Develop Bugs

Antivirus apps

Out of curiosity.. how many of you are using antivirus apps?
I see a bunch out there now that have call blocking...anti theft etc all bundled in.
Any user experience or suggestions?
Sent from my SGH-T989 using XDA App

Internet is a lot cleaner place these days.. I remember back in 98 u could get a virus by just visiting a porn site(oops!)
However with that being said i wouldnt go as far as downloading a anti virus for ur phone as long as ur careful what attachement ur opening as well as what ur downloading.
Sent from my SGH-T989D using XDA App

Vinsane said:
Out of curiosity.. how many of you are using antivirus apps?
I see a bunch out there now that have call blocking...anti theft etc all bundled in.
Any user experience or suggestions?
Sent from my SGH-T989 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Android =/= windows. Antivirus apps are useless. All they can do is scan your apk files to see if you downloaded a bad app.
Sent from my Hercules using XDA App

^ how is that useless? at least you can find and uninstall the bad apk.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk

dv84 said:
^ how is that useless? at least you can find and uninstall the bad apk.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't install some rogue app from an unknown publisher that has three downloads and you will be fine?
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium

i have Avast installed
but it's frozen, so it's not running

I use avast also since it has a scanner for your SD card. I don't know how well it actually works but I haven't had any problems just yet.
I was using something called LBE Guard (I think that's its name). I believe that it lets you decide what each app can and can't access (Like Go Keyboard accessing the internet).

I've also heard they can wreak havoc on some legitimate apps that access system files through su or on app killers, but I've also heard app killers aren't good for the phone so I'm still up in the air.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium

I have avast as well. Great little app from a good company and has a firewall built into it so u can choose which apps have internet access.
That right there for me is pretty cool.
Sent from my HTC Flyer P510e using xda premium

Vinsane said:
Out of curiosity.. how many of you are using antivirus apps?
I see a bunch out there now that have call blocking...anti theft etc all bundled in.
Any user experience or suggestions?
Sent from my SGH-T989 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm using avast as well. Its actually found a few malware apps here and there. So for that purpose alone, i guess it does the trick. To each his own I guess.
I think being vigilant in what apps are accessing is crucial, but sometimes your in a hurry and you just don't care to read something, and that's when something will sneak by you.
I've tried different ones and I like Avast best so far.
The UI Is pretty slick, Once installed everything is fairly detailed and breaks down categorically things that might be worth looking at IE: Privacy
What apps can :
track location
read identity info
access messages
access contacts
access accounts
change secure settings
access web pages
It will give you the number of apps in each category and then its happy hunting from there.
but again best thing just check it out for yourself.

Here is a scenario - ROM manager by clockwork is tagged as suspicious by antivirus app!

Antivirus apps are for idiots. I hear this crap every time some moron mentions android.
If somehow by freak accident you contract a virus, you deserve it. Im not saying theyre non existant, but theyre non existant. Obviously if we have to hack and break a phone manually to access files, a simple apk wont do the trick, hence gingerbreak... And if youre rooted, then hopefully you have enough intellegence or knowledge to keep your phone clean.
Sorry if this offends you, i sincerely dont care.

ftarules said:
Here is a scenario - ROM manager by clockwork is tagged as suspicious by antivirus app!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess it depends what you use. I had a live wallpaper that was causing problems. This at least found it for me. Rom manager has never popped up as problematic. Go figure. Im all for snake oil if im not paying for it. To each his own again. Pass judgement at your discretion. In the end do what ever you want. Your phone. Your experience. Your pseudo piece of mind. Some folks don't give a crap, others are OCD and the rest fall inbetween.
"Stay thirsty my friends."
Sent from my SGH-T989 using XDA App

One thing to remember Antivirus programs are not just ANTI-VIRUS, they are designed to detect any program that has excessive access to the file system and/or memory, or that attempt to modify stock system code, which is one of the reasons ROM Manager gets tagged, it is able to modify your boot partition.
There are malicious apps on the market, and they don't always get caught by Google before they get out, so it does not take a genius or a moron, to get one, it can just happen ....
Antivirus apps are a double edged sword, they can save your ass, or prevent you from doing something you actually want to do , as with most things in life, they should be used in moderation ....
I personally would rather have a AV app that is a little over zealous, than one that ignores a potential threat ...
The biggest annoyance on android right now is Air-push ads , while not malicious they are annoying, even more so when the publisher does not inform you that they are the "ad supporting" part of the app ...
So IF you are app happy, and install tons of apps, an AV app may be a good thing for you ....
Call me paranoid, but I usually don't install an app from a NEW publisher that has not been on the market at least 30 days, I usually check and see what other apps are put out by a publisher as well ... IF you only see ONE or TWO apps by a NEW publisher, then you might think twice, until reviews start flowing in ...

bkaltec said:
Antivirus apps are for idiots. I hear this crap every time some moron mentions android.
If somehow by freak accident you contract a virus, you deserve it. Im not saying theyre non existant, but theyre non existant. Obviously if we have to hack and break a phone manually to access files, a simple apk wont do the trick, hence gingerbreak... And if youre rooted, then hopefully you have enough intellegence or knowledge to keep your phone clean.
Sorry if this offends you, i sincerely dont care.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Funny. Another internet tough guy who has to ruin discussions.
Attitudes like yours are what is driving our forum to the ground.
ム丹し丹メㄚ ち工工 - XDΔ ΔPP

I even dont have anti virus on my laptop lol.
They are useless if you know how to use internet
Sent from my SGH-T989 using XDA App

bikrame said:
I even dont have anti virus on my laptop lol.
They are useless if you know how to use internet
Sent from my SGH-T989 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Xactly
Sent from my SGH-T989 using XDA App

jordanishere said:
Xactly
Sent from my SGH-T989 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i agree also. dont go to the market and dowload crap apk to see "naked pretty ladies" or "poker win billions" some lame ass name stuff. just the names of tthe 30+ "malware" apk's that have been found were dead giveaways. and as far as my computer....no antivirus there either, i surf porn on my tablet as needed and really only use my computer to root phones. and even that can an ordeal with ****ing microsoft products.....i hate my desktop!!!! it doesnt deserve to live or consume electricity
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium

Using Avast. It has many features in one for free. I don't know if it works.
---------- Post added at 01:55 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:54 AM ----------
bikrame said:
I even dont have anti virus on my laptop lol.
They are useless if you know how to use internet
Sent from my SGH-T989 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hopefully you don't use windows.
---------- Post added at 01:56 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:55 AM ----------
ftarules said:
Here is a scenario - ROM manager by clockwork is tagged as suspicious by antivirus app!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It seems like a useless app because of the limited ROMs on it.

Adfree Android not blocking ads within Dolphin HD

I'm not sure if it's a problem with my phone or the apps themselves. Does anyone know what I can do to remedy this problem?
Also sorry if I'm posting this in the wrong forum.
Sent from my MK16a using Tapatalk 2

my experience with adfree is, that this app filters not all ad´s. but a lot of. I think it is important what information is inside the host files which you must download. Maybe it is a good idea that you renew this file every day. Try it.

Jezrick said:
I'm not sure if it's a problem with my phone or the apps themselves. Does anyone know what I can do to remedy this problem?
Also sorry if I'm posting this in the wrong forum.
Sent from my MK16a using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you want Ad-free app to block apps, then you must be download n installing the host files regularly...
Everyday, new adds are posted and Ad-free doesn't recognize that automatically...
So, open the app, select BOOT NORMALLY and select "DOWNLOAD & INSTALL HOSTS"
That shud keep those pestering ads away...

I found when using it that it also blocked web sites from loading like mediafire... Think because it its ad heavy.so you may find it causes other issues.
Sent from my LT15i using XDA App

Actually I do update it everyday. It filters everything else except for Dolphin HD.
Sent from my MK16a using Tapatalk 2

You might also want to consider AdAway from one of the Dev here on XDA. Available off the market Great host file collection. I usually update once a week.

fluxgfx said:
You might also want to consider AdAway from one of the Dev here on XDA. Available off the market Great host file collection. I usually update once a week.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I love this app, totally recommend it!
iR¡[email protected]!* via Tapatalk 2

I've been using it for quite a while as well. Best one I've seen to far and even speedup some of my apps as they don't have to load ads from other sources. LOVE IT.

I've switched to Adaway. This is much better! I have one complaint, but it's a minute one. The ads are gone but the banners where they were are still there. Instead of an ad it just shows a message saying something about "not able to load." does anyone know how to get rid of that? It's not a huge issue but it'd be nice if it was gone.
Sent from my MK16a using Tapatalk 2

Jezrick said:
I've switched to Adaway. This is much better! I have one complaint, but it's a minute one. The ads are gone but the banners where they were are still there. Instead of an ad it just shows a message saying something about "not able to load." does anyone know how to get rid of that? It's not a huge issue but it'd be nice if it was gone.
Sent from my MK16a using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That depends entirely on the app.
If there's a placeholder for banners, nothing can remove it, but the developer himself.
iR¡[email protected]!* via Tapatalk 2

In Dolphin HD?? Damn I was hoping it'd be similar to Adblock Plus for GC and FF for the computer.
Sent from my MK16a using Tapatalk 2

maybe u can try lucky patcher
or LBE privacy guard available in market

Two frozen Google apps return

Two Google apps -- Play Books and Play Movies & TV -- keeping returning from the land of the frozen. I go back into TB Pro and refreeze, and within a couple of days at most they are back. All the other Google apps I've frozen remain so. Is there something else on the list I also need to freeze?

When I disable them in app manager they come back after a reboot as well. I think its tied to the play store or something that keeps activating them.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app

rizzo269 said:
When I disable them in app manager they come back after a reboot as well. I think its tied to the play store or something that keeps activating them.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I checked on Play and on app manager for auto update option and don't see one. Odd that only these two are persistent despite freezing. I have the feeling there's another item on TB that needs freezing as well to fix this.

I got sick of this and since I do not want nor need them, I just deleted them

TheChefSLC said:
I got sick of this and since I do not want nor need them, I just deleted them
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah, the more brutal approach. If that worked, and you have no regrets or issues as a result, that seems my only course of action as well.

Why you bother to freeze them or delete? It's part of former Google Market. Do.'t see benefit from deleting it. Can you share your thoughts?
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S III using XDA Premium

EugeneR said:
Why you bother to freeze them or delete? It's part of former Google Market. Do.'t see benefit from deleting it. Can you share your thoughts?
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S III using XDA Premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Basically, I have four pages of icons under apps, and many of them are for services I have no interest in and will never use. I'm not trying to save space...I think there's 11 GB free, but I find the clutter off-putting.
Not sure I understand the part about Google Market. Play is just the same thing renamed, isn't it? Plus new look and feel.
Anyway, just de-cluttering the UI.

Yup it comes back now.. Use menu - > hide applications or you can stick them all in one folder and hide just that folder
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium

waiters said:
Yup it comes back now.. Use menu - > hide applications or you can stick them all in one folder and hide just that folder
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good grief...how did I not know about this. Hiding did the trick.

Disabling/freezing Google Partner Setup prevents Books and Movies from getting re-enabled.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2

pseudoware said:
Disabling/freezing Google Partner Setup prevents Books and Movies from getting re-enabled.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah ah...valuable information. Thanks much for this.

Warning: Samsung now has all your data

So, today I was playing with the photo editor by mplabs which is ONLY available on the Samsung Market via the Samsung Apps app and decided to do some due diligence and check out what perms it had. I was disgusted. It had EVERYTHING!!! I then checked every single samsung based app and the same was true of the "S" apps and the Samsung Apps app as well. This is ridiculous. There's absolutely no reason it should have the ability to read my texts, contacts, personal info, etc... If you value your own, as well as your contacts, privacy, you'd be well advised to freeze or uninstall all their offending apps.

You should check out kies permissions.

If you'd like to limit the S app's permissions, try LBE Privacy Guard in the market. You should be able to block whatever permissions you'd like with LBE... it may "break" the program but you can always re-allow the program's access to a particular permission. May require a little trail and error...

ehupp01 said:
You should check out kies permissions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know why an app designed to interface with the entire system data would need permissions to access the entire system data.
Post hoc ergo propter hoc. You shouldn't be surprised.
As to the op. Meh.
Sent from my SPH-L900 using Tapatalk HD

There is nothing particularly interesting in my life anyway so I don't care
Nevertheless, I am MUCH less concerned about Samsung accessing my data than some app developer working from a Russian hack factory.

mitchellvii said:
There is nothing particularly interesting in my life anyway so I don't care
Nevertheless, I am MUCH less concerned about Samsung accessing my data than some app developer working from a Russian hack factory.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This. And the post above yours. I care much less about Samsung having my data and trying to get us to buy more products using it than some l33t h4x0r. Or the government TBH.
Sent from my SPH-L900 using xda premium

Skripka said:
I don't know why an app designed to interface with the entire system data would need permissions to access the entire system data.
Post hoc ergo propter hoc. You shouldn't be surprised.
As to the op. Meh.
Sent from my SPH-L900 using Tapatalk HD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
YOU MEAN THE THINGS IN MY PHONE THAT I USE TO INTERACT WITH MY PHONE CAN ACCESS MY PHONE? Sigh.
Samsung OWNS YOU. Get over it.
It is one thing to get upset over a small private app seeing your stuff. It's a whole other thing when you buy a product that controls your whole life and then are surprised they have access to it.

mitchellvii said:
There is nothing particularly interesting in my life anyway so I don't care
Nevertheless, I am MUCH less concerned about Samsung accessing my data than some app developer working from a Russian hack factory.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what you got against russians? it those dern chinamen you gotta keep an eye on. :laugh:

Somali pirates. Word.
Sent from my SPH-L900 using xda app-developers app

madsquabbles said:
what you got against russians? it those dern chinamen you gotta keep an eye on. :laugh:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its the Chinese Russian Alien Baby Hybrids that make me nervous.
Sent from my SPH-L900 using Tapatalk 2

mitchellvii said:
Its the Chinese Russian Alien Baby Hybrids that make me nervous.
Sent from my SPH-L900 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To quote that really awful show... The truth is out there.
Sent from my SPH-L900 using Tapatalk HD

This is funny.. Like Google doesn't own you already
Sent from my Galaxy Note 2!

Zomg! They're coming for your pr0nz hey theres a pic floating around somewhere that says facebook (fb) + instagram (i) = fbi its pretty common knowledge the Internet has become nothing more than a giant data mining and marketing tool its become more of an interactive commerical with all the ads everywhere, the ads help the site stay free, sites collect data to sell to advertisers to up the profit, see more ads, collect more data. :screwy:
Sent from my SPH-L900 using Xparent ICS Tapatalk 2

I totally agree with the OP. Why the hell does a photo editing app wants to have access to our phone calls and sms? That is at the core of privacy. But they weren't forcing me to use their app so I uninstalled it. So far my favorite alternatives are a combination sketchbook mobile and pixlr express. I'm loving the s-pen feature with palm rejection that sketchbook mobile has.

SC23 said:
I totally agree with the OP. Why the hell does a photo editing app wants to have access to our phone calls and sms? That is at the core of privacy. But they weren't forcing me to use their app so I uninstalled it. So far my favorite alternatives are a combination sketchbook mobile and pixlr express. I'm loving the s-pen feature with palm rejection that sketchbook mobile has.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Most of the permissions for contacts and sms are required to send a picture message(attach the image) and to choose contact photos from the editing app. The app needs to communicate with both sms and contacts to do just those functions and they need to be able to read and edit in both.
Sent from my SPH-L900 using Xparent ICS Tapatalk 2

Sketchbook mobile and pixlr expression can do just that without mining our personal data.

-EViL-KoNCEPTz- said:
Zomg! They're coming for your pr0nz hey theres a pic floating around somewhere that says facebook (fb) + instagram (i) = fbi its pretty common knowledge the Internet has become nothing more than a giant data mining and marketing tool its become more of an interactive commerical with all the ads everywhere, the ads help the site stay free, sites collect data to sell to advertisers to up the profit, see more ads, collect more data. :screwy:
Sent from my SPH-L900 using Xparent ICS Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What sucks is that unless you remember to turn off all data before boot, you can't even connect to your von before many services get your IP.

Did you notice the phone app can make phone calls and read your contacts?
-- "Sensorly or it didn't happen!"

Wait, so you gave Samsung access to your data and now you're upset that they were using it? Maybe, you should think about not giving you your data in the first place. It's as simple is not setting up Samsung accounts, and stripping all the crap that they put on the phone after you got it. Plus, your phone will run faster and will be easier to navigate.

-EViL-KoNCEPTz- said:
Zomg! They're coming for your pr0nz hey theres a pic floating around somewhere that says facebook (fb) + instagram (i) = fbi its pretty common knowledge the Internet has become nothing more than a giant data mining and marketing tool its become more of an interactive commerical with all the ads everywhere, the ads help the site stay free, sites collect data to sell to advertisers to up the profit, see more ads, collect more data. :screwy:
Sent from my SPH-L900 using Xparent ICS Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why I use scroogle and adbock

Facebook Home coming to Note II

http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/04/facebook-home-to-hit-select-phones-on-april-12th/
I hope we are not forced to use this on our phones.

Facebook? Spacebook? Oooo that's that app I deleted from my phone and url I wiped from my brain.
Sent from my little Note2

Yeah, saw that also. Good for us!

It will be interesting to see what its like
Sent from my SPH-L900 using xda app-developers app

Great! More bloatware to remove from the next firmware update.
Sent from my SPH-L900 using Tapatalk 2

You guys know it's just an app right? It will not be forced.

So..
A Facebook Launcher?
Seems annoying lol.
Sent from my SPH-L900 using xda premium

jreuschl said:
I hope we are not forced to use this on our phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
haha
this looks simply awful
sadly, many family members i know will love this.

I hope it's something that doesn't try and take over your phone's basic functionality. If it's just an App that doesn't do anything until you run it then that's fine with me.

CBR-1000RR said:
I hope it's something that doesn't try and take over your phone's basic functionality. If it's just an App that doesn't do anything until you run it then that's fine with me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It probably does run in the background on boot, unles you AutoStart it off.
On the stock-based ROMs, there's a background service called "SNS" (IIRC) that has the Facebook logo as its icon. This app probably uses that service. SNS can be safely frozen.

Skripka said:
It probably does run in the background on boot, unles you AutoStart it off.
On the stock-based ROMs, there's a background service called "SNS" (IIRC) that has the Facebook logo as its icon. This app probably uses that service. SNS can be safely frozen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks Skripka, that's good to know. I just got my Note 2 and am relatively new to Android in general. When you say frozen, does that mean disabled?

CBR-1000RR said:
Thanks Skripka, that's good to know. I just got my Note 2 and am relatively new to Android in general. When you say frozen, does that mean disabled?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
IIRC, SNS cannot be disabled via Manage Apps....It must be "frozen" (disabled) via a root tool like Titanium Backup.
*I don't for for sure what services this new Faceplant app uses...I'm just guessing. Not on the Faceplant, and not going to join just to find out.

It looks stupid. Why would I want facebook all over my phone? Not really interested in what bob ate, or where janes shopping, or what sally saw on the side of the road yesterday.....

shiftr182 said:
It looks stupid. Why would I want facebook all over my phone? Not really interested in what bob ate, or where janes shopping, or what sally saw on the side of the road yesterday.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My thoughts exactly lol
I hate how they keep cramming FB and Twitter down our throats. If I wanted to let my friend know that I just took a dump, I'd call him on the phone like normal people.

I am glad to see an even greater number and diversity of apps coming to android, and specifically the Note2. That said, Facebook Home will never have an opportunity to afflict my Note2.

Would be promising if it weren't made by Facebook. The app alone is lucky to still be installed.
Sent from my NOTEworthy smartphone

Why is everybody attacking this? It's an optional app, no more intrusive than any other app on the market. Download it if you want to give it ago, uninstall it if you don't like it.

Anyone find it in the market yet? The facebook app had an update but when I go to settings and enable facebook home it takes me to Google play and says item not found.
Sent from my SPH-L900 using xda premium

musclehead84 said:
Anyone find it in the market yet? The facebook app had an update but when I go to settings and enable facebook home it takes me to Google play and says item not found.
Sent from my SPH-L900 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.facebook.home

It's in the market but when I try to install it says "not supported in your region". Nek Minnit try the APK that woks on my GSIII, go to install on my Note II "unsupported device" aaarrggghh.
Anyone else get it to run on their N7105?