Questions tagged [security]
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 at http://security.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/android
1,260
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Can we get single time access to in-display fingerprint photos in android?
I am trying to access the fingerprint photo access from the in-display fingerprint sensor for a specific use case. Is it possible to do so?
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Allow access to tablet data security dialog box
I have been given the task to get some android tablets (SM-T500) working in kiosk mode (soti mobicontrol). The issue is when they are in kiosk mode it blocks the USB switcher menu and the allow access ...
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contents of data partition in android
does anyone know what all content is stored in /data or userdata partition in android-10.
I see a lot of directories in /data like app-staging, misc, system, vendor.
what information is stored in ...
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Enable Remote unlock from the Settings via ADB (no root)
I am trying to enable the Setting "Remote unlock" from Samsung (in Settings -> Biometrics and security -> Find My Mobile -> Remote unlock) by using the adb.
I could enable other ...
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On which Android versions was it usual for apps to ask, inside own window, for password of app of other legal entity?
When i tried to open my Whatsapp chats from web browser on laptop, and wanted to scan a QR code from Whatsapp on my smartphone, Whatsapp asked for password, indide the same Whatsapp window. As i have ...
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What data is still left after factory reset?
I have an unlocked Xiaomi Poco X3 (surya) and I got banned in Jodel. The app doesn't have many permissions, but somehow the App recognize me even after a factory reset.
On every new instance I only ...
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2
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505
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Encrypted device doesn't ask for credential on boot anymore on Android 11
I use Android 11 (LineageOS) and recently noticed, that my phone stopped asking me for a decryption password when booting up, so I tried verifying that my data is still actually encrypted. Settings ...
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Does the Log4j vulnerability affect Android users?
The new vulnerability CVE-2021-44228 (also known as Log4Shell) is wreaking havoc, but very little of the discussion is voiced about the average android user.
Is the average Android OS user at risk? I ...
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Switch password by day on Android?
I like to put overly complicated passwords on my phone (currently it has 16 numbers). Is there a way to make the password switch by day? Like every Monday it would be "1234" and Tuesday &...
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Questions Before I Sell My Phone (Too Late To Encrypt Drive?)?
I'm pretty strapped for cash and I need to sell my phone (Motorola Moto G7, Android 10). However, there are some... sensitive... photos of myself on it that I'm not suuuper comfortable with the next ...
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How to verify if device is reporting fake technical specs like Android version, RAM, or storage memory?
I've been asked if I can check some faulty behavior of a device, a cheap Chinese android smartphone.
I'm not really an android expert, usually I install a few apps to help me figure out few things ...
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What are the limits/powers of android device policy?
I work in a university and when we want to login in our university email id, we go to gmail
So we can also use our official email for creating account on android,but when i try to create account using ...
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Why do apps paste from my clipboard as soon I open them (without manually pasting anything)?
I have a Google Pixel 5a running the latest version of Android 12 (I updated a couple of days after I bought it, so I didn't use Android 11 much if at all). I noticed that a lot of apps trigger the &...
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Application Isolation and access control
I want to prevent an app from knowing whether certain files or directories exist on a device. For instance, if the application have some code like:
if (/system/lib/libJohnDoe.so){
print("yes&...
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Malware propgating through usb debugging
Summary:
Computer probably had malware. Didn't know. Connected phone to use as midi. Could have turned on usb debugging or usb tethering to see if that helped without knowing what it does as I was an ...
user362700
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Is it possible to update the security patch level of Android 7.1.2 to 2019-10-01?
I need help in understanding Android security patch level. I am running Android 7.1.2 in an IMX.7 board. That is the maximum version supported by my h/w.
From the NVD vulnerability database, running ...
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Reset factory and recovery in android
I want to reset my phone. After resetting, can photos be recovered with recovery software? If not, what can I do to prevent deleted photos from being recovered?
My phone: redmi note 9pro
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Launch app in chroot environment
I want to setup a chroot environment on my android x86 installation in which I can perhaps run or install various apks.
Is there any way to launch an application in a custom chroot environment?
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Are these apps with package name and random numbers malware?
Did a factory reset on my phone late last month and noticed a strange app/process in data usage the last few days titled "com.sec.mimage.uid.retouching:10076", low filesize but enough to ...
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93
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LG Secure Start-Up On Boot
I encounter this once. My phone was dead batt and I didn't do anything or remember anything that I deleted something in the settings before this happened. All I know is that I slept and my phone's ...
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Can any virus be removed easily on non-rooted phones?
I know that all android devices are hackable whether they are rooted or not. I have general idea of protecting an android phone (or staying safe with android device) from any viruses. What I want to ...
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Is there a workaround (rooting, etc) for Android pre-installed spyware?
Is there a workaround (rooting, etc) for Android pre-installed spyware?
(as seen in)
https://www.tomsguide.com/news/xiaomi-huawei-lithuania-warning
https://research.checkpoint.com/2019/vulnerability-...
Mark Besser
2
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257
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Best way to lock down Android tablet?
We're deploying a number of Android tablets into the field next year. Ideally, we'd like them locked down somewhat so that the users can only access certain apps and settings. Configuring a restricted ...
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How to Secure a Android Device that has been Rooted and have Unlocked Bootloader
I'm Talking about securing my data against everyone.(Thieves, Police, Friends etc etc)
I'm pretty sure my device have encryption enabled on internal storage,(how can I check that?)
also I have a 6 ...
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36
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Can neither clear cache nor data of apps
For the past week or so I have had this peculiar problem where I cannot clear the cache or the data of any app because the Settings show that no storage space is occupied by them.
Is this due to a ...
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0
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79
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Values of successive wait durations for unsuccessful Android pattern tries
On my smartphone running Android 9, the pattern lock seems to work the following way:
The user is allowed 5 attempts to draw a pattern.
If all patterns in (1) above are incorrect, the user has to ...
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304
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Steps to investigate what is happening to system files
So, I recently got a notification that space was running out on my 128GB phone. Looking at the segmentation then, the system files was taking about 45 GB data while my other stuff was taking around ...
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93
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How to get a complete list of actual app permissions for a given app (android)
Is there a way in the UI (eg without having to download/extract the .adb and open the app's AndroidManifest.xml file) to view the complete list of permissions that are requested by a given app?
Note I'...
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What kind of smartphone should I be buying if my one and only use is going to be "BankID"? [closed]
In Sweden, there's a bunch of very confusing "e-id" things, but it basically boils down to this: you need something called "Mobile BankID".
In theory, there are other solutions, ...
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Conditions for triggering "pin required for additional security“
As in title, what are the conditions? (fingerprint isn't enough to unlock the device, one needs to enter PIN. I am not talking about the requirement after a re-boot)
I can't seem to discern a pattern, ...
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Is it possible to buy a used Samsung phone with fake/hacked Android ROM that looks like the official one and may spy on you?
I have a used Samsung phone. I wonder if it is possible to have a malicious ROM uploaded that looks like the official one that may allow the hacker to spy on the user. Can I make sure that I have the ...
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"Unable to get VPN permissions, you may need to reboot device and try again"
On my Play Store-included Chinese Android phone (Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC), I recently encountered an issue where I had to re-accept permissions for all of my apps. My VPN app failed, and I began getting ...
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Backup app's fingerprint data and restore
I have one app on my device locked with fingerprints. I want to back up this app, delete it, and restore it again without a need to log in again. So it should work again with fingerprint without any ...
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How to execute Android verified boot during first boot after updating OS in Android
I need to execute AVB (Android verified boot) during first boot after updating Android OS. BOARD_AVB_ENABLE = true is already present in the mk file device/hikey/common/BoardConfigCommon.mk in the ...
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Check for the existence of files without root privileges
How do apps check for the existence of files and folders on /data and /system partitions without having root privileges?
I know some games and apps do this for anticheat and security reasons.
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Why does encryption doesn't work/apply to access device storage or Google photos or drive when we upload a file from device/cloud to any webpage/apps
Example : YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Chrome ( any app )
If I'm accessing YouTube or any other app where I can upload content from Android device with or without the app lock features, whenever I ...
user358351
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533
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Auto IMEI randomization in Android (like WiFi MAC randomization)
How do I set the IMEI number to automatically randomly change every time I connect to a cellular network?
Android 9 introduced a feature that was a huge boon to the privacy of Android users: WiFi MAC ...
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Notification showing on my android without a specific App
I have a Xiaomi Note 9s phone updated with the latest security patched running
MIUI Global 12.0.4.0(RJWMIXM)
Android version: RKQ1.200826.002
Android Security Update: 2021-07-01
I am getting a ...
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0
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Is date safe in encrypted phone without passcode
If my phone does not have a passcode, but is encrypted by default, and I factory reset it, is my data safe? Or is there a way someone can decrypt it since it had no passcode
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Phone Stolen- I removed my google account from the device, any way to still remote wipe?
I should have tried to erase the phone before removing the account from the phone, but was too hasty. I've changed all my passwords, but can the thief still see all my old emails and messages?
Is ...
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Checking if my second hand Android phone is safe: am I right?
First of all, I know that this question has been asked before, but I'd like to hear if the way I'm checking my "new" phone is safe. I know I'm probably overthinking things, but I just would ...
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Possible to have different passwords for device encryption and screen lock?
I'd like my device encryption password to be very long and complicated but a short screen lock password for convenience. Is this possible?
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Is it safe to use a Temporary or Virtual Number for creating whatsapp account?
This article in link below mentions some web links and apps that can be used to generate temporary or virtual number, for creating whatsapp account
I want to know, whether this whole process is safe/...
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Why does WhatsApp insist to "unlock to link a device"?
When trying to connect the app to web.whatsapp.com, the app insists to "unlock to link a device", meaning I get the same screen as when I turn my phone's screen on after it sleeps.
I know ...
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Revoking Certificates for VPN Connection
would like to ask what happens when you press on the clear credentials options during an established always-on VPN connection.
As I came across a situation where:
The CA certificated was installed on ...
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50
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Can the Phone Repair Service access my 2FA, Google Account passwords, SMS, Photos, etc
I recently took my phone to a mobile repair service (unofficial, 3rd party). The phone had fallen into water and had severe water damage - it was non-functional, I was not able to turn it back on and ...
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335
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Gatekeeper timeout. TWRP vs Lockscreen
I have a locked phone (forgotten PIN). Currently, it seems, brute forcing PINs is the only option. Due to many incorrect attempts, the gatekeeper timeout or cooldown period is stuck at 480 seconds now....
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"Breaking" into Samsung phone
One of my colleagues has recently passed away and I am left with a task to retrieve data (especially pictures) from his phone - Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017).
Unfortunately, he set a numerical code to lock ...
David
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Librem 5 Purism hardware buttons, software equivalent on GrapheneOS?
One of the best features of the Librem 5 Purism is it's hardware switches. Any possibility that a means exists that will allow me to do this on GrapheneOS? Software, rather than hardware, of course.
--...
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🤔❓APK components - services, activities, broadcast & content receivers where's their data Stored?
As I understand
Every APK install is associated with these components. Trying to figure out precisely where they are stored.
Services
Activities
Broadcast receivers
Content receivers
For most apps ...
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