For more generic questions relating security issues. For specific issues having their own tags, please use those -- e.g. 'malware', 'antivirus', 'privacy', 'lost-phone'. Please see the full tag wiki for more. For more in-depth Android security issues, you might rather want to visit our sister-site ...
1
vote
1answer
19 views
How to make packages from f-droid to be treated as from a “known source” (if I have root)?
I usually get packages from http://f-droid.org/ repository through their package browser (because then I have a guarantee that I use free (= libre) software); and they are signed with their key.
I ...
1
vote
1answer
22 views
Razr Maxx HD, How to wipe data with broken screen
My screen is totally destroyed, it's black and unresponsive. The phone turns on just fine, though. I just got my new phone and I have to send this one back now. I want to wipe the phone before I send ...
1
vote
2answers
43 views
How to make Gmail in Android ask for user name and password as in laptop? [duplicate]
In my Samsung Galaxy Grand whenever I select the Gmail icon, it automatically takes me into the inbox, it doesn't ask me to give credentials like we do in laptop/desktop.
So the problem is when ...
1
vote
0answers
30 views
How to set a security question?
Reading this answer, I found that we can set a security question to unlock the device after 5 unsuccessful unlock attempts (clicking Next). So to set a security question, I we to Settings -> Security ...
1
vote
1answer
52 views
forgot my google account password
someone used my phone GT-S5300 and had wrongly tried the unlock pattern many times and now it is asking me for google account but i have forgotten my password. pliz suggest me how can i get my ...
3
votes
1answer
44 views
Dev/Log's - login attempts and how to read the log?
My first post on here and hopefully a easy fun answer.
I'm looking for the location for failed login attempts on the device - I've looked on the device and it seems the logs are located in ...
-1
votes
0answers
28 views
How to minimize the risk of giving away too much permission? [duplicate]
I was frustrated when I found a dictionary app needs "READ PHONE STATUS AND IDENTITY" and "FULL NETWORK ACCESS" permissions.
Google is not helpful as Android shows an "all-or-nothing" dialog and does ...
1
vote
1answer
94 views
How can I erase whole phone securely? [duplicate]
How can I erase my phone completely and securely before selling it for someone else? I have read that secure deletion procedures used on regular hard disks are ineffective on flash drives connected ...
-1
votes
0answers
48 views
lock installed apps
I'm using HTC Desire X. I've installed plenty of games in it. But whenever my friends take my mobile they all just play those games.
Now I want to lock games with some pin or password.
Can anyone ...
1
vote
1answer
53 views
Disable camera capture button?
I have one app in which i am using barcode scanner, so i can't completely disable the camera. but i don't want camera to capture photos. I want camera in read only mode.
Basically i want to ...
9
votes
3answers
239 views
Prevent entering PIN code before lockscreen
I have a Samsung Galaxy Mini. I'd like to know if it is possible to prevent the user from entering the PIN code before unlocking the normal pattern, since it recently happened to me that someone got ...
1
vote
1answer
86 views
connect to specific wifi only
I want my device to be connected to a certain wifi network only. Lets assume WiFi named "xyz": so my device should connect to this particular "xyz" network only. It Should not connect to any other ...
4
votes
0answers
58 views
Recent Apps shows app contents even though when its locked
I am trying to figure out how to hide an app from being seen when you hit the recent apps button.
I use ZDBox's app lock to hide my apps and files when needed but noticed that when I hit the recent ...
0
votes
1answer
39 views
New files in Download directory
I see the following two files in the Download directory: Flash_Player.apk and securedownload.bin. I am sure for 100% (well, for 99%) that I didn't download them intentionally. What are these files, ...
0
votes
0answers
39 views
auto logoff from all apps on android
i want a functionality where i can log off from all the apps on android ie: auto logoff from skype , facebook , yahoo.
Is a some app already available for this or some easy way to implement this. I ...
2
votes
1answer
52 views
Double Security for Gmail
My phone has a pattern lock and I want friends to be able to unlock it with the pattern, however, I do not want them to have access to my gmail. Is there a way that I can force gmail to ask for the ...
2
votes
0answers
27 views
Modify 30 second incorrect PIN delay
How can I modify/disable the 30 second delay after trying the incorrect PIN 5 times?
Device is a nexus 7 rooted running SmoothRom 4.4
2
votes
1answer
888 views
Galaxy Note 2: Disable MTP/PTP
When I connect my HTC Sensation (firmware: CM 10) to some PC I need to enter a passcode (to unlock the phone) and explicitly allow mounting as usb drive.
But when I connect SGN2 it enables MTP or PTP ...
8
votes
2answers
146 views
Formatting Android storage “zero out” technique
I have an Android mobile (Galaxy S3), and am really worried that my corporate information will be retrieved after a reset. I've seen shared video showing it is possible to recover data after hard ...
1
vote
1answer
94 views
How to prevent google aggressively associating my account to my searches?
i understand they can access my searches when i'm logged in, and of course know the search terms i use, but how can i prevent them to logging searches to my account when:
i'm not logged in
and in ...
1
vote
0answers
108 views
Browser webview.db doesn't store hotmail password, but I can still auto log-in hotmail. Why?
On my rooted Galaxy Nexus 4.1.1, stock browser doesn't store any password for hotmail, but whenever I open hotmail, it log-in automatically.
I checked data/data/com.android.browser/webview.db, the ...
1
vote
1answer
66 views
How can I protect my photos from Apps?
Camera saves them on SD, so everything can just upload them wherever it wants.
I heard of apps that claim to protect photos within them but the only thing they did is making them hidden from the user ...
0
votes
0answers
44 views
How to change save path of apps?
I would like to store files of some apps (Camera, Email, Facebook, ...) to an EncFS volume created with Cryptonite (my phone is rooted).
Is there a way to redirect file access to the volume or change ...
0
votes
0answers
19 views
Manifest exported flag for activites and services? Is it relevant to security?
So, I was going through google documentation.
Activities and services, in the description of the exported attribute, mention this:
The default value depends on whether the service contains intent
...
1
vote
3answers
152 views
Why each android application runs on a different Dalvik VM process?
I have read that each android applications runs on a different Dalvik VM process (all forked from zygote).
I also read that these VMs are really lightweight and use copy on write buffers and all ...
0
votes
2answers
54 views
Is my data secure?
My Android phone was recently stolen, so will the thief have access to all my pictures in the thumbnail folder? I have hidden the pictures in an app called Vaulty so will they still be visible in ...
0
votes
0answers
44 views
How to unlock toshiba thrive tablet [duplicate]
Is there any way to unlock my thrive tablet? I have used a few unlock codes, and now I cannot get into the tablet. All it shows is the clock device user name, and it wants a password. I've tried every ...
0
votes
0answers
72 views
Have notification about missed calls on status bar but dont want to see caller id on lock screen
I have an HTC Sensation, running Android 4.
I want to have notifications on the status bar when I have missed calls, but I don't want to have caller ID on lock screen. I don't want anyone to see the ...
1
vote
1answer
346 views
ActiveSync/Exchange security policy
On my HTC DNA I recently changed from the integrated ActiveSync client to Touchdown. My corporate IT policy required a PIN to access the device when using the Android client. Now that I switched to ...
0
votes
2answers
654 views
How to disable pin security from Samsing Tab 2
I have a Samsung tab2, and have added screen pin lock on my Tab few days back as I was going out. Now I don't want to use pin lock as security, but I am not able to disable it. I am going to
setting ...
3
votes
1answer
542 views
What is this Google Settings app that installed itself on my phone?
Today, all of a sudden I saw this app in my Samsung Galaxy Y mobile phone:
I am talking about the app named "Google Settings"
I uninstalled it immediately only to find it installed again a few ...
0
votes
1answer
276 views
Wipe data on wrong password inputs
I've found several obsolete answers, but this question about situation nowadays:
what's the most robust solution to have the device (android v4.2-based) protected?
Turn on device encryption (there ...
0
votes
0answers
17 views
Can anyone tell me how to access the kernel on Android and change the default (root) password? [duplicate]
I'd like to make my experience with Android (galaxy ace) safer and for that reason....I'd like to change the root password on my Android device. I understand that there is an application that can open ...
0
votes
1answer
189 views
SGS3 I-9300 Android 4.2 - why can't I disable these system apps?
nb. I can disable them using 3rd party root apps without any discernible negative effects.
Are these networking protocols default? They seem to be harmless but everything I read about sit0 seems ...
3
votes
2answers
205 views
How to mod android rom so none can ever install an app in it?
I already know how to modify an android ROM by modifying files, remove and add it into ROM. But I don't have knowledge to building/compiling a ROM.
I want to lock the OS so none can ever install new ...
0
votes
0answers
225 views
What permissions can Backes SRT AppGuard not override?
1.) Backes SRT AppGuard can supposedly disable/override many permissions an app might have... but what can/does it NOT override?
I seem to remember reading on the website that SRT AppGuard might not ...
1
vote
1answer
115 views
how to root your Android or at least understand how it works
I do not know exactly how rooting works or if it can even by done on my Android (Samsung GT-N8013) device. No rootkit appears to exist yet for Android 4.1.2, so I am left with figuring out how to ...
0
votes
0answers
57 views
How to make an Android tablet into a single-application kiosk? [duplicate]
I'm looking at making a time clock style punch in / punch out application, but I'd like to set up the Android tablet to run my app immediately after boot, re-run the app if it crashes, and not allow ...
0
votes
0answers
248 views
Possible security issues with having debug mode enabled?
Are there any significant security concerns with having a phone with debug mode enabled 24/7? As I understand it the debug mode only really becomes active once the phone is connected via USB cable to ...
0
votes
1answer
189 views
Unlocked bootloader, encryption
galaxy nexus
unlocked bootloader
no adb enabled
rooted
device encryption on with 10+ characters (Cryptfs Password - Google play)
PIN screen lock with 6 characters
Am I safe if someone wants to ...
0
votes
0answers
46 views
How to use phone's Wifi tethering to demonstrate security vulnerabilities on phones [closed]
I am teaching a course to highschool students about computers, and I wanted to do something different for tomorrow class.
I was thinking to teach them about wifi security vulnerabilities through a ...
1
vote
1answer
79 views
Delete Status bar Icon downloaded from web
I joined way2sms to send free sms from my laptop. Now i find an app icon downloaded to my status bar in my Samsung Galaxy Y mobile. Also, i get debited for calls not made. I am loosing money in this ...
1
vote
0answers
44 views
Does anyone know this icon? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How can I deduce an app from a notification icon?
I get strange messages (see link, chinese). It's not related to any mail account I synchronize, nor a SMS message. It ...
10
votes
1answer
491 views
What do the permissions that applications require mean?
When installing an application, the application lists permissions that it needs to perform its functions.
I am creating this list of the the system defined permissions and a description of what ...
0
votes
1answer
129 views
In which version of Android was encryption of /data made available?
These docs suggest that it has been available (only) since Android 3.0 Honeycomb. By contrast, conversation on discussion boards suggests it was available in 2.3.4 Gingerbread.
So, what is the answer ...
0
votes
0answers
174 views
Does ICS for the LG Prada 3.0 (i.e. LG-P940) have device-level encryption?
I understand that Stock Android ICS has device-level encryption, but I can't see any way to tell if my LG-P940 has this feature. Anyone know? I can't see an option to enable it.
3
votes
1answer
113 views
Can Java be exploited through Android app ads?
It turns out that Java has a security flaw that is currently being exploited to put malware on people's computers. Is there any risk that advertisements in Android apps will have embedded, malicious ...
5
votes
1answer
547 views
How secure is a sim lock?
I have sim lock enabled on my sim, so basically, if I put my sim in another phone or if I restart my phone, I need to enter the sim lock pin.
How easy is it to crack the sim lock if a theif got hold ...
3
votes
2answers
689 views
How do I disable GMail?
Yes, this has been asked before, but neither really addresses my concern, and I don't have reputation enough to add comments to existing questions.
I've bought the cheapest Android 4 tablet with ...
0
votes
2answers
529 views
How to protect my Google account credentials on my Android phone?
Currently I use Gmail on my desktop with 2-step verification (by SMS) enabled and I consider it secure. Now I'm buying an Android phone and I'd like to check Gmail on it sometimes, but I don't want to ...
