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I have created an app that will help share apps across users on google's new 4.2 multi user feature.
Thanks to mentose457 and unwired for giving me the idea.
see this thread (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1994169)
It works by removing package elements from user's package-restriction.xml file to add the app and adding the package element back to remove the app. (located at \data\system\users\10\package-restrictions.xml where 10 is the user's id)
This is quickly thrown together and will likely have a ton of bugs, but I wanted to go ahead and get it out there for testing.
- This is BETA
-You must have ROOT
- This changes system data on non documented files it could screw something up.
- I'm not responsible for any problems this causes or lost data or bricked or broken devices
- please use cation
- it is currently built to run on main user to enable or disable apps on secondary users (once root is fully working on secondary users I will see about making it run correctly on secondary user's account)
- not tested thoroughly with paid apps*
- does not currently support system apps**
- due to the way I pull the app list from the package manager some installed apps may not show as available to add/remove
- apps installed first on a secondary user's profile will probably not show in the list to add/remove
*paid apps seemed to work but I did not have internet access during testing. My theory is that any paid apps that use Google's license verification will not work or not work for long. So adding your Google Account to the secondary user's play store is probably still the best way to share paid apps.
**The entries in the xml for system apps is different. Therefore I will have to research them more before getting it to work or deciding not to mess with those apps. Currently some will show not installed on other users even though they are and removing/adding them will not work correctly.
------> DOWNLOAD HERE https://play.google.com/store/apps/...tm_medium=forum&utm_campaign=app_announcement
I'd love to get feedback to what is working and what is not. Also if anybody figures out anything more about the package-restriction.xml file I'd love to hear it. Especially when it comes to system apps.
wow this sounds great, Thanks
after using this app i can no longer use any secondary user account. i started it from the main account, changed the visibility for some apps, restarted. now when i log into the secondary account i get FCs for all apps that try to start. I can manage to pull down the notification and access the settings from there and uninstall apps and so on, but that doesn't really help.
i then created a completly new user but it's exactly the same there. primary user is still working fine.
any idea what's going on?
Tapatalked
Are you sure those apps work correctly under secondary users? There are some apps that don't access the sdcard the correct way that will not work under secondary users until the dev fixes the app.
Try downloading the apps that you had trouble with directly from the play store and see if they work.
nvm, sorry. I had installed a theme at the same time I installed your app and apparently CM10.1 doesn't like themes on secondary users. Didn't think a theme could have such an effect so blamed your app
No problem. Glad you got it figured out.
I heard that app developers can potentially access all your photos. Is this right and how can you keep them private?
ummm not that I'm aware of. where did you hear this from? :silly:
I don't know if that is true or not, but I suspected something similar reading the permissions before downloading apps as well. I noted modifying the SD card in many of them, a few included WIPING it. Now if they have that kind of power, I would be hesitant. I suppose Google has something in place that prevents that kind of abuse, but seeing how Quickpic can replace the default Gallery app, I do think it is possible. However, transmitting that data back to them may not be allowed or possible. Until I finish learning the SDK thoroughly, I cannot say yea or nay on it. I would suggest asking google about a specific app and see what they say first, and then consult someone who knows how to read the .apk files to see what they can discover.
Wallace_Brownie said:
I heard that app developers can potentially access all your photos. Is this right and how can you keep them private?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're that worried, don't store them on your device. If the DroidWall app "really" works, it should block all internet communication on apps that you select.....a wall of fire is the purpose.
Sent from my Amazon Gindle Fireoid
Mephisto_VI said:
I don't know if that is true or not, but I suspected something similar reading the permissions before downloading apps as well. I noted modifying the SD card in many of them, a few included WIPING it. Now if they have that kind of power, I would be hesitant. I suppose Google has something in place that prevents that kind of abuse, but seeing how Quickpic can replace the default Gallery app, I do think it is possible. However, transmitting that data back to them may not be allowed or possible. Until I finish learning the SDK thoroughly, I cannot say yea or nay on it. I would suggest asking google about a specific app and see what they say first, and then consult someone who knows how to read the .apk files to see what they can discover.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I rememeber correctly, the android permission to access the sd card gives full read write privileges to the app, there is no partial access. Most apps need this permission to save data, cache etc to your sd card.
If you have a linux OS running computer you can modify file permissions for write and delete as root only, while allowing all users to read. That way if you want to delete or modify the file, you'll have to use superuser permissions. Of course that requires a rooted phone then....
Sent from my HTC Desire HD using xda app-developers app
Mephisto_VI said:
but seeing how Quickpic can replace the default Gallery app, I do think it is possible. .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use hide it pro from play store. It can hide pictures and videos from any gallery app.
Mephisto_VI said:
I don't know if that is true or not, but I suspected something similar reading the permissions before downloading apps as well. I noted modifying the SD card in many of them, a few included WIPING it. Now if they have that kind of power, I would be hesitant. I suppose Google has something in place that prevents that kind of abuse, but seeing how Quickpic can replace the default Gallery app, I do think it is possible. However, transmitting that data back to them may not be allowed or possible. Until I finish learning the SDK thoroughly, I cannot say yea or nay on it. I would suggest asking google about a specific app and see what they say first, and then consult someone who knows how to read the .apk files to see what they can discover.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They said that they can't, and that's why they won't put SD cards in their own line.
Since I first responded, I came across Avast! Anti-virus for Android. It has a built in firewall you can customize per app. I do believe it requires root to utilize it though. Once I nosed around the settings, I was impressed with it. Now to see how well it works before I recommend either way on it. Oh, if you are going to use it, root first then install Avast.
Sent from my (rooted) LG-P870 using xda app-developers app
I know it has been a bit since the last response. I did find a few more programs since then though. Addons Detector examines programs and their permissions and puts several lists together in an easy to read format for you. Its good for when you have forgotten which program had what permissions or didn't catch what they were when installing. It also has an extra option (paid) that I am still evaluating: a live monitor. Notifications of how many addons are added upon installing a new app. Could be beneficial for the security conscious or the, for lack of a better term, paranoid users.
Sent from my LG-P870 using xda premium
Hi - I'm new to Android (and not that well versed with WM5 yet either), but have also been concerned when I saw all these apps that require access to full network, contacts, phone ID and number, etc.
While I understand using the Avast! firewall would prevent apps accessing the internet and sending my data, would those apps then cease to run if they couldn't access what they wanted?
Thanks,
Dylan.
Hi all,
What I want to do: remove all Timescape elements from stock Sony ROM safely (avoiding force closes, not random deletion)
Why: I noticed that a Sony executive announced a week or two ago that their 2013 phones will not have Timescape running through the phone because it did result in performance lag. Instead they will use one app for the same purpose. I want to test removing the lag in my phone by removing anything Timescape.
News on Timescape: http://www.xperiablog.net/2013/01/14/rip-timescape-long-live-socialife/
You need a rooted device and an explorer with root access like ES Explorer in order to delete the apk files in the System/App directory. You can find more information at the bottom of the first post in this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1546253&highlight=bloatware.
I would recommend not to delete them actually just in case you want something back. In my case I have only change the file extension so the app won't start. For example gmail.apk has been renamed to gmail.apk1
A few months ago I clicked 'allow Facebook to sync with contacts' and similar options, I thought some features were useful. I tried disabling them all today and it has already made a helpful boost in performance. The true test will be a few days performance.
What I did was root my phone. Then I used an app manager that would allow me to disable system apps. That way I could easily restore any app that are really required. Anything with time scape or Facebook got disabled. I also disabled all system apps that were available from the app store.
Sent from my Nexus 10 using xda app-developers app
No need to root. Just goto the app manager and disable all timescape items and anything else not needed.
I rooted and used Titanium Backup where I uninstalled all "Timescape"-related (appr. 5-6 entries...)
Root needed to delete
honglong said:
No need to root. Just goto the app manager and disable all timescape items and anything else not needed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You still need root to delete system apps. Once you have disabled them and decided that causes no issues, deleting them will free up a little space.
A few days ago I disabled as much Timescape as I could and so far it really does remove a lot of lag. The phone is already usable...
It can be nice seeing friend's Facebooks pictures etc. in your phonebook but the lag is not worth it. :victory:
I am wondering if there is a way to modify the Facebook APK to get contact sync working without modifying ContactProvider.apk as I am using a non rooted phone and don't want to root just for this. In the past I have used HaxSync but with the latest Facebook APIs that no longer works.
Is it simply a case of adding the WRITE_CONTACTS permission to the Facebook APK and if so is that (easily) possible?
Thanks for any help, if there is a better subforum for this type of thing please let me know also, thanks.
I don't believe it is app specific, it's through their servers, if I understand the problem correctly. The only thing I have seen from the apps that used to work is they say the contact has to grant permission to let them sync the info before it will work. This seems like just modding the app will not be enough to help accomplish what you are trying to do.
es0tericcha0s said:
I don't believe it is app specific, it's through their servers, if I understand the problem correctly. The only thing I have seen from the apps that used to work is they say the contact has to grant permission to let them sync the info before it will work. This seems like just modding the app will not be enough to help accomplish what you are trying to do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For third party apps, (e.g. HaxSync, UberSync etc.) what you're saying is true. These apps no longer function due to server side changes by Facebook in the form of updated APIs (as I mentioned in the OP).
However I am talking about the official Facebook app. With this app, the contact sync still works perfectly, on ROMs where ContactsProvider.apk is modified to explicitly grant permission to the Facebook app (com.facebook.katana) to write contacts, without the app itself requiring the permission that every other app needs. OEMs such as Samsung modify ContactsProvider.apk in this way so as to allow Facebook to sync (by basically adding an exception to the permission check). There are also flashable mods for custom ROMs, as well as an Xposed module which performs this task. Obviously these require unlocked bootloader & custom recovery, or root & Xposed respectively.
However, I believe that if the app itself is modified to require this permission (i.e. android.permission.WRITE_CONTACTS, it should also work, without requiring an exception in ContactsProvider.apk.
The reason modifying ContactsProvider is "preferred" by most is that doing it that way allows the app to be installed from the Play store and thus maintain auto-updates, whereas if you modify the APK you no longer get auto-updates, and would have to manually update. But that's worth it to me to get contact syncing working.
EDIT: On closer inspection, it may be more complicated than I thought. The Facebook app already has this permission, there must be something else preventing it from functioning. I still believe it is possible to get it working simply by modifying the APK, but it is likely beyond my capabilities.
SifJar said:
I am wondering if there is a way to modify the Facebook APK to get contact sync working without modifying ContactProvider.apk as I am using a non rooted phone and don't want to root just for this. In the past I have used HaxSync but with the latest Facebook APIs that no longer works.
Is it simply a case of adding the WRITE_CONTACTS permission to the Facebook APK and if so is that (easily) possible?
Thanks for any help, if there is a better subforum for this type of thing please let me know also, thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually this fiasco started a couple of years ago. When Facebook & Google had a spat over data sharing. Facebook app has the support to sync contacts. But it is not natively supported. It is just a matter of 0 & 1. But OEM like Samsung, HTC have made contract with Facebook individually, so it is supported on those phones.
For syncing, if you are rooted you can use an Xposed module here in XDA. It's something like Xfbmod. And for the apps, Sync.me still works like a charm. I used it just a while ago.
Dexter_S said:
Actually this fiasco started a couple of years ago. When Facebook & Google had a spat over data sharing. Facebook app has the support to sync contacts. But it is not natively supported. It is just a matter of 0 & 1. But OEM like Samsung, HTC have made contract with Facebook individually, so it is supported on those phones.
For syncing, if you are rooted you can use an Xposed module here in XDA. It's something like Xfbmod. And for the apps, Sync.me still works like a charm. I used it just a while ago.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've seen a few forum posts referencing things along these lines, but I have found absolutely zero concrete evidence of such a "spat". There is nothing in Android to specifically disallow FB syncing, the OEMs that support it have modified the framework to explicitly grant the app permission. For a reference on this, check the CM gerrit issue about this. To quote Steve Klondik (founder of CM) on this:
Yeah, screw Facebook. We should not be hacking up the framework because they won't fix their app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The OEMs have decided to make a workaround, for their users benefit. Not because they have some contract, of which I have seen no evidence. The issue is with Facebook's app and their refusal to fix the issue.
As I mentioned in the OP if you bothered to read it, I am not rooted and do not want to be, and am also fully aware of the Xposed module.
As for Sync.ME, I installed it the other day and it asked straight away to upload all my contact data to their servers. It's not my place to put the details of my friends and family in the hands of some company I'm not particularly familiar with.
Tip: Installing Facebook APK version 28 or lower will give you the ability to sync contacts again. Updating to the latest version will still allow you to sync for a limited amount of time until it re-downloads updated configuration files (I think?). So I think the problem is just some config or database file disabling the feature.
ArmsAsuncion said:
Tip: Installing Facebook APK version 28 or lower will give you the ability to sync contacts again. Updating to the latest version will still allow you to sync for a limited amount of time until it re-downloads updated configuration files (I think?). So I think the problem is just some config or database file disabling the feature.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I installed version 28 and got no option to sync. Are you on AOSP or some OEM/custom ROM? Version 28 was released long after sync stopped working on the official FB app for myself and many other people.
SifJar said:
I installed version 28 and got no option to sync. Are you on AOSP or some OEM/custom ROM? Version 28 was released long after sync stopped working on the official FB app for myself and many other people.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm using Samsung Note 4 official rom. Try older ones? Mine doesn't have sync if I use versions above 28. It stopped working for me around October 1st week (Version 49). So when I want to sync, I have a titanuim backup of my version 24 data and just restore it (without restoring app itself). That way I can sync for a few minutes until the menu disappears again.
Edit: read the whole thread and I see that the problem was on other roms only. But nevertheless, Facebook disabled contacts syncing for all phones now since around version 40+. Only way to make it work is to downgrade or the steps I used above.
hello, i can't scan my phone with an antivirus downloaded from play store because
it crashes and only responds if I take out the battery and restart it
and i think it may have a virus, is there a way to scan it from my pc?
please don't question if i'm sure it has a virus because i'm not sure, but i need to know if it is possible or the problem is the screen
is a moto g5 android 8.1 not rooted, but i may do it
and win 10 on pc
thanks in advance
Factory reset. Full nuke.
Hopefully you backed up your critical data.
Reset Google account password then.
Be careful what you install and download.
blackhawk said:
Factory reset. Full nuke.
Hopefully you backed up your critical data.
Reset Google account password then.
Be careful what you install and download.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
for now the phone works
so you don't know any way for scanning?
h.bomb0001 said:
for now the phone works
so you don't know any way for scanning?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Malwarebytes. You can scan it with everything under sun and still not ID it.
If suspect malware and can't erraticate it in an hour or two, factory reset time before it does more damage or downloads a more dangerous payload.
You can try deleting the download folder contents or the specific infected file if you know it, including jpegs. If it hasn't breached the download folder that will stop it. Otherwise if you unintentionally installed or it otherwise got installed the outlook is much bleaker...
blackhawk said:
Malwarebytes. You can scan it with everything under sun and still not ID it.
If suspect malware and can't erraticate it in an hour or two, factory reset time before it does more damage or downloads a more dangerous payload.
You can try deleting the download folder contents or the specific infected file if you know it, including jpegs. If it hasn't breached the download folder that will stop it. Otherwise if you unintentionally installed or it otherwise got installed the outlook is much bleaker...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks a lot
i'll be trying those options
hello, english is not my native language, sorry if i make any grammar mistakes, and i'm not sure if this is the best thread to post this, i'm new
i have downloaded MicroG apk and installed it, after a minute the screen starts blinking, but the home, recent app, back button worked cause when i touched it vibrates
when i use antivirus like Malwarebytes or Avast or any other the phone starts to overheat and crashes
i noticed with Avast that it crashes at 58% when analyzing the phone (the one for calling etc) default app, i tried disabling the app and erasing all phone data
but it still crashing
The phone blinks even on boot logo, and sometimes blinks on normal usage
does any know if a virus is messing my phone or did microG ruined some of software? If there is a virus how do i know/delete?
Delete all data may be my last option
phone: moto g5 (not plus, just 5) android 8.1
thanks in advance
h.bomb0001 said:
i have downloaded MicroG apk and installed it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello, and welcome to XDA. I hope you'll always find the support your require. And just for your information I've moved your above post into this already existing thread by you. Please review the XDA Forum Rules with special emphasis on rule no. 5, post only once and post in an existing thread. You can also edit your thread's opening post and/or thread title if you feel the need.
Regarding your above question, first I'd like to ask you from where you downloaded the MicroG apk? I'm a user of microG for many years on all of our devices but I've never experienced and also never heard about such an issue.
And I don't intend to join a discussion if a so-called anti-virus application is required on Android devices. I agree to a firewall but in my personal opinion anti-virus applications, and it doesn't matter by whom, either don't do anything or have much more "unwanted" effects like breaches of privacy and security, spying or maybe that what you experienced.
Oswald Boelcke said:
Hello, and welcome to XDA. I hope you'll always find the support your require. And just for your information I've moved your above post into this already existing thread by you. Please review the XDA Forum Rules with special emphasis on rule no. 5, post only once and post in an existing thread. You can also edit your thread's opening post and/or thread title if you feel the need.
Regarding your above question, first I'd like to ask you from where you downloaded the MicroG apk? I'm a user of microG for many years on all of our devices but I've never experienced and also never heard about such an issue.
And I don't intend to join a discussion if a so-called anti-virus application is required on Android devices. I agree to a firewall but in my personal opinion anti-virus applications, and it doesn't matter by whom, either don't do anything or have much more "unwanted" effects like breaches of privacy and security, spying or maybe that what you experienced.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hello, since i'm new on this site i'm not fully aware of the rules
i hope it's understood that i'm seeking help and not to make spam
i deleted cache data and put some aplication to default, one of them was my phone's browser, sadly i don't know the source. But it wasn't the first time i downloaded from there
i normally does not have an antivirus on my phone, happen that i installed just for this issue
it may not be a virus, but just in case, is there a way to scan my phone from PC? i installed Malwarebytes on PC but the directory to the phone does not appear, i tryed other antivirus too but i does not show the directory, i read it's google security
h.bomb0001 said:
hello, since i'm new on this site i'm not fully aware of the rules
i hope it's understood that i'm seeking help and not to make spam
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No no; please don't misunderstand me. I'm fully aware that your intention was not to spam. You can assume that my reaction would have been differently in that case.
If you don't remember from where you downloaded the apk, please allow me to suggest to only use this XDA thread as reference:
[APP] microG GmsCore - lightweight free software clone of Google Play Services
Introduction microG GmsCore is a FLOSS (Free/Libre Open Source Software) framework to allow applications designed for Google Play Services to run on systems, where Play Services is not available. If you use your phone without GAPPS this might...
forum.xda-developers.com
or for direct download Marvin's Github (my link goes to his latest release as of yesterday):
Release v0.2.24.214816 · microg/GmsCore
This is a maintenance release to fix a few issues slipped into the last release. Changelog Exposure Notifications: Fix invalid RSSI calculation (Thanks @transistortim) Device profiles: Apply pro...
github.com
Oswald Boelcke said:
No no; please don't misunderstand me. I'm fully aware that your intention was not to spam. You can assume that my reaction would have been differently in that case.
If you don't remember from where you downloaded the apk, please allow me to suggest to only use this XDA thread as reference:
[APP] microG GmsCore - lightweight free software clone of Google Play Services
Introduction microG GmsCore is a FLOSS (Free/Libre Open Source Software) framework to allow applications designed for Google Play Services to run on systems, where Play Services is not available. If you use your phone without GAPPS this might...
forum.xda-developers.com
or for direct download Marvin's Github (my link goes to his latest release as of yesterday):
Release v0.2.24.214816 · microg/GmsCore
This is a maintenance release to fix a few issues slipped into the last release. Changelog Exposure Notifications: Fix invalid RSSI calculation (Thanks @transistortim) Device profiles: Apply pro...
github.com
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i think i will be using these links
i deleted the download folder, seems to work normal now, but haven't tryed an antivirus scan
thanks for replying
h.bomb0001 said:
i think i will be using these links
i deleted the download folder, seems to work normal now, but haven't tryed an antivirus scan
thanks for replying
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your English is fine, welcome to XDA.
The problem with antivirus apps especially if already infected is they may be compromised.
The other big issue is they may detect nothing when there actually is an active rootkit or virus.
I've never run always on antivirus on Androids. A scan every now and then with Malwarebytes is all I do. It picked off a trojan preloader that I missed in the download folder before it did any damage.
Nuking the whole download folder probably wasn't necessary but if there was any tainted files they needed to be deleted. If that fixed the issue it was probably a scripted jpeg. Had one on my Note 10+/Pie about 2 years ago. It damaged files in the Download folder as soon as I tried to view it. It didn't damage files in folders in the Download folder though. Because I saw those changes start as soon as I opened that file, I was able to find it easily. I deleted the jpeg and either repaired or deleted the damaged files.
That was a rather benign piece of malware but if it got into your database it be a terror. This is one reason to use a Download folder. Vet all files before you move them into your database or other folder on the device.
More malicious malware though will trick you into installing it or even self load. These are much more serious and may not be easy or possible to erratic without a factory reset. If unsure go full nuke and factory reset. As long as your using Android 9 or higher a factory reset will purge all known rootkits and viruses... just don't reload the malware again!
If the device is now running normally you're probably good to go. Keep an eye on it.
Androids rarely crash or get serious malware infections but it can happen. Be prepared to do a factory reset at any time. Go through the steps needed to do one and backup all the data needed to do so. Have a plan... this will take some careful thinking on your part. A factory reset doesn't need to be a disaster if you're prepared.
blackhawk said:
Your English is fine, welcome to XDA.
The problem with antivirus apps especially if already infected is they may be compromised.
The other big issue is they may detect nothing when there actually is an active rootkit or virus.
I've never run always on antivirus on Androids. A scan every now and then with Malwarebytes is all I do. It picked off a trojan preloader that I missed in the download folder before it did any damage.
Nuking the whole download folder probably wasn't necessary but if there was any tainted files they needed to be deleted. If that fixed the issue it was probably a scripted jpeg. Had one on my Note 10+/Pie about 2 years ago. It damaged files in the Download folder as soon as I tried to view it. It didn't damage files in folders in the Download folder though. Because I saw those changes start as soon as I opened that file, I was able to find it easily. I deleted the jpeg and either repaired or deleted the damaged files.
That was a rather benign piece of malware but if it got into your database it be a terror. This is one reason to use a Download folder. Vet all files before you move them into your database or other folder on the device.
More malicious malware though will trick you into installing it or even self load. These are much more serious and may not be easy or possible to erratic without a factory reset. If unsure go full nuke and factory reset. As long as your using Android 9 or higher a factory reset will purge all known rootkits and viruses... just don't reload the malware again!
If the device is now running normally you're probably good to go. Keep an eye on it.
Androids rarely crash or get serious malware infections but it can happen. Be prepared to do a factory reset at any time. Go through the steps needed to do one and backup all the data needed to do so. Have a plan... this will take some careful thinking on your part. A factory reset doesn't need to be a disaster if you're prepared.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
seems that deleting the download folder was more than enough, if any come across some similar issue, this may be a good step or solution
thanks a lot for the help
h.bomb0001 said:
seems that deleting the download folder was more than enough, if any come across some similar issue, this may be a good step or solution
thanks a lot for the help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ideally you find the file that's causing it, but a cure is cure. Overkill is better than no kill
I really hate the scripted jpegs. Had one on my PC 15 years and that Android one. Both did little or no damage... but I spotted both of them quickly by chance. The PC did make it into the Document folder, the trigger was deleting the email it was in in Outlook. Boom, then all hell broke loss. It created it's on folder with that jpeg image on it which was how I spotted it. Other than that it change folder settings globally. More of a "see what I can do" trick than an a data sucking monster. WTF?
The Android one was more destructive though as it trashed files in the folder it was in. Sometimes it just change the file association in the file's name which could be repaired. Others it did more damage and it was easier to delete those.
The trigger was opening/viewing the jpeg.
Good evening everyone, sorry for the question, but do you need an antivirus on your Android smartphone today? Can you use antivirus on your smartphone?