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 ...
0
votes
0answers
6 views
Pattern lock issue and asking for backup credential
I am using pattern lock on my Samsung Tab 2 unfortunately it got locked because of several attempt. Yes, its asking for my backup credentials but when i am using that it is showing as wrong backup ...
1
vote
1answer
23 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 ...
9
votes
3answers
2k views
How would you uninstall a rogue Home (Launcher) application?
If you were to install a Home Screen application that does not give you access to the System Settings screen (to go to Manage Applications), and also does not let you launch Apps (such as the Market ...
9
votes
3answers
242 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 ...
34
votes
8answers
4k views
Is there a way to block access to or wipe my Google data for a lost/stolen phone
If my phone was ever lost or stolen, my only real concern is data and apps associated with my Google account, such as my Gmail, the ability to purchase apps from the Market, and maybe Picasa albums.
...
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 ...
6
votes
1answer
78 views
Secure keyboard application from android market
Is it safe to install a keyboard application from android market that asks full internet access permission? Will it not lead to certain security risks?
There are several free and paid keyboards that ...
5
votes
2answers
1k views
Restricting Web Access to a single domain on Android tablets?
Our sales team came to me earlier with a question about Android OS. I've never used Android, but I do know it is a Linux-based OS.
Frankly, I don't have the time to research for myself the ...
1
vote
2answers
44 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
899 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 ...
1
vote
0answers
31 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
347 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 ...
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 ...
2
votes
1answer
3k views
“Account unlock” when not connected to internet?
I have a Samsung Galaxy Y mobile phone. I see this screen when I press "Forgot Password" in the pattern lock screen that comes by default with the phone:
My Question is: How would my account be ...
3
votes
1answer
46 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 ...
21
votes
13answers
2k views
Are there any tools to sandbox a malware application even more than the granted permissions on Android?
Suppose I want to run some program which requests too many permissions. For example, record from the microphone or read IMEI of my phone. However, there are no practical explanation why recording from ...
5
votes
1answer
2k views
I changed my sim card - how do I find which app is sending sms messages to my old number?
I recently traveled to another country and I'm using a local prepaid sim card on my Galaxy S2.
My prepaid credit was depleted rather quickly, and when I checked the phone record I found out my phone ...
-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 ...
5
votes
2answers
4k views
Certificate Install without mandatory PIN lockscreen
Google Support says:
The type of lock that's acceptable may be predetermined by your system
administrator.
Where I can define what's acceptable? I can regenerate the certificate if needed.
So ...
-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
95 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 ...
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 ...
1
vote
1answer
95 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 ...
4
votes
1answer
455 views
Data Vault apps with Unlock Pattern
I'm currently using the Wallet app to keep my bank acct#s, CC#s etc. safely on my phone. However, entering the password when I need to unlock the codes is kind of an annoyance. Specially when you ...
1
vote
2answers
58 views
My device is trying to open mSecure app whenever I launch an internet browser
Whenever I launch an internet browser on my droid phone it attempts to launch another app (in my case mSecure).
This happens with dolphin and my stock browser so I don't think it's an mSecure ...
17
votes
4answers
665 views
I have sold my phone on eBay. What should I do before I send it off?
I have an Android phone which I just sold on eBay. What measures should I take before posting it off to its new home? Please answer thoroughly!
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 ...
10
votes
2answers
2k views
How can I make my phone/tablet ring remotely without a SIM card?
I appear to have lost my Streak somewhere in my apartment, and I can't call it since I don't have a SIM card in it. I've remotely installed Plan B just because, but unfortunately the GPS coordinates ...
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 ...
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 ...
8
votes
2answers
147 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 ...
7
votes
5answers
6k views
How do I avoid the server-specified security policies for my work e-mail?
When I signed into my e-mail for work (we're on Microsoft Exchange) there were a number of server-specified security policies (See below) How do I avoid these?:
I just received a Nexus 7 and signed ...
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 ...
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 ...
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
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 ...
4
votes
2answers
84 views
Why my phone does not need to update the password?
I changed my gmail password a day ago, but my phone does not require me to put in the new one. I can still access my gmail with the old password. Why?
Phone is rooted, sim unlocked , running android ...
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 ...
2
votes
1answer
342 views
How to prevent data extraction from rooted phone via adb?
I've a question regarding security in a rooted device.
Being superuser means that you can access the /data/data directory, and that's a lot of personal data (I think it is almost all the data there ...
8
votes
1answer
2k views
How do I protect my phone from malicious apps once it is rooted?
I rooted my phone.
Now if I use a Terminal Emulator such as Android Terminal Emulator, I noticed that I can can easily obtain root access without a password:
$ id
uid=10059(app_59) gid=10059(app_59) ...
4
votes
1answer
3k views
How can I disable root on a modded device?
Is it possible to disable root access to applications on an Android device again after installing modded firmware?
I would like to try Cyanogen or one of the other custom ROMs, but I'm wondering ...
6
votes
1answer
226 views
Can Applications With Root Access Modify Their Own Permissions?
For rooted phones, there are several apps which require root privileges. Knowing this, the user does allow the app to get root. Now, the app would have been installed with a set of x permissions, say ...
3
votes
2answers
1k views
Are rooted Android phone more vulnerable to Malware Apps than non-rooted ones?
From my understanding, a rooted Android phone mean that the user will be accessing everything on the phone, just like a root user. So, installing a Apps mean that the Apps will also have root ...
0
votes
1answer
51 views
Does Google Audit all apps that enter the market place? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Are the apps safe? How can I make my Android more secure?
There are several 'requires root' apps in the market and one of the most famous ones have more than 5 Million ...
1
vote
1answer
180 views
Is the setting OFF/ON of the security flag different from enabling/disabling of fastboot?
I am following the book XDA Developers Android Hackers Toolkit 2012.
In the beginning chapters , it says that :
The second-stage bootloader checks to see if the security flag is on (S-ON) or off ...
7
votes
3answers
283 views
How can I prevent android apps from reformatting my SD card?
I have a 32GB micro SD card, and some of the apps I use state that they have permsisions to modify sd card memory. I have a lot of personal files on my card, and the other day, some app, I don't know ...
1
vote
2answers
777 views
Is my Exchange email encrypted on my device?
If I setup an email synchronization with our Exchange server, is the mail I store on my phone encrypted or readible if someone finds/steals my phone?
I have enabled the unlock password (although it's ...
