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Questions tagged [privacy]

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24 views

How can I access a website without it being able to identify me as a previous visitor? [closed]

Phone is rooted Basically I want to be able to access a website without it being able to determine any of the things it dermined about me (my device, ip address etc) when I accessed it last, no matter ...
10
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3answers
3k views

How can I make an Android app “forget” that it installed on my phone before?

Some apps, like Facebook, LinkedIn, Tinder, etc., seem to have a mechanism to remember which Android phone installed their app. So if a user is banned on these apps, the next time somebody creates an ...
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0answers
26 views

How to clear the Android file chooser history?

When using many different Android apps, a native file chooser is displayed to allow the user to select a file to process. For example, in the well-regarded Privacy Browser web browser, visiting the ...
0
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1answer
22 views

How to start the kiwi browser always incognito mode?

I want to start the kiwi browser always in incognito mode. How can i do it ? I know there is a option to click on incognito mode, But I want it to start with incognito mode.
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0answers
18 views

Lock computer USB connection with anther password

I'm looking for a way to lock computer USB connection with second password, not with the regular lock screen password but with a different password. Thus, people who already know the password of my ...
3
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1answer
82 views

Is there a way to give permissions temporarily?

Is there a way to take away permissions when i leave an app? i dont have root and also no intention to root. is it possible to do this with adb or something??
0
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1answer
43 views

“Screen Recording” in LG Android [duplicate]

I have an LG V40, and in both Android 9 and 10, it seems that the "Screen Recording" app is always running, and not possible to keep it Stopped. Greenify shows it as running in "...
0
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2answers
96 views

Is there an alternative to Bouncer- Temporary app permissions?

I'm really paranoid about my privacy idk why. Recently I installed Whatsapp Aero which is super cool but unfortunately its developer is expert in making spyware apps too. I found this Bouncer app ...
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0answers
14 views

Unify SMS and signal-messages on both a phone and a desktop

Signal Android app has a unified interface that groups SMS and signal-protocol messages in a user convenient way. On the other hand, Signal desktop app handles signal-protocol messages only (messages ...
0
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0answers
36 views

How to monitor SMS being sent by apps?

I just found from my mobile bill that SMS is being sent out to some 4 digit number (permium number) from my mobile. I could not find the message in my SMS app - "Messages". I checked with ...
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0answers
19 views

Does “Block connections without VPN” prevents Google from knowing my IPv6 address?

I need to use multiple Android user profiles* sharing the same physical device, without Google (or any other party) knowing that the device is shared--essentially to make Google think that the ...
0
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1answer
44 views

Is Google aware of multiple user profiles sharing the same Android device?

If I create two user profiles* on my Google Pixel device, is Google (potentially) aware that both of them share the same device--as per privacy policy and/or actual implementation? If so, is there any ...
0
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1answer
24 views

Pixel phone privacy. How to exempt data sharing with google

Does anybody knows if a pixel phone is able to profile, based on the user's data although a VPN is always active on the phone. I am also not using any Google apps. I am wondering if the profiling is ...
2
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0answers
39 views

Turn Android device into a wireless or USB webcam with background removal

There exist several applications such as DroidCam that can turn one's Android device into a wireless or USB webcam. Do any of these applications have a background removal feature (= only shows the ...
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0answers
25 views

Android security issues

I've discovered unusual activity on my samsung galaxy s6(Android 7.0) Random pages would open. Random apps would open. The encode your device option was missing in the settings menu. Ich wiped and ...
0
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1answer
47 views

How can I configure Android so that all Internet traffic goes through a VPN and is blocked if the VPN isn't activated, without rooting Android?

How can I configure Android so that all Internet traffic goes through a VPN and is blocked if the VPN isn't activated, without rooting Android?
2
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0answers
77 views

How to instantly wipe an Android phone in case of arrest?

A Belarusian friend asked me this, but I can't find anything on my own. Protesters in Belarus are beaten once arrested until they give up the pin code to the phone. So, if he could give a pin code ...
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0answers
23 views

Is there an Android TV box where you are not forced to create a Google account?

Is there an Android TV box where you are not forced to create a Google account? I don't have a Google Account and don't wish to create one. But I wish to test Android TV, install Kodi.
1
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1answer
71 views

Android Outlook over IMAP is logging in from Microsoft servers

Using Microsoft Outlook app for Android I could not add an Outlook-IMAP account on some Android tablet for some customer. However, it was no problem to add the same IMAP account to the GMail App, or ...
1
vote
0answers
15 views

How to access OneNote android app content on PC by connecting to PC?

Is it possible to use OneNote completely offline and transfer/read it's content on PC manually by connecting mobile device to PC? I don't want to use sync, I want it to be used completely offline and ...
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1answer
73 views

a sketchy person has my phone for half an hour. what should i look for? [closed]

so i met this guy who had like 10 red flags... like I had a stalker once who didn't creep me out as much as he did. we just met and then were chillig and he asked me to turn on a song, which I also ...
1
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0answers
200 views

Hotspot mobile network tethering and DNS

I and probably others know, if turning on the mobile hotspot and enable wifi-tethering, we are able to use our android phone to get internet access via a notebook (and other devices of course) ...
1
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2answers
117 views

How can I see which applications is reading the clipboard?

Upon reading TikTok says it will stop accessing clipboard content on iOS devices, I wonder: How can I see which applications is reading the clipboard?
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0answers
48 views

Purpose of MTK Logger

All phones with Mediatek processors have this pre-installed logging application and the data it collects is massive,right up to the plugging/out of the phone from the charger. What is this service ...
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0answers
29 views

Can I install replicant on a Galaxy A10e without bricking it?

I'm trying to UnGoogle my phone for privacy/security reasons, and from one source I heard that if you want to use a smartphone, you're better off getting a Pinephone running GrapheneOS / LineageOS. ...
2
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1answer
348 views

Android 10: Get new random MAC for same SSID without factory reset

Here https://source.android.com/devices/tech/connect/wifi-mac-randomization is the MAC Randomization described and stated Note: Randomized MAC addresses are generated per SSID and are persistent. I ...
0
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1answer
49 views

How an Android app can restrict all my accounts on my phone?

I'm using multiple accounts for an android app in my phone. today the app blocked all my accounts because it's not allowed to have more than one . I've had android 10 on my phone . the question is: ...
2
votes
1answer
313 views

How to remove file from “Recent Files” on android 10?

In the Files app of stock Android 10 (Pixel 2 XL), there is a "Recent" category. For privacy reasons, I wanted to delete a file in this category. As far as I have searched for this file by filename, ...
0
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0answers
26 views

Does my Smartphone Listen to me for Ads?

I was talking to a friend about a tour to a location, the next day I'm getting ads about that travel plans. I asked a friend something about the best way to root an android device... the next day when ...
0
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1answer
64 views

What can an app like WhatsApp acess on my phone

The app WhatsApp would like to have permission to access my device's photos, media and files. If I grant permission, exactly what can (could) the application access? Can it access all of the photos ...
5
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3answers
534 views

Info on and removal of COVID contact tracing in Google Play Services

Has anybody had a closer look into this module what it really does? I want to know if the functionality will work if bluetooth is turned off. I guess a surefire method to test this would be to remove ...
1
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1answer
109 views

How to stop microphone or app on screen lock?

Discord talk channel stays broadcasting indefinitely in background even if the screen is locked. Note that I write "background" from the user's point of view. The app has a persistent notification so ...
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0answers
43 views

Are there any downsides to encrypting an Android device?

Besides requiring a lock screen, are there any downsides to encrypting an Android device (using the native encryption)? For example: is there a performance decrease? is there a temperature increase? ...
3
votes
1answer
54 views

Huawei without Google Play: will I be forced to create a Huawei account?

I wish to buy a Huawei P30 Lite phone. It's a phone without the Google services and play. Can I use this phone without a Huawei account? Only use F-Droid apps?
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0answers
10 views

What can malware on Android 10 actually do? [duplicate]

I was hoping to get an idea of how well modern versions of Android protect your phone using sandboxing. If you install an app and don't grant it any permissions what types of common malware activities ...
2
votes
1answer
107 views

Can I use an Android One device without a Google account? Isn't there a compulsion?

I wish to buy an Android One device and install only apps from F-Droid. I don't own a Google account and don't wish to register. I don't wish to install LinageOS or other alternative firmware. Is it ...
1
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0answers
789 views

How could I prevent some smartphone's IMEI and/or ICCID leakage through getprop output?

By chance, I found some Android smartphone would leak IMEI through getprop, you could test in Termux like this: # Tested on a Mi 5s Plus (Natrium) $ getprop | grep imei [persist.radio.imei]: [...
1
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0answers
2k views

What are .xlog files and what can they be used for?

Im cleaning the storage on my S10+ and I noticed in the WeChat folder (Tencent) there are a bunch of .xlog files totalling nearly 3gb of space. I know the controversies of using WeChat but I rarely ...
0
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0answers
119 views

Run applications Isolated, avoid embedded trackers

So i'm going to be using microg trying to avoid the million trackers hidden in applications on the play store and mainly use applications from Fdroid as they don't for the most part. I actually had a ...
1
vote
0answers
59 views

Private one-way automatic photo upload solution?

I'm looking for something to automatically upload/sync photos from my phone to my PC or server. Anybody knows of something that could fit my use case? ​ My requirements: upload only files older ...
0
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0answers
275 views

NetGuard vs DNS66 for Privacy

I have downloaded both of these apps from F-Droid but I am unsure which is the right for me, and what exactly both do differently from one another? I have heard lot's of great things about both of ...
3
votes
0answers
442 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
111 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
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0answers
880 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
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0answers
32 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
72 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
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0answers
127 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
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0answers
72 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
103 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
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0answers
126 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 ...

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