Hey XDA!! I came here because I know you're quick to deliver the help. I'm not sure if this should go in Q&A or the Development section, and you'll see why in a bit.
A friend of mine (we’ll call him M for ease) recently came to me with a concern. His coworker's ex-boyfriend has been hassling and harassing her using her Android phone. **BEFORE I go any further, YES I have suggested that the proper authorities get contacted.** At first he was allegedly sending texts to MY friend via the girl’s phone. He had some forwarding/spy type app (that’s all I could figure out from some research) on her phone that would allow him to text it, and then those messages would forward to M as if they came from his coworker. I have no idea how he could have done that, and I couldn’t find a lot of apps in the play store that seemed to have similar functions.
But now, he is apparently trying to get the poor girl to install a GPS tracker on her phone (unwittingly, I assume) so he can, well, know where she is. M can’t tell me the name of this app because he’s unsure.
So at this point I’m thinking that we not only have someone who’s being evil, but who is *maybe* making his own apps to stalk and get this girl, and my friend, in trouble at work.
I found a GPS spoofer on the play store https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lexa.fakegps&hl=en I have offered to help root phones and install this and do whatever is necessary to get this guy off their backs. I can test it all day long since I have a rooted device—my question is, I don’t have a spy app to spoof, nor do I know what exactly I’m trying to spoof, so how do I know this will be helpful?
I’m also considering finding a custom ROM and helping this girl lock her phone down more. Or telling her to call her carrier and change her number. Beyond that, does XDA have any suggestions or advice? I’m not a coder, but I can follow directions to change things if you tell me exactly where to go and what to change (i have dabbled a teensy bit in android source code before breaking my phone >_>)
The girl has a Samsung Dart, I’m currently unsure of the version of Android it’s running, but should find out soon and will edit the post.
Thanks for all the help!
You can format the phone and see if that works. Plus there are many text blocker apps on market.
Hope i helped .
Sent from my GT-S5360 using xda app-developers app
Yes ,I patiently read the entire story! Wipe the phones data !
As far as the text problem you said I don't think there is anything like that which could receive an sms from a number and then forward it to another number. So there are two options either the girl sent the text or the guy semt the text with a spoof number!
And as far as the GPS is concerned, one doesn't need a GPS tracker to know where one is! Just Google maps is enough if the guy has the girls mail in his contacts. Ask her to change the mail id it should be enough!
Sent from my GT-P3100 using Tapatalk 2
Hello,
Long story short, I am pretty sure my child has a serious problem that he is refusing to share for some reason (I'm getting the idea that he's not allowed to). I am afraid he'll enter clinical depression if I couldn't help him. I am pretty sure I will have an idea about what's going on if I could get my hands on his whatsapp chat with a specific contact. Is there any app that can do that? I read StealthGenie can do that but it's very expensive ($110).
Any help will be much appreciated.
Thanks
PeritoX said:
Hello,
Long story short, I am pretty sure my child has a serious problem that he is refusing to share for some reason (I'm getting the idea that he's not allowed to). I am afraid he'll enter clinical depression if I couldn't help him. I am pretty sure I will have an idea about what's going on if I could get my hands on his whatsapp chat with a specific contact. Is there any app that can do that? I read StealthGenie can do that but it's very expensive ($110).
Any help will be much appreciated.
Thanks
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If his device is rooted, the database whatsapp stores the texts is in plain text... But that needs you to have his device in your hands anyway so thre must be a more simple solution. Oh, I read the stealthgenie stuf, the phone needs to be rooted anyway to get it to work with whatsapp so it needs to be in your hands. Meaning you should be able to read the whatsapp just by holding the thing.
Hi,
I recently met someone online who was a romantic type of encounter but the more we spoke the more creeped out I got by the things hes seemed to know about me.
I finally came to the conclusion the things he said to me were extremely huge red flags, there was no way it was a coincidence anymore, and he knew FAR too much about things personal to me such as separate email accounts, and fake birthdates I use as only the last straw before I concluded to reset my device.
Code:
Alcatel
One Touch
Fierce 2
Kitkat
Thats the device I have. We 1st spoke on Kik and he sent me 2 pictures. One was of him that would not open an image. I tried to open it several times but it was just a blank picture.
The second I was able to view and download.
Does anyone know if this is possible to become infected by those means alone?
Otherwise it is possible he made a fake account and infected me with a link that did not work, but I was always under the impression that it was not possible to become infected by Rat or Keylogger with out installation. I was told in a recent thread I could become infected with opening a false link(???).
Im pretty much 100% sure I was infected. I hard reset my phone, but not the SD card yet. I believe the virus is gone, but I feel very creeped out this happen and do not see this going anywhere further but I would like to know if it is even possible. Theres no way Im being paranoid, but I do get a little over worried sometimes, unfortunately I think this was one of the genuine times.
How is it possible if someone did? Anybody have a link to a good article I could learn more? Thanks. PLEASE FORWARD TO ANYONE WHO MAY HAVE ANY ADVICE AT ALL WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED
Most likely he (or she) learned information about you some other way.
You might be surprised what people can learn from the "right" Google searches using some known info like email and city.
If a password on some account can be guessed, that can provide a flood of info, like reading every email or forum posts.
Most infections are from Android apps installed outside of Google Play. Image file viruses are theoretically possible, but I don't recall hearing of any such thing lately.
Please use this thread to continue this discussion: http://forum.xda-developers.com/general/security/getting-infected-android-device-t2989738
Hello, I'm new to the site, sorry if I post this in the incorrect forum. So my story is, I'm 16 and my father still pay my phone, we have a family plan and he is the primary holder for the account obviously. The problem is that he can manage everything, see texts/calls/data usage/ APPS/ etc. I don't know if he can see my browsing history too and all of that stuff and thangs but anyways. I know, he pays my phone but it's because he wants, but I want full privacy I don't want anybody sneaking around my gosh-darn stuff. I want to know if does exits any possibility to evade him to see my stuff, I don't know, any app, rooting my phone, etc. By the way we are Sprint customers.
Hey there. Just letting you know I've moved your thread to the right section for you. I've also removed the unnecessary profanity.
We have been through five phones -Samsung Galaxy, then Motorola, two internet providers two cell phone providers, made so many calls I have lost count. He uses Chromebook and a Motorola Droid phone. He has even hacked my old home phone, tv, you name it, he has tried to own it . Oh, I forgot-my home security and ring doorbells also. I can change an app permission and I can see him go right in and change it back. I am sure he lives close in the neighborhood How do I get rid of this horrible person?
He grays out permissions, default apps, etc., Which keeps me from being able to delete an app, or change someone being able to access in the background. He has confiscated our emails (Gmail), prevents us from sending or receiving ones he doesn't like. He uses email for email on the web, advertising, chat, and many other things. He listens to phone calls steals all photos, maps addresses to companies or people in contacts, uses maps for ?? Xxx an anyone help me, or at least tell me how to reverse graying out on apps? This has become unbearable! Thank you!
How do you know it's a he?
It's always the girl next door.
Lol! I cannot prove it, but the big gamers nextdoor moved in when this started happening. Their best friend is an experienced IT guy who only appears when I have gone in and changed things. In those days, new changes happen, such as Ring doorbells hacker, etc. Not blaming, but coincidence?
blackhawk said:
How do you know it's a he?
It's always the girl next door.
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Sorry. See reply in post.
Bro, I'm so sorry. My husband has been going through this VERY thing for the past year. They don't mess with mine. I just wanted to let you know even though I don't have any resolve for you, I hear you and know that it's not phony and we totally feel for you. Seriously, maybe you and my hubby can talk. I'm so sorry that you're going through it. Feel free to message me.
This sounds like a great fan fiction and will bookmark this to see how the story develops. Thank you for putting this in Moto G Power section right where it belongs!
Sounds like you might need to invest in a router with better security features.
Moosetears said:
This sounds like a great fan fiction and will bookmark this to see how the story develops. Thank you for putting this in Moto G Power section right where it belongs!
Sounds like you might need to invest in a router with better security features.
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Definitely not fiction. It is a nightmare and could REALLY use some advice!
gunnshot81488 said:
Bro, I'm so sorry. My husband has been going through this VERY thing for the past year. They don't mess with mine. I just wanted to let you know even though I don't have any resolve for you, I hear you and know that it's not phony and we totally feel for you. Seriously, maybe you and my hubby can talk. I'm so sorry that you're going through it. Feel free to message me.
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It has been a nightmare! They started with mine, and have now invaded my husband's phone also.
Scammed said:
It has been a nightmare! They started with mine, and have now invaded my husband's phone also.
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Why are you posting on XDA? If you are this convinced that someone has unauthorized access to your devices, you need to be talking to law enforcement. The best advice we can offer you is to change all your passwords immediately, enable 2 factor authentication, and if possible seek a restraining order. XDA is a smart device hacking and development community, not a private investigation service.
V0latyle said:
Why are you posting on XDA? If you are this convinced that someone has unauthorized access to your devices, you need to be talking to law enforcement. The best advice we can offer you is to change all your passwords immediately, enable 2 factor authentication, and if possible seek a restraining order. XDA is a smart device hacking and development community, not a private investigation service.
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I didn't think you were a p.i. firm. Obviously, I am not tech savvy. A little kindness please? I simply want to know how to ungray grayed out app permissions. I have searched on my own and cannot find the answer. I have reported it to local police, state police, Motorola, Samsung, Verizon, Xfinity, metronet, on and on and on. No help from anyone. I don't have $2,500.00 to just put down a retainer for a p.i. I knew someone on this forum would know the answer I am searching for and might kindly tell me. Thank you.
Scammed said:
I didn't think you were a p.i. firm. Obviously, I am not tech savvy. A little kindness please? I simply want to know how to ungray grayed out app permissions. I have searched on my own and cannot find the answer. I have reported it to local police, state police, Motorola, Samsung, Verizon, Xfinity, metronet, on and on and on. No help from anyone. I don't have $2,500.00 to just put down a retainer for a p.i. I knew someone on this forum would know the answer I am searching for and might kindly tell me. Thank you.
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Well, it can be hard to distinguish the difference between reasonable concern over privacy violations vs unwarranted paranoia, and you aren't the only one who's come to XDA with this type of story. Most of your assumptions are likely mistaken and can be simply explained by the nature of Android itself.
Remote intrusion of mobile devices is actually pretty rare. The most common ways bad actors get ahold of sensitive user information are: phishing, user-approved permissions on questionable apps such as TikTok, and "connected" social media accounts, where users allow websites and apps access to their social media profiles, or use their social media as a login.
Regardless, to the technical point of the matter, grayed out app permissions are not the result of hacking or surreptitious malfeasance, but rather the nature of the "rules" inherent to Android - you can't remove system apps or disable system-controlled permissions without root.
If you still think you have reasons for concern, this is my only suggestion:
Change your phone number
Immediately change all relevant passwords - minimum 10 characters, a mix of upper case, lower case, numbers, and special characters, do not reuse them
Enable 2 factor authentication on all accounts, ensuring your 2nd factor is something that you and only you have access to
Once done, sign out all devices signed into those accounts
Perform a factory reset on your device; even better, reflash factory firmware. Keep bootloader locked.
Do not use questionable apps