[Q] I think my phone is hacked - Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Last night I was at a bar for 4 hours with a friend. When we left, I saw that my Android phone had a new background. Instead of the normal black one, it was now a photo I took of a colleague some months ago, while he was mooning (showing his ass).
This seems too specific to just have been pockettriggered and the phone never at any point left my pocket. My best guess is that someone has had remote access to my device and were able to see my photos and setting a new background. Has anyone of you ever heard of something similar before?
My phone is a Nexus S with Cyanogenmod 10.2.0-RC1 (Android 4.3.1). All my apps are from Google Play and all should be legit (no shady apps)

Related

[Q] Spoken ads within Android?

I''ve asked this question in the Nexus 5 subforum too, but I am actually not sure it has anything to do with the device, more with apps.
Twice in the last days, I have gotten a spoken add on my Nexus 5, running stock 4.4.2.
Message is something like:
"YOU HAVE WON A FREE APP, SHAKE YOUR PHONE NOW TO GET YOUR FREE APP"
Even putting it down or a slight hand tremble will throw me towards the market where I see an app. Nothing shocking, but I have no clue what app is doing this. The first time I think I was working in the Gmail app, second time I was in Kik. Does anyone know how I can track which app is doing this?

[Q] Chrome for Android Background Media?

I remember about a year ago, Chrome was updated with support for playing media even if Chrome was in the background or the phone had its screen off. I tried using it today for the first time in a while, and that feature doesn't seem to be working for me anymore. Anyone know if it was taken out of Chrome? Are you having a similar issue? Any suggestions/fixes?
On a Nexus 5 stock, rooted, xposed BTW.

[Help] Wifi and 3G turning on alone...

Hello there! I have been having a bit of a problem lately. I own a BLU Dash 5.0 simunlocked from factory. It's a double sim model, which I have two sims, since the companies are spanish, let's call them Green Sim and Blue Sim (since that's how they are color coded in my status bar). It is also running Android Jelly Bean 4.2. Here is the problem. Ever since of March 20, a Chinese app appeared on my home screen, I don't know how, something called "Mobile Video" but the content was in a foreign Asian language. I suspect of my friend since I lent it to him for 15 minutes and then it appeared. Aside of this, the wifi and the Green Sim 3G was turned on.
I clicked on the app curious of it was something my friend downloaded from me, but then the app prompted me two options, I didn't know what it said since again, it was Asian. Next, I proceeded to uninstall it, going to my apps list, I was surprised to see another mysterious app, "Push_Down", that was the name. I uninstalled both Mobile Video and Push_Down. I thought I fixed the problem. Wrong.
Next day when I woke up, I found two new apps on my homescreen, and again, the Wifi and Green Sim 3G was on.These were Chinese also. I uninstalled them both and found once again "Push_Down" in my apps. After I uninstalled them, I thought the problem was finally fixed. Wrong again. Since this event, about every 2 or 3 hours, my Wifi and Green Sim 3G turn on automatically, but haven't downloaded anything new, one, because I have no credit left, and two, I have no internet at home. Ever since, daily I wake up, the same problem, the Wifi and 3G are on. I checked my SD Card, I checked my Phone Storage, both with 2 Antivirus (Avast!, and Lookout Mobile) and with Addons Detector. Surprisingly, nothing has appeared.
My last option is what hurts me most, to reset my phone, which I don't want to do since I have lots of apps installed, progress made with certain games and etc, etc. Also, I am not a root user, so I haven't rooted and won't root my phone.
Now, can anyone please help me? I am very annoyed at this happening everyday!
same problem...cheinese apps keep reinstalling
I too have had this problem for a few weeks now. Got a Chinese smartphone for Christmas (ok i know thats the first mistake, but it was worth a try for the money). mfaction royale mp720 (mpie comes up on the startup screen). Anyway i realised there where a few Chinese apps that came with it (pinyin and a app with a orange icon with a squirrel logo on it) so i unistalled these without problem. One chinese app i couldn't uninstall so i disabled it in the app settings
Everything had been working fine without problem and had been very happy with the phone until a week or so ago. started getting the apps described above installing. These include 'push_down' 'push_collect' 'filegogo' 'mobile video' and some others with chinese writing on them. I also get my phone setting itself to mute when these apps reappear. Keep uninstalling them but they keep coming back. Have tried AVG and Antimalware but they only flag things up as they install themselves, not the thing thats doing the installing. I thought that google account might be a problem so changed password and reset my phone to factory default. As a test i didn't connect back to google account. No joy. Although some apps have not reappeared some have and this morning a new one so i don't think its google account.
I did read some Chinese phones can have the malware embedded into the firmware but it's been fine for months. Perhaps there is a delay so your not likely to send the phone back then the malware begins. If this is the case then the only way round would be to root the phone then find the app or apps that are doing this. Not sure if it's easy to root one of these phones.
Anyone else had these symptoms after a full factory reset?. Anyone been able to sort it out? Anyone know of a guide to root his phone?
Hmmmmm....
cmillsy said:
I too have had this problem for a few weeks now. Got a Chinese smartphone for Christmas (ok i know thats the first mistake, but it was worth a try for the money). mfaction royale mp720 (mpie comes up on the startup screen). Anyway i realised there where a few Chinese apps that came with it (pinyin and a app with a orange icon with a squirrel logo on it) so i unistalled these without problem. One chinese app i couldn't uninstall so i disabled it in the app settings
Everything had been working fine without problem and had been very happy with the phone until a week or so ago. started getting the apps described above installing. These include 'push_down' 'push_collect' 'filegogo' 'mobile video' and some others with chinese writing on them. I also get my phone setting itself to mute when these apps reappear. Keep uninstalling them but they keep coming back. Have tried AVG and Antimalware but they only flag things up as they install themselves, not the thing thats doing the installing. I thought that google account might be a problem so changed password and reset my phone to factory default. As a test i didn't connect back to google account. No joy. Although some apps have not reappeared some have and this morning a new one so i don't think its google account.
I did read some Chinese phones can have the malware embedded into the firmware but it's been fine for months. Perhaps there is a delay so your not likely to send the phone back then the malware begins. If this is the case then the only way round would be to root the phone then find the app or apps that are doing this. Not sure if it's easy to root one of these phones.
Anyone else had these symptoms after a full factory reset?. Anyone been able to sort it out? Anyone know of a guide to root his phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, as much as my experience from rooting, I haven't done it once again after a bad event I had, like almost bricking an old phone I had which for my good luck there was a way to restore it Ever since, I won't root anymore unless there exists a ROM backup by the manufacturer. But still, I don't know what's causing this. My phone has been fine since stock, I have more than 2 months with it! The problem started since last Thursday, which is why I suspect it's an app I downloaded or ad I clicked on. Any ideas?
(Also, thanks for your reply )

question about hidden apps

My daughter in very tech savy and at the same time is starting to take the wrong path as she hits her teen years. I have installed screentime and it let's me remotely view what she view, installs and things like that. But she is smart and figured out a way around that. And she has what seems like to me some google apps that hide messages and IMG in PDF and KLM using email, maps and other apps. I have taken her phone from her but I for the life of me can figure this out. Its like as soon as she logs into an account in android settings it sets it up. And her nexus 5 always has an update ready for download .. While she is still on 4.4 she has always refused to upgrade to 5.1. Anyone know of any apps like this?

quick question for anyone still around

It's been like 5 days since I was able to say ok Google with screen off, call ( name here) and the phone would unlock and dial the number, regardless if it was a contact or not.
Now I say ok Google call ( name here) and either the assistant will not respond after opening to make the call, or it goes open and it shows example,
Call circles pizzeria
But it never makes the call.
Now if I using my fingerprint to unlock the device, say ok Google call circles pizzeria, it will make the call.
Want to note, this is not a contact. Also don't matter if it's a contact or not. I've showed 2 examples of ok Google getting "stuck" on the commands.
I've factory reset the device. I'm thinking this has to be on Google's end. Just want to know if anyone else is affected.
So 19 views, and no one quick tested their own device? Gee thanks....
Sent from my LG-H932 using XDA Labs
I don't use Assistant at all (in fact I struggle to keep it disabled on my phone, and Google tries to enable it all the time). So I am one those views, but unfortunately have no experience.
Which OS version are you on? That might affect the results of others who try it.
Does it matter if you're in a Smart Lock situation (Trusted location, Trusted BT device etc)?
Just tested mine. My Google Home took the initiative of making the call, and gave me some tips on my first call that way. This was while my phone was in my hand, too, so I'm not sure why the GH took over, but whatever. In the end, it did dial out... or try to, before I told it to hang up.
Not exactly your situation, so I didn't respond. Mine has nothing to do with unlocking the screen, as I keep my screen unlocked and on Navigation app while driving.
But here's my story...
_________
A few months ago, new Google app update stopped Google Assistant from making the daily phone calls to my wife when I'm coming home from work. (I never know what time I can leave.)
"OK, Google, call (my wife's name)"
Normally automatically dials via Bluetooth through Google Voice.
This time nada, repeatedly -- from trying to show me search results, to not responding at all.
Even tried "OK, Google, call my wife" (instead of her name). Google Assistant: "Who is your wife?" (She's listed in Contacts as my wife, besides her full name.)
Suddenly Google Assistant wasn't performing as previously and also had amnesia.
This happened two days in a row. I had to manually hit a pinned dialer screen shortcut to call my wife while driving home. (Which is technically against the law now in Georgia, touching your phone while driving.)
So, I reverted back to the previous Google app version (downloaded through APK Mirror) -- which does exactly what I need -- and refuse to let it auto update in Google Play Store. I also have Titanium Backup of that specific version on hold, in case Google accidentally updates somehow.
I know I'm now a few months behind in app versions, but I don't have time to mess with trouble shooting. If the version I have works, I'm keeping it.
_______
I have half a dozen apps I also keep from auto updating for similar reasons.
For instance, because of newly imposed Google rules about a year ago, an long time app called My Data Manager has to put an icon on the left side status bar to show it's technically running in the background. On previous versions you could disable that stupid icon or "badge" in the app settings. It's a neat app, because I can merely swipe down and at the bottom of my notifications, there's a pinned box that shows my current data usage. And it's quite accurate. Every time I compare it to my carrier's report of my data usage it's within a few MB.
But I do NOT want to see a CONSTANT icon on my left side status bar for that app. So, I reverted to older version before the Google rules change and it works EXACTLY the way I wish. I unticked "auto update". I've done that for my phone, my wife's and my mom's.
________
I just finished working one month straight, with no days off. Feb 15 - March 13, often 12-14 hour days. In one two week stretch, I worked over 160 hours (4 weeks of work, crammed into 2 weeks.)
So, I'm not putting up with any crap from my phone.
If new app version breaks something, I'm reverting to previous app version and preventing it from updating. At some unknown point in time, if I want to test they've finally fixed what they broke, I will do that when I have free time. Other than that, I need my daily phone to work, period.
ChazzMatt said:
snip.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What version of the G app are you on?
Also on EdXposed, or regular Xposed grab sudohide.
You can hide any app from play store.
Sent from my LG-H932 using XDA Labs
BROKEN1981 said:
What version of the G app are you on?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
See screenshot.

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