Couldn't find the answer through search and Google.
There doesn't seem to be any Thread dedicated to "Shelter" too, kindly direct me to it if you know any.
I am utilizing "Shelter" app on my Android phone for privacy purpose, but recently there are some hardware problems with my phone, and I needed to back up the files from work profile. After plugging in my phone to PC, I could only find the media files from "main profile"...
May I know where can I find the media/documents from "Shelter" (work profile)? For your information, due to the aforementioned hardware problems, I can not use my phone's File Explorer to copy those documents (I need to use my computer instead). Kindly advise.
Related
Hey !
I've searched the web as well as the forum but i didn't find any solution and it seems i'm not the only one wanting to do that.
Is it possible to see hidden folders of internal sdcard through MTP ?
I really talk about hidden folder like ".android_secure", not the photos that aren't yet scanned by the media scanner service.
In my windows environment i already set the view all hidden files/folders as well as view system files.
If i have to change folders permissions through terminal what are the correct permissions i should put ?
Thanks for the help !!
Am i the only having that problem ?
Do you guys see the hidden folders through mtp connexion ?
If you'd bother reading a bit before asking questions, you might have the answer already.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_Transfer_Protocol
MTP and PTP specifically overcome this issue by making the unit of managed storage a local file rather than an entire (possibly very large) unit of mass storage at the block level. In this way, MTP works like a transactional file system - either the entire file is written/read or nothing.
More or less, it is designed to keep hidden what should be hidden stick to USB storage or FTP/SCP.
PS: can't believe we're using a transfer protocol designed by Microsoft in a Linux-based system mastered by Google. The horror, the pain... no wonder it doesn't work on my Mac!
VAXXi said:
If you'd bother reading a bit before asking questions, you might have the answer already.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_Transfer_Protocol
MTP and PTP specifically overcome this issue by making the unit of managed storage a local file rather than an entire (possibly very large) unit of mass storage at the block level. In this way, MTP works like a transactional file system - either the entire file is written/read or nothing.
More or less, it is designed to keep hidden what should be hidden stick to USB storage or FTP/SCP.
PS: can't believe we're using a transfer protocol designed by Microsoft in a Linux-based system mastered by Google. The horror, the pain... no wonder it doesn't work on my Mac!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thx for the link ! I knew what mtp is but its always good to refresh things up
I read the whole article and unfortunately it doesn't answer my question.
I understood that its the same for all of us meaning that we are not able to see hidden folders.
But the main question is if there is a way to bypass this behavior ? Where is this defined exactly ?
It seems according to the article that its not on the file permission layer ? Should it be at partition level ? How can mtp know what to share with the host ?
It's not a "behaviour" per se, but more/less a database. Remember that media scanner program which wakes up every time you change something on your SD card, be it internal or external ? it simply keeps a "database" of files which are presented to the MTP client (your computer) and hides away the phone's internal folders which are not supposed to be seen by the end-user.
Theoretically, this is done in order to have the iPhone-like behaviour: seeing the entire device memory as one big unified storage which you can fill as you want (no more of those partition size limitations which brought us the app2sd hacks). In my opinion, it's more or less just a small step done in order to "secure" phones for DRM protected content.
Studios and media companies require devices to have such measures of protection in order to allow you to sell media content (like movies, books, etc) and since Google wants to push its business further with the Play Store, it needs to cave in to the studios' demands. In the future, it will probably even become illegal (DMCA-style) for me to give you the information below
Back to the technical part of our show now.
At the first boot in the life of the device, Media Scanner will look under /system/media and index everything there. After that, it will scan everything under /mnt/sdcard (hence your external SD card too, if you have one, as it's mounted under /mnt/sdcard/external_sd). On some devices, you have an "internal.db" file and one "external-123xyz.db" file; that's a unique ID of the SD card which was scanned. The idea here is you might have 2-3 SD cards which you swap often, and it's not nice to do a full rescan each time you change the SD card. These databases are in /dbdata/databases/com.android.providers.media (on my phone, there is only one "external.db" for example).
So what you're looking for is a way to populate this database with all the files found by the Media Scanner. But Media Scanner doesn't want you to see the hidden folders you mentioned above. So, you get an application which doesn't ignore them, like Rescan SD Card! or SDrescan.
Happy now ?
Thank you very much i really enjoyed reading the explanation as it answers completely my questions and it makes sense !
Ill give a try to the apps but i'm also curious to investigate on those files
Cheers
PS. Is this a disguised way to support non open source protocols ?
Well, you could poke around inside the database with sqlite if you want. But don't really see what's so interesting about them.
It is just another protocol which is supported, which happens to be designed by Microsoft (and probably licensed/paid by Google to be used in Android). I understand the technical explanation behind this decision, but I'm also wary that someday UMS will be disabled by default and enabling it will disable content purchasing for that device (just like having a rooted phone now disables some "sensitive" apps, like banking and online TV).
As a system admin its interesting to know whats happening on my system
As a hobby its interesting for my personal knowledge
And from a development point of view it gives me some ideas for maybe future apps
You say that its just another protocol which is supported but to my understanding there are not so many of them ! So i would say that Google was kind of forced to use the MTP method, first from a hardware point of view and second to be compliant with the rest of the world.
Is there any other protocol that could suite their needs ? Since USB mass storage is not usable on some devices and MTP is well spead.
.HiddenAndroid folders in Win - Here Yesterday, Gone Tomorrow
<Win 7 and GN2>
What's curious and a bit frustrating to me is that, yesterday, when I mounted my device ALL of the hidden (.folders and .files) were visible and searchable. Today, when I went to explore some more, all are gone. I understand that I can use a 3rd party app, just can't figure out why it was visible yesterday and not today.
Hmmph
Did you ever resolve this issue? I really hate MTP for several reasons but this is one of the reasons why! I need to back up all my directories on the SDCard because some apps store them as hidden files in hidden directories. Furthermore, I came across the Play Store bug that requires me to delete a "temp.asec" file in the ".android_secure" directory, but of course it is not visible.
In a post further up it was suggested to use a "Rescan" app to force the DB to include hidden files/directories, but I have tried no less than 4 of these apps, and all they do is trigger the built-in android media scan, which is the problem in the first place!
So has anyone ever been able to access hidden files and directories using MTP?
EDIT: I have an HTC phone that actually shows hidden files and directories, so they have obviously implemented their own media scan. The problem I am currently having is on a Samsung phone (Epic 4G touch)
It may depend on the implementation. For example, using stock rom for the phone doesn't show some files and folders, for example folders starting with dot. But if you use Neatrom Lite it will show all files and folders.
Flash forward about 6 years and Samsung still does not show hidden folders/files when viewing the phone contents in Windows File Explorer, but HTC does.
The reason this is still a problem for me, is that I want to backup the contents of a particular directory (WhatsApp) which contains some hidden folders, so I can restore it anytime on a new phone or the same phone.
I recently switched from HTC to Samsung and alas, it seems the problem with this implementation still exists. Anyone found a workaround to this to allow File Explorer to see the hidden folders?
Update: It appears that hidden .nomedia files (and probably others) appear under regular folders, so the problem is limited to hidden folders themselves
I'm looking for an app that will allow me to encrypt folders (preferably without having to go through a third-party file manager) on my Galaxy Note 2 and Nexus 7, while possibly being able to also decrypt and view the folder/files on a Windows or Mac machine.
BoxCryptor is one that I've looked into but I'm not sure if it will allow me to encrypt folders within folders.
A little bit of background for what I need this for... I'm a medical health professional and there are times when I have sensitive data about some of my patients that I need to access via my phone/tablet/home/work computer. I don't necessarily need the folder of patient data to sync across all devices but if that could be done (say via DropBox or WebDAV, encrypted), that would be a bonus.
There are some apps on Google Play that seem like they might work:
Encryption Manager
Safe+
DroidCrypt
If anyone has any feedback on any of the above, or can recommend an app that I've missed (or a link to another xda post that I missed in my searches), that would be much appreciated. I'd rather not have to pay for each one to see if it fits my criteria.
Thanks in advance!
cdnmaplechick said:
I'm looking for an app that will allow me to encrypt folders (preferably without having to go through a third-party file manager) on my Galaxy Note 2 and Nexus 7, while possibly being able to also decrypt and view the folder/files on a Windows or Mac machine.
...
A little bit of background for what I need this for... I'm a medical health professional and there are times when I have sensitive data about some of my patients that I need to access via my phone/tablet/home/work computer. I don't necessarily need the folder of patient data to sync across all devices but if that could be done (say via DropBox or WebDAV, encrypted), that would be a bonus.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
@cdnmaplechick, did you have any luck with all this? EDS is another one you could try, but I'm not sure if it can do what you want without rooting your device. If you are comfortable rooting your device Cryptonite is an additional option.
If I understand you correctly I am also looking for something similar (which is how I ended up finding your post). I'd like an app that can encrypt specified folders such that other apps can interact with the contained encrypted files without any trouble (this would be very analogous to how TrueCrypt works for Windows computers). I know there is full device encryption available for Android, but that has its drawbacks. I think what you and I are both wanting is something like full device encryption, but being able to limit it to a few designated folders.
I'd love to hear anything you're willing to share about your experiences (positive or negative) with pursuing all this!
Edit: Forgot to mention a secure syncing service you might be interested in: SpiderOak. I have not yet used their Android app, but I use SpiderOak for Windows all the time to securely sync sensitive data between multiple Windows computers (the data is stored in TrueCrypt volumes on each computer).
Apparently this works with Truecrypt so it will work when you transfer it to a Mac or PC
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sovworks.eds.android
Droidcrypt should do entire folders, but has a lot of neg reviews. Personally I wouldn't use any closed source encryption app you have no idea if they're actually generating true random numbers or if it's junk software.
LUKS is free and open source, if your phone is rooted
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nemesis2.luksmanager you can just copy folders into the virtual encrypted folder it creates.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.mrpdaemon.android.encdroid is open source, free and works with dropbox
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.koushikdutta.backup Carbon now uses encrypted backup
There's also APG http://thialfihar.org/projects/apg/
You can use PGP to encrypt/decrypt files (perhaps folders?) for transferring to another computer. Or if both your Nexus and your PC/Mac is using full disc encryption then you can just transfer the folders to each other in the clear with USB.
derpsec said:
Droidcrypt should do entire folders, but has a lot of neg reviews. Personally I wouldn't use any closed source encryption app you have no idea if they're actually generating true random numbers or if it's junk software.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I've felt ambivalent about Droidcrypt. It should do what I want but they feel like such an unknown; they don't even have a website (not that that would make them automatically safer, but I'd at least be able to get a little more of sense of who I'm trusting my data to).
derpsec said:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.mrpdaemon.android.encdroid is open source, free and works with dropbox
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for those additional links, and especially for Encdroid! I'm a fan of open source, and it looks like the author's on the XDA forums:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1917665
I definitely want to check that one out further.
How about Cryptonite? https://code.google.com/p/cryptonite/ It says it uses TrueCrypt.
Yes cryptonite seems to be a good solution.
Check-->
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=csh.cryptonite&hl=el
Hello friends
Is an application for Android that folders can be encrypted and password-access to that folder wherever necessary, same encryption on the kms 9(Kaspersky Mobile Security 9 v9.4.96 – S60v3)
I've been searching high and low for help but I haven't yet found anything with resolutions that apply to me. I admit to being completely inexperienced so my searches were limited to how I phrased things...my apologies if I missed obvious posts.
I'd like to be able to transfer photos from my digital camera to the tablet as well as be able to transfer waypoints and geocaches from my pocket queries online to my handheld GPS.
I have a Viewsonic G-Tab that I rooted out to Vegan-Tab. I can't seem to find which edition but it's been a few years since I've done it (and have never updated it). My searches suggest that I need to go to iFileManager and usbdisk to find files from external devices. I do that with these items plugged in and on but nothing shows up. I've tried looking in other folders but nothing pops up. My GPS thinks it is connected because, as it does when plugged into my computer, it asks "Connect to PC?" I say yes, of course, but nothing happens on the tablet (at least that I can see).
My searches lead me to Google Play Store program called Nexus Media Importer which sounded promising....except it's not compatible with his device. Then there was talk about an OTG cable. If performing these tasks is even possible on my device as it is, do I need these things?
Geocaching.com allows people to make pocket queries which you then download/unzip and transfer to the connected GPS. I thought finding an unzip program was going to be the challenge, but turns out I can't seem to figure out how to do anything with external devices.
Does anyone know where I should be looking or solutions or have advice for me? Thanks!
When I download a DRM free mp3 like from openbsdorg/lyricshtml, using a browser, it arrives in the Download folder. I can then see it with the included ap "Downloads". If I click on it, it plays just great.
When I sftp the same file into the Download folder with Turbo Client it shows up fine in the in the "local" view provided by that ap. I can also see other files that I previously downloaded normally (using a browser) sitting beside it.
However, when I exit the Turbo Client, and try to view the file name with the built in Downloads ap, the file name is invisible, and obviously I can't play it either.
What is the difference between the files in the two cases? Is there an additional info file parallel the mp3 data file when I use the standard download process? If I go back into Turbo Client, I can still see the file that was sftp'd into the folder. It is still there. That's why I suspect additional information needs to be stored somewhere.
Can I avoid learning a whole new operating system for what is supposed to be a consumer friendly device?
How can I create the additional information that is needed?
AustinHook said:
When I download a DRM free mp3 like from openbsdorg/lyricshtml, using a browser, it arrives in the Download folder. I can then see it with the included ap "Downloads". If I click on it, it plays just great.
When I sftp the same file into the Download folder with Turbo Client it shows up fine in the in the "local" view provided by that ap. I can also see other files that I previously downloaded normally (using a browser) sitting beside it.
However, when I exit the Turbo Client, and try to view the file name with the built in Downloads ap, the file name is invisible, and obviously I can't play it either.
What is the difference between the files in the two cases? Is there an additional info file parallel the mp3 data file when I use the standard download process? If I go back into Turbo Client, I can still see the file that was sftp'd into the folder. It is still there. That's why I suspect additional information needs to be stored somewhere.
Can I avoid learning a whole new operating system for what is supposed to be a consumer friendly device?
How can I create the additional information that is needed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried seeking help from the developer of Turbo Client? He seems very open to support requests according to his thread on xda (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2023646). I feel like this issue you are having is more closely related to the app you are using and not so much the device, so this forum probably is not the ideal place to pose your question.
Download vs SFTP file visibility question
NasaGeek said:
Have you tried seeking help from the developer of Turbo Client? He seems very open to support requests according to his thread on xda (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2023646). I feel like this issue you are having is more closely related to the app you are using and not so much the device, so this forum probably is not the ideal place to pose your question.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. I have now posted on his forum as well, however, I have the feeling it is a generic issue, relating to the move to more Apple like total control of use of the device. My HTC ONE X+ is Android 4.1.1 (I should have mentioned earlier). I only resorted to sftp because I couldn't mount it as an SD drive. I am coming from an HTC Desire running Android 2.2 where I could just mount the device like a memory stick. That was nice. Now under Jelly Bean it seems there is an intent to take away user control. This is rotten. I'm not a cell phone guru. I don't want to have to learn about "rooting" the device, reflashing the ROM or whatever, I just want to use what should be a consumer friendly device, but I suspect an attempt to redefine the meaning of consumer friendly, to make us jump all kinds of hoops to get straight forward access to the data it deals with.
I'm sorry you've been having such trouble, but your skepticism regarding MTP (this has been Android's internal storage standard since ICS) is quite unfounded. An Android engineer talks about it a little more in this reddit post, but the general idea is MTP was done to make things easier, not harder, and you should most certainly still be able to access your device's storage by plugging it into your computer. You should be able to do this "out-of-the-box" so to speak, without rooting or unlocking the device. You might, however, need to install the necessary drivers for your phone. Android is all about giving the user a healthy amount of control over their device and what files come and go from it (to a certain degree), though I'm not sure I can say the same thing for HTC Sense...
edit: upon reading your post in the other thread, I think I understand your issue. The developer's response was unfortunately not terribly informative for someone who is not well-versed with Android. In order to access your mp3 files you will need to download a file browser app from the Play Store (like this one ) and navigate to your sdcard/Downloads folder.
I probably should have read your post a little more clearly, particularly where you mentioned you were trying to view the files with the Downloads app
Hi everyone,
I have a big problem with this box and I hope someone with experience will be able to help...
I got a 2TB hard drive to use as media storage (videos, music, pictures...) with my Mi box, but it seems there is no way I will be able to do that, I hope someone will prove me wrong.
What is possible is:
- for the box to hijack the whole drive, encrypt it and use it as internal storage. Unacceptable because I want to be able to use the drive with the data on other systems in case I want to transfer files (I don't even want to try transferring 2TB of data over wifi) and in case something happens to the box or I decide to upgrade to a different one, all my data would be lost.
- to use the external storage as read-only, which is useless, I might as well connect it to my TV then and play the contents...
I want to be able to download stuff to it in Android. For instance I could just remotely send torrent files to it while out and about and by the time I get home they would be downloaded. Or I can set all my pictures to be synced with a folder on that drive...
Regular versions of Android generally don't have a problem with this, but Android TV seems to lack the in-built Documents Android file manager functionality that allows for writing permissions once you select the drive (or an SD card) from within an app like Flud for example.
I was hoping upgrading to Nougat would fix this problem, but it seems it won't. The nVidia Shield has the same problem, but it's rootable and using the SDFix app when rooted saves the day.
Rooting would also allow me to use my PS4 controller with the box and other fun stuff, so I really wouldn't mind doing it, but a lot of people had bad experiences with rooting the Mi Box, so I would do it only if I'm sure it'll work.
Does anyone have any suggestions or is this a hopeless endeavour?
Thank you!
an app called airexchange allows you to access your tv box over your wi-fi and do anything you need, download, delete, move...this is the only and easiest way i found to transfer files from my mi box 4 to my pc. might help. just download and follow the instructions, super easy to use.