For questions related to enforcing you privacy on Android devices
0
votes
0answers
28 views
Are non-Google emails stored only locally when using the Gmail app?
The Gmail app allows to add non-Google email provides (via POP and IMAP).
Is it mentioned somewhere that the emails pulled from these providers stay on the device and are not stored/shared with ...
2
votes
0answers
17 views
Hide the PIN entry on stock lock screen
Is it possible to hide the visual feedback on the PIN entry on the Android stock lock screen?
The feedback makes it pretty easy for anybody standing near to watch the PIN:
I know that it is possible ...
2
votes
0answers
88 views
How to disable hidden trackers, in google play store applications
So most applications, on google play have hidden trackers, analytics they don't tell you about. This site lets you search any app shows trackers. The article explains what i'm talking about.
Example: ...
0
votes
0answers
18 views
Local and private app usage tracking
I know there are many app usage questions out there but I'm wondering if there exist any applications that track app usage locally, without sending information to the app's creator/company.
I only ...
1
vote
0answers
25 views
Create a private folder in Android: set the SELinux attribute of a folder in external storage
There are quite a few apps that require read and write access to the external storage, which gives them access to the whole /sdcard directory. But since that is also the only storage the user ...
0
votes
0answers
20 views
What does the read contact permission really mean in Android 5.x?
I've been playing around with the XPosed module ProtectMyPrivaccy, and I noticed that Offline Maps requires "read contacts" permission when doing a POI (Point Of Interest) search.
I can see how ...
0
votes
0answers
39 views
Android: How can I make android respect the privacy
Google literally knows everything about me. In fact, it may know about me than I know about myself and that is really a nightmare. So I moved on to DuckDuckGo as my primary search engine and ...
5
votes
2answers
139 views
Does an adblocker defeat the tracking part of the ad module, or just the display of ads?
Related, but different than, these two questions, I'd like to know if the usual ad blockers on Android do anything to prevent user tracking from ad modules. Those questions are several years old by ...
1
vote
1answer
142 views
If I have a phone contact and I sync my contacts to my google account then will the contact see my email address in his contacts?
If he has a google account too and I sync my contacts to my google account with his phone number then will google notice that we are in phone contact and therefore show my email contact to him in his ...
0
votes
1answer
46 views
Can app with Storage permission access all data?
When I give Storage Permission to an app, is it true that it is able to access all data on the internal and external media, for instance the Downloads folder? Or does it only get access to store and ...
2
votes
1answer
185 views
WhatsApp: How to isolate contacts and photos - Privacy concerns
Whatsapp is ubiquitous and is commonly used despite the long scary list of permissions it seeks ( see Help understanding Whatsapp's permissions )
Privacy and security conscious people would like ...
4
votes
1answer
121 views
How does an app reads an OTP SMS without SMS permission?
I have recently installed an Android app from the Play Store.
While registering in it, I realized that it was able to read my message of OTP without even asking for my permission to read the message.
...
3
votes
1answer
375 views
Can an app update from Play Store reinstate its permissions I've disabled earlier?
There are quite a few apps out there that request too many permissions during install time, most of them seem highly dubious. I tend to disable permissions I feel unlikely to be used and for the most ...
0
votes
1answer
71 views
Prevent google backup of contacts?
I have Google backup turned off permanently, however my contacts are still backed-up somewhere to Google cloud. I discovered that yesterday from another device that offered me to recover my contacts ...
1
vote
0answers
191 views
How to greatly improve privacy against Google apps such as Play Services?
This is really a long and tiresome journey. So I hope you become my companion!
Device info changed with build.prop and XPrivacy/Lua. Magisk/Xposed in Systemless mode.
I am on my way to achieve ...
0
votes
0answers
50 views
How to hide all contact numbers and allow dialing only using contact name?
I intend to buy a new android phone and give it to our security guard so he can make calls to everyone in the company from the office gate. I do not want him to have access to the actual phone numbers ...
0
votes
0answers
39 views
Can I log out of Google completely on my Andoid 'phone?
This page says
While you can't log out of your main Google account and continue to
use your Android, you can remove additional Google accounts ...
I am unhappy with Google's invasion of my ...
2
votes
0answers
49 views
Which user data are apps able to collect by default?
On Android, I used to prefer the mobile website of services instead of their app because of possible privacy concerns. Now I'm wondering if this is actually unnecessary.
So my question is: Which ...
1
vote
1answer
172 views
Disable “unlock with voice” notifications Xperia XA1
tl:dr - despite repeatedly choosing the "no thanks" option, my phone keeps displaying notifications to setup voice unlock. I Say "no" - as far as I know it is not enabled - but an hour later it asks ...
0
votes
1answer
149 views
Create several Gmail accounts anonymously using only one Android tablet without letting Google know that they are created from the same single tablet?
I would like to anonymously create several Gmail accounts using only one Android tablet (but not phone) without letting Google know that the accounts are created from the same single tablet. I do not ...
0
votes
0answers
159 views
Lineage OS — Phone still spying on me?
I switched from Android to Lineage OS, and I installed the most basic Gapps package possible, called 'pico', to get the bare minimum requirement for the Google Play store. I then manually disabled ...
0
votes
0answers
26 views
My J5 flashed automatically for the the second time!
I have a Galaxy J5 2016 (SM-J510F). Rooted and updated to Android 7.1.1 about one year ago.
Weeks ago while I was in bed and reading some news on Telegram app suddenly the front LED flashed. In a ...
0
votes
0answers
44 views
Android Gmail tracks links pressed - stop it
Google uses URLs that start with something like "http://www.google.com/...", which redirect you to what you expected after they report what you're interested in, on many of its services. Between ...
0
votes
0answers
487 views
How can I setup a local SOCKS5 proxy that doesn't require Android VPN service?
I need a local SOCKS5 proxy server that doesn't use the Android VPN service. Why? Because I want to chain it with the no-root firewall NetGuard. NetGuard already uses the Android VPN service. ...
0
votes
1answer
135 views
Can't change MAC address on Rooted Android Nextbook Ares 8
I rooted my Nextbook Ares 8" tablet, model NXA8QC116, so I could change the MAC address and host name, as I hate personal data mining and user behavior monitoring.
Device specifics: Model NXA8QC116S, ...
0
votes
1answer
63 views
Privacy of WhatsApp messages
My husband has taken over my Android since he's the account holder. I'm wondering can he get any call or text information from my WhatsApp off of the T-Mobile printout of my phone activity?
5
votes
2answers
289 views
How to Audit Android Apps (for screenshot activity)
How do I audit my android's apps to determine which apps are taking screenshots of my activity?
I recently installed & ran diskdigger to undelete an image I had accidentally deleted, but the ...
0
votes
1answer
51 views
Why do so many apps use location permissions on a near-constant basis?
I have an Android 5.1 device with App Permission Manager on, in order to stop apps from using permissions they don't need. Recently, I have noticed that many apps are trying to obtain my location when ...
2
votes
0answers
71 views
What kind of information can an Android app from the Play Store with zero permissions enabled gather about me and my phone?
Find an app in the Google Play store
Click on Install
App is installed without any permissions granted, except for the default settings (SDK >= 23)
Run the app without giving any extra runtime ...
1
vote
1answer
85 views
Prevent other users to get Whatsapp notification
Is there is any way to prevent other users to get notification when I joined Whatsapp?
Apparently, I don't want others to announce I'm using it as I'm trying to join it for only selective friends and ...
0
votes
0answers
33 views
Using android without a google account [duplicate]
I want to use a smartphone but I don't want to create a google account. I don't want to share any information either and I don't want to be trackable (more than what can be done by phone company ...
0
votes
1answer
98 views
What information is available to an application?
What information about the phone is available to an app without extra permissions?
E.g., if the app asks for permission to see my contacts, and I agree, it will see all my contacts (obviously).
...
0
votes
0answers
43 views
Android app advertising other website through Push Notifications
I am just curious if it is permitted by Android for a app to send Push Notifications about some third party website just in order to advertise it which is completely irrelevant to me? Can apps ...
1
vote
1answer
1k views
Is it possible to disable gmail sync completely, without logging out?
Is it possible to completely disable all Gmail synchronization, without actually logging out of the account?
The use case is a phone for a senior who does not read email on the phone. For senior ...
0
votes
0answers
78 views
Is there a fully secure way to do speech-to-text?
Is there a secure way to do speech-to-text that ideally uses end-to-end encryption and guarantees my privacy on an android phone? A solution that requires root access is acceptable, as is a solution ...
0
votes
0answers
75 views
Data and Privacy leak from screen replacement
I had my screen crack today (bummer).
It seems my phone is working properly though besides the touch and display.
Tomorrow i will get it for replacement.
Is there possible that data may leak to an ...
0
votes
1answer
245 views
How to secure install untrusted app
I need to use of Google Play Store app for my project. This app is prepared by unknown to me Chinese GPS devices' manufacturer and I want to use it to communicate with device.
App is published on ...
1
vote
0answers
85 views
App exits on its own if certain permissions are denied. Any way to prevent?
Some jerk apps, if certain permissions are denied to them, exits on its own. This forced the user to grant permission to use, which contradicts with appops' intention.
Is there a way to prevent such ...
1
vote
2answers
1k views
does airplane mode stop phone from pinging towers?
with recent riot's in Iran, there is saying that even with the phone in airplane-mode, it's pinging nearby towers, giving away location data and information such as that.
this is a really big security ...
1
vote
0answers
432 views
Unknown apps - My Consumer Cellular and Prip
I've purchased MotoG4 Plus (Unlocked) around Summer 2016 at Amazon(India). I've been using the phone since then and have been extremely cautious about the apps I use on my phone.
Whilst playing ...
3
votes
1answer
3k views
Captive Portal parameters
There are several captive portal parameters one could apply to an Android device via settings put global – the most famous probably being
settings put global captive_portal_detection_enabled 0
to ...
2
votes
1answer
203 views
Prevent apps from getting list of installed apps on phone
How I can prevent apps from knowing which apps I've installed?
Is there something in premissions in settings or hack or trick with root access apps?
0
votes
0answers
67 views
Introspecting/monitoring apps to see whether they steal user data
It appears that a number of apps on the market place require a number of 'permissions' such as permission to access the files/photos, text messages, contacts, browser history, etc of the phone, ...
1
vote
1answer
365 views
Can Hike messenger steal our whatsapp data
As per new update of Hike messenger, giving reward upto ₹10000 for making your friend join Hike. To do this Hike asks accessbility permission. And when you refer a friend or a group, all messeges ...
1
vote
2answers
124 views
Turn off search history on Chrome?
If I search for for example "lemon" in the address bar in Chrome on Android, days later if I start typing "L" it will show "lemon" in bold text as a suggestion.
I have already gone to the Activity ...
0
votes
1answer
40 views
Someone is sending FB messages that appear to come from my android! HOW?
We recently had a house guest who asked to use my phone. She is sending Facebook messages drom her Android phone that appear to be coming from me! This is causing serious problems! I want to catch her....
0
votes
2answers
58 views
To list apps reading/writing contacts?
I would like to get the better overview of applications reading and writing my phonebook i.e. contacts.
TrueCaller incidence shows that I do not have sufficient understanding and full control of the ...
1
vote
0answers
170 views
Why no native support for phone call blocker by Regex +44.* in Oreo?
There are many privacy problems in phone call blockers such as TrueCaller leaking your phonebook (thread Does TrueCalller App leak your phonebook?) in Android phonebook blockers.
I really think the ...
7
votes
3answers
753 views
Does TrueCalller App leak your phonebook?
Sometimes, I cannot find new contacts that I add to Truecaller phonebook, but sometimes, I think if it shares/leaks my contacts to public.
It shows other people contact details that I never added ...
2
votes
1answer
86 views
How private are separate Android users?
My new job uses Workplace by Facebook, and Workplace Chat is their preferred messaging platform.
However, Facebook's apps asks for about every possible permission (see below), which is why I don't use ...
