Feedback Please On My App Installation SOP - Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Feedback please on my app installation SOP....
Hey folks...I was referred to post this here instead:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/general/xda-assist/opinions-app-installation-sop-t3184925
I would very much appreciate any and all feedback on what I am doing as outlined in that post.
cheers and TIA to all,
-les
EDIT: Actually, it may be easier for me to simply copy and paste the text from that post so here you go. Again, thanks!
Begin post copy--->
Hello all...hope this is posted in the right place.
I am looking for some knowledgeable opinions on my personal SOP when installing apps [mostly referring to games] on my Android devices. I am a corporate technology manager with 20+ years experience but am quite new [and a relative noob] when it comes to the Android infrastructure.
XDA appears to be the best, most well-informed Android site around so...
Basics: 3 Android devices [1 smartphone, 2 WiFi tablets], all rooted, all running at least 4.4.2, all running AFWall+ and Titanium Backup [paid] and all with most factory bloatware safely frozen.
Question:
Am I wasting my time [or possibly doing something wrong] by doing the following procedure for each app [again, largely referring to games] that I install and decide to keep for a while on my devices?
1. AFWall+ to deny network connectivity for those games that do not explicitly require a constant connection [exceptions like Angry Birds Epic, AB2 and such];
2. App2SD [unpaid version] to move to external SD card each game that can be moved;
3. Gemini App Manager [unpaid version] to view and disable all autostart permissions found;
4. SDMaid [unpaid version] to double-check and disable any further autostart permissions found;
5. Autorun Manager [unpaid version] to review the 4 available autostart permission categories and then disable games as needed;
The above SOP is my own effort to try to and wrest a bit more control over my devices as well as to try and keep things as clean as possible and to maximize the amount of always available system resources as much as possible.
All my devices [and games] appear to be running flawlessly and with no issues at all that I can detect.
So, bottom line:
- Am I doing a good thing here?
OR
- Am I wasting my time [though only a few mins for each app]?
And finally, is there a BETTER way I can achieve the same things...a smarter process?
cheers and a very big TIA,
-les​

33 views and not a single reply?
What is it? My breath?

Related

[APP] SwitchMe secure login manager needs Atrix testers please!

Hi everyone. Im one of the developers of SwitchMe, and app that allows multiple secure logins into separate installations of android on a single device. The pr is after the break.
I really need a few people to check into some issues people on some atrix roms have been experiencing. There are some warnings involved:
- testers must perform a full nandroid backup before using the app, it is not our responsibility if you start getting boot loops
- if you report results or bugs, please use the "Write to us" function in the app whenever possible, and always describe the issue in the header of the logs you send
- if you post here, be sure to include your device type and rom
- if you have apps installed on sd, be sure to mention that as well
--------------------------------------------------------------------
SwitchMe is a unique application for root users that allows you to log in and out of multiple installations of Android just as you would on a desktop computer.
The technology behind SwitchMe saves all of your applications and data, protects it and stores it as a file in memory. You can then log out of an
account and log into a fresh installation of Android or another account with its own unique content.
You may create as many profiles as the memory is capable of holding. Some of these may require very little free memory because they contain few apps,
others will be larger as they contain many applications and lots of cache and data.
Why is this functionality useful?
Privacy - the most obvious benefit is that you can securely share one device among multiple users, which gives you privacy and peace of mind.
Testing - if you are a developer, you can use profiles as clean sandboxes to test your applications and their interaction with the system.
Gaming – with multiple installations of Android on a single device, you can now play online MMOs as different characters.
Speed - the games your kids play slow down your tablet, but with SwitchMe you can easily create profiles without games or instant messengers.
Battery life - when the battery is low but there are important emails or documents to edit later, switch to a profile which only contains these essentials.
These of course are only suggestions - there are plenty of other uses for the functionality SwitchMe offers.
Market link:
https://market.android.com/details?id=fahrbot.apps.switchme
The Lite version allows the creation of two profiles, enough to test on.
Screens:
SwitchMe 1.2 has been rolled out and now includes a lockscreen replacement:
1.2
Added lock screen for logging in and out
More stable Fast switch implementation
Reworked UI colors
Now, its very important that we get some feedback on how this big new feature works, so please read up on it in the help and post your thoughts!
1.2.2 - HOTFIX 2
Reworked widget on qHD+ displays
Fixed widget text on HC and ICS
Fast switch improved on older devices
Installed and my volume in my speaker is so low I couldnt by tell if the phone connected . Also using a bluetooth headset it has static. Uninstalled back to normal volumes and headset works .love the software hope there is a fix for this.
Are you sure its an error? Because there may have been software responsible for your volume that was updated or not originally present in the original rom...
Even when using it on the first slot setup it had no volume and that was untouched before and after the install
Please do the following:
install app
clone profile
switch profile
send logs - be sure to mention your xda name in the description!
Thanks in advance.
Problem fixed with reinstall now works as advertised.
I reinstalled the most rebooted before anything else. Created clone booted into it and all is good very nice setup already bought key and rolling 3 profiles
Thanks, enjoy!
Sent from my GT-P7500 using xda premium
Nice app, working good running jokersax's ICS rom on my Atrix.
Sent from my MB860 using xda premium
Yes, the app works well on this device!
1.4.3.7
Fixed device specific switch screen crashes and issues
Fixed UI bug in switch screen preferences
If anyohe had problems with superuser before, this should fix them. Please let me know if that is the case, its important we get some feedback here!
1.5.3.0
Enabled full support for MIPS and x86 architectures
Many root daemon code fixes and optimizations implemented
Anything to report regarding yesterday's release?
For me IRS great thx.
Thats great. Enjoy.
1.5.3.8
Fixed issue switching profiles (One X and others)
Fixed rare crash on adding/ removing profiles
Fixed many device specific issues from user logs
I can confirm it works brilliant.
I'm using free version which is at the moment sufficient. One profile is for me, office apps, various productivity apps.. anything I'd use. The other profile is for my 3 yo kid full of games appropriate to his age, and no connectivity, just to make sure no accidental purchases are made.
Thanks to developers for this wonderful app.
The best thanks is a nice review on the market.
ftgg99 said:
The best thanks is a nice review on the market.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
... which I have also left

[APP] [CM7] Increase Your Privacy with PDroid [alt CM9/CM10]

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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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?
Click to expand...
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#...)

[UPDATE][2 JANUARY 2013 ]All the tools and good root apps at one place

lgmdp 1.5
http://sharemobile.ro/file/616562
lg united mobile drivers
http://
www.lgforum.com/resources
a very important sdk tool
http://
developer.android.com/sdk/index.html
Android
Development Tools (ADT)
[The ADT plugin
includes a variety of powerful
extensions that make creating,
running, and debugging Android
applications faster and easier.]
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Programming/Components-Libraries/Android-Development-Tools.shtml
Super one click [tool for rooting gb ]
http://shortfuse.org/?page_id=2
gingerbreak [tool for rooting froyo]
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1044765
Android kitchen [a great tool for ROM customization]
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=633246
terminal emulator [A great tool for linux commands]
http://www.papktop.com/android-terminal-emulator-1-0-32.html
z4root [tool for rooting 2.2.1 and 2.1]
http://forum.xda-developers.com/
showthread.php?t=833953
(by ibub)
kdz updator
http://www.2shared.com/file/QcnRcyua/KDZ_Updater.html
java development kit
http://software-files-a.cnet.com/u/test/jdk-7u10-windows-i586.exe
fastboot.exe
http://www.2shared.com/file/4l7HKE3O/fastboot.html
flash_image [if u use terminal emulator]
http://www.mediafire.com/?7pkcte8gcyn9pet
########################
below tools are taken from lycan thread all credit goes to him for the below ones
apktool : http://forum.xda-
developers.com/showthread.php?
t=640592
APK Multi Tool : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1310151
StudioAndroid : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1541372
adb pusher : http://www.xda-developers.com/android/push-files-to-your-device-with-quick-adb-pusher/
Bootanimation Creator :
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1234611
#####################
ROOT APPLICATION (tAKEN FROM I CLICK ROOT) (I WIlL ADD MINE SOON AND NEVER GONNA INCLUDE ROM MANAGER)
10) ShootMe – Screenshot app
Android has a lot of advantages over its
main competitor, Apple’s iOS. However,
unlike iOS, Android doesn’t give users the
ability to take screenshots of their
phones. Thanks to the ShootMe app
available on rooted phones, that problem
is a thing of the past. This app allows you
to set up a trigger for when the phone
should take a screenshot. For example, if
you want to take a screenshot every
time you shake your phone, you can easily
set that up.
9) Titanium Backup – Automatic backup
and recovery app
No electronic device is immune to
failures. If you’re like most people, you
keep some valuable information on your
Android device. From phone numbers to
pictures and everything in between,
losing access to that data could be
devastating. That’s why you need
Titanium Backup, an app which allows
rooted Android users to set automatic
backup options. All apps and other data
is saved, so if you screw up your phone
while trying to install a custom ROM, you
can easily restore it with the click of a
button.
8) Metamorph – Customize every single
aspect of your phone
After rooting an Android phone, one of
the first things that many users do is
customize their device. Thanks to the
Metamorph app, phone customization is
as easy as possible. Simply download the
app, then browse through a selection of
custom themes. If you want, you can
even make your own theme. Using
Metamorph, you can personalize your lock
screen, menus, app screens, and all
other aspects of your Android phone.
7) Adfree – Instant advertisement
blocking
Sick of seeing advertisements on your
phone? Aren’t we all! With the Adfree
app, you’ll never have to see another
advertisement again. The Adfree app
works in a unique way: instead of
actively scanning each app and webpage
for advertisements (which slows down
Android performance), Adfree simply
blocks the IP addresses of common
advertising agencies. This means that
advertisements will refuse to pop up
while using apps, browsing the internet,
or performing any other types of tasks
on your phone.
6) Busybox – Use Linux commands
Busybox might not appeal to the average
Android user, but it will certainly appeal
to tech geeks and Linux users. Busybox is
an app that adds Linux commands to your
Android device. To make the app as easy
as possible to use, Busybox even lists the
commands, making it easy to perform a
wide variety of functions that are
normally unavailable to users of non-
rooted Android devices.
5) Wireless Tether – Wireless hotspot app
Share your Android phone’s data
connection with any other wireless
device using the Wireless Tether app.
This is an ideal way to use your phone
data on your laptop while you’re in an
area with no internet connection,
although tethering can be used for a
wide variety of purposes. With the
Wireless Tether app, tethering can be
performed on any carrier and any
Android phone. Since some companies like
AT&T charge an additional $20 per
month for tethering, this makes the
Wireless Tether app an extremely
valuable tool.
4) Tasker – Automatic task app
Tasker is a smart app that will automate
all sorts of tasks on your phone. For
example, you can set a task to run every
day at 5pm, or perform plenty of other
useful functions. Although Tasker is
available from the Google Play store, it
won’t have root access on non-rooted
Android phones. When you give Tasker
root access, expect to see some
phenomenal results.
3) SSH Tunnel – Safeguard your internet
usage
Instead of letting anyone see what
you’re doing on the internet, the SSH
Tunnel encrypts your internet
connection using an SSH tunnel. When
you access a public Wi-Fi network
without an app like SSH Tunnel installed,
anybody with basic technical skills can
see what you’re doing over the internet,
which is most definitely a bad thing.
2) SetCPU – Overclock and monitor your
processor
The processor is at the heart of your
Android phone’s operations. On a normal
Android device, the user’s actions won’t
affect how the CPU functions. However,
thanks to the SetCPU app, that is no
longer a problem. SetCPU allows users to
customize the CPU to run at different
frequencies according to what the user
is currently doing. For example, you can
instantly reduce the CPU’s clock speed
when the screen is turned off, which
saves an enormous amount of battery
life. Ultimately, SetCPU allows you to
save battery power, speed up your
Android device, and monitor its
temperature.
1) Superuser – The first app to install on
a rooted Android device
MINE ROOTED APS
Hide my Root
Sure, CyanogenMod may be getting
more granular root settings, but
can you password protect them?
This app can.
--
Hide my Root lets you temporarily
hide the superuser binary and app
so that no applications or users can
get root access. You can even set a
password so that only you can
restore root access. On some roms
(usually rooted stock roms), Hide
my Root will allow you to use
Google Videos and similar apps on a
rooted phone. On custom roms
such as CyanogenMod, it will not
allow you to use Google Videos and
similar apps on a rooted phone.
Root Logger by Stericson
Root Logger is the only application
that can log all shell commands
that are sent to your phone,
including those from other rooted
applications. Root Logger can also
tell you who executed the
command, when it was executed,
and whether or not the command
was executed with root access. This
application will help you keep an
eye on what's being sent to the
shell on your phone and what those
applications are doing on your
phone. This Application requires
root access, busybox, and these
commands, which are usually
provided by Busybox, chmod, ln, ls,
cp, chattr, and rm.
Root Explorer
This is by far one of the most
comprehensive file managers out there.
This app gives you access to the whole of
android's file system and includes
features like an SQLite database viewer,
Text Editor, the ability to create and
extract zip or tar/gzip files, extract rar
archives, multi-select, execute scripts,
search, remount, permissions,
bookmarks, and lots more. There’s a free
version as well for you to try out.
Call Master
This advanced call and SMS blocker
gives you unique privacy features for
rooted users. With the app running
silently in the background, you can block
an MMS before it downloads, filter SMSs
by content and lots more.
MarketEnabler
You’ll notice that certain apps are
country specific and won’t show up in
the Play Store on your phone.
MarketEnabler helps you get around this
by tricking the Play Store into thinking
you are actually in that country or region
and allowing you to download the app.
You obviously won’t find this on the Play
Store, but a quick Google search will
help.
SD Maid
SD Maid will automatically clean up
unwanted files left behind when you
uninstall apps. Just like Windows,
sometimes certain files are not deleted
when you uninstall them and they can
clutter your file system over time. This
app helps remove those unwanted files.
StickMount
This app was designed to enable USB
On-the-go access on the Galaxy Nexus,
but there’s no reason why it shouldn’t
work on other handsets running ICS and
above. All you need is the cable and then
you can access data from your pen drives
easily, thus expanding your storage
Call Master
This advanced call and SMS blocker gives
you unique privacy features for rooted
users. With the app running silently in the
background, you can block an MMS
before it downloads, filter SMSs by
content and lots more.
Great Thread!!
Sent from my LG-P509 using Tapatalk 2
jerry7389 said:
Great Thread!!
Sent from my LG-P509 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks
i have contacted one of the moderators to keep the thread on the first page waiting for their reply
and if u have more tell me i will add them as soon as possible
Honestly and no offense to you but this already exist as a sticky, a pretty well written thread by sweetnsour
Sent from my LG-P500 using Tapatalk 2
Jrhodes85 said:
Honestly and no offense to you but this already exist as a sticky, a pretty well written thread by sweetnsour
Sent from my LG-P500 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if u can give me the thread link
Jrhodes85 said:
Honestly and no offense to you but this already exist as a sticky, a pretty well written thread by sweetnsour
Sent from my LG-P500 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
androidisfuture said:
if u can give me the thread link
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think he is talking about this
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1256048
Sent from my LG-P500 using Tapatalk 2
Christian Nothing said:
I think he is talking about this
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1256048
Sent from my LG-P500 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if he is talking abt this then my thread is not similar to sweetnsour as i am giving tools and i can only find android kitchen similar tell me if u agree
i have added 4 more :victory:
as sdk contains a varirty of tools like Dalvik Debug Monitor Server (ddms);dmtracedump etc my list is getting to an end but still no answer from the moderators
Jrhodes85 said:
Honestly and no offense to you but this already exist as a sticky, a pretty well written thread by sweetnsour
Sent from my LG-P500 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To be honest, I feel that this kind of exists in Lycan's sticky:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=901247
specifically this post:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=25489058&postcount=177
sweetnsour said:
To be honest, I feel that this kind of exists in Lycan's sticky:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=901247
specifically this post:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=25489058&postcount=177
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
now i feel that this is similar but i am trying to add more and more if u have some tell me
Could lycan be asked to link to this as an additional resource? The main difference that I see is that lycan's sticky is categorized and a lot of the tools are somewhat scattered in different branches . Yes, I know you specified the post for kernels, mods tweaks and TOOLS. But not all that is listed here, is listed there. Maybe a compromise is in order?
Sent from my LG-P500 using xda app-developers app
ibub said:
Could lycan be asked to link to this as an additional resource? The main difference that I see is that lycan's sticky is categorized and a lot of the tools are somewhat scattered. Yes, I know you specified the post for kernels, mods tweaks and TOOLS. But not all that is listed here, is listed there. Maybe a compromise is in order?
Sent from my LG-P500 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i have pm lykan but no response i think he missed my pm
ibub said:
Could lycan be asked to link to this as an additional resource? The main difference that I see is that lycan's sticky is categorized and a lot of the tools are somewhat scattered in different branches . Yes, I know you specified the post for kernels, mods tweaks and TOOLS. But not all that is listed here, is listed there. Maybe a compromise is in order?
Sent from my LG-P500 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
androidisfuture said:
i have pm lykan but no response i think he missed my pm
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am not sure if a compromise is possible. By looking at Lycan's last post, it looks like he hasn't been on for several months now. The thing is, that thread was first started by Bytecode, who handed the thread over to Lycan, so if Lycan was still active on XDA, I would've requested ownership of the thread. But since he has been inactive, I think it would be alright to copy the tools from his thread to yours (since his thread is not just about tools and such while this thread is), and in the event that he does come back online and asks for the tools to be removed from this thread, maybe there can be some sort of a compromise then.
sweetnsour said:
I am not sure if a compromise is possible. By looking at Lycan's last post, it looks like he hasn't been on for several months now. The thing is, that thread was first started by Bytecode, who handed the thread over to Lycan, so if Lycan was still active on XDA, I would've requested ownership of the thread. But since he has been inactive, I think it would be alright to copy the tools from his thread to yours (since his thread is not just about tools and such while this thread is), and in the event that he does come back online and asks for the tools to be removed from this thread, maybe there can be some sort of a compromise then.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok i will see to it
if i can copy i will give credit to him
i have 5 more they are of lycan
the thread is now a sticky
Thanks !!!

[Q] How can I tell which things are running?/How to know if an app is trustworthy?

Hey,
When I turned on my phone the RAM it was taking was 300 MB, after a days use it is now 500MB (even after pressing 'clear RAM' button).
I've entered Settings->apps->running and it shows only two small things (the keyboard and some weather widget) which combined take only 20 MB.
So what is the rest of the memory is beign allocated for?
Thank you.
Does your rom have Usage Manager in the app drawer?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app
Here is the path to all your applications.
Settings -> Apps --> Swipe left until the menu Running --> On top you see the description "Show cached processes", klick on it --> now you see the rest of the running applications
pc103 said:
Does your rom have Usage Manager in the app drawer?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, the closest I have is "Task Manager".
lenovoOwner said:
Here is the path to all your applications.
Settings -> Apps --> Swipe left until the menu Running --> On top you see the description "Show cached processes", klick on it --> now you see the rest of the running applications
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you, indeed I see some more RAM guzzlers, but It seems like they make up most of the addition but not all of it ... plus funny thing, when I try to close everything (in 'running' and 'cache) and I reenter- here it is there again...
1) Can I see all of the elements that take up my ram (the system as well)?
2) Can I close them properly?
Thank you very much.
PS. Is there some comfortable way to jump between apps? Like in the Iphone where by pressing the 'Home' button will show you a bar with a row of icons of the currently active processes....
For your PS question, it's a long press on the Home button (below the GS3 screen).
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app
---------- Post added at 10:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:45 PM ----------
The closest app I'm running to that option is Android Tuner Free. I got it for its storage optimization functions.
The busy interface has a learning curve, but it is a comprehensive & poweful app. I recommend Advanced mode & the One Click home screen.
For what you want, see both the Tasks & Kill All tiles. The first is a Task Mgr., the second is a quick 1 click. The app can teach a lot about what runs & why. It also offers a lot of fine control.
I also use the root app Startup Manager which is self explanatory & efficient.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app
pc103 said:
For your PS question, it's a long press on the Home button (below the GS3 screen).
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL {hit myself on the head}, didn't occur me to try...
pc103 said:
---------- Post added at 10:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:45 PM ----------
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
pc103 said:
The closest app I'm running to that option is Android Tuner Free. I got it for its storage optimization functions.
The busy interface has a learning curve, but it is a comprehensive & poweful app. I recommend Advanced mode & the One Click home screen.
For what you want, see both the Tasks & Kill All tiles. The first is a Task Mgr., the second is a quick 1 click. The app can teach a lot about what runs & why. It also offers a lot of fine control.
I also use the root app Startup Manager which is self explanatory & efficient.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was hoping there is a way to avoid using apps...
Ok, I suppose it opens another question which I thought about creating a new thread for, but if the opportunity already arose...
How do you actually know if you can trust an app?
I'm kinda new to android and I'm much more used to the opennes of windows, also I'm pretty paranoid (a cellphone contains information 100 times more sensitive than a PC (At least my PC is like that)). I look at the permissions every app want to have and I'm simply aghast, I know of the logic behind those requests (at least for most of those I've seen) but I have zero transparency over what actions the app takes.
That really stress me a great deal...
oy-ster said:
How do you actually know if you can trust an app?. . . (a cellphone contains information 100 times more sensitive than a PC (At least my PC is like that)). I look at the permissions every app want to have and I'm simply aghast, I know of the logic behind those requests (at least for most of those I've seen) but I have zero transparency over what actions the app takes.
That really stress me a great deal...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Digital Privacy
Well it certainly stresses the last remaining fiber of your privacy. I just watched the latest "60 Minutes Overtime" piece on data brokers framing this as a lifestyle issue. Step back from the small screen & consider that your actions on board the PC have a ripple effect on your smartphone. "NAI Opt out" & "Disconnect software" are useful PC search words.
Where it Went
I rarely hear from a tech guru or even a lawyer who can decipher a EULA, TOS or Privacy agreement they didn't author themselves; yet online, we are steeped in the cumulative concessions we have accepted from them and the affiliates and partners they enable for.
The Biggest Brother?
Google is a data harvester, not a broker. They are the custodians of much of our imprint online across all platforms. check your settings accordingly; within each Google service / app/ platform you use and adjust them to taste. Know, for example, that persistent login to Gmail will append any collocated G-Search activity to your G profile if Web Data | Web History remains on. I read recently that simply joining Plus has a similar but more comprehensive effect by default, by unifying the G tracking across your entire electronic imprint.
Android Permissions
Yes. The most invasive part of Android is its permissions free for all. They are demands, not requests that each app poses. The logic is sometimes one sided and self serving to the developers at our disadvantage. What can we do?
1. Know something about your developer. XDA membership in an app developer helps define their role in a community. Check their website, reviews, accessibility, postings etc.
2. Consider lower permission alternative apps listed in the play store.
3. For each app you review in the Play Store, (have you checked play store settings yet?) assess its longevity in the marketplace to decide if you are willing to be an early adopter.
4. Resist resorting to apps to broker built-in functions your system already has. Learn your OS.
5. Weigh the logic of each permission demanded, based on risk / reward and your intended uses. Example: On my phone Google search leads the field with 59 permissions. App Permisssions by FSecure is in the low end group with zero. How do I know? App Permissions. What can I do? More on that later.
6. Debloat. I have frozen over 60 apps/services/processes using a combination of tools ranging from built in (no root) Application Management to Startup Manager and the App Quarantine app.
7. Don't be lazy about toggling settings as needed. One stock default has the GPS always enabled which may not be necessary for you.
8. Learn about the types of location services in your OS. Check location settings in affected apps and consider toggling location services as needed. Apps will prompt if the needed service is off when you use them.
9. Review your synch settings. Mine are off on the OS. I use a 3rd party mail app and manually back up contacts using Super Backup when needed.
10. Review background data settings. they are visible in Settings / Data usage, by selecting Mobile Data, and scrolling to the list of apps to tap through each and set Restrict background data if appropriate. It saves battery by reducing tower hunting and focuses you on which apps pose the highest demands.
I promised more. Learn about App Ops if you haven't. I have the luxury of running a 4.3 version that supports it so I can use a client app to filter and toggle various permissions on a per app basis. There are other, and perhaps more thorough approaches to this but I'm staying with this one for now.
pc103 said:
Digital Privacy
Well it certainly stresses the last remaining fiber of your privacy. I just watched the latest "60 Minutes Overtime" piece on data brokers framing this as a lifestyle issue. Step back from the small screen & consider that your actions on board the PC have a ripple effect on your smartphone. "NAI Opt out" & "Disconnect software" are useful PC search words.
Where it Went
I rarely hear from a tech guru or even a lawyer who can decipher a EULA, TOS or Privacy agreement they didn't author themselves; yet online, we are steeped in the cumulative concessions we have accepted from them and the affiliates and partners they enable for.
The Biggest Brother?
Google is a data harvester, not a broker. They are the custodians of much of our imprint online across all platforms. check your settings accordingly; within each Google service / app/ platform you use and adjust them to taste. Know, for example, that persistent login to Gmail will append any collocated G-Search activity to your G profile if Web Data | Web History remains on. I read recently that simply joining Plus has a similar but more comprehensive effect by default, by unifying the G tracking across your entire electronic imprint.
Android Permissions
Yes. The most invasive part of Android is its permissions free for all. They are demands, not requests that each app poses. The logic is sometimes one sided and self serving to the developers at our disadvantage. What can we do?
1. Know something about your developer. XDA membership in an app developer helps define their role in a community. Check their website, reviews, accessibility, postings etc.
2. Consider lower permission alternative apps listed in the play store.
3. For each app you review in the Play Store, (have you checked play store settings yet?) assess its longevity in the marketplace to decide if you are willing to be an early adopter.
4. Resist resorting to apps to broker built-in functions your system already has. Learn your OS.
5. Weigh the logic of each permission demanded, based on risk / reward and your intended uses. Example: On my phone Google search leads the field with 59 permissions. App Permisssions by FSecure is in the low end group with zero. How do I know? App Permissions. What can I do? More on that later.
6. Debloat. I have frozen over 60 apps/services/processes using a combination of tools ranging from built in (no root) Application Management to Startup Manager and the App Quarantine app.
7. Don't be lazy about toggling settings as needed. One stock default has the GPS always enabled which may not be necessary for you.
8. Learn about the types of location services in your OS. Check location settings in affected apps and consider toggling location services as needed. Apps will prompt if the needed service is off when you use them.
9. Review your synch settings. Mine are off on the OS. I use a 3rd party mail app and manually back up contacts using Super Backup when needed.
10. Review background data settings. they are visible in Settings / Data usage, by selecting Mobile Data, and scrolling to the list of apps to tap through each and set Restrict background data if appropriate. It saves battery by reducing tower hunting and focuses you on which apps pose the highest demands.
I promised more. Learn about App Ops if you haven't. I have the luxury of running a 4.3 version that supports it so I can use a client app to filter and toggle various permissions on a per app basis. There are other, and perhaps more thorough approaches to this but I'm staying with this one for now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you very much for the comprehensive reply!
Indeed some of the things here are common sense but some were fairly new to me, like the close contact you are suggesting with the developer.
I have to ask though, what reviews are you reffering to? the ones in the app market or the ones on here? Also, from what I have seen in the play market, all of the reviews are about functionality but no one actualy checks the veracity of the code.
Like for instance some song recognition&download software that requires internet access permission (makes sense) and SD card access permission (also makes sense), but besides doing what it does (in a splendid manner, leaving tons of happy customers) it also steals your Whatsapp chat logs (just read an article about that breach 10 mins ago)...
How can people catch on that (otherwise the app will linger for 2 years, giving you the impression you're not an early adopter)?
Hrmph, you have given some very sound advice which I obviously intend to follow through and for that I thank you. However it seems to me like the underlying foundation is still trust in the publisher (not to abuse the permissions you had to enable for functionality sake), and the trust should stem from how well the author presents itself to the community. I suppose it is the nature of the beast, it is just that if I were to sneakily attack someone I would make sure to present myself in th best way possible .
thx.
PS. my version is 4.1 but I'll see what I can do about Appops.
P.P.S I just searched for "Tasks" on google market and all I see is an organizer. Did you mean "Task Killer"?
oy-ster said:
Thank you very much for the comprehensive reply!
Indeed some of the things here are common sense but some were fairly new to me, like the close contact you are suggesting with the developer.
I have to ask though, what reviews are you reffering to? the ones in the app market or the ones on here? Also, from what I have seen in the play market, all of the reviews are about functionality but no one actualy checks the veracity of the code.
Both sources really. There's no hard & fast divide as to what aspect reviewers might respond to at either venue. More often, Play Store reviews have alerted me when my device or my Android version gets poor results from an app. Granted code integrity issues are raised more frequently at XDA.
Like for instance some song recognition&download software that requires internet access permission (makes sense) and SD card access permission (also makes sense), but besides doing what it does (in a splendid manner, leaving tons of happy customers) it also steals your Whatsapp chat logs (just read an article about that breach 10 mins ago)...
How can people catch on that (otherwise the app will linger for 2 years, giving you the impression you're not an early adopter)?
Interesting example. I will look for the article. I wonder if the app declared that permission in their Play Store disclosure. If not, it challenged Google's policing system. I read somewhere that SELinux in newer ROMs, set to "Enforcing" brokers applicable policies from each host domain and also restricts apps from exceeding their declared permissions. (See also my note on 4.3+ below)
Hrmph, you have given some very sound advice which I obviously intend to follow through and for that I thank you. However it seems to me like the underlying foundation is still trust in the publisher (not to abuse the permissions you had to enable for functionality sake), and the trust should stem from how well the author presents itself to the community. I suppose it is the nature of the beast, it is just that if I were to sneakily attack someone I would make sure to present myself in th best way possible .
You're welcome! Placing that trust is ultimately a leap of faith, so we ask ourselves:
Does my configuration already offer this function at the OS or existing app level?
Can I justify each declared permission here?
Is there a less invasive equivalent to this app?
Have I gone over the settings thoroughly once installed?
What does my installed anti-virus say about this?
Do I need this to auto launch or only on demand?
Is it using excessive data or uptime as I monitor?
Am I getting all the Android security I could be with my current rom image?
You get the picture. Common sense, best practices & due diligence can go a long way toward closing the security gap.
PS. my version is 4.1 but I'll see what I can do about Appops.
Google only exposed it (to client apps like App Ops Starter) in 4.3 & 4.4.0, before & after that I believe an Xposed Framework module is the main alternative.
P.P.S I just searched for "Tasks" on google market and all I see is an organizer. Did you mean "Task Killer"?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The "Tasks & Kill All tiles" I referred to appear on Android Tuner Free's One Click advanced mode home screen. BTW certain apps on my phone are "frozen" when not in use.
I forgot to mention. 4.3 I'm running is on the 4.1.2 bootloader, completely avoiding lopsided knox security. I hope I didn't appear to recommend the OTA update. That's a personal choice.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app
pc103 said:
Quote:
Both sources really. There's no hard & fast divide as to what aspect reviewers might respond to at either venue. More often, Play Store reviews have alerted me when my device or my Android version gets poor results from an app. Granted code integrity issues are raised more frequently at XDA.
Interesting example. I will look for the article. I wonder if the app declared that permission in their Play Store disclosure. If not, it challenged Google's policing system. I read somewhere that SELinux in newer ROMs, set to "Enforcing" brokers applicable policies from each host domain and also restricts apps from exceeding their declared permissions. (See also my note on 4.3+ below)
You're welcome! Placing that trust is ultimately a leap of faith, so we ask ourselves:
Does my configuration already offer this function at the OS or existing app level?
Can I justify each declared permission here?
Is there a less invasive equivalent to this app?
Have I gone over the settings thoroughly once installed?
What does my installed anti-virus say about this?
Do I need this to auto launch or only on demand?
Is it using excessive data or uptime as I monitor?
Am I getting all the Android security I could be with my current rom image?
You get the picture. Common sense, best practices & due diligence can go a long way toward closing the security gap.
Google only exposed it (to client apps like App Ops Starter) in 4.3 & 4.4.0, before & after that I believe an Xposed Framework module is the main alternative.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks again!
I just wanted to note that after spending some time here in the forum( http://forum.xda-developers.com/android/apps-games/ ) looking for some intresting picks, I haven't actually encountered much comments from people that actually went over the code... so I'm a bit bummed out. :silly: :laugh:
pc103 said:
The "Tasks & Kill All tiles" I referred to appear on Android Tuner Free's One Click advanced mode home screen. BTW certain apps on my phone are "frozen" when not in use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh. Got it.
Anyway, Thank you!!!
oy-ster said:
Thanks again!
I just wanted to note that after spending some time here in the forum( http://forum.xda-developers.com/android/apps-games/ ) looking for some intresting picks, I haven't actually encountered much comments from people that actually went over the code... so I'm a bit bummed out. :silly: :laugh:
...Anyway, Thank you!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're welcome. To be fair, most times I've seen postings by people who background checked code it was in rom threads, or over root exploits or security apps. In most other cases due diligence is our best defense.

[Q] App Safety?

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).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.

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