Hello,
We would like to buy few mobile devices, where we install only "Viber" app on it. The only permitted use on that mobile should be use of "Viber" and use of "Camera", all other shoud be restricted(production department). So in short, we need to restrict install new apps, browsing chrome, etc.
I have found few options like disable google play services, Package installer, enable parental control in google play - but these are all walkarounds. It would be nice to block profile/account to make it with less permissions (like in windows).
Thanks
Related
With the introduction of Android 4.2, we now have native multi-user support. This is a great feature for those of us who have multiple people using one device, but I'd like to go one further:
What about those of us who want to enable a 'guest' account, so anyone can use our tablets?
What I'd like to see is an app/script I could install to the root account that would:
A) Lock the guest account out of settings (including "App Info" from the recents menu)
B) Disable rebooting into recovery and bootloader for the guest account
C) Disable USB Debugging and force WiFi on for the guest account (to prevent modifying and preserve anti-theft measures)
D) Allow the root user to configure a list of apps [on the guest account] whose data will be erased each time the guest account is logged in/unlocked (like facebook, chrome, twitter, instagram, etc)
E) Allow the root user to select apps (like the Play Store, GMail, or anything else that uses Android's native Google accounts) which can be password/pin locked to avoid Android native accounts (anything that adds to "Accounts" in settings) being added to the profile, or at least the ability to remove them at each login.
I'd be willing to pay for an app/script like this, and I can't be alone...
Jay Aristide said:
With the introduction of Android 4.2, we now have native multi-user support. This is a great feature for those of us who have multiple people using one device, but I'd like to go one further:
What about those of us who want to enable a 'guest' account, so anyone can use our tablets?
What I'd like to see is an app/script I could install to the root account that would:
A) Lock the guest account out of settings (including "App Info" from the recents menu)
B) Disable rebooting into recovery and bootloader for the guest account
C) Disable USB Debugging and force WiFi on for the guest account (to prevent modifying and preserve anti-theft measures)
D) Allow the root user to configure a list of apps [on the guest account] whose data will be erased each time the guest account is logged in/unlocked (like facebook, chrome, twitter, instagram, etc)
E) Allow the root user to select apps (like the Play Store, GMail, or anything else that uses Android's native Google accounts) which can be password/pin locked to avoid Android native accounts (anything that adds to "Accounts" in settings) being added to the profile, or at least the ability to remove them at each login.
I'd be willing to pay for an app/script like this, and I can't be alone...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also thought that but i wish Google did this.
A. might be doable i will look into after core is done.(see below)
B. requires rom modification
C. may be doable but require root, turning wifi on is possible and automatically turning on if turned off is
D. I have auto enabling installed apps working, auto erase may be possible, Manuel is
E. wont be an issue cause you dont need to sign in with gapps, possible to disable but requires root
at this point i have the ability to enable any app installed on the primary user on a secondary user, all without root give me a few days to flesh out an app
aaronpoweruser said:
A. might be doable i will look into after core is done.(see below)
B. requires rom modification
C. may be doable but require root, turning wifi on is possible and automatically turning on if turned off is
D. I have auto enabling installed apps working, auto erase may be possible, Manuel is
E. wont be an issue cause you dont need to sign in with gapps, possible to disable but requires root
at this point i have the ability to enable any app installed on the primary user on a secondary user, all without root give me a few days to flesh out an app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You know...
If you cooked all of this into PA, it would be a) the *only* rom in existance with a true guest account, and b) a feature that would actually bring a wider audience and realm of attention to PA...
ok, started on an app turns out it needs root, thought about it but its going to be a stand alone app for all users, might be paid tho.
aaronpoweruser said:
ok, started on an app turns out it needs root, thought about it but its going to be a stand alone app for all users, might be paid tho.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Given the level of control over apps and data it would need to create a true guest environment, I figured it would be root only. If you need an alpha/beta teater, I'll happily volunteer
Jay Aristide said:
Given the level of control over apps and data it would need to create a true guest environment, I figured it would be root only. If you need an alpha/beta teater, I'll happily volunteer
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this is an amazing idea, im up for alpha/beta testing as well.
Alpha/beta tester
I am looking for something like this as well, and will happily alpha/beta test it.
Is there an app (it doesn't have to be from the play store or nook shop since I am rooted) that filters all apps that can use the internet? For example, ezPDF Reader has "Direct Web Browsing" that's supposed to be used to make getting to web pdf's easier. But it can access any internet site. This would be filtered as well as actual browser apps like Chrome and Firefox. I was thinking that root would come into play here. Since I am rooted, I would be easier for an app to access stuff like this, right? Anyway, is there an app that can filter out specified content from any app that accesses the internet, preferably not using a VPN since I am going to be using it in conjunction with a web monitoring app and a VPN may hide history from it.
I know avast in the play store has a firewall (root). Never used it myself so I don't know how much control it gives you
Not exactly sure what you meant.
If you want to enable internet for specific apps only, you can use Avast (with the whole anti virus thing) or AFWall+(more options regarding firewall)
If you want to enable only specific websites, i'm also searching but haven't found anything yet
You could BLOCK specific sites by adding them to the hosts file (via adblock for example or just edit the file) and redirect them to localhost...this will prevent the connections to specific domains.
Not exactly knowing what you want, too!
Do you mean that you would like to download app or file from website restricted in your area?
I try to put everything on my google play wish list, so if I uninstall the app and delete it from "myapps" on play store I can always find it via my "wishlist". Sometimes I forget to put it on the wishlist before first install.. After I uninstall it I have no "add to wishlist" link how can I put that app on the wishlist - is there a hack for this?
I read in the forum that Google Play store has a hard limit on it's wishlist - (2708332) as well and I know the way I use the wishlist is probably not what Google Play intended but this is the simplest way to track apps - right? What I would really like is a way of tracking and sharing Android Apps similar to what you do with Mozilla collections for add ons so I can group apps in my own custom category lists. When I need to install them in the future I can find them from my own custom lists without using the brain damaged play store search. Is there anything out there that can let me define custom lists of apps I occasionally want to install , use and uninstall on an ad-hoc basis ?
my question is as above in the title
btw i saw about replucant on gnu's website
thoughts about it?
how would it protect my privacy
and i have been told that even if i start using repulcant google service will be another privacy threat
i want to know also how google services can be privacy threat do they have malicious code made by like other trackers (like windows trackers ...websites... etc..)
The most basic thing you should do:
do not grant various apps on your phone the permission to access your album, contact, sms or email, location and so on, unless you really need to use their functions that require such permission.
finalvagas said:
The most basic thing you should do:
do not grant various apps on your phone the permission to access your album, contact, sms or email, location and so on, unless you really need to use their functions that require such permission.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ik ! but i want to protect myself from the tracking or spying of google
Root your device, preferably a 'clean' way (without questionable root software that can do more harm than good). Make a TWRP backup or similar, just in case you stuff your device.
Allow installation of apps from unknown sources in "Security > Unknown Sources". Then install AdAway (ad-blocker) from f-droid.org. https://f-droid.org/packages/org.adaway/. F-droid is officially linked from the AdAway website https://adaway.org/ since it was banned on the Google Play Store, which is testament to how much of a threat it is to Google.
The key (to me) is to kill Google's main revenue first: ads. Along with the revenue of all the other adware/tracking/spyware creators who wish to do business on the Spyware Store. The second way to kill them is to use ad-free apps as much as possible (f-droid.org can probably cater to most needs).
Installing a keyboard that doesn't spy on you is fairly important to me. You might consider AnySoftKeyboard or others from f-droid.org. After switching to the new keyboard, uninstall your default Google keyboard using your preferred root uninstaller. You can use Play Store apps like Titanium Backup to uninstall & backup if you wish. You can download Play Store apps without using Play Store by just getting their APK files on sites like https://apps.evozi.com/apk-downloader/ though some apps and games will require Google Play Store and related spyware to run. To me, those that do require Google Play Store and related spyware components aren't even worth considering.
Uninstall every single Google app on your device. Including Voice components. Plus the Play Store and related Services Framework and heaps of other Google Spyware. I have finally started to compile a list of those I have found to be safe to remove, so if you need more details, I might be able to help a bit.
There are usually better apps for Mail, Contacts, Maps, Gallery, Calculator, SMS, messaging, Calendar, Camera, etc. They are freely available without tracking/analytics, adware & spyware. An extremely good place to start inorder to get the basics are the Simple Mobile Tools apps from Tibor Kaputa https://simplemobiletools.github.io/
If you want to spend your money, consider giving it to guys like this.
Some root uninstallers I have tried have been extremely unreliable, leaving your device essentially bricked after they fail to start after removing a component, or by giving you dumb error messages after removing a safe component that other root uninstallers have no trouble with. Regrettably, I have yet to find a decent open source root uninstaller. At the moment I am using Titanium Backup to uninstall unwanted apps and components from Google, unwanted spyware from the chipset manufacturer & unwanted spyware from the device manufacturer. Personally I don't use any of the stock apps, including the stock launcher. All of these companies have a long history of customer privacy violations. All profit from profiling you and selling you out to their partners.
There are useful (adware/tracking-infested) Play Store apps like MyAndroidTools that allow you to disable certain components from certain apps which might also be useful to you. This was available on Google's Play Store but now does not appear. I use it for apps like Firefox, to disable the Crap Components I do not want running.
You might also consider XPrivacy or XPrivacyLua which gives you more control over what apps can do. You might also consider changing your DNS settings from Google's to another with apps like DNS man.
Google is the Spyware King at the moment with literally billions of devices in use, eclipsing Microsoft and Apple soyware in terms of numbers of devices in use.
You have many different ways to protect your Android phone. You should use a strong password and backup your phone. Here is good article about it: imei.info/news/android-privacy-protect
You can just check it.
EDIT-- This post is super old (but still works).
Another method (maybe better for your use case?) is the Aurora store. Please see the COMMENTS SECTION.
How To Download any app on the playstore, Without installing GMS, GAPPS, AMAZON, Or any other App Store
EVOZI:
https://apps.evozi.com/apk-downloader/
GOOGLE PLAY STORE:
Android Apps on Google Play
Enjoy millions of the latest Android apps, games, music, movies, TV, books, magazines & more. Anytime, anywhere, across your devices.
play.google.com
Simply paste the playstore link to evozi, of the app you want to download!
This is not warez, you Can Not Download Paid apps.
This site just caches and backs up all our favorite apps.
Rarely, if you're looking for something too obscure, it will not be able to locate it.
Have Fun
Google Play Store lets you download and install Android apps on an Android-powered phone or tablet or emulator if GMS Core already are installed thereon.
Sometimes evozi will say something about "you're being rate limited" and it won't work. I think this is bc they are getting too much traffic. I use Evozi in this example, as it is the cleanest (adless) experience, but do bare in mind you can always use other Mirrors~! sites like APKpure.com are mostly safe
any idea how does https://apps.evozi.com/apk-downloader/ work as am trying to automate some work and i dont want to depend on apk-downloader or any other mirror
@synackers sorry I just now had the time to research what I wanted to share. There's a "store" that has access to the playstore repositories, that is open source, and gives the user the freedom to choose to enable google features or not. This works on windows phones too and I would guess WSA too?
It is called the "aurora store" it's website is here:
auroraoss.com
This is still new to me so I can not explain it personally but the knowledge is available
This article explains a little about it and shows pictures
Maybe they have a github repo somewhere you can obtain the code you need to dl things
Hope it helps!
Hi Jeneh , to be honest am not interested in any open source apk mirroring available in internet
am seeking to understand how auroraoss or evozi actually works behind the screen ... how do they give you apk to be downloadable is also fetched from other mirror or do they have google developer and google offer any api to play store ..etc
more deep technical details is of my interest . i do appreciate your feedback
@synackers The Aurora Store is different from evozi or other sites like evozi, in that it actually accesses the repositories, ie the link to the android app in question.
For instance: to download the app "Termux" a call is made to get the app from com.termux and it goes on to install and build from there, the latest software.
When using evozi or apk mirror, they save actual hard copies of the apps to their servers to share to users, which could be any older version of the app.
Evozi regularly redownloads the more popular apps from the play store and they take requests. However there is No version choice available. The downloaded apks hash signatures will match the playstore app sigs for that app version.
Sites like apk mirror and others tend to keep all the older app versions and provide a choice which version to download. This is my only use case for these as they are more risky and you should vet the sigs on them.
Here is aurora's gitlab https://gitlab.com/AuroraOSS/AuroraStore
This link has all the code to be able to go through and find exactly what you need.
Some info on the code
"Aurora Store was originally based on Sergei Yeriomin's Yalp store. Aurora Store v4.0 is a rewrite of version 3 in Kotlin"
The developer of the store has made a page here on xda that maybe they would be willing to give better insight to a specific question you have in the installation process to provide the technicals.
Outside of Aurora, it may be beneficial to learn about PackageInstaller to be able to manually install and or uninstall apps with code. Or Package Manager, if you open that spoiler and select the "PM" option you can see all the code for using it.
Hi Jenneh ,
much appreciate your response and cooperation |
https://www.codevoila.com/post/77/how-to-install-or-uninstall-an-android-apk-file-programmatically this is definitely valuable and its crystal clear for me on how aurora works.. i had a glance at the code in github .
now my challenge or use case which i want to achieve is as following ;
1. need to take APK directly from play store ( i dont mind if google offer paid API which am not aware or seen )
this should be automated off android physical phone / or emulator
working in other project ^^ and stuck in this point
what i have noticed indeed evozi take package from playstore cause i checked an APK which recently was published and not available in any other mirror site
Aruroa still need mobile phone or emulator to work
Thanks again and appreciate your cooperation
With regards to thread's title "Download Any Apk Off The Playstore Without installing Google, AMAZON, or Any other APP Store" take note that you of course need an app store to get APKs from.
Never make use of Aptoide: it's Large, Decentralized, Dangerous.
Aptoide is one of the most sophisticated app sources. The store works with a distributed network of different store providers and combines them on a unified platform. However, this poses significant security risks.
Truely not what am seeking , any mirror is not an enterprise grade options cause security risk is high so if there is any way to download directly apk from play store without the need for emulator or device would be much appreciated
The app store with least security risks is Google Play Store.
Apps from outside of the Google Play Store are also scan using Google Play protect on the device, it is a security risk to install apps outside of the Play Store but as long as you trust the app developer you should be fine.
well, what is the case if i need to automate a way for MDM solutions
IDK.
Probably MDM isn't not applicable if the managed devices differ in Android version and ARM architecture.