Android protection against Domestic Violence?

[ninexsilver]

Pointers and tips much appreciated on apps a DV victim could use to protect or detect on their Android devices. (Not referring to the apps that help them make plans and go to shelters).but best apps to determine device is compromised and best apps to keep from intruders. What to look for and what not.
Thank you for any and all help

 

[Chuck Finley69]

Pointers and tips much appreciated on apps a DV victim could use to protect or detect on their Android devices. (Not referring to the apps that help them make plans and go to shelters).but best apps to determine device is compromised and best apps to keep from intruders. What to look for and what not.
Thank you for any and all help

One avenue is dependent on if victim has pending TRO against the other criminal party. If so, the law enforcement agency of victim’s jurisdiction may have technical crimes staff run a scan on victim’s device and install or recommend apps for the specific type situation.

I’m sorry that I’m not answering your question specifically but it’s very important to include and leverage experts in these escalating situations.

 

[me just saying]

Pointers and tips much appreciated on apps a DV victim could use to protect or detect on their Android devices. (Not referring to the apps that help them make plans and go to shelters).but best apps to determine device is compromised and best apps to keep from intruders. What to look for and what not.
Thank you for any and all help

for clairfication - so bascially you are wanting something to find spyware.

 

[Mooncatt]

The best thing you can do is simply take basic security steps. I.e. Set up the phone with a lock screen that requires a password or PIN to get in. Don't use biometrics, especially fingerprints, as those could be used while sleeping (there's been stories of kids using a parent's fingerprint to gain access and buying things on Amazon and such). Make sure all of your accounts have strong passwords and two factor authentication setup, and use a password manager to keep up with them all. Stick to the well known sites and don't install apps from anywhere but Google Play. Also make sure the ability to install apps from unknown locations is left OFF if you go into the developer mode options.

This will protect you from the vast majority of malware, because installing anything requires the user to specifically approve the app. This is why a lot of malware will try to trick you into installing their apps. They present you with a fake email or pop-up claiming something like they found a virus on your phone and only their equally fake anti-virus program can remove it. The gullible user approves the installation of their app, which is the actual malware.

There are anti-malware apps out there, but a lot of us don't use them. Android is a very secure operating system, making them pretty much unnecessary. Most of your security comes from how you use the phone. In a domestic violence situation, if you can't get out of it, then it would be wise to get a cheap "burner" phone as a decoy with minimal personal info.

Because people in this situation are going to be extra cautious about what they see on their phones, they will likely find their way to the app manager and looking through system apps. We get tons of questions about various OEM system apps that people think are signs of being hacked. Understand that these legit apps are not really meant for the general public to mess with, so they often have names that sound questionable to the average Joe but makes sense to developers. So don't jump to conclusions when you see these.

 

[ninexsilver]

Thank y'all for the tips. Never thought of the fingerprint being used while sleeping. Feel really dumb for not thinking of that one. I wondered also maybe it's possible to put some kind of software or files or whatever on the SD card that helps them read what's on the internal storage? Or is it possible to set up some kind of manipulation through the wifi router? I only wish that I knew exactly what was being done so that I may learn what I needed to reverse it. Somehow with every, Google account, starts out all clean and normal but eventually ends up with some kind of Google+, and I thought Google+ was no more?. Or acts like I have an administrator. I do go through some things on my phone trying to figure out how he does it. Tearing up only God knows what. I don't even have anything to hide is the bad part. It's like jus knowing I'm being watched or monitored, it kills me, like being stalked by a ghost and can't do anything about it. I just recently started a new google account and somehow when I went into my androids contact settings to choose which accounts to list phone numbers from, there's a option of choosing my Google+ account?
I bet y'all get pretty aggravated dealing with the average paranoid user with all the, what must seem lame to developers, questions. Having reading material that describes each and every setting or option on the phones would prove useful. Jumping back and forth between articles here and there trying to learn what it means and how it should be set is nerve racking. Tempting enough to jus throw out phones for good.
So maybe one more stupid question.... Is it possible to change my username, cause I wasn't meaning for my real name to be showing.*smacks self on he forehead.

 

[mustang7757]

[Moved this from developer apps to General help. Forum]

 

[Javier P]

Thank y'all for the tips. Never thought of the fingerprint being used while sleeping. Feel really dumb for not thinking of that one. I wondered also maybe it's possible to put some kind of software or files or whatever on the SD card that helps them read what's on the internal storage? Or is it possible to set up some kind of manipulation through the wifi router? I only wish that I knew exactly what was being done so that I may learn what I needed to reverse it. Somehow with every, Google account, starts out all clean and normal but eventually ends up with some kind of Google+, and I thought Google+ was no more?. Or acts like I have an administrator. I do go through some things on my phone trying to figure out how he does it. Tearing up only God knows what. I don't even have anything to hide is the bad part. It's like jus knowing I'm being watched or monitored, it kills me, like being stalked by a ghost and can't do anything about it. I just recently started a new google account and somehow when I went into my androids contact settings to choose which accounts to list phone numbers from, there's a option of choosing my Google+ account?
I bet y'all get pretty aggravated dealing with the average paranoid user with all the, what must seem lame to developers, questions. Having reading material that describes each and every setting or option on the phones would prove useful. Jumping back and forth between articles here and there trying to learn what it means and how it should be set is nerve racking. Tempting enough to jus throw out phones for good.
So maybe one more stupid question.... Is it possible to change my username, cause I wasn't meaning for my real name to be showing.*smacks self on he forehead.

Welcome to the forums. Send an email to

michelle.haag@futurenet.com

and she will help you to change your username.

 

[Mooncatt]

I wouldn't be too worried about an SD card being used to monitor you, for reasons similar to my earlier post. If you have a lock screen set up, then it's unlikely he could gain access.

I just noticed Google+ is still available for Gsuite, which is used by companies to maintain business phones that they allow employees to use. Depending on the age of the phone, it may be from a time when G+ was still a thing for all and installed by default.

If you do suspect you are being spied on, you should contact the authorities.

 

[hallux]

Never thought of the fingerprint being used while sleeping. Feel really dumb for not thinking of that one.

One way to prevent this is the "Lockdown" option. I think it was implemented in Oreo (Android 8), long-press on the power button to get the power button menu and one of the options is "Lockdown", this prevents device unlock by use of JUST a fingerprint.

 

[Mooncatt]

One way to prevent this is the "Lockdown" option. I think it was implemented in Oreo (Android 8), long-press on the power button to get the power button menu and one of the options is "Lockdown", this prevents device unlock by use of JUST a fingerprint.

That must be a manufacturer specific thing, because none of my phones have had that option.

 

[hallux]

That must be a manufacturer specific thing, because none of my phones have had that option.

It's on Pixel devices, and I think my Nexus 6p (stuck on Oreo) has it.

 

[Mooncatt]

It's on Pixel devices, and I think my Nexus 6p (stuck on Oreo) has it.

Gotcha. It wasn't on my LG and Razer (Razer the manufacturer) phones, and don't recall anyone else mentioning it. I can see it being useful, but not universal yet.

 

[ninexsilver]

Gotcha. It wasn't on my LG and Razer (Razer the manufacturer) phones, and don't recall anyone else mentioning it. I can see it being useful, but not universal yet.

Apparently it's on my phone as well. I have a Alcatel 3v. From MetroPCS. I hate it. Not sure if it's my husband's fault or if it's just a crappy phone, but it cuts off while I'm using it, won't save my fingerprint to certain apps
it has a butt ton of system apps that don't even use any storage or data.
I don't understand why they would put so many apps in system but I don't know anything about stuff like that.
It won't stay connected to the network. This is actually the 3rd Alcatel 3v I've had from them in less than 2 months. Very confusing. It's called 3 diff things. Box says ALC 5032w, it sometimes lists itself as TCT or TCL on Google and some apps. I don't get it. They don't even have a help section for it on Metro but yet they sell it and have help for it on other phones. First phone I've ever purchased at a cellular store and this is the experience I've had. Would be the luck I have. Waiting for the upgrade next month.

 

[Kizzy Catwoman]

TCL is the company that is licenced to make Alcatel phones. They also make the new Nokia phones and did make Blackberries until they ended production a while ago. TCL have now released 2 phones under their own name now.