobile app
aashish.dxa said:
???
Sent from my GT-S5282 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i meant it looks like a lot of text.
Use the enter button to make it look organized
Kk bro
Sent from my GT-S5282 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
aashish.dxa said:
Kk bro
Sent from my GT-S5282 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Copying and pasting advertisements for software is prohibited and frowned upon at XDA.
Closed
developers please bring the quick reply to whatsapp tweak present on cydia to android. It is a very innovative idea and it can be awesome on android
plz provide me such module so that an app in android read random gmail account which i provide. whether gmail available or not..
like we change android id and device id in donkey guard
such module which provide custom accounts to an app
Hello.
I believe a module to make measuring possible in google earth app would benefit to many.
Thank you.
Sent from my LG-V500 using XDA Free mobile app
can you provide a module which can change progress wheels
Sent from my SM-G355HN using XDA Free mobile app
"Ultra Power saving mode" module (Like s5)
I would like to suggest a module that works like Ultra Power saving mode in Samsung S5; where 10% of the battery lasts 24hour... maybe with some intermediate modes, like "just black & white" and others
Could be very useful in emergency situations and many other cases
More about this here