Droid 2 just broadcasted my information?

J

Jeptha

n00b
Joined
Jul 19, 2010
Messages
13
So today I just got the new Droid 2, and one of the apps I downloaded was "antivirus free" by "droidSecurity Inc." Well, the first thing I noticed was that my phone had a message on the locked screen about if the phone was lost, call this number. (This should have been the first indication, but I wasn't exactly using my brain today) Well, I figured that was some kind of stock message to showcase a feature of the app, so I go into the app and change the message, replacing the number with my father's number. Within a few hours, two separate people call my Dad's number asking for me by name about a lost phone. My dad said he recognized one of the area codes as Michigan. We live in Texas.

From what I gathered by reading other forums, droidSecurity is supposed to be a legit company. Is my assumption incorrect, or is there another app/setting on my phone that's allowing the broadcasting of my info?

Edit: make that three calls :p
 
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Now that's funny. Did the people ask ur dad to return their phone to them?
 
Android security is actually quite good but like all things nothing is perfect. In your case though it's because you installed something.

Check all the apps you installed. They all tell you exactly what information they use. For instance Pandora you grant access to contact information. So just watch what it wants to access before you install. You likely installed something that is doing something it really shouldn't be doing.

For the record I have never touched that so called Android AV because it kills battery life and the fact that the single trojan known to be out there has to be installed by the user. Thus why you be incredibly careful with what you install like any computer.
 
It's probably that ridiculous "antivirus" program. First thing you should do is uninstall that, and don't install any other AV programs for Android - they are all fake.

Look at the permissions that thing requires, holy crap:
uses-permission: android.permission.INTERNET
uses-permission: android.permission.GET_TASKS
uses-permission: android.permission.VIBRATE
uses-permission: android.permission.READ_PHONE_STATE
uses-permission: android.permission.READ_CONTACTS
uses-permission: android.permission.READ_SMS
uses-permission: android.permission.READ_LOGS
uses-permission: android.permission.WRITE_SMS
uses-permission: android.permission.ACCESS_WIFI_STATE
uses-permission: android.permission.CHANGE_WIFI_STATE
uses-permission: android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE
uses-permission: android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION
uses-permission: android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION
uses-permission: android.permission.WRITE_SETTINGS
uses-permission: android.permission.WRITE_CONTACTS
uses-permission: android.permission.RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED
uses-permission: com.android.browser.permission.READ_HISTORY_BOOKMARKS
uses-permission: android.permission.DISABLE_KEYGUARD
uses-permission: com.android.launcher.permission.INSTALL_SHORTCUT
uses-permission: com.android.launcher.permission.UNINSTALL_SHORTCUT
uses-permission: android.permission.WRITE_USER_DICTIONARY
uses-permission: com.android.browser.permission.WRITE_HISTORY_BOOKMARKS
uses-permission: android.permission.WRITE_OWNER_DATA
uses-permission: android.permission.WRITE_SYNC_SETTINGS
uses-permission: android.permission.SUBSCRIBED_FEEDS_WRITE
uses-permission: android.permission.WRITE_CALENDAR
uses-permission: android.permission.MOUNT_FORMAT_FILESYSTEMS
uses-permission: android.permission.MOUNT_UNMOUNT_FILESYSTEMS
uses-permission: com.android.launcher.permission.WRITE_SETTINGS
uses-permission: com.htc.launcher.permission.WRITE_SETTINGS
permission: com.antivirus.permission.C2D_MESSAGE
uses-permission: com.antivirus.permission.C2D_MESSAGE
uses-permission: com.google.android.c2dm.permission.RECEIVE
Click to expand...

In the future, when Android tells you what permissions an App needs in red, pay attention. Those are permissions that it wants that have been deemed potentially unsafe. Use your head. If a background app wants internet and read contact permissions, for example, it's probably not a good idea to install that - backgrounds don't need access to your contacts.
 
Pandora just got removed from my phone. I don't care their guise is sharing stations with my contacts, they can fuck right off with that bullshit excuse to read my contact info.
 
get quad said:
Pandora just got removed from my phone. I don't care their guise is sharing stations with my contacts, they can fuck right off with that bullshit excuse to read my contact info.
Click to expand...

Good news is Slacker doesn't require contact info. :)
 
droidsecurity.com and there apps just don't seem legit to me. An app named antivirus free just sounds like rogue app lol. I am trying find a legitimate that has reviewed their products and I can't and based off of what the OP has said I wouldn't trust it all. I really hope 250,000 haven't really downloaded it...

If you want a good free AV, phone locater and back up program download Lookout. They are reputable company that are leading in the mobile AV market. With over a million users and they have investors throwing money left and right at them. I have been using Lookout since I got my Droid and although I have never worried about a virus it has saved my ass when I lost my phone once and when the OTA 2.1 update bricked my phone.
 
Vermillion said:
Google Goggles does the same thing as Barcode Scanner. ;) It also comes down to who you trust with your data.
Click to expand...

So true, lately it is getting harder and harder for the average consumer to know who to trust (I'd consider myself relatively naive, so I just make calls for the most part).
 
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