Questions tagged [privacy]
For questions related to enforcing you privacy on Android devices
312
questions
0
votes
0answers
15 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
29 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 ...
-1
votes
0answers
21 views
What could cause a “Violation of Usage of Android Advertising ID policy”? [on hold]
I received a notification from Google Play telling me that my app has been removed because of some violation regarding the collection of Advertising IDs.
My app, however, only fetches some publicly ...
0
votes
0answers
18 views
Microsoft Intune and Outlook without Google account
I wish to buy a cheap Android device only for reading company mails and calendar. Our company requires that you enroll to Microsoft Intune (even found an official *.apk). For Outlook APK I found lots ...
0
votes
0answers
34 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
174 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
38 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
276 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
32 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
76 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
12 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
58 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
7 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
49 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
61 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
668 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
18 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
95 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
27 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
27 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
36 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
115 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
123 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
235 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
260 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
451 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
81 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
270 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
166 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 ...
3
votes
1answer
381 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
67 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
26 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
342 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
172 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
359 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 ...
6
votes
1answer
1k 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 ...
9
votes
1answer
3k 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
500 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
350 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
1k 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 ...
3
votes
0answers
57 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
268 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
170 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 ...
1
vote
0answers
564 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
862 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
577 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
75 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
431 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
61 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 ...
