Google Play Services updated security on every Android phone recently without you noticing

[NewsKrawler]

Google Play Services is the new Android platform
https://www.androidcentral.com/google-play-services-new-android-platform

Security on every phone from Android 6 updated recently, without you even
noticing most likely, and that's how an operating system should update.

Android 6 is the minimum version that supports the latest adaptation of
Google Play Services which is more important for your privacy than it may
appear at first glance.

Google brought one of Android 11's best privacy features to every Android
phone the company still actively supports, and it did it through the magic
of Google Play Services.

Every Android phone running a version of Android 6 or later is now able to
automatically revoke system permissions if you haven't used the app in a
while.

After the automatic update via Google Play Services, 39 days after you last
used any app, any permissions you granted are automatically revoked. You get
a notification, so you can choose to prevent it, but other than that,
there's no input needed from you.

Do you think that's how an operating system should automatically update?

[Joerg Lorenz]

Am 18.09.21 um 23:47 schrieb NewsKrawler:

> Google Play Services is the new Android platform
> https://www.androidcentral.com/google-play-services-new-android-platform
>
> Security on every phone from Android 6 updated recently, without you even
> noticing most likely, and that's how an operating system should update.

> Do you think that's how an operating system should automatically update?

Android is a primitve system and utter crap. It cannot be materially
improved by such a minor change. There are too many design-flaws.

And BTW: This is very old news by today's standards.


--
De gustibus non est disputandum

[Gronk]

Joerg Lorenz wrote:
> Android is a primitve system and utter crap.

What is it specifically that you feel makes Android a "primitive system?"

[Joerg Lorenz]

Am 19.09.21 um 07:42 schrieb Gronk:

> Joerg Lorenz wrote:
>> Android is a primitve system and utter crap.
>
> What is it specifically that you feel makes Android a "primitive system?"

Security and privacy are almost inexistent.

[Joerg Lorenz]

Am 19.09.21 um 07:42 schrieb Gronk:

> Joerg Lorenz wrote:
>> Android is a primitve system and utter crap.
>
> What is it specifically that you feel makes Android a "primitive system?"

BTW: You are killfiled as of now. Faked e-mail-address, posted on a
anonymous Troll-server.

Path: eternal-september.org!reader02.eternal
september.org!news.mixmin.net!.POSTED!not-for-mail
From: Gronk <inv...@invalid.invalid>
Injection-Info: news.mixmin.net;

[Scott Lurndal]

Joerg Lorenz writes:
>>> Android is a primitve system and utter crap.
>>
>> What is it specifically that you feel makes Android a "primitive system?"
>
> Security and privacy are almost inexistent.

What do you think of the security issues described in this article?

No, Your iPhone Is Not More Secure Than Android
[https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2021/03/16/iphone-12-pro-max-and-iphone-13-not-more-secure-than-google-and-samsung-android-warns-cyber-billionaire/]

[Joerg Lorenz]

Am 19.09.21 um 08:16 schrieb Scott Lurndal:

Where do you see my iPhone?
„Here’’s looking at you, kid!“ (Bogart in "Casablanca")

[Joerg Lorenz]

Am 19.09.21 um 08:16 schrieb Scott Lurndal:

This article is unspecific and simple propaganda. It does not help at
all. Cyber-Billionaire who?

[Scott Lurndal]

Joerg Lorenz writes:
> This article is unspecific and simple propaganda.

What do you think of the security issues described in this article?

What the market for zero-day exploits tells us about our phones
<https://onezero.medium.com/is-android-getting-safer-than-ios-4a2ca6f359d3>

[Scott Lurndal]

"The new feature will be available to billions for now and hopefully,
Apple will follow the lead and launch a similar security system."

https://www.digitalinformationworld.com/2021/09/google-is-going-to-let-older-android.html

[Joerg Lorenz]

Am 19.09.21 um 23:55 schrieb Scott Lurndal:

> "The new feature will be available to billions for now and hopefully,
> Apple will follow the lead and launch a similar security system."
>
> https://www.digitalinformationworld.com/2021/09/google-is-going-to-let-older-android.html
>

???
That is what the OP is referring to.

[The Real Bev]

On 09/19/2021 07:40 PM, Joerg Lorenz wrote:
> Am 19.09.21 um 23:55 schrieb Scott Lurndal:
>> "The new feature will be available to billions for now and hopefully,
>> Apple will follow the lead and launch a similar security system."
>>
>> https://www.digitalinformationworld.com/2021/09/google-is-going-to-let-older-android.html

Am I the only one who thinks that this idea sucks? I have 150 apps,
most of which I use only rarely but just want to have IN CASE I WANT TO
USE THEM. Two minutes to restore essential permissions for a single
app? FEH!

> ???
> That is what the OP is referring to.

--

Cheers, Bev
It's 95% of the lawyers making the other 5% look bad.

[Joerg Lorenz]

Am 20.09.21 um 17:43 schrieb The Real Bev:

> On 09/19/2021 07:40 PM, Joerg Lorenz wrote:
>> Am 19.09.21 um 23:55 schrieb Scott Lurndal:
>>> "The new feature will be available to billions for now and hopefully,
>>> Apple will follow the lead and launch a similar security system."
>>>
>>> https://www.digitalinformationworld.com/2021/09/google-is-going-to-let-older-android.html
>
> Am I the only one who thinks that this idea sucks? I have 150 apps,
> most of which I use only rarely but just want to have IN CASE I WANT TO
> USE THEM. Two minutes to restore essential permissions for a single
> app? FEH!

AFAIK this can be turned off and I think I did on my Pixel.
Can't check I'm 800 mls away from the phone.

[Scott Lurndal]

The Real Bev writes:
> Am I the only one who thinks that this idea sucks? I have 150 apps,
> most of which I use only rarely but just want to have IN CASE I WANT TO
> USE THEM. Two minutes to restore essential permissions for a single
> app? FEH!

You highlight a different concern than is the subject of this thread,
however, your specific concern is certainly valid & related to the topic.

https://www.digitalinformationworld.com/2021/09/google-is-going-to-let-older-android.html

"The new feature will be available to billions for now and hopefully,
Apple will follow the lead and launch a similar security system."

The thread informs us that Google can and will and is updating billions of
Android 6 and up phones using the existing on the phone Google Play Services
method which is outside of the carrier based update mechanism that most
people seem to think Android components are updated.

What this subject is about is that Android updates outside the carriers now.
Android updates Android 10, 11, and 12 mostly outside the carriers now.

This thread says that a specific update will go back to 6 year old phones.
That specific update you don't like but maybe you'll like the other updates?

Let's look at that specific update to see if it applies to you first.

The article listed above says it's 90 days that the permissions go off
but that only Android 6+ apps targeting API 30 or above are affected.
[1] Is your phone Android 6 or above?
[2] Does any app you care about target API level 30 and above?

Probably the answer is yes to both those questions (who wants to check each
and every app to figure out what level it targets?) so we can move on.

This sentence in that article implies strongly you can turn it all off:
"Apps used by enterprises and enterprise policies, however, will be exempted
from the process due to obligatory reasons and permissions being fixed."

We just have to figure out how to turn it off.

Unlike what Apple did with the scanning of your messages & pictures, at
least Google is letting you know months ahead of time what they're doing.

"While the process will be in action next month, for now only a guidance
procedure was published. Next month, Google will make some cross-platform
API changes. This feature for sure will start rolling out in December and
will be fully available in the first half of 2022."

This seems to say Google will pro actively give you an app-by-app setting.
"Once set out, Google will start sending users a new auto setting page to
decide the fate of applications and a week or a few after that, Google will
reset all permissions."

I don't know though what it means that Google will "send users a new auto
sending page."

What does that mean to "send a page" to users?

[Scott Lurndal]

Joerg Lorenz writes:
> AFAIK this can be turned off and I think I did on my Pixel.
> Can't check I'm 800 mls away from the phone.

What version of Android do you have on that pixel?

If it's Android 10, 11, or Android 12 (beta) you don't need the security
updates that Google Play Services is adding to billions of six year old
Android phones (all Android phones from Android 6 & up get these security
updates automatically).

[AJL]

On 9/20/2021 8:43 AM, The Real Bev wrote:

> Am I the only one who thinks that this idea [permission withdrawal]

> sucks? I have 150 apps, most of which I use only rarely but just
> want to have IN CASE I WANT TO USE THEM. Two minutes to restore
> essential permissions for a single app? FEH!

I generally remove all unneeded app permissions when I first install an
app. If the app doesn't complain and still works, all is well. If not, I
then decide if I really want the app that bad or not.

For many of your rarely used 150 apps, when the permissions are
automatically withdrawn you may notice no difference and the apps will
still work just fine in which case your security HAS been improved.

On my phone I can go to Settings>Apps>Permissions and for many apps
there is a "Remove Permissions If App Isn't Used" ON-OFF switch at the
very bottom. Switching it off will stop the process and can save a
second hassle. YMMV on your phone...

[Scott Lurndal]

AJL writes:
> I generally remove all unneeded app permissions when I first install an
> app. If the app doesn't complain and still works, all is well. If not, I
> then decide if I really want the app that bad or not.

That seems to be a sensible approach when installing apps.

If the app is an alarm, it shouldn't need access to photos.
If you turn off access to photos, and it still works, then it's OK.

When I looked moments ago I realized a lot of apps slipped by me
(most were already installed when I got the phone).

> For many of your rarely used 150 apps, when the permissions are
> automatically withdrawn you may notice no difference and the apps will
> still work just fine in which case your security HAS been improved.

I think that's why Google plans on pushing this security update to the
billions of Android phones out there with Android 6 and newer versions.

The unused period seems it's 90 days for Android 6 to Android 10 and 39 days
for Android 11 and up before the app permissions revert to no permissions.

> On my phone I can go to Settings>Apps>Permissions and for many apps
> there is a "Remove Permissions If App Isn't Used" ON-OFF switch at the
> very bottom. Switching it off will stop the process and can save a
> second hassle. YMMV on your phone...

Mine has Settings > Apps > Permission manager > Permissions removed for
unused apps > Last opened more than 3 months ago > {list of apps}

Some of the apps I didn't even know I had on the phone in that list!

Adobe Acrobat (camera & contacts permission removed)
AR Emoji Stickers (camera & storage permission removed)
AR Zone (camera & storage permission removed)
Deco Pic (camera & microphone & phone & storage permission removed)
Diagnostics (location & contacts permission removed)
Dictionary (phone permission removed)
Drive (camera & contacts permission removed)
Google TV (location permission removed)
Live Transcribe & Sound Notifications (mic permission removed)
Maps (camera & contacts & physical activity permission removed)
My SOS Family (location & contacts & storage permission removed)
Photos (contacts permission removed)
Samsung Cloud (contacts & SMS permission removed)
Weather (location permission removed)
YouTube (camera & contacts & location permission removed)

One has to wonder why Adobe Acrobat needs contacts, for example.

[The Real Bev]

On 09/20/2021 09:56 AM, Scott Lurndal wrote:
> Joerg Lorenz writes:
>> AFAIK this can be turned off and I think I did on my Pixel.
>> Can't check I'm 800 mls away from the phone.
>
> What version of Android do you have on that pixel?

Android 11. Final update. I noticed a message every once in a while
while I was doing something else that permissions had been canceled...

> If it's Android 10, 11, or Android 12 (beta) you don't need the security
> updates that Google Play Services is adding to billions of six year old
> Android phones (all Android phones from Android 6 & up get these security
> updates automatically).

I hunted around and didn't find anything that would turn this "feature"
off. That doesn't mean it doesn't exist, of course, just that I
couldn't find it. That's why I hate hierarchical menus -- you have no
way of knowing where some asshole put the thing that you really want to
use..

The universal assumption seems to be that this piece of shit is a GOOD
thing. Wrong.

--
Cheers, Bev
"...so she told me it was either her or the ham radio, over."

[Carlos E. R.]

On 20/09/2021 22.20, The Real Bev wrote:
...

> I hunted around and didn't find anything that would turn this "feature"
> off.  That doesn't mean it doesn't exist, of course, just that I
> couldn't find it.  That's why I hate hierarchical menus -- you have no
> way of knowing where some asshole put the thing that you really want to
> use..

Setup has a search function that works fairly well.

--
Cheers,
Carlos E.R.

[The Real Bev]

What is "setup"?

I searched for 'permissions' in the settings/search menu and found
nothing. 'Permission' found NOTHING about removing this heinous feature.

--
Cheers, Bev
'Politics' comes from an ancient Greek word meaning
'many blood-sucking leeches.' -- Mark Russell

[Scott Lurndal]

The Real Bev writes:
>> What version of Android do you have on that pixel?
>
> Android 11. Final update. I noticed a message every once in a while
> while I was doing something else that permissions had been canceled...

As someone has already said, Android 11 has the security update native that
Google is planning on uploading to all Android 6+ phones in a few months.

> I hunted around and didn't find anything that would turn this "feature"
> off. That doesn't mean it doesn't exist, of course, just that I
> couldn't find it. That's why I hate hierarchical menus -- you have no
> way of knowing where some asshole put the thing that you really want to
> use..

I'm not going to disagree with you that the Android menus stink, and, worse,
they change in each release how they stink (seemingly for no good reason).

Nonetheless, certainly Android 11 allows each and every app to have this
setting to be set to on or off. Dunno what the default is though.

Certainly there's a "reset permissions" for all apps in Android 11.
Settings > Apps > dots > Reset app preferences > Reset

I didn't want to hit that button but if someone does it, they can tell us
what the default permission setting is for each app, which is found by
Settings > Apps > Your apps > {pick an app} > Permissions >
Remove permissions if app isn't used = on or off

> The universal assumption seems to be that this piece of shit is a GOOD
> thing. Wrong.

Whether or not it's a good thing doesn't really matter if you like the
default setting (which I can only assume is to be set to "off" but I don't
know (see the test above which will prove what the default will be).

There will only be a problem for you if the default is "on" for all apps.

Then as far as I can tell on my Android 11 settings, you'll have to turn
each one off (so let's hope the default is to set the switch to off).

[Scott Lurndal]

The Real Bev writes:
> I searched for 'permissions' in the settings/search menu and found
> nothing. 'Permission' found NOTHING about removing this heinous feature.

Googling for the answer didn't help you all that much
https://support.google.com/android/answer/9431959?hl=en

I went to Android 11 settings and then hit the magnifying glass and typed
"permissions" which gave me 6 results
[1] Privacy > Permission manager
[2] Location > App permissions
[3] Apps > Permission manager
[4] App info > Permission Friendly Apps
[5] Special access > Do not disturb permission
[6] Internet settings > Sites & downloads > Site permissions

The first one put me too deep since it only showed me the apps which already
had their permissions turned off because I didn't use them in 39 days.

The second one was only for location permissions on an app by app basis.

The third one was almost the same as the first one so I have to agree that
searching for "permissions" doesn't get you to where I knew was there.

Settings > Apps > dots > Reset app preferences > Reset

Settings > Apps > Your apps > {pick an app} > Permissions >
Remove permissions if app isn't used = on or off

We could probably find the Android Activity and then make a shortcut
directly to that Android Activity using a shortcut maker but that's a lot of
work just to find the right Activity. (Once you have the right Activity, the
shortcut is easy to make but finding the right Activity is the hard part.)

[Carlos E. R.]

On 21/09/2021 00.32, The Real Bev wrote:
> On 09/20/2021 02:18 PM, Carlos E. R. wrote:
>> On 20/09/2021 22.20, The Real Bev wrote:
>> ...
>>> I hunted around and didn't find anything that would turn this "feature"
>>> off.  That doesn't mean it doesn't exist, of course, just that I
>>> couldn't find it.  That's why I hate hierarchical menus -- you have no
>>> way of knowing where some asshole put the thing that you really want to
>>> use..
>>
>> Setup has a search function that works fairly well.
>
> What is "setup"?
>
> I searched for 'permissions' in the settings/search menu and found
> nothing.  'Permission' found NOTHING about removing this heinous feature.
>

Settings is setup by another name.

--
Cheers,
Carlos E.R.

[Joerg Lorenz]

Am 20.09.21 um 22:20 schrieb The Real Bev:

> I hunted around and didn't find anything that would turn this "feature"
> off. That doesn't mean it doesn't exist, of course, just that I
> couldn't find it. That's why I hate hierarchical menus -- you have no
> way of knowing where some asshole put the thing that you really want to
> use..
>
> The universal assumption seems to be that this piece of shit is a GOOD
> thing. Wrong.

I could not agree more! It is total bullshit, does not increase security
but complicates the use of Android-dvices a lot. You and me are the proof.

[Scott Lurndal]

Joerg Lorenz writes:
> I could not agree more! It is total bullshit, does not increase security
> but complicates the use of Android-dvices a lot. You and me are the proof.

What happened when you set the Android Activity to the following?
"com.android.settings.applications.ManageApplications"

Did you get the list of disabled permissions when you set this Activity?
"com.android.settings.Settings$SecDisabledAppsActivity"

[Scott Lurndal]

Carlos E. R. writes:
> Settings is setup by another name.

It took a while to find the Android Activity for "The Real Bev"
but I think I found it, finally, by searching inside Android Activities.

This homescreen shortcut pops up the Android 11 "Apps" Setting page.
"com.android.settings.applications.ManageApplications"

This shortcut pops up "Disabled apps" showing which are "Auto disabled".
"com.android.settings.Settings$SecDisabledAppsActivity"

[Joerg Lorenz]

Am 21.09.21 um 05:16 schrieb Scott Lurndal:

Currently I'm 500 mls away from my Pixel. I took my iPhone along.
When this "security feature" popped up a while ago I turned it off AFAIR.

[Joerg Lorenz]

Am 21.09.21 um 06:16 schrieb Joerg Lorenz:

BTW: I set the access rights very consciously when I use an app for the
first time or install a new app. I do not want the OS to interfer with
that process.

[The Real Bev]

On 09/20/2021 04:08 PM, Scott Lurndal wrote:
> The Real Bev writes:
>>> What version of Android do you have on that pixel?
>>
>> Android 11. Final update. I noticed a message every once in a while
>> while I was doing something else that permissions had been canceled...
>
> As someone has already said, Android 11 has the security update native that
> Google is planning on uploading to all Android 6+ phones in a few months.
>
>> I hunted around and didn't find anything that would turn this "feature"
>> off. That doesn't mean it doesn't exist, of course, just that I
>> couldn't find it. That's why I hate hierarchical menus -- you have no
>> way of knowing where some asshole put the thing that you really want to
>> use..
>
> I'm not going to disagree with you that the Android menus stink, and, worse,
> they change in each release how they stink (seemingly for no good reason).
>
> Nonetheless, certainly Android 11 allows each and every app to have this
> setting to be set to on or off. Dunno what the default is though.
>
> Certainly there's a "reset permissions" for all apps in Android 11.
> Settings > Apps > dots >

No dots

Reset app preferences > Reset

Nope. But I NEVER want to hit any Reset ever unless I know exactly what
it does. I can't remember EVER wanting a factory reset on a device I
wanted to continue using, although I have gotten one or two involuntarily.

> I didn't want to hit that button but if someone does it, they can tell us
> what the default permission setting is for each app, which is found by
> Settings > Apps > Your apps > {pick an app} > Permissions >
> Remove permissions if app isn't used = on or off

For 150 apps? No.

>> The universal assumption seems to be that this piece of shit is a GOOD
>> thing. Wrong.
>
> Whether or not it's a good thing doesn't really matter if you like the
> default setting (which I can only assume is to be set to "off" but I don't
> know (see the test above which will prove what the default will be).

No choice that I could find.

> There will only be a problem for you if the default is "on" for all apps.

Seems to be.

> Then as far as I can tell on my Android 11 settings, you'll have to turn
> each one off (so let's hope the default is to set the switch to off).

It's outrageous that that's the only option. There are a LOT of things
I hate, and most of them involve lack of choice.

--
Cheers, Bev
A man's got to know his limitations.
It's a woman's duty to make sure of this.

[The Real Bev]

Thanks. No joy.

[The Real Bev]

Yup. Each app must be attended to individually.

[The Real Bev]

For the most part I don't care as long as the phone doesn't interfere
with itself. I don't want things using phone or wifi by themselves
unless they need it to operate and would be perfectly happy to BY
DEFAULT with a single click set all apps to ONLY WHEN I'M USING THE APP.

[Joerg Lorenz]

Am 21.09.21 um 07:55 schrieb The Real Bev:

> On 09/20/2021 04:08 PM, Scott Lurndal wrote:
>> I didn't want to hit that button but if someone does it, they can tell us
>> what the default permission setting is for each app, which is found by
>> Settings > Apps > Your apps > {pick an app} > Permissions >
>> Remove permissions if app isn't used = on or off
>
> For 150 apps? No.

What are you doing with 150 apps?

[The Real Bev]

Weather, maps, GPS tracks, mail, photos, alarms, faux-pro, identifying
plants, various dental camera apps, QR reader, solitaire, scrabble,
radio, human body, heart monitor, sleep monitor... mess of crap, most of
which I don't use much. It's not like this stuff costs money (well,
three of them did, but I got a GC from something and used it for the
paid apps) and I've used only about half of the 128GB memory that I have.

[Anssi Saari]

How do you set an activity directly by name? After some searching I
managed with adb like this:

adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.applications.ManageApplications

which opens the list of apps and I have the dots menu and reset app
preferences there. For me this seems like a hidden setting not reachable
by Oneplus's tweaked settings app which doesn't have Settings > Apps, it
has Settings > Apps and notifications.

Another try with

adb shell am start -n "com.android.settings/.Settings$SecDisabledAppsActivity"

This just gets me the settings app.

[Andy Burns]

The Real Bev wrote:

> Scott Lurndal wrote:
>
>> <https://www.digitalinformationworld.com/2021/09/google-is-going-to-let-older-android.html>
>
> Am I the only one who thinks that this idea sucks?  I have 150 apps, most of
> which I use only rarely but just want to have IN CASE I WANT TO USE THEM.  Two
> minutes to restore essential permissions for a single app?  FEH!

Where do you get the two minutes from?

I install a new app, first time run it asks for permissions, I decide yes or no,
(if I get the choice I only permit it to have the permissions while the app is
running in the foreground)

Then if I don't use it for a couple of months, it revokes the permissions, if I
happen to run the app again, it asks for permissions again, just like it did
when freshly installed, I can just say yes or no again ...

I like the new feature the way it's implemented in Pixel devices anyway, not
sure if it works different via the Play app on non-Pixel devices?

[Joerg Lorenz]

Am 22.09.21 um 11:00 schrieb Andy Burns:

> I install a new app, first time run it asks for permissions, I decide yes or no,
> (if I get the choice I only permit it to have the permissions while the app is
> running in the foreground)
>
> Then if I don't use it for a couple of months, it revokes the permissions, if I
> happen to run the app again, it asks for permissions again, just like it did
> when freshly installed, I can just say yes or no again ...

That is a waste of time. If you want to use it, it needs exactely the
same permissions again. This function completely redundant and a waste
of your life time for nothing.

> I like the new feature the way it's implemented in Pixel devices anyway, not
> sure if it works different via the Play app on non-Pixel devices?

It is absolutely redundant nonsense.

[Scott Lurndal]

Andy Burns writes:
> Where do you get the two minutes from?

I kind of agree with "The Real Bev" that it's not as easy as it should be.

A lot of apps are pre-installed, are they not? (Like half of them?)
And when you're installing new apps, you're not always sure what to allow.

> I install a new app, first time run it asks for permissions, I decide yes or no,
> (if I get the choice I only permit it to have the permissions while the app is
> running in the foreground)

You want the app to work when you install it, right?

A lot of apps ask for permission for "storage" or "contacts" where, when
you're installing the app, you're not quite sure if lack of permission is
going to kill the app or not so you may tend to grant it more permissions
than you really need it to have.

> Then if I don't use it for a couple of months, it revokes the permissions, if I
> happen to run the app again, it asks for permissions again, just like it did
> when freshly installed, I can just say yes or no again ...

This is true, as far as I know, that the app just asks again when you use it
after 39 days on Android 10 and up (or 90 days for Android 6 to 9).

> I like the new feature the way it's implemented in Pixel devices anyway, not
> sure if it works different via the Play app on non-Pixel devices?

I'm kind of with "The Real Bev" that I wish there was a global setting for
all apps, even pre-installed apps, instead of a one-by-one setting.

That global setting would have to be "revoke all permission" though, which
effectively would make almost all your apps immediately stop working so
maybe that's why it's not there?

[Joerg Lorenz]

Am 22.09.21 um 12:05 schrieb Scott Lurndal:

> A lot of apps ask for permission for "storage" or "contacts" where, when

Once you granted access to to contacts, they are gone. Within seconds.
Export your contacts and you will find out how fast.

This functionality is busllshit and does not add to security at all.
After 40 days? The damage is/was done a long time ago ...

[Andy Burns]

Joerg Lorenz wrote:

> Once you granted access to to contacts, they are gone. Within seconds.
> Export your contacts and you will find out how fast.

For that reason, I'm very wary of installing any app that wants my contacts, in
fact beyond Google's own apps (who I have chosen to host/sync my contacts to
start with) only one app has permission to my contacts ... K-9 Mail.

> This functionality is busllshit and does not add to security at all.
> After 40 days? The damage is/was done a long time ago ...

But if I install an app that wants mic, or camera function, e.g. birdsong or
plant identifier, I probably don't use it for several months after its initial
use, so why not remove its permissions, in case an update to the app goes rogue
and starts recording me in the background?

[Joerg Lorenz]

Am 22.09.21 um 13:29 schrieb Andy Burns:

> Joerg Lorenz wrote:
>> This functionality is busllshit and does not add to security at all.
>> After 40 days? The damage is/was done a long time ago ...
>
> But if I install an app that wants mic, or camera function, e.g. birdsong or
> plant identifier, I probably don't use it for several months after its initial
> use, so why not remove its permissions, in case an update to the app goes rogue
> and starts recording me in the background?

Then it probably did for the last 40 days.

[Scott Lurndal]

Joerg Lorenz writes:
> Once you granted access to to contacts, they are gone. Within seconds.
> Export your contacts and you will find out how fast.

There are ways to feed fake data to Android apps which ask for contacts.

[Scott Lurndal]

Anssi Saari writes:
> How do you set an activity directly by name?

You just helped me a LOT, Anssi Saari (with your adb examples below!).
Maybe we can work together to solve this technical problem?

I don't know how to open an Activity manually on the phone by the name yet.
I have been trying to find an explanation for how to do that for years!

Assume for the moment we only want to open Activities in Android Settings.
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=by4a.setedit22>
(I'm only asking about the "Settings" and not any other set of Activities.)

How do we even find the name of the Activity inside of Android Settings?
1. For some Android Settings Activities, the name is found in shortcut tools
<https://www.quickshortcutmaker.app/>
2. For others, the Activity name shows up after the fact using an inspector.
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cemique.shortcutwidgets>
3. But not every Android Activity has a settings GUI so you can't find it.

An example of the latter might be the Activity to open app memory settings:
"com.android.Settings$AppMemoryUsageActivity"
Whose complete name is:
"com.android.settings/com.android.settings.Settings$AppMemoryUsageActivity"

Another example of an Android Settings Activity that might not have a GUI is
"com.android.Settings$SecDisabledAppsActivity"
Whose complete name is:
"com.android.settings/com.android.Settings$SecDisabledAppsActivity"

Maybe I can't find the GUI to get to the list of app Notification settings:
"com.android.settings.Settings$NotificationAppListActivity"
Whose full name is:
"com.android.Settings$com.android.settings.Settings$NotificationAppListActivity"

The problem is even when I have a tool which I "think" does it, I don't have
the syntax right so the tool may fail without it being the tool's fault.
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.alextern.shortcutexecutors>

The only RELIABLE way I know to open any specific Android Activity is to
open that Android Activity from inside a shortcut-creator GUI such as

The problem there is that it's almost impossible to find an Activity.
Each shortcut maker tool presents Android Activities in a terrible mess.
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=rk.android.app.shortcutmaker>
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.alextern.shortcuthelper>
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sika524.android.quickshortcut>

A "Search" would work good but every search I've ever tried in them stinks.

I even tried the "Intent" tools, which should be one level up from an
Activity but again, I don't have any syntax examples, so I keep failing.
<https://trianguloy.github.io/intent/>

I don't really even know how an Intent differs from an Activity though.
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.villevalta.intentlauncher>
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=krow.dev.scheme>
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.balda.intenttask>

> After some searching I managed with adb like this:
> adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.applications.ManageApplications

THANK YOU FOR THAT SYNTAX example!
For years I've tried to open an Android Activity directly by just the name!

Using your example, this opened up Android 11 Settings for me just now!
C:\> adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.Settings
Starting: Intent { cmp=com.android.settings/.Settings }

Your use of adb to execute an Android Activity by name is fantastic!

I immediately installed adb on Windows so that I could test out your syntax!
<https://www.xda-developers.com/install-adb-windows-macos-linux/>

Then I tried this example syntax you had provided me:
"com.android.settings.applications.ManageApplications"
C:\> adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.applications.ManageApplications
Starting: Intent {cmp=com.android.settings/.applications.ManageApplications}
Which opened up Android 11 Settings to "Apps" (incl. auto disabled lists)

The syntax is problematic as this Activity should have done the same thing:
"com.android.settings.Settings$ManageApplicationsActivity"
But I couldn't get the syntax right to bring up that Activity correctly.
C:\> adb shell am start -n com.android.settings.Settings$ManageApplicationsActivity

I'm curious to know how you figured out the correct syntax!
For example, I tried opening these Settings pages in Android 11.
"com.android.settings/com.android.settings.Settings$AppMemoryUsageActivity"
"com.android.settings/com.android.Settings$SecDisabledAppsActivity"
"com.android.Settings$com.android.settings.Settings$NotificationAppListActivity"

> which opens the list of apps and I have the dots menu and reset app
> preferences there. For me this seems like a hidden setting not reachable
> by Oneplus's tweaked settings app which doesn't have Settings > Apps, it
> has Settings > Apps and notifications.

I concur with your observation that there are _many_ hidden settings pages!
That's why I said there are 2 ways to get the Android Settings Activities.

1. You can get the Activity name from an Activities Shortcut app.
<rk.android.app.shortcutmaker>
2. You can get the Activity name from running an Inspector app.
<com.cemique.shortcutwidgets>

> Another try with
>
> adb shell am start -n "com.android.settings/.Settings$SecDisabledAppsActivity"
>
> This just gets me the settings app.

When I run this, I get the _top_ of the Android 11 Settings Activity.
C:\> adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.Settings
Starting: Intent { cmp=com.android.settings/.Settings }

But like you, I get the same Android 11 Settings Activity with this.
C:\> adb shell am start -n "com.android.settings/.Settings$SecDisabledAppsActivity"
Starting: Intent { cmp=com.android.settings/.Settings }
C:\> adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.Settings$SecDisabledAppsActivity
Starting: Intent { cmp=com.android.settings/.Settings }

What we need to do is figure out how to manually open the Android Settings
Activity, not only from adb over USB, but from an app that is on the phone
itself (just by knowing the correct name of the Android Settings Activity).

[Joerg Lorenz]

Am 22.09.21 um 14:39 schrieb Scott Lurndal:

That is not the question whether this is possible or not: 99.999999 % of
the users don't because they are not aware of the implications or don't
know how.

[Scott Lurndal]

Scott Lurndal writes:
Scott Lurndal <sc...@slp53.sl.home> asked

> An example of the latter might be the Activity to open app memory settings:
> "com.android.Settings$AppMemoryUsageActivity"
> Whose complete name is:
> "com.android.settings/com.android.settings.Settings$AppMemoryUsageActivity"
>
> Another example of an Android Settings Activity that might not have a GUI is
> "com.android.Settings$SecDisabledAppsActivity"
> Whose complete name is:
> "com.android.settings/com.android.Settings$SecDisabledAppsActivity"
>
> Maybe I can't find the GUI to get to the list of app Notification settings:
> "com.android.settings.Settings$NotificationAppListActivity"
> Whose full name is:
> "com.android.Settings$com.android.settings.Settings$NotificationAppListActivity"

Anssi Saari,

I figured out the syntax.
The Windows 10 cmd line requires a backslash in front of the dollar sign!

This opened those three Activities above using your suggested adb method.
(Tested only on my Android 11 phone).

1. Hidden "Memory usage (complete app list, sorted by max,avg)" Settings Page:
"com.android.settings/com.android.settings.Settings$AppMemoryUsageActivity"
adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.Settings\$AppMemoryUsageActivity
adb shell am force-stop com.android.settings

2. Hidden "Disabled apps" Settings Page (complete app list with status):
"com.android.settings/com.android.Settings$SecDisabledAppsActivity"
adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.Settings\$SecDisabledAppsActivity
adb shell am force-stop com.android.settings

3. Hidden "App notifications" Settings" Page (app list with on/off switches):
"com.android.settings$com.android.settings.Settings$NotificationAppListActivity"
adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.Settings\$NotificationAppListActivity
adb shell am force-stop com.android.settings

Do those 3 commands work for you to open up the 3 hidden Android Settings pages?

[Anssi Saari]

Scott Lurndal <sc...@slp53.sl.home> writes:

> I'm curious to know how you figured out the correct syntax!
> For example, I tried opening these Settings pages in Android 11.
> "com.android.settings/com.android.settings.Settings$AppMemoryUsageActivity"
> "com.android.settings/com.android.Settings$SecDisabledAppsActivity"
> "com.android.Settings$com.android.settings.Settings$NotificationAppListActivity"

Well, Google led me to
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/4567904/how-to-start-an-application-using-android-adb-tools/25398877

which has, lower down, this example syntax:

adb shell am start -n com.package.name/.ActivityName

And that's repeated elsewhere too. So the package name is separated from
the activity by a slash and a dot (/.)

I agree with you on the difficulty on finding activity names. One decent
looking tool called apk info shows activities but it finds 368
activities for the Android settings app with no filtering or search.

> But like you, I get the same Android 11 Settings Activity with this.
> C:\> adb shell am start -n "com.android.settings/.Settings$SecDisabledAppsActivity"
> Starting: Intent { cmp=com.android.settings/.Settings }
> C:\> adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.Settings$SecDisabledAppsActivity
> Starting: Intent { cmp=com.android.settings/.Settings }

I realized this has to do with quoting the dollar sign. Add a backslash
in front of it inside the quotes:

adb shell am start -n "com.android.settings/.Settings\$SecDisabledAppsActivity"

Windows strips off the double quotes before running adb and the shell in
Android strips the backslash so then the am app in Android gets the
correct string.

For me at least it worked to open Settings$BluetoothSettingsActivity
with

adb shell am start -n "com.android.settings/.Settings\$BluetoothSettingsActivity"

So it seems to me my phone doesn't have this
.Settings$SecDisabledAppsActivity.

[Anssi Saari]

Scott Lurndal <sc...@slp53.sl.home> writes:

> Anssi Saari,
>
> I figured out the syntax.
> The Windows 10 cmd line requires a backslash in front of the dollar sign!

Right, I realized the same.

> This opened those three Activities above using your suggested adb method.
> (Tested only on my Android 11 phone).
>
> 1. Hidden "Memory usage (complete app list, sorted by max,avg)" Settings Page:
> "com.android.settings/com.android.settings.Settings$AppMemoryUsageActivity"
> adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.Settings\$AppMemoryUsageActivity
> adb shell am force-stop com.android.settings
>
> 2. Hidden "Disabled apps" Settings Page (complete app list with status):
> "com.android.settings/com.android.Settings$SecDisabledAppsActivity"
> adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.Settings\$SecDisabledAppsActivity
> adb shell am force-stop com.android.settings
>
> 3. Hidden "App notifications" Settings" Page (app list with on/off switches):
> "com.android.settings$com.android.settings.Settings$NotificationAppListActivity"
> adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.Settings\$NotificationAppListActivity
> adb shell am force-stop com.android.settings
>
> Do those 3 commands work for you to open up the 3 hidden Android Settings pages?

Only 1 and 3 work, the second one gives me an error Activity class
{com.android.settings/com.android.settings.Settings$SecDisabledAppsActivity}
does not exist. So like I said, that's just doesn't exist on my phone.

[Scott Lurndal]

Joerg Lorenz writes:
>> What happened when you set the Android Activity to the following?
>> "com.android.settings.applications.ManageApplications"
>>
>> Did you get the list of disabled permissions when you set this Activity?
>> "com.android.settings.Settings$SecDisabledAppsActivity"
>
> Currently I'm 500 mls away from my Pixel. I took my iPhone along.
> When this "security feature" popped up a while ago I turned it off AFAIR.

I forgot to mention to Joerg & The Real Bev they need to escape the "$".

When you get a chance can you run these 3 commands in sequence to let us
know what happens (you should get a secret hidden list of apps & settings).

adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.applications.ManageApplications

adb shell am force-stop com.android.settings

adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.Settings\$SecDisabledAppsActivity

That first command above brings up what appears to be the normal menu of
Android 11 Settings that lists all your apps and whether or not they are
already "Auto disabled" (which is partly what I think The Real Bev wanted).

The second command just closes that menu without you having to touch the
phone (you can't display a menu on top of a menu so you have to close it).

The third command brings up a "Disabled apps" menu which I think is maybe a
hidden secret menu inside of Android settings (there are a lot of those).

That only shows the apps that are disabled already (which I think is one of
the things that The Real Bev asked for but I'm not completely sure of that).

I'm going to try to work with Anssi Saari to find out a way to bring up
those hidden Android menus directly on the phone by just typing them in.

(I can already do it from a shortcut on Android but I'm trying to find a way
to just type them in like Anssi showed me how to do using the adb command.)

But for now you'll have to use adb on a PC over USB to access those menus.

[Scott Lurndal]

The Real Bev writes:
>>> For 150 apps? No.
>>
>> What are you doing with 150 apps?
>
> Weather, maps, GPS tracks, mail, photos, alarms, faux-pro, identifying

I just checked my new phone which seems to have 676 "packages"
C:\> adb shell pm list packages
Of which 402 are "system" packages
C:\> adb shell pm list packages -s
And 274 are "3rd-party" packages:
C:\> adb shell pm list packages -3

package:com.textmeinc.textme3
package:com.ironsrc.aura.appmanager.tmo
package:de.tutao.tutanota
package:com.mta.countdown
package:com.aurora.adroid
package:com.simplemobiletools.flashlight
package:com.escapistgames.starchart
package:com.simplemobiletools.calculator
package:com.nagopy.android.fileshortcut
package:droidmate.appopsinstaller
package:com.sybu.imageresizer
package:de.topobyte.apps.bms.atlas
package:com.sybu.simplegallery
package:com.arlosoft.macrodroid
package:jp.susatthi.ManifestViewer
package:cz.seeq.prog.android.packageviewer
package:com.geekyouup.android.ustopwatch
package:com.ifttt.ifttt
package:com.teslacoilsw.launcher
package:com.manageengine.wifimonitor
package:com.p1.chompsms
package:se.brokenbrain.drawer
package:com.ses.app.apkexport
package:com.mysosfamily
package:com.moblynx.galleryicsold
package:com.google.android.apps.cameralite
package:adfree.gallery
package:keepass2android.keepass2android
package:eu.duong.imagedatefixer
package:org.jessies.dalvikexplorer
package:gg.TENZ.mangakakalot
package:com.epic.browser
package:com.whatsapp
package:de.szalkowski.activitylauncher
package:com.flightradar24free
package:it.sourcenetitalia.appmanager
package:com.utopi.batterychargenotifier
package:com.appstar.callrecorder
package:org.secuso.privacyfriendlyfoodtracker
package:com.snape.shivichu.videocompressor
package:com.squiredev.exif_clear
package:com.onto.notepad
package:com.hudun.androidrecorder
package:com.lonelycatgames.Xplore
package:com.cunnj.activitylauncher
package:com.larryvgs.battery
package:ch.protonmail.android
package:com.sec.android.app.voicenote
package:com.cemique.shortcutwidgets
package:com.joykraft.frenchpresstimer
package:com.bostbi.dev.countdown
package:de.k3b.android.androFotoFinder
package:org.schabi.newpipe
package:org.korosoft.simplenotepad.android
package:com.simplemobiletools.calendar.pro
package:com.slydroid.watch
package:com.callrecorder.android
package:org.zwanoo.android.speedtest
package:com.fiberlink.maas360.android.pim
package:com.miyaware.batteryclock
package:com.vonglasow.michael.satstat
package:com.csdroid.pkg
package:org.Gallery.App
package:org.Gallery.Pro
package:gov.caltrans.quickmap
package:net.openvpn.openvpn
package:com.coverter.videoconverter.videocutter.videotrim
package:com.brave.browser
package:com.sovworks.edslite
package:com.mycp.videocompress
package:eu.faircode.netguard
package:com.dp.logcatapp
package:privacyfriendlyshoppinglist.secuso.org.privacyfriendlyshoppinglist
package:com.flistholding.flightplus
package:me.piebridge.brevent
package:net.nitroshare.android
package:ru.andr7e.deviceinfohw
package:org.torproject.torservices
package:org.contentarcadeapps.videoeditor
package:com.secuso.privacyFriendlyCodeScanner
package:com.waze
package:org.ebookdroid
package:io.github.ilisevic.SOSbasic
package:com.applaudsoft.wabi.wad
package:com.vrem.wifianalyzer
package:com.catalinagroup.callrecorder
package:com.ospolice.phoneshortcut
package:kik.android
package:com.alextern.shortcuthelper
package:com.talkatone.android
package:org.androidsoft.app.permission
package:com.aurora.store
package:bg.projectoria.appinspector
package:com.microsoft.office.outlook
package:jp.nalab.tomcam
package:com.helgekeck.wifitool
package:com.roysolberg.android.developertools
package:at.cwiesner.android.visualtimer
package:net.ebt.appswitch
package:com.trianguloy.instantintent
package:com.simpler.contacts
package:com.curvegraph.deocut
package:org.bitbatzen.wlanscanner
package:com.kylecorry.trail_sense
package:net.psyberia.offlinemaps
package:com.trailblazer.supercut
package:com.richardtozer.dashcam
package:com.deslomator.complextimer
package:com.xintimex.emiliano.worldmap
package:com.alienpants.leafpicrevived
package:org.mozilla.focus
package:dk.andsen.asqlitemanager
package:aws.apps.networkInfoIi
package:org.spectralsoft.textedit
package:pl.waskysoft.screenshotassistant
package:com.android.webview
package:pallob.loop.com.notepad
package:krow.dev.scheme
package:com.alohamobile.browser.lite
package:com.keuwl.sandtimer
package:org.secuso.privacyfriendlyactivitytracker
package:fortune.audiocutter.audioeditor
package:org.secuso.privacyfriendlynotes
package:com.zq.webdav.app_free
package:rk.android.app.shortcutmaker
package:com.atr.tedit
package:de.mediaz.mxapp.hpbgeodefree
package:com.terarisu.limited_timer010
package:com.terarisu.limited_timer015
package:com.terarisu.limited_timer020
package:com.terarisu.limited_timer030
package:com.terarisu.limited_timer045
package:com.terarisu.limited_timer060
package:com.terarisu.limited_timer090
package:com.terarisu.limited_timer120
package:com.terarisu.limited_timer180
package:net.sourceforge.opencamera
package:com.zzzmode.appopsx
package:be.ppareit.swiftp_free
package:la.daube.photochiotte
package:com.amperemeter.wally.src
package:com.leedroid.shortcutter
package:org.fdroid.fdroid
package:com.call.recorder.auto.call.record
package:com.devhomc.myapps
package:com.tmobile.vvm.application
package:com.opera.browser
package:org.dmfs.tasks
package:com.sayhi.android.sayhitranslate
package:com.tts.imnos_mobile
package:com.longervideos.app
package:com.trianguloy.openInWhatsapp
package:de.dennisguse.opentracks
package:com.apowersoft.beecut
package:co.easy4u.writer
package:eu.basicairdata.graziano.gpslogger
package:com.projectsexception.myapplist
package:com.simplemobiletools.smsmessenger
package:com.balda.intenttask
package:com.sigalert.mobile
package:com.google.android.apps.walletnfcrel
package:org.secuso.privacyfriendlywifimanager
package:org.torproject.torbrowser
package:ru.andr7e.wifimonitor
package:com.hg.SpeechTimer
package:com.ironsrc.aura.tmo
package:org.mightyfrog.android.simplenotepad
package:mobi.infolife.appbackup
package:com.keuwl.gpswaypoints
package:com.saawanapps.photocompress
package:com.google.android.videos
package:xyz.klinker.messenger
package:com.etwok.netspotapp
package:us.koller.cameraroll
package:com.github.axet.callrecorder
package:io.github.videosplitterapp
package:com.donnnno.arcticons
package:com.simplemobiletools.contacts.pro
package:org.videolan.vlc
package:io.github.muntashirakon.AppManager
package:net.mediaarea.mediainfo
package:com.google.android.apps.photos
package:com.llamalab.automate
package:com.jarsilio.android.scrambledeggsif
package:com.airbeat.device.inspector
package:com.sika524.android.quickshortcut
package:com.google.android.apps.googlevoice
package:com.validconcept.Timer4TM
package:com.aminbeheshti.exifviewer
package:com.microsoft.office.officehubrow
package:com.simplemobiletools.musicplayer
package:superfreeze.tool.android
package:com.fsck.k9
package:com.intermedia.hd.camera.professional
package:net.sourceforge.fastphototagger
package:com.simplemobiletools.gallery.pro
package:com.larryvgs.battery2020
package:com.adfree.Gallery
package:com.nutomic.syncthingandroid
package:com.fittech.videomusiceditor
package:com.minditsystems.PlaneWatch
package:org.aospstudio.appsmanage
package:org.aospstudio.files
package:com.deltacdev.websiteshortcut
package:de.onyxbits.listmyapps
package:at.jclehner.appopsxposed
package:nu.firetech.android.wifiwarning
package:com.sec.android.app.popupcalculator
package:com.ubqsoft.sec01
package:com.generalmagic.magicearth
package:com.adobe.reader
package:de.kroegerama.android4batpercent
package:com.linkedin.android
package:com.healthappy.smsalert
package:crc.carsapp.sacog
package:make.more.r2d2.cellular_z
package:com.samsung.android.app.notes
package:at.bleeding182.flashlight
package:info.guardianproject.orfox
package:com.termux
package:org.witness.sscphase1
package:org.primftpd
package:com.deependhulla.opemail
package:com.lexa.fakegps
package:protect.videoeditor
package:maderski.chargingindicator
package:com.videocompressoractivity
package:com.simplemobiletools.voicerecorder
package:by4a.setedit22
package:com.mmdevs.callrecorder
package:sk.styk.martin.apkanalyzer
package:gbis.gbandroid
package:com.noctuasoftware.stellarium_free
package:com.github.cvzi.screenshottile
package:com.andrd.wadirectmessage
package:com.deependhulla.opensync
package:com.google.android.apps.recorder
package:com.duckduckgo.mobile.android
package:info.maigo.lab.intentviewer
package:net.osmand.plus
package:org.ungoogled.chromium.stable
package:com.panagola.app.shortcut
package:com.simplemobiletools.draw.pro
package:com.movavi.mobile.movaviclips
package:net.muik.myappfinder
package:com.tmobile.services.nameid
package:com.alextern.shortcutexecutors
package:com.mapfactor.navigator
package:com.digipom.easymediaconverter
package:org.secuso.privacyfriendlysketching
package:com.villevalta.intentlauncher
package:com.joaomgcd.autoinput
package:com.adamsappls.carc
package:eu.faircode.email
package:com.perracolabs.cpd
package:com.call.recording.callrecord
package:com.simplemobiletools.camera
package:flar2.devcheck
package:org.secuso.privacyfriendlyweather
package:com.simplemobiletools.dialer
package:com.spencerstudios.applist
package:com.frankygoes.myapks
package:com.quick.shortcut.maker
package:com.video.compressor.size.reducer
package:spinninghead.talkingstopwatchlite
package:com.marga.ApkDownloader
package:com.none.tom.exiferaser
package:com.simplemobiletools.filemanager.pro
package:com.google.android.GoogleCamera
package:com.impetus.compressvideo
package:com.darshancomputing.BatteryIndicator
package:com.vdodev.videosplitter
package:ishara.software.co.droidsplitter
package:com.google.android.inputmethod.latin

[Joerg Lorenz]

Am 22.09.21 um 18:23 schrieb Scott Lurndal:

> The Real Bev writes:
>>>> For 150 apps? No.
>>>
>>> What are you doing with 150 apps?
>>
>> Weather, maps, GPS tracks, mail, photos, alarms, faux-pro, identifying
>
> I just checked my new phone which seems to have 676 "packages"
> C:\> adb shell pm list packages
> Of which 402 are "system" packages
> C:\> adb shell pm list packages -s
> And 274 are "3rd-party" packages:
> C:\> adb shell pm list packages -3
>
> package:com.textmeinc.textme3
> package:com.ironsrc.aura.appmanager.tmo
> package:de.tutao.tutanota

(taken out all that bragging)

Aren't there more important things to do in your life than to fiddle
around with a mobile?
I'm very sorry for you. Really.

[The Real Bev]

On 09/22/2021 02:00 AM, Andy Burns wrote:
> The Real Bev wrote:
>
>> Scott Lurndal wrote:
>>
>>> <https://www.digitalinformationworld.com/2021/09/google-is-going-to-let-older-android.html>
>>
>> Am I the only one who thinks that this idea sucks? I have 150 apps, most of
>> which I use only rarely but just want to have IN CASE I WANT TO USE THEM. Two
>> minutes to restore essential permissions for a single app? FEH!
>
> Where do you get the two minutes from?

Something in the article -- you can change an app's permission-kill
feature in two minutes. Big deal. I would have thought less than two
minutes for each app, but maybe his fingers are in reality thumbs.

> I install a new app, first time run it asks for permissions, I decide yes or no,
> (if I get the choice I only permit it to have the permissions while the app is
> running in the foreground)

I should do that. I should have done that before I knew that they would
auto-destruct. I really don't care -- the government already knows
everything about me and commercial entities are just wasting their money
trying to sell me stuff based on my behavior.

When the Security Lady interviewed me she was shocked when I told her
that the only organization I belonged to was the Auto Club. She made me
say it twice.

> Then if I don't use it for a couple of months, it revokes the permissions, if I
> happen to run the app again, it asks for permissions again, just like it did
> when freshly installed, I can just say yes or no again ...

Fine, unless you're really in a hurry -- like riding up on the lift, for
instance, and the sun is too bright to actually read the screen even if
I had my reading glasses out.

> I like the new feature the way it's implemented in Pixel devices anyway, not
> sure if it works different via the Play app on non-Pixel devices?

--
Cheers, Bev
It's true that Smokey Bear deserves praise for his
campaign against forest fires, but nobody ever mentions
the park rangers he kills for their hats.

[The Real Bev]

No, it would be a choice of (a) Temporarily disable all permissions on
apps unused for 90 days; or (b) Don't do that, leave them the fuck
alone. If you want to temporarily disable permissions for a given app
you could adjust its setting independently. Or the reverse.

The main reason I hate Chrome is that it offers so few options. I don't
like the way it does stuff and I can't change it. Firefox is moving
toward that distressing condition, which is why I stopped updating my
working Firefox at v82. I download nightlies every once in a while
(totally independent installation) just to see what the latest version
looks/acts like and am never happy.

[Scott Lurndal]

Anssi Saari <a...@sci.fi> asked

> Only 1 and 3 work, the second one gives me an error Activity class
> {com.android.settings/com.android.settings.Settings$SecDisabledAppsActivity}
> does not exist. So like I said, that's just doesn't exist on my phone.

Thanks Anssi Saari for testing those 3 commands so we can get a baseline.
What I do is keep a folder on my homescreen filled with these shortcuts!

I've been trying, for years, to get an Activity to run by the name alone.
I really appreciate that you found a way to do it, albeit via adb over USB.

We need to figure out how to manually run an Activity on the phone, knowing
just the name of the Activity - which is what I can't do just yet.

I'm hoping you can help as you seem to understand the goal better'n most.

Certainly what you helped me with is the syntax for 'adb' where we both
found out independently that we have to escape some special characters (and
yes, sometimes they need to be escaped twice, once with single quotes for
example, and then with a backslash, if needed).

You also concur with me that some of these Activities are to _hidden_
Android Settings, which means that they're especially useful to have since
there's no other way to get to them (as far as we know at this time).

While some of the Activities are to hidden Android settings, there are some
settings that are Google-only, which Google puts deep down there (because
they don't want us hitting them) so I make shortcuts to bring them up.
ACTION: "android.intent.action.MAIN"
PACKAGE: "com.google.android.gms"
CLASS: "com.google.android.gms.ads.settings.AdsSettingsActivity"

Another setting which is just convenient is to update the Android version.
ACTION: "android.intent.action.MAIN"
PACKAGE: "com.google.android.gms"
CLASS: "com.google.android.gms.update.SystemUpdateActivity"

I'm mostly just looking at Activities for Android Settings, but as you are
aware, every app has Activities inside them which sometimes may be useful.

As you are aware, almost every app that lists the Activities does so in a
horrible messed up way, where the search engines are terrible.

As just one example of an app that lists the Activities inside of every
other app, take a look at this App Manager (which is my favorite).
<https://muntashirakon.github.io/AppManager/>
<https://f-droid.org/en/packages/io.github.muntashirakon.AppManager/>

But every shortcut-maker app also lists all the Activities found, where, as
you noted, my Android "Settings" alone has 322 Activities (and the Google
Play Services app has 177 Activities (most of which are "gms", Google Mobile
Services), many of which are duplicates of the Android settings (and some of
which are sneaky location grabbers).

As an example, this is a Google-only setting, as far as I know.
ACTION: "android.lintent.action.MAIN"
PACKAGE: "com.google.android.gms"
CLASS: "com.google.android.gms.location.settings.LocationAccuracyActivity"

Notice it's similar but different from the Android setting for accuracy.
ACTION: "android.intent.action.MAIN"
PACKAGE: "com.android.settings"
CLASS: "com.android.settings.Settings$ScanningSettingsActivity"

To summarize, what we need is to figure out how to get the Activity to come
up on Android WITHOUT needing to connect to USB & a Windows PC.

[Scott Lurndal]

> ACTION: "android.intent.action.MAIN"
> PACKAGE: "com.google.android.gms"
> CLASS: "com.google.android.gms.ads.settings.AdsSettingsActivity"

To save others' time, here's adb syntax to Reset the Advertising ID on your phone.
C:\> adb shell am start -n com.google.android.gms/.ads.settings.AdsSettingsActivity

> Another setting which is just convenient is to update the Android version.
> ACTION: "android.intent.action.MAIN"
> PACKAGE: "com.google.android.gms"
> CLASS: "com.google.android.gms.update.SystemUpdateActivity"

Here's the adb syntax to check for Android system updates on your phone:
C:\> adb shell am start -n com.google.android.gms/.update.SystemUpdateActivity

> As an example, this is a Google-only setting, as far as I know.
> ACTION: "android.lintent.action.MAIN"
> PACKAGE: "com.google.android.gms"
> CLASS: "com.google.android.gms.location.settings.LocationAccuracyActivity"

Here's the adb syntax to check the Google Location Accuracy Activity.
C:\> adb shell am start -n com.google.android.gms/.location.settings.LocationAccuracyActivity

> Notice it's similar but different from the Android setting for accuracy.
> ACTION: "android.intent.action.MAIN"
> PACKAGE: "com.android.settings"
> CLASS: "com.android.settings.Settings$ScanningSettingsActivity"

Here's the adb syntax to bring up the "Improve accuracy" Android Activity.
C:\> adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.Settings\$ScanningSettingsActivity

[Andy Burns]

Scott Lurndal wrote:

> To save others' time, here's adb syntax to Reset the Advertising ID on your phone.
> C:\> adb shell am start -n com.google.android.gms/.ads.settings.AdsSettingsActivity

Or without adb ...

Settings/Privacy/Advanced/Ads/ResetAdvertisingID

While you're there you can also opt-out of Ads personalisation

[Scott Lurndal]

Just to be clear about the goals, the goal is to be able to create a
shortcut so that it's a single button tap for all things you do a lot.

No menus to remember. No menus to navigate. No menus to change over time.
Just tap a homescreen shortcut in your dock named "Reset AD ID" & that's it.

The harder task is to do the same for the _hidden_ settings menus.
Most of these hidden settings menus can be found in shortcut creators.

But some can't.
Those hidden menu settings have no known graphical way to get to them.

That's the ultimate goal here.
To be able to bring up a setting just by knowing the name of that Activity.

[Andy Burns]

Scott Lurndal wrote:

> Just to be clear about the goals, the goal is to be able to create a
> shortcut so that it's a single button tap for all things you do a lot.
>
> No menus to remember. No menus to navigate. No menus to change over time.
> Just tap a homescreen shortcut in your dock named "Reset AD ID" & that's it.
>
> The harder task is to do the same for the _hidden_ settings menus.
> Most of these hidden settings menus can be found in shortcut creators.
>
> But some can't.
> Those hidden menu settings have no known graphical way to get to them.
>
> That's the ultimate goal here.
> To be able to bring up a setting just by knowing the name of that Activity.

AFAIK, there are apps to launch any known activity, I don't use one

<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.szalkowski.activitylauncher>

Presumably Tasker can do it too? Neither require hooking up a USB lead in order
to run adb, and e.g. you could schedule it to reset your ID every day.

[Scott Lurndal]

Andy Burns writes:
> AFAIK, there are apps to launch any known activity, I don't use one
> <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.szalkowski.activitylauncher>

Anssi Saari and I are familiar with at least a half dozen or so of those
Activity & Intent launcher apps so it's good you said you don't use one
because we wouldn't be asking if we got any of them to work yet.

What we want is an app that allows us to just type in the Activity
much like web shortcut apps create a shortcut just by typing the URL.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.deltacdev.websiteshortcut

An example is to launch this Activity inspector and then "do something".
Whatever you do will be "recorded" by this Activity inspector app.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cemique.shortcutwidgets

Once we have the unique name of the Activity (noting that some have no GUI
so you _only_ have the name since you can't launch them any other way), then
all we want to do is launch that Activity knowing _only_ its unique name.

Does that make sense by way of explanation of what the problem task is?
Maybe the activity shortcut makers will work but we haven't figured out how.

These are some of the respected Activity shortcut maker apps we looked at.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=rk.android.app.shortcutmaker
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.alextern.shortcuthelper
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sika524.android.quickshortcut

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.szalkowski.activitylauncher
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cunnj.activitylauncher

And these are some of the intent launchers we've looked at.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.trianguloy.instantintent

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.villevalta.intentlauncher
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=krow.dev.scheme
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.balda.intenttask

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=info.maigo.lab.intentviewer

I need to be careful that I'm not saying these apps don't do what we want
as I'm just saying we haven't figured out the syntax to make them do it.

I'm also not saying an app that does what we want it to do doesn't exist.
I'm just saying that we haven't yet figured out how to make them do it.

For example, Anssi and I already said their search is so bad it's unusable.
But we really don't need the search since we already know the Activity name!

All all we really need is the correct syntax (I think) or a tutorial.

We also already said that we haven't found a tutorial that shows us the
syntax of how to set up the shortcut manually (not selected from a list!)
to do something even as trivial as the "Reset Ad ID" Activity example.

To be clear, there _may_ be one of those apps which does what we want it
to do but we haven't yet been able to make them do what we want them to do.

C:\> adb shell am start -n com.google.android.gms/.ads.settings.AdsSettingsActivity

That's why we're asking for help in how (syntactically?) to make _any_
of those apps run the Activity just from knowing the name of the Activity.

For example maybe we can put the adb command to reset the ad id into a
batch file which can be run on Android using Termux, but even something
that simple we don't yet know the syntax for that works with that example.

> Presumably Tasker can do it too? Neither require hooking up a USB lead in order
> to run adb, and e.g. you could schedule it to reset your ID every day.

I don't think anyone doubts that Tasker can do anything, especially
something that is so common everyone would want, like resetting the
ad id at any given event (such as every time the screen wakes up).

To be clear, we "think" the existing non-root free apps can do the job.
We just don't know how yet. :(

All we need is the syntax and the free ad free app that does the job.

If you could get the example of the "Reset AD ID" syntax figured out
to just pop it up on the screen using any of the free ad free apps
on Google Play, then _everyone_ would be able to do what you found.

[Scott Lurndal]

> If you could get the example of the "Reset AD ID" syntax figured out
> to just pop it up on the screen using any of the free ad free apps
> on Google Play, then _everyone_ would be able to do what you found.
> ACTION: "android.intent.action.MAIN"
> PACKAGE: "com.google.android.gms"
> CLASS: "com.google.android.gms.ads.settings.AdsSettingsActivity"

I finally got the Activity to pop up on Android from just the name.
Termux$ am start -n com.google.android.gms/.ads.settings.AdsSettingsActivity

Now the question becomes how to _simplify_ that since remembering and
typing any of the commands below is too much work - but at least it works.
Termux$ am start -n com.android.settings/.Settings
Termux$ am start -n com.android.settings/.applications.ManageApplications
Termux$ am start -n com.android.settings/.network.telephony.MobileNetworkActivity
Termux$ am start -n com.android.settings/.Settings$AppAndNotificationDashboardActivity
Termux$ am start -n com.android.settings/.Settings$AppMemoryUsageActivity
Termux$ am start -n com.android.settings/.Settings$NotificationAppListActivity
Termux$ am start -n com.android.settings/.Settings$PowerUsageSummaryActivity
Termux$ am start -n com.android.settings/.Settings$SecDisabledAppsActivity
Termux$ am start -n com.google.android.gms/.ads.settings.AdsSettingsActivity
Termux$ am start -n com.google.android.gms/.app.settings.GoogleSettingsIALink
Termux$ am start -n com.google.android.gms/.app.settings.GoogleSettingsLink
Termux$ am start -n com.google.android.gms/.gcm.GcmDiagnostics
Termux$ am start -n com.google.android.gms/.location.settings.LocationAccuracyActivity
Termux$ am start -n com.google.android.gms/.mdm.settings.AdmSettingsActivity
Termux$ am start -n com.google.android.gms/.nearby.exposurenotification.settings.SettingsActivity
Termux$ am start -n com.google.android.gms/.nearby.sharing.ContactSelectActivity
Termux$ am start -n com.google.android.gms/.update.SystemUpdateActivity
Termux$ am start -n com.google.android.gms/co.g.Space
Termux$ am start -n com.samsung.android.secsoundpicker/.SecSoundPickerActivity

Now that it works inside of Termux, can we simplify that to a single tap
that is permanent (that is, it will be remembered after rebooting)?

[Scott Lurndal]

One by one, I'm making little baby steps where on Android I can now bring up
_any_ Activity by name alone, if I type the Activity name into Termux
(or if I make an alias or script to type the command for me).

A. For example, this alias (which I named "adid") survives rebooting:
$ alias adid='am start -n com.google.android.gms/.ads.settings.AdsSettingsActivity'
$ alias >> ~/.bashrc
To run that alias at the Android Termux command line, I just type:
$ adid (that will pop up the named Activity on your phone)

B. Also this shell script (which I named "./adid.sh") survives rebooting:
--- begin file below named ./adid.sh ---
#!/data/data/com.termux/files/usr/bin/bash
am start -n com.google.android.gms/.ads.settings.AdsSettingsActivity
--- the script ./adid.sh is just two lines ---
To run that script at the Android Termux command line, I just type:
$ ./adid.sh (that will pop up the named Activity on your phone)

There is only 1 thing left which is how to put _that_ in a homescreen icon?
Anybody know how?

[Andy Burns]

Scott Lurndal wrote:

>> If you could get the example of the "Reset AD ID" syntax figured out
>> to just pop it up on the screen using any of the free ad free apps
>> on Google Play, then _everyone_ would be able to do what you found.
>> ACTION: "android.intent.action.MAIN"
>> PACKAGE: "com.google.android.gms"
>> CLASS: "com.google.android.gms.ads.settings.AdsSettingsActivity"
>
> I finally got the Activity to pop up on Android from just the name.
> Termux$ am start -n com.google.android.gms/.ads.settings.AdsSettingsActivity

I had a look with "Activity Launcher" by Adam Szalkowski, on starting up it
enumerates all activities offered by all apps, you can create shortcuts e.g. to
the named activity above, but that only launches the dialog from where you can
press to do the actual reset.

I guess what is needed is something that can launch the specific Intent to press
the 'button' rather than just raise the dialog of the Activity?

So I had a look at "Intent Launcher" by Ville Valte
it very much leaves it up to you to provide a URI string to the Intent you want,
and I didn't find a valid one yet ...

[Scott Lurndal]

Andy Burns writes:
> I had a look with "Activity Launcher" by Adam Szalkowski, on starting up it
> enumerates all activities offered by all apps, you can create shortcuts e.g. to
> the named activity above, but that only launches the dialog from where you can
> press to do the actual reset.

Thank you Andy for trying things out because nobody can understand what
we're asking until they actually push a few buttons to see what we're doing.

Now that you've tried it, you've found there are _multiple_ actions needed.
3. When you launch "Reset ADID" Activity, you still need to press a button
2. The syntax is picky to make an ad hoc manual (URI string?) Activity work.
1. The apps we've found (so far) that create shortcuts _stink_ at searches.

Notice that I listed those unsolved problems in reverse order because we
have to solve them taking the _simplest_ problem sets first (I think).

> I guess what is needed is something that can launch the specific Intent to press
> the 'button' rather than just raise the dialog of the Activity?

I'm glad you found that out as it's something I didn't even _ask_ about yet.
It's the _last_ part of the problem, but I agree it's important to solve.

Notice this set of apps maybe is able to actually hit the reset button?
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/developer?id=AlexTernHome>

I don't know yet how to actually press the damn button as I've been focusing
more on how to bring up the Activity if all you know is the name of it.

> So I had a look at "Intent Launcher" by Ville Valte
> it very much leaves it up to you to provide a URI string to the Intent you want,
> and I didn't find a valid one yet ...

Yep. The syntax. That damn syntax.

None of us (yet) can find a tutorial which shows us how to do what we want.
What we want, for free, without ads, is to be able to do three things:
1. Create a homescreen shortcut for any Android Activity we want to
2. It's nice if we can do that just from knowing the name and nothing else.
3. Then we need to figure out how to _add_ stuff (like hit a reset button).

Notice we already have number #1 above, and we have most of #2 above.
(For #2 we can run it from inside of Termux but not yet create a shortcut.)

What we haven't even looked at yet is what you're looking at, which is #3.
(For #3, for the "Reset Ad ID" Activity, we want it to hit the button!)

[Andy Burns]

Scott Lurndal wrote:

> Thank you Andy for trying things out

Hold on, Arlen is impersonating Scott Lurndal now?

[badgolferman]

Andy Burns <use...@andyburns.uk> wrote:
> Hold on, Arlen is impersonating Scott Lurndal now?

He has a hundred privacy nyms but he asks good hard questions.
And he summarizes the answers better than almost anyone can.

That's how you know it's him because he doesn't hide that.
But he also pisses off the apple fanbois to no end on purpose. :0

[Frank Slootweg]

'Arlen' is not impersonating 'Scott Lurndal', he *is* 'Scott Lurndal'
and vice versa. 'Scott Lurndal' is his - somewhat - resonable persona,
which doesn't needlessly insult everybody. 'Enjoy' it while it lasts.

[Andy Burns]

Frank Slootweg wrote:

> Andy Burns <use...@andyburns.uk> wrote:
>
>> Scott Lurndal wrote:
>>
>>> Thank you Andy for trying things out
>>
>> Hold on, Arlen is impersonating Scott Lurndal now?
>
> 'Arlen' is not impersonating 'Scott Lurndal', he *is* 'Scott Lurndal'
> and vice versa.

I did wonder about that after posting.

> 'Scott Lurndal' is his - somewhat - resonable persona,

Yes, I've always found "Scott" to be reasonable

> which doesn't needlessly insult everybody. 'Enjoy' it while it lasts.

I find all this schizophrenia a real turn-off from using the group, there's no
need to "drum up" interesting topics to keep the group alive, if it happens to
be quiet then let it go quiet for a while.

See also the 1000-rally ping-pong threads where 95% of the messages are from two
people arguing.

Arlen you're not keeping the place alive, you're killing it off.