Questions tagged [privacy]
For questions related to enforcing you privacy on Android devices
327
questions
1
vote
0answers
33 views
What are the privacy downsides to using Google's Gboard keyboard for Android?
For several reasons, I do what I can to avoid using Google products. But I do currently use the Android OS (at least for now).
One thing I like about Android is being able to use any keyboard app ...
2
votes
0answers
31 views
Do Magisk modules pose a privacy risk? How to overcome?
Further to this excellent answer here by Irfan Latif How Magisk works? and considering that Magisk modules need not be open sourced (Are all Magisk Modules Open Source?), the question is
Do they pose ...
0
votes
0answers
67 views
How can I disable the official YouTube app's incognito mode?
Preface: A warning for parents
If you want to protect your kids, disabling Incognito mode is usually not enough. If your kids are under age 13, it's wise to use a good filter to block the YouTube app ...
0
votes
0answers
25 views
Do android developers get my email address or other info?
If an app only as permissions in the OTHER category can they get access to my email address/name?
When you install an app from google play what information does google provide to the developer? Does ...
0
votes
1answer
34 views
Are there ways wherein an app would think it's operating on a different phone?
That means the device ID, and IMEI and every information the app would be able to gather would be what I've pre-set.
It would, for all intents and purposes, be as if it's installed on a different ...
0
votes
0answers
26 views
How to switch user profile based on password, lockscreen pattern, or pin?
Is there a way in todays' Android (9 and 10) devices to switch to different users based on the input password?
Example:
I input pin 1234 and UserB is unlocked/signed in on my phone. If I enter 4321 ...
0
votes
0answers
38 views
Does Android store information about previous SIM cards?
Does Android store any info about previous SIM cards that have been inserted into the phone?
Can the current mobile operator access this info?
Can the current mobile operator get my GPS location ...
0
votes
1answer
38 views
Is it possible to disable the clipboard history on Android?
I find it very annoying that Android stores all old clipboard entries and requires me to manually delete it every time. This has caused me major flops and a lot of grief.
How can I opt out of this "...
0
votes
0answers
30 views
Android Contacts: Keep two lists of contacts one of which is not detectable by messengers [duplicate]
Is there a way to keep my Android (6.0.1) phone contacts in two lists so that messengers such as Telegram and WhatsApp will not automatically detect some of my phone contacts and auto-add me to their ...
0
votes
0answers
22 views
Is it possible to perform an offline malware scan of device image created using a root prompt?
I have created an image of my entire device and all of its partitions (mmcblk0.img). I would like to perform an "offline" scan of my device on my computer.
Is there any known projects or ways of ...
2
votes
1answer
82 views
Access chats from old deactivated phone number
My sim card with my old number has been deactivated. A new user uses my old number. Does the user have access to my old chats if he or she chooses Yes to back up old chats or storage?
0
votes
0answers
84 views
Are Android App Permissions Placebos (Android Pie)?
I'm looking at every app that has 'Microphone' permissions on my Android Pie Galaxy Note phone, accessed through:
Settings > Apps > Hamburger Menu > App Permissions > Microphone
Five ...
0
votes
0answers
43 views
Delete personal data from phone that can't sign in to Google
We have an old Galaxy that grandchildren use for play. No SIM card, but on wifi. The Google account previously used is obsolete, so we can't sign in. But without signing in, the "play store" won't ...
0
votes
2answers
179 views
Uninstall MirrorGo Keyboard
I installed the MirrorGo (Stream & Recorder) app from the playstore to try but uninstalled it over privacy concerns in my android 10. Everything looks fine but recently I discovered it still left ...
0
votes
1answer
86 views
Can a device be tracked if bluetooth is enabled but visibility disabled?
Is it possible to track a Bluetooth signal of Bluetooth enabled Android phone with disabled visiblity?
I have heard of professional tracking devices, which are able to track/locate Bluetooth devices, ...
0
votes
1answer
46 views
Hiding the content of the message while the phone is unlocked!
How can I hide the message content in this "drop down menu -- I don't know what's its name". It is hidden when the phone is locked I want to hide it when the phone is unlocked as well.
0
votes
0answers
27 views
How does an app (e.g. Whatsapp) automatically detect when the phone receives a 2FA SMS verification code without being granted SMS read permissions? [duplicate]
When installing some apps (for example Whatsapp) the user is required to receive a verification code on the phone via SMS.
I have noticed that some apps automatically verify this code as soon as the ...
1
vote
1answer
1k views
How to share VPN connection with devices on hotspot?
I use a VPN on my Galaxy S8+ and I am looking for a way to be able to share my ExpressVPN connection via hotspot to be able to connect devices such as Xbox One and a Smart TV. Currently cannot use a ...
0
votes
0answers
103 views
How can i use orbot(tor) with adblocker same time without root?
I want to get more internet privacy on my android phone.
Im using tor to protect my traffic from MITM attacks by ISP,Goverment...
But Orbot have no adblocking feature.
Advertisers are tracking our ...
1
vote
1answer
809 views
Sync DuckDuckGo bookmarks between devices?
Is it possible?
I wonder if the reason I haven't found anything is it defeats the main purpose of DDG, being a privacy browser?
0
votes
1answer
75 views
How to prevent most syncing with Google in Android 7.0 Nougat on Samsung devices?
In Android 7.0 Nougat on Samsung devices, you can go to Settings -> Clouds and accounts -> Accounts -> Google to see a list of all the Google sync options.
Currently,
Sync Calendar says "Tap to sync ...
2
votes
1answer
685 views
How to make a complete factory reset, without anyone being able to retrieve my data?
I will have a few Android phones that I will have to let go.
I would like to make a proper clean wipe of the data, without no one being able to retrieve them, and do a factory reset.
I have read ...
0
votes
0answers
33 views
Phone no. display on Android pie?
I am having Asus zenfone max pro M1, now updated to android pie recently. Previousely the phone came with default Oreo OS.
After checking the features of new OS , i have found out that the OS has ...
0
votes
1answer
358 views
What is Firebase App Indexing Under Google Services Settings
Where do all these data go?
Is this a privacy issue?
Here it is. It's very intrusive !
0
votes
0answers
17 views
Removing Snapchat Friend Suggestions
Snapchat a while ago started creating friend suggestions that pull from the friends list of other friends. Is there a way to remove my friends from people suggested to others? Or in any way limit or ...
0
votes
0answers
61 views
In Android 7.0 Nougat, which permission gives an app your phone number?
In Android 7.0 Nougat, which permission gives an app your phone number?
When I say "which permission", I mean when installing apps, the Google Play store will inform the user of certain permissions. ...
0
votes
0answers
11 views
Huwei Y6 Prime File safe not found!
I had some pictures and videos in my safe file.My phone is Huwei Y6 Prime.Today I wanted to enter it.But it showed file not found.Create a new one.I created a new one.But still I am unable to watch my ...
0
votes
1answer
84 views
How to allow an app to take screenshots automatically?
How can I allow an app to automatically take screenshot?
I'm not talking about apps disabling screenshots on them, I can take screenshot of the thing manually, but I'd like to automate it. I use the ...
0
votes
1answer
93 views
Whatsapp workaround?
What I have:
- I don't want to install Whatsapp on my phone because I don't want it to access my personal data.
- There's an organisation that requires me to use Whatsapp to communicate with them.
- ...
6
votes
0answers
2k views
Can apps bypass permissions and just use Google Play Services?
I was reading this answer, and the first comment under it, and wondered if apps can bypass their own app permissions and just get whatever data they want from Google Play Services.
What got me ...
0
votes
1answer
23 views
Does Android keep deleted photos and images from the phone?
I heard from a friend that android phones can trace deleted photos and images and videos back even after deleting. Is that true?
If so, how can it keep things there unseen until a technician finds ...
0
votes
1answer
105 views
How to disable camera → Google Photos sync on Android 9?
Similar to this, but Google has somehow wormed their way around my settings:
Photos → Settings → Backup & sync is off.
Photos → Device folders → Camera → Back up (sic) & sync is off.
Camera → ...
0
votes
0answers
41 views
Can I use DNS-over-TLS below Android Pie?
Unfortunately DoT isn't part of Android below version 9. Is there a workaround app or should I better install LineageOS 16 on my old smartphone device?
1
vote
1answer
36 views
Keeping passwords/credentials out of the cloud
Under what circumstances will a current Android sync or otherwise send passwords off the device? The credentials in question are for:
WiFI
Non-Gmail email accounts accessed through the stock Gmail ...
0
votes
0answers
45 views
SD card not encrypted
I have an android device lg v30 and recently I purchased an sdcard for it. Naturally, I enabled encryption on the sd card (full encryption). Encryption completed successfully. I used the card for ...
0
votes
0answers
80 views
How to change default Location Accuracy in Andriod 8.0.0 (Samsung J7 V)?
I usually keep Location services off, but occasionally I turn it on. I am only interested in GPS location, not wifi or cell network. I use it either for driving navigation or logging hikes, so wifi/...
2
votes
1answer
217 views
Why network activity is detected from apps after VPN firewall blocks them?
A few non-rooted (no rooted) Android 7 and 8 phones from (Huawei, ZTE, Neffos and Samsung) were tested in this simple firewall (NetGuard) experiment. A selection of apps (including apps from the phone ...
0
votes
0answers
168 views
Use multiple Google accounts, but allow only one to locate my phone in device manager
My question is basically identical to this question from 2016 (I would have commented on it but I don't have sufficient reputation):
How to use multiple google accounts, but allow only one to locate ...
5
votes
0answers
339 views
What are the privacy implications of apps that use Android System WebView?
From what I've researched, Android System WebView supports cookies and HTML5 local storage.
When do those cookies and local storage items get cleared?
For example, Samsung Messenger (Samsung's ...
-2
votes
2answers
558 views
How can I make my phone require a password to open Google Play Store?
I want my phone to require a password to enter the Google Play app, so if I let someone else, such as a friend, use my phone they can't go into the app and snoop around.
I have a Samsung Galaxy S9 ...
0
votes
2answers
819 views
Can I prevent Google from collecting data by using a custom ROM?
Choosing a smartphone based on the operating system on a smartphone comes down to two options: Android or iPhone.
Both collect personal data, track activities and track location.
But with Android ...
0
votes
1answer
114 views
Google Calendar Privacy Issues
Does Google have access to the data stored in my Google Calendar?
As Google Calendar seems to be the best option for Android users and is widely used, I was wondering if Google actually uses your ...
1
vote
1answer
516 views
Automatically change wifi and bluetooth MAC address
I recently learned that it's quite easy to track people with their wifi MAC address and Bluetooth address in stores, etc. I was wondering if there are any drawbacks of changing these addresses ...
0
votes
0answers
36 views
Are non-Google emails stored only locally when using the Gmail app? [duplicate]
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
268 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 ...
4
votes
1answer
618 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: ...
1
vote
0answers
83 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
29 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 ...
6
votes
2answers
419 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
175 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 ...
