<![CDATA[Geeks for your information - Tips and tricks]]> https://www.geeks.fyi/ Sun, 03 May 2026 10:26:42 +0000 MyBB <![CDATA[Taming Google Gemini: how to block it from accessing your apps]]> https://www.geeks.fyi/showthread.php?tid=21012 Sat, 05 Jul 2025 05:45:26 +0000 harlan4096]]> https://www.geeks.fyi/showthread.php?tid=21012 Quote:AI applications like Gemini, Meta AI or ChatGPT work best when they have access to your data. That is one reason why the heavy hitters are introducing their AIs in an enabled-state. Sometimes, there is not even an option to turn off the AI feature.

Connecting AI services deeper into your personal space offers other advantages, especially for advertising companies like Google or Meta. The more they know, the better they can push ads to you that you are more likely to click.

Google is informing Gemini application users currently about an upcoming change. Come Monday, June 7th, Gemini will be "able to help you use Phone, Messages, WhatsApp, and Utilities" says the message. It even works if the Gemini Apps Activity is turned off, according to Google.

The Gemini AI application may ship with devices. If you run a Pixel device, there is a very good chance that Gemini is on it and running already. But you can also install it manually, if you are interested in the functionality or just want to give it a try.

Blocking Gemini from accessing apps on Android

[Image: gemini-apps-android-scaled.jpg]

Continue Reading... ]]> Quote:AI applications like Gemini, Meta AI or ChatGPT work best when they have access to your data. That is one reason why the heavy hitters are introducing their AIs in an enabled-state. Sometimes, there is not even an option to turn off the AI feature.

Connecting AI services deeper into your personal space offers other advantages, especially for advertising companies like Google or Meta. The more they know, the better they can push ads to you that you are more likely to click.

Google is informing Gemini application users currently about an upcoming change. Come Monday, June 7th, Gemini will be "able to help you use Phone, Messages, WhatsApp, and Utilities" says the message. It even works if the Gemini Apps Activity is turned off, according to Google.

The Gemini AI application may ship with devices. If you run a Pixel device, there is a very good chance that Gemini is on it and running already. But you can also install it manually, if you are interested in the functionality or just want to give it a try.

Blocking Gemini from accessing apps on Android

[Image: gemini-apps-android-scaled.jpg]

Continue Reading... ]]> <![CDATA[Theft Protection on Android: what it is and how you activate the feature]]> https://www.geeks.fyi/showthread.php?tid=20714 Mon, 24 Mar 2025 11:25:56 +0000 harlan4096]]> https://www.geeks.fyi/showthread.php?tid=20714 Quote:Mobile phones are not only expensive, they may also hold the keys to someone's life. From personal photos over emails to finance apps or chats. Bad things can happen when a mobile gets stolen.

This is true especially if the mobile is unlocked. Google implemented Theft Protection and the Theft Detection Lock feature in Android 15 to deal with one specific case of theft.

The details:
  • Theft Protection will lock the phone if swift motion is detected.
  • The idea is to lock the phone when a thief snatches it from your hands and runs away.
Google explains how Theft Detection Lock works on a support page on the Android Help website: "Theft Detection Lock uses AI, your device’s motion sensors, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth to detect if someone unexpectedly takes your device and runs away".

This also applies to similar scenarios, for instance, when someone snatches the phone and drives away in a car or on a motorbike.

Google notes that Theft Detection Lock may not activate always. For instance, it may not lock the phone if it locked the device several times in a short period of time before. It may also not lock the device if it has a stable Wi-Fi connection or Bluetooth connection.

Continue Reading... ]]> Quote:Mobile phones are not only expensive, they may also hold the keys to someone's life. From personal photos over emails to finance apps or chats. Bad things can happen when a mobile gets stolen.

This is true especially if the mobile is unlocked. Google implemented Theft Protection and the Theft Detection Lock feature in Android 15 to deal with one specific case of theft.

The details:
  • Theft Protection will lock the phone if swift motion is detected.
  • The idea is to lock the phone when a thief snatches it from your hands and runs away.
Google explains how Theft Detection Lock works on a support page on the Android Help website: "Theft Detection Lock uses AI, your device’s motion sensors, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth to detect if someone unexpectedly takes your device and runs away".

This also applies to similar scenarios, for instance, when someone snatches the phone and drives away in a car or on a motorbike.

Google notes that Theft Detection Lock may not activate always. For instance, it may not lock the phone if it locked the device several times in a short period of time before. It may also not lock the device if it has a stable Wi-Fi connection or Bluetooth connection.

Continue Reading... ]]> <![CDATA[Android System SafetyCore: what it does and why you may want to remove it]]> https://www.geeks.fyi/showthread.php?tid=20648 Fri, 28 Feb 2025 08:10:24 +0000 harlan4096]]> https://www.geeks.fyi/showthread.php?tid=20648 Quote:When Google released the October 2024 security update for Android, it made no mention of a new app that it integrated in the update. Android System SafetyCore was suddenly installed and users did not know what it did. It is probably the secrecy around this app that is worrying many Android users currently.

Google did announce its functionality in a blog post in October 2024, but without mentioning the apps' name. In 5 new protections on Google Messages to help keep you safe, it mentioned the new "Sensitive Content Warnings give you control over seeing and sending images that may contain nudity." under point four.

Here is how this works in a nutshell according to Google:
  • It is an optional feature that has two main purposes:
    • Scan images for nudity and blur them.
    • Warn users when they are about to send images with nudity using Google Messages.
  • Google says the scanning happens on the device and that it has no access to the contents of images.
  • The feature is enabled for Android users under the age of 18, but disabled for adults.
In other words: Google added a new app to most Android devices that is scanning images for nudity automatically. While disabled for adults, it does run on the Android devices of minors automatically.

The app has an abysmal rating of 1.4 on Google's Play Store currently and has been installed on over 1 billion devices at the time of writing.

 Many users describe it as spyware, or spyware-like and object to the automatic scanning of images. While some of those reviews are likely the result of clickbait articles, the underlying message is clear:
  • Google installed a new app on user devices.
  • The app scans images automatically to determine nudity.
  • Google gives its word that this all happens on the local device.
Continue Reading... ]]> Quote:When Google released the October 2024 security update for Android, it made no mention of a new app that it integrated in the update. Android System SafetyCore was suddenly installed and users did not know what it did. It is probably the secrecy around this app that is worrying many Android users currently.

Google did announce its functionality in a blog post in October 2024, but without mentioning the apps' name. In 5 new protections on Google Messages to help keep you safe, it mentioned the new "Sensitive Content Warnings give you control over seeing and sending images that may contain nudity." under point four.

Here is how this works in a nutshell according to Google:
  • It is an optional feature that has two main purposes:
    • Scan images for nudity and blur them.
    • Warn users when they are about to send images with nudity using Google Messages.
  • Google says the scanning happens on the device and that it has no access to the contents of images.
  • The feature is enabled for Android users under the age of 18, but disabled for adults.
In other words: Google added a new app to most Android devices that is scanning images for nudity automatically. While disabled for adults, it does run on the Android devices of minors automatically.

The app has an abysmal rating of 1.4 on Google's Play Store currently and has been installed on over 1 billion devices at the time of writing.

 Many users describe it as spyware, or spyware-like and object to the automatic scanning of images. While some of those reviews are likely the result of clickbait articles, the underlying message is clear:
  • Google installed a new app on user devices.
  • The app scans images automatically to determine nudity.
  • Google gives its word that this all happens on the local device.
Continue Reading... ]]> <![CDATA[Watching Youtube Without Advertisements.]]> https://www.geeks.fyi/showthread.php?tid=19583 Tue, 02 Jan 2024 20:32:18 +0000 Henry]]> https://www.geeks.fyi/showthread.php?tid=19583 NewPipe

♦ Do you like watching videos on YouTube but want an intuitive, feature-rich and privacy friendly app for that?

♦ NewPipe has been created with the purpose of getting the original YouTube experience on your smartphone without annoying ads and questionable permissions.

♦ The application is open source and you can check on it at GitHub

[Image: 1eBBRGa.png][Image: gzlED3V.png]
 
-: How to install NewPipe :-

•Download and install F-droid.

•Go to NewPipe official site 

•Scroll down and you will find a QR code.

•Scan this QR code with the F-droid app to add the repository.

•Now search in f-droid - "NewPipe".

•You will find the app and install it.

That's all. Piece of cake. You can even DOWNLOAD Youtube videos with this app.

(Note:- Do not download this app from any other source. F-droid is safe to use.)
]]> NewPipe

♦ Do you like watching videos on YouTube but want an intuitive, feature-rich and privacy friendly app for that?

♦ NewPipe has been created with the purpose of getting the original YouTube experience on your smartphone without annoying ads and questionable permissions.

♦ The application is open source and you can check on it at GitHub

[Image: 1eBBRGa.png][Image: gzlED3V.png]
 
-: How to install NewPipe :-

•Download and install F-droid.

•Go to NewPipe official site 

•Scroll down and you will find a QR code.

•Scan this QR code with the F-droid app to add the repository.

•Now search in f-droid - "NewPipe".

•You will find the app and install it.

That's all. Piece of cake. You can even DOWNLOAD Youtube videos with this app.

(Note:- Do not download this app from any other source. F-droid is safe to use.)
]]> <![CDATA[Adblocking in your Android phone]]> https://www.geeks.fyi/showthread.php?tid=19495 Mon, 11 Dec 2023 14:58:24 +0000 Henry]]> https://www.geeks.fyi/showthread.php?tid=19495



Here I will be sharing the adblocking tricks that I know. If you know any then do reply.



First of all we have a software that blocks ads on android and ios.

 

• Blokada •



️The privacy app that is FREE & OPEN SOURCE

️If you want to efficiently block ads, trackers, malware, save on your data plan, speed up your device and protect your privacy with just one application, then Blokada is for you.



️️️️️️️️️️️️️️

•Blocks ads & trackers

•Works for all apps and all browsers

•Requires no root or jailbreak

•Safe design (does not break encryption)

•Trusted & free forever

️️️️️️️️️️️️️️



How to install Blokada :-



►Go to Blokada Official Site.

►You will find the app for Android and IOS and you can download the app.

►Install the app.



That's all. Piece of cake.



You can also get it on F-droid:-



• Download F-droid Or go to :-  f-droid.org



(Note:- Do not download this app from any other source. The official website and F-droid (-> Prefer F-droid if possible) are safe to use.)



(Note:- Currently Blokada has 2 versions. version 5 and version 6. Version 5 is available on F-droid. Version 6 is available on Google Playstore. Blokada had an application on Playstore named "Blokada Slim" but google removed it in the past for 2 times as blocking ads is against their Policies(Don't snatch their bread from them [Image: angel.png] )



As for Blokada 6, it is PAID



Blokada 6 is cloud based service and maintaining servers costs money so....



Anyway Blokada 5 is the best.)





Blokada has many cool features so download it and explore all.





||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||



Next we have adblocking in browsers.



At the moment when I am making this post there are 2 browsers in android which support extensions -> Firefox and Kiwi.



Firefox is better for privacy so let's focus on that.



You can install uBlock origin for firefox and it will block all annoying stuff. It also has script blocker which is useful to block Javascripts and save you from malicious elements.



You can also install NoScript extension if you want a better interface.



I don't use Kiwi so explore that on your own null



|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||


There are other recommendations like Adaway or DNS66 which you can find on F-droid.


|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

That's all. Don't forget to share your thoughts.

Have a great life [Image: smile.png]]]>



Here I will be sharing the adblocking tricks that I know. If you know any then do reply.



First of all we have a software that blocks ads on android and ios.

 

• Blokada •



️The privacy app that is FREE & OPEN SOURCE

️If you want to efficiently block ads, trackers, malware, save on your data plan, speed up your device and protect your privacy with just one application, then Blokada is for you.



️️️️️️️️️️️️️️

•Blocks ads & trackers

•Works for all apps and all browsers

•Requires no root or jailbreak

•Safe design (does not break encryption)

•Trusted & free forever

️️️️️️️️️️️️️️



How to install Blokada :-



►Go to Blokada Official Site.

►You will find the app for Android and IOS and you can download the app.

►Install the app.



That's all. Piece of cake.



You can also get it on F-droid:-



• Download F-droid Or go to :-  f-droid.org



(Note:- Do not download this app from any other source. The official website and F-droid (-> Prefer F-droid if possible) are safe to use.)



(Note:- Currently Blokada has 2 versions. version 5 and version 6. Version 5 is available on F-droid. Version 6 is available on Google Playstore. Blokada had an application on Playstore named "Blokada Slim" but google removed it in the past for 2 times as blocking ads is against their Policies(Don't snatch their bread from them [Image: angel.png] )



As for Blokada 6, it is PAID



Blokada 6 is cloud based service and maintaining servers costs money so....



Anyway Blokada 5 is the best.)





Blokada has many cool features so download it and explore all.





||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||



Next we have adblocking in browsers.



At the moment when I am making this post there are 2 browsers in android which support extensions -> Firefox and Kiwi.



Firefox is better for privacy so let's focus on that.



You can install uBlock origin for firefox and it will block all annoying stuff. It also has script blocker which is useful to block Javascripts and save you from malicious elements.



You can also install NoScript extension if you want a better interface.



I don't use Kiwi so explore that on your own null



|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||


There are other recommendations like Adaway or DNS66 which you can find on F-droid.


|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

That's all. Don't forget to share your thoughts.

Have a great life [Image: smile.png]]]> <![CDATA[How to transfer files from Android to PC or Mac: 5 easy ways]]> https://www.geeks.fyi/showthread.php?tid=18899 Tue, 11 Apr 2023 07:15:28 +0000 harlan4096]]> https://www.geeks.fyi/showthread.php?tid=18899 Quote:[Image: phone-pc-file-transfer.jpg]

If you have an Android device and wonder how to transfer your files to a PC or Mac, you will find an answer in this article in 5 easy and different ways!

Nowadays, we have countless options for buying a technological device, like a PC, Mac, tablet, etc. There are different things to consider, such as operating systems, and sometimes this might be an issue. However, most of these issues can be fixed either with third-party apps or different methods.

[Image: usb-1.jpg]

How to transfer files from Android to PC or Mac?

How to transfer files from Android to PC or Mac: Full guide

You have many different options for transferring files from Android to PC or Mac. Below you will find the most-used ways, and you can choose whichever suits you best. Let's cut to the chase and give you all the necessary information!

USB Cable

Of course, we will start with the most traditional way possible. Buying an Android device, whether a smartphone or a tablet, will come with a USB cable. The most important point of companies putting these cables in the boxes because they help these devices charge. However, you could also plug the USB cable into your PC or Mac to transfer files from your Android device.
  1. Connect your Android device to your PC or Mac with the USB cable.
  2. Tap Allow access on your Android device. (If you are using a newer Android version, select "File transfer" on the USB Preferences menu)
  3. Click My Computer on your Windows PC and find your device. On Mac, your device will be visible on the desktop.
  4. Click and drag any files you want to transfer from Android to PC or Mac.
Related: 3 Ways to Create a Windows 11 Bootable USB on Mac

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is mostly used for transfers between two smartphones, tablets, etc. It is not the most common way when it comes to Windows or Mac computers.

However, it is still a choice that you might want to consider.
  1. Enable Bluetooth on your PC, Mac, and Android device.
  2. Go to the Bluetooth menu on your computer.
  3. Click search for available devices and pair them with your Android device. (If you are on a Mac, enable Bluetooth Sharing)
  4. On your Android device, go to the file or image you want to transfer, tap Share, and select Bluetooth.
  5. Right-click the Bluetooth icon on your taskbar and select "Receive a file" on Windows. You don't have to do anything on your Mac, as the file will appear in your Downloads folder.
[Image: bluetooth-scaled.jpg]

Google Drive

Google Drive is one of the most-used cloud-based storage solutions. There are other cloud storage solutions, too. For example, Dropbox is another cloud-based solution that you could try. What is appealing about cloud-based storage solutions is that you can access them anywhere, time, as long as you are connected to the internet.

Dropbox and Google Drive are alternatives to each other; you can also add Microsoft OneDrive to the list. You can upload your file to the cloud on your Android device and log into your account from a PC or Mac to download it. Today, we will cover Google Drive. Here is how to do it:
  1. Go to the Google Drive app on your Android device.
  2. Click the "+" button,  hit "Upload," and select all the files you want to transfer. This will upload your files to the cloud.
  3. On your PC or Mac, go to the official Google Drive website.
  4. Log in to your Google account.
  5. Find the files you have uploaded from your Android device.
  6. Click the three dots at the top right of your file.
  7. Select Download.
Related: Top 3 Google Drive and Gmail tricks to save money

[Image: Google-Drive-scaled.jpg]

Snapdrop

Snapdrop lets two different devices connected to the same Wi-Fi share files, which is what we are looking for in this article! Let's cut to the chase and look at how to use it:
  1. Download the official Snapdrop app on your Android device.
  2. Go to the official Snapdrop website on your PC or Mac.
  3. Connect your Android device and PC or Mac to the same Wi-Fi network.
  4. Open the app on your Android device, and select your PC or Mac on the screen.
  5. Choose the files you want to transfer.
Related: Can't use Google Nearby Share? Use open source Snapdrop instead

FTP Server

Lastly, you can also set up an FTP server to transfer files from Android to PC or Mac. FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol; if you are a newbie, the other four steps are better and easier for you.
  1. Download Solid Explorer on your Android device.
  2. Tap the three-line menu icon at the top left. (Also known as the hamburger menu)
  3. Scroll down and select FTP Server.
  4. Launch File Explorer on your PC and type the server address you see on your Android device. It starts with "ftp://192" and goes on. You will see all your Android files there.
  5. If you are using a Mac, go to Finder and click Go at the top menu bar. Select Connect to Server and type the same server address as seen in the previous step.
... Continue Reading]]> Quote:[Image: phone-pc-file-transfer.jpg]

If you have an Android device and wonder how to transfer your files to a PC or Mac, you will find an answer in this article in 5 easy and different ways!

Nowadays, we have countless options for buying a technological device, like a PC, Mac, tablet, etc. There are different things to consider, such as operating systems, and sometimes this might be an issue. However, most of these issues can be fixed either with third-party apps or different methods.

[Image: usb-1.jpg]

How to transfer files from Android to PC or Mac?

How to transfer files from Android to PC or Mac: Full guide

You have many different options for transferring files from Android to PC or Mac. Below you will find the most-used ways, and you can choose whichever suits you best. Let's cut to the chase and give you all the necessary information!

USB Cable

Of course, we will start with the most traditional way possible. Buying an Android device, whether a smartphone or a tablet, will come with a USB cable. The most important point of companies putting these cables in the boxes because they help these devices charge. However, you could also plug the USB cable into your PC or Mac to transfer files from your Android device.
  1. Connect your Android device to your PC or Mac with the USB cable.
  2. Tap Allow access on your Android device. (If you are using a newer Android version, select "File transfer" on the USB Preferences menu)
  3. Click My Computer on your Windows PC and find your device. On Mac, your device will be visible on the desktop.
  4. Click and drag any files you want to transfer from Android to PC or Mac.
Related: 3 Ways to Create a Windows 11 Bootable USB on Mac

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is mostly used for transfers between two smartphones, tablets, etc. It is not the most common way when it comes to Windows or Mac computers.

However, it is still a choice that you might want to consider.
  1. Enable Bluetooth on your PC, Mac, and Android device.
  2. Go to the Bluetooth menu on your computer.
  3. Click search for available devices and pair them with your Android device. (If you are on a Mac, enable Bluetooth Sharing)
  4. On your Android device, go to the file or image you want to transfer, tap Share, and select Bluetooth.
  5. Right-click the Bluetooth icon on your taskbar and select "Receive a file" on Windows. You don't have to do anything on your Mac, as the file will appear in your Downloads folder.
[Image: bluetooth-scaled.jpg]

Google Drive

Google Drive is one of the most-used cloud-based storage solutions. There are other cloud storage solutions, too. For example, Dropbox is another cloud-based solution that you could try. What is appealing about cloud-based storage solutions is that you can access them anywhere, time, as long as you are connected to the internet.

Dropbox and Google Drive are alternatives to each other; you can also add Microsoft OneDrive to the list. You can upload your file to the cloud on your Android device and log into your account from a PC or Mac to download it. Today, we will cover Google Drive. Here is how to do it:
  1. Go to the Google Drive app on your Android device.
  2. Click the "+" button,  hit "Upload," and select all the files you want to transfer. This will upload your files to the cloud.
  3. On your PC or Mac, go to the official Google Drive website.
  4. Log in to your Google account.
  5. Find the files you have uploaded from your Android device.
  6. Click the three dots at the top right of your file.
  7. Select Download.
Related: Top 3 Google Drive and Gmail tricks to save money

[Image: Google-Drive-scaled.jpg]

Snapdrop

Snapdrop lets two different devices connected to the same Wi-Fi share files, which is what we are looking for in this article! Let's cut to the chase and look at how to use it:
  1. Download the official Snapdrop app on your Android device.
  2. Go to the official Snapdrop website on your PC or Mac.
  3. Connect your Android device and PC or Mac to the same Wi-Fi network.
  4. Open the app on your Android device, and select your PC or Mac on the screen.
  5. Choose the files you want to transfer.
Related: Can't use Google Nearby Share? Use open source Snapdrop instead

FTP Server

Lastly, you can also set up an FTP server to transfer files from Android to PC or Mac. FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol; if you are a newbie, the other four steps are better and easier for you.
  1. Download Solid Explorer on your Android device.
  2. Tap the three-line menu icon at the top left. (Also known as the hamburger menu)
  3. Scroll down and select FTP Server.
  4. Launch File Explorer on your PC and type the server address you see on your Android device. It starts with "ftp://192" and goes on. You will see all your Android files there.
  5. If you are using a Mac, go to Finder and click Go at the top menu bar. Select Connect to Server and type the same server address as seen in the previous step.
... Continue Reading]]> <![CDATA[Bitwarden to increase its server-side iterations to 600,000; here's how to set it man]]> https://www.geeks.fyi/showthread.php?tid=18615 Wed, 01 Feb 2023 06:29:11 +0000 harlan4096]]> https://www.geeks.fyi/showthread.php?tid=18615 Quote:The recent security breach that affected LastPass has caused ripples across the industry. Norton Password Manager suffered a password stuffing attack, while Bitwarden users have been targeted by phishing ads.

[Image: Bitwarden-server-side-iterations-default-value.jpg]

Many users are worried whether hackers break into their password vaults. They are encrypted with zero-knowledge, they should be safe, right? The answer is not that simple, as there are other factors that affect the outcome, one of which is the cryptography system that is employed by the service. A key component of this is KDF.

What is KDF?

KDF stands for Key Derivation Function, it is a cryptographic algorithm that derives secret keys from values such as passwords, master keys, etc,. This is how password managers create an encryption key, from your master password, to protect your password vault.

The function also has other uses. You may be familiar with the terms hashing, salt, pepper, etc. Most websites don't just store (hashed into a value) passwords at their face value, usually they add a random string to passwords to protect them from dictionary attacks, this process is called salting. This data is then hashed and stored, so even if a hacker manages to gain access to the passwords, they won't be able to use the data since the salting process changed the hashes of the original password, so it can't be cracked as easily.

KDF does a similar thing, this depends on the number of iterations it is set to, aka as rounds. e.g. 100,000 rounds to rehash the values. It stretches your key, thus slowing down the process of guessing the password, making it more expensive and difficult to compute. In a nutshell, the higher the number of iterations, the harder it is for hackers to brute-force your decryption key to get into your password vault. The commonly used KDF algorithm is PBKDF2, though there are others like Argon2, Scrypt, Bcrypt.

A Senior Security Engineer at Yahoo, Jeremi Gosney argued that a strong, unique master password will protect users more than a high count of KDF iterations can, but also said that the latter will also help secure users who don't use a very strong password.

Let's look back at the LastPass data breach. The password manager service had set the default iterations count to 100,000 for new accounts, but many old accounts were stuck at 5,000. Security experts had criticized the company for sticking with this, and said that even 100,000 iterations wasn't good enough. This was not the only reason for the LastPass data breach, they had more issues related to the security of their systems, how they got breached initially, not encrypting user data such as URLs, etc. But, what we have learned from recent incidents, is that we have to be extra careful to protect our data.

Bitwarden to increase its server-side iterations to 600,000

It is important to note that there are 2 kinds of iterations done by Bitwarden; one on the client side (that is, your computer), and the other is done on the server side. A white paper published by the password manager service indicates that it does 200,001 rounds, i.e. 100,000 + 1 using PBKDF2 SHA-256 on the client side, and 100,000 on the server's side.

[Image: Bitwarden-KDF-iterations-PBKDF2-SHA256.jpg]

Wladimir Palant, the creator of AdBlock Plus, has pointed out that Bitwarden was not actually running 100,000 on the server side for the encryption key, it is only done for the master password. The client-side on the other hand handles both.  Now, here is the thing. Bitwarden's default KDF iterations is actually pretty low, it sits at 5,000 server-side iterations. Palant said this flaw meant that the security level of Bitwarden is identical to what LastPass had.

Security expert, Dmitry Chestnykh, had mentioned this problem in 2020, yet it still remains unresolved. Many users have asked the company to address this issue. As a matter of fact, users have been requesting better algorithms, such as Argon2, since March 2018.

Bitwarden replied to a user on Mastodon, saying that they would increase the count to protect user data. It is not clear whether this will affect existing user accounts, the company has responded to queries that it is working on it. But you don't have to wait for them to act, you can change it manually right now.

Warning: You are advised to export your vault (backup) before trying the following. Users who have the Bitwarden browser extension users or the mobile app can go the Settings > Export Vault. The desktop client lets you do the same from the File menu > Export Vault. Once you change the KDF iteration count you will be logged out of all clients. That's because the encryption key is changed. Using a high KDF count will cause your password vault to open more slowly. Please refer to the official support page for more information.

How to change the KDF iterations count in Bitwarden Password Manager

1. Login to your Bitwarden vault.
2. Click on your profile in the top right corner.
3. Select Account Settings.
4. Switch to the Security tab. The URL is https://vault.bitwarden.com/#/settings/s...urity-keys.
5. The option that we are looking for is the KDF Iterations. It is set to 5000 by default, even though a note below the box states that the recommended value is 100,000 or more.
6. Click on the box and type 600,000. Enter your master password in the corresponding field.
7. Hit the Change KDF button.

Note: You will be logged out of your account, and a message will pop up to indicate that your encryption key has changed.

[Image: How-to-change-the-KDF-iterations-count-i...anager.jpg]

Why 600,000? It is the number of KDF iterations that the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) recommends. Until recently, OWASP actually recommended 310,000 as the default number of iterations. But that seems to have nearly doubled over the past week. Even Bitwarden's message on Mastodon does mention that the initial plan was to set the KDF iterations to 350,000, but then they decided to go with 600,000.

While you are at it, I'd also recommend changing the clipboard behavior of Bitwarden's browser extension. Click the add-on's button > Settings > Options > Clear Clipboard. By default, this is set to never clear the clipboard, change it to 1 Minute or whatever suits you. (h/t Techspot)

I also recommend reading Palant's recent article about how password strength works.
... Continue Reading]]> Quote:The recent security breach that affected LastPass has caused ripples across the industry. Norton Password Manager suffered a password stuffing attack, while Bitwarden users have been targeted by phishing ads.

[Image: Bitwarden-server-side-iterations-default-value.jpg]

Many users are worried whether hackers break into their password vaults. They are encrypted with zero-knowledge, they should be safe, right? The answer is not that simple, as there are other factors that affect the outcome, one of which is the cryptography system that is employed by the service. A key component of this is KDF.

What is KDF?

KDF stands for Key Derivation Function, it is a cryptographic algorithm that derives secret keys from values such as passwords, master keys, etc,. This is how password managers create an encryption key, from your master password, to protect your password vault.

The function also has other uses. You may be familiar with the terms hashing, salt, pepper, etc. Most websites don't just store (hashed into a value) passwords at their face value, usually they add a random string to passwords to protect them from dictionary attacks, this process is called salting. This data is then hashed and stored, so even if a hacker manages to gain access to the passwords, they won't be able to use the data since the salting process changed the hashes of the original password, so it can't be cracked as easily.

KDF does a similar thing, this depends on the number of iterations it is set to, aka as rounds. e.g. 100,000 rounds to rehash the values. It stretches your key, thus slowing down the process of guessing the password, making it more expensive and difficult to compute. In a nutshell, the higher the number of iterations, the harder it is for hackers to brute-force your decryption key to get into your password vault. The commonly used KDF algorithm is PBKDF2, though there are others like Argon2, Scrypt, Bcrypt.

A Senior Security Engineer at Yahoo, Jeremi Gosney argued that a strong, unique master password will protect users more than a high count of KDF iterations can, but also said that the latter will also help secure users who don't use a very strong password.

Let's look back at the LastPass data breach. The password manager service had set the default iterations count to 100,000 for new accounts, but many old accounts were stuck at 5,000. Security experts had criticized the company for sticking with this, and said that even 100,000 iterations wasn't good enough. This was not the only reason for the LastPass data breach, they had more issues related to the security of their systems, how they got breached initially, not encrypting user data such as URLs, etc. But, what we have learned from recent incidents, is that we have to be extra careful to protect our data.

Bitwarden to increase its server-side iterations to 600,000

It is important to note that there are 2 kinds of iterations done by Bitwarden; one on the client side (that is, your computer), and the other is done on the server side. A white paper published by the password manager service indicates that it does 200,001 rounds, i.e. 100,000 + 1 using PBKDF2 SHA-256 on the client side, and 100,000 on the server's side.

[Image: Bitwarden-KDF-iterations-PBKDF2-SHA256.jpg]

Wladimir Palant, the creator of AdBlock Plus, has pointed out that Bitwarden was not actually running 100,000 on the server side for the encryption key, it is only done for the master password. The client-side on the other hand handles both.  Now, here is the thing. Bitwarden's default KDF iterations is actually pretty low, it sits at 5,000 server-side iterations. Palant said this flaw meant that the security level of Bitwarden is identical to what LastPass had.

Security expert, Dmitry Chestnykh, had mentioned this problem in 2020, yet it still remains unresolved. Many users have asked the company to address this issue. As a matter of fact, users have been requesting better algorithms, such as Argon2, since March 2018.

Bitwarden replied to a user on Mastodon, saying that they would increase the count to protect user data. It is not clear whether this will affect existing user accounts, the company has responded to queries that it is working on it. But you don't have to wait for them to act, you can change it manually right now.

Warning: You are advised to export your vault (backup) before trying the following. Users who have the Bitwarden browser extension users or the mobile app can go the Settings > Export Vault. The desktop client lets you do the same from the File menu > Export Vault. Once you change the KDF iteration count you will be logged out of all clients. That's because the encryption key is changed. Using a high KDF count will cause your password vault to open more slowly. Please refer to the official support page for more information.

How to change the KDF iterations count in Bitwarden Password Manager

1. Login to your Bitwarden vault.
2. Click on your profile in the top right corner.
3. Select Account Settings.
4. Switch to the Security tab. The URL is https://vault.bitwarden.com/#/settings/s...urity-keys.
5. The option that we are looking for is the KDF Iterations. It is set to 5000 by default, even though a note below the box states that the recommended value is 100,000 or more.
6. Click on the box and type 600,000. Enter your master password in the corresponding field.
7. Hit the Change KDF button.

Note: You will be logged out of your account, and a message will pop up to indicate that your encryption key has changed.

[Image: How-to-change-the-KDF-iterations-count-i...anager.jpg]

Why 600,000? It is the number of KDF iterations that the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) recommends. Until recently, OWASP actually recommended 310,000 as the default number of iterations. But that seems to have nearly doubled over the past week. Even Bitwarden's message on Mastodon does mention that the initial plan was to set the KDF iterations to 350,000, but then they decided to go with 600,000.

While you are at it, I'd also recommend changing the clipboard behavior of Bitwarden's browser extension. Click the add-on's button > Settings > Options > Clear Clipboard. By default, this is set to never clear the clipboard, change it to 1 Minute or whatever suits you. (h/t Techspot)

I also recommend reading Palant's recent article about how password strength works.
... Continue Reading]]> <![CDATA[How to hide your WhatsApp Online status]]> https://www.geeks.fyi/showthread.php?tid=18028 Mon, 07 Nov 2022 06:30:49 +0000 harlan4096]]> https://www.geeks.fyi/showthread.php?tid=18028 Quote:Meta-owned WhatsApp added a new feature to the privacy settings of the messaging application. Now, WhatsApp users may block others from seeing their online status, something that was not possible previously.

[Image: whatsapp-hide-online-status-last-seen.png]

Up until now, WhatsApp users could block others from seeing the "last seen" information. While that blocked anyone from knowing when a user was last online on the site, it did not prevent others from accessing the online status.

Users who set the last seen preference to nobody will notice that their online status preference is set to everybody, meaning that anyone may check that value.

The online status reveals if a user is online at the time. The feature has been introduced in the beta version of the client in September 2022, but is now also available in the latest stable version of WhatsApp.

Here is how you configure the last seen / online status privacy on WhatsApp:
  1. Make sure you run the latest version of WhatsApp. On Android, you may need to check for app updates on Google Play to find out if an update is available.
  2. Open the WhatsApp client and select Menu > Settings.
  3. Go to Privacy  > Lat seen and online.
There you have the following options:
  • Set the last seen status to "everyone", "my contacts", "my contacts except", or "nobody".
  • Set the online status to "everyone" or "same as last seen".
You may want to switch the online status to same as last seen, as this prevents others from seeing when you are online. There are services available on the Internet that allow anyone to check the online status of any phone number. If you want to prevent this from happening, you need to set the online status preference to same as last seen, and select any value for that preference, except everyone.

Note: if you limit visibility for either of the preferences, you will also limit your visibility in this regard. If you switch the two settings to your contacts, you will continue to see the last seen and online status of your contacts, but you won't be able to do so for anyone not in the contacts.

WhatsApp should consider changing the defaults of the setting from everybody to another option to improve privacy for all users. For now, it is necessary to make the changes manually.

Now You: do you use WhatsApp?
... Continue Reading]]> Quote:Meta-owned WhatsApp added a new feature to the privacy settings of the messaging application. Now, WhatsApp users may block others from seeing their online status, something that was not possible previously.

[Image: whatsapp-hide-online-status-last-seen.png]

Up until now, WhatsApp users could block others from seeing the "last seen" information. While that blocked anyone from knowing when a user was last online on the site, it did not prevent others from accessing the online status.

Users who set the last seen preference to nobody will notice that their online status preference is set to everybody, meaning that anyone may check that value.

The online status reveals if a user is online at the time. The feature has been introduced in the beta version of the client in September 2022, but is now also available in the latest stable version of WhatsApp.

Here is how you configure the last seen / online status privacy on WhatsApp:
  1. Make sure you run the latest version of WhatsApp. On Android, you may need to check for app updates on Google Play to find out if an update is available.
  2. Open the WhatsApp client and select Menu > Settings.
  3. Go to Privacy  > Lat seen and online.
There you have the following options:
  • Set the last seen status to "everyone", "my contacts", "my contacts except", or "nobody".
  • Set the online status to "everyone" or "same as last seen".
You may want to switch the online status to same as last seen, as this prevents others from seeing when you are online. There are services available on the Internet that allow anyone to check the online status of any phone number. If you want to prevent this from happening, you need to set the online status preference to same as last seen, and select any value for that preference, except everyone.

Note: if you limit visibility for either of the preferences, you will also limit your visibility in this regard. If you switch the two settings to your contacts, you will continue to see the last seen and online status of your contacts, but you won't be able to do so for anyone not in the contacts.

WhatsApp should consider changing the defaults of the setting from everybody to another option to improve privacy for all users. For now, it is necessary to make the changes manually.

Now You: do you use WhatsApp?
... Continue Reading]]> <![CDATA[How to switch to a different regional Store in the Amazon App]]> https://www.geeks.fyi/showthread.php?tid=17201 Sat, 23 Apr 2022 07:21:15 +0000 harlan4096]]> https://www.geeks.fyi/showthread.php?tid=17201 Quote:Amazon operates regional stores that customers may buy products from. The Stores are not limited to customers from a specific region, but some products may not be purchasable if a customer comes from a different region. There are ways around that, for instance, by using proxy services, but many items are available.

[Image: amazon-switch-region-in-app-scaled.jpg]

In 2009 I explained how consumers can benefit from a global economy, and it is still possible.

Using multiple Amazon stores is useful especially when there are not any added taxes when you make purchases; this is the case when you live in the European Union, as you can make purchases on Amazon Germany, France or Spain, to name a few, without having to pay customs tax for the purchased items. Note that you may have to pay extra for shipping, even as a Prime customer, when you make purchases in a different regional Amazon store.

It is easy enough to switch between different Amazon Stores using a web browser. Just point the browser to the store, e.g. amazon.de for the German store, amazon.fr for the French Store, or Amazon.es for the Spanish store, and you can start to browse it and make purchases using your Amazon account. The app makes it more difficult, as there is no direct option to open another regional store with just a click or entering of a different address.

The following guide walks you through the steps of switching to different regional stores in the Amazon application.


Switching Amazon Stores in the app[Image: amazon-shopping-startpage-scaled.jpg]

Open the Amazon Shopping application on your device to get started. It should look similar to what you see on the screenshot above. Activate the menu (three horizontal bars) in the lower right corner of the interface to open the main menu.

Scroll down on the page until you get to the Settings section. Amazon displays Store sections at the top, but when you scroll down, you will reach the Settings. Tap on Settings to expand the menu.

[Image: amazon-shopping-country-language-scaled.jpg]

The Country & Language preference shows the flag of the country of the selected Amazon Store. Activate the preference with a tap to open the region and language switcher. Amazon displays the active country/region, the language that is used, and the currency on the page.

If you switched to another region in the past in the app, you will see it listed below the defaults for quick switching.

[Image: amazon-change-language-region-scaled.jpg]

Tap on the region to display all available regions that you may switch to. The application displays all Stores, but separates them into Stores that support the current language and Stores that do not.

The first group lists all Stores that support the selected language, the second group all Stores that do not.

[Image: Amazon-switch-region-scaled.jpg]

Select another region with a tap. If the selected region supports the language, it is set automatically. If the language is not supported for the selected regional store, you are asked to select one of the supported languages instead.

[Image: amazon-different-language-and-region-scaled.jpg]

Select the "done" button to switch to the region, language and currency that is displayed. Note that "done" is displayed in the language that will be set.
Amazon's app reloads at this point and loads the new Store based on the settings.

[Image: amazon-store-scaled.jpg]

You may change the Store region and language at any time by repeating the steps described above.

Now You: do you use online Stores to make purchases? Did you buy products from Stores in different regions?
... Continue Reading]]> Quote:Amazon operates regional stores that customers may buy products from. The Stores are not limited to customers from a specific region, but some products may not be purchasable if a customer comes from a different region. There are ways around that, for instance, by using proxy services, but many items are available.

[Image: amazon-switch-region-in-app-scaled.jpg]

In 2009 I explained how consumers can benefit from a global economy, and it is still possible.

Using multiple Amazon stores is useful especially when there are not any added taxes when you make purchases; this is the case when you live in the European Union, as you can make purchases on Amazon Germany, France or Spain, to name a few, without having to pay customs tax for the purchased items. Note that you may have to pay extra for shipping, even as a Prime customer, when you make purchases in a different regional Amazon store.

It is easy enough to switch between different Amazon Stores using a web browser. Just point the browser to the store, e.g. amazon.de for the German store, amazon.fr for the French Store, or Amazon.es for the Spanish store, and you can start to browse it and make purchases using your Amazon account. The app makes it more difficult, as there is no direct option to open another regional store with just a click or entering of a different address.

The following guide walks you through the steps of switching to different regional stores in the Amazon application.


Switching Amazon Stores in the app[Image: amazon-shopping-startpage-scaled.jpg]

Open the Amazon Shopping application on your device to get started. It should look similar to what you see on the screenshot above. Activate the menu (three horizontal bars) in the lower right corner of the interface to open the main menu.

Scroll down on the page until you get to the Settings section. Amazon displays Store sections at the top, but when you scroll down, you will reach the Settings. Tap on Settings to expand the menu.

[Image: amazon-shopping-country-language-scaled.jpg]

The Country & Language preference shows the flag of the country of the selected Amazon Store. Activate the preference with a tap to open the region and language switcher. Amazon displays the active country/region, the language that is used, and the currency on the page.

If you switched to another region in the past in the app, you will see it listed below the defaults for quick switching.

[Image: amazon-change-language-region-scaled.jpg]

Tap on the region to display all available regions that you may switch to. The application displays all Stores, but separates them into Stores that support the current language and Stores that do not.

The first group lists all Stores that support the selected language, the second group all Stores that do not.

[Image: Amazon-switch-region-scaled.jpg]

Select another region with a tap. If the selected region supports the language, it is set automatically. If the language is not supported for the selected regional store, you are asked to select one of the supported languages instead.

[Image: amazon-different-language-and-region-scaled.jpg]

Select the "done" button to switch to the region, language and currency that is displayed. Note that "done" is displayed in the language that will be set.
Amazon's app reloads at this point and loads the new Store based on the settings.

[Image: amazon-store-scaled.jpg]

You may change the Store region and language at any time by repeating the steps described above.

Now You: do you use online Stores to make purchases? Did you buy products from Stores in different regions?
... Continue Reading]]> <![CDATA[YouTube Vanced alternatives for Android]]> https://www.geeks.fyi/showthread.php?tid=16926 Mon, 14 Mar 2022 06:45:08 +0000 harlan4096]]> https://www.geeks.fyi/showthread.php?tid=16926 Quote:The popular third-party YouTube client Vanced for Android is being discontinued. The developers announced the decision on the official Twitter account and through other channels.

[Image: youtube-vanced.jpg]

I reviewed YouTube Vanced back in August 2020 here on this site. YouTube Vanced was never available on Google Play, which meant that its installation was not as straightforward. Once installed, it offered a number of features that improved the YouTube viewing and browsing experience.

Features like built-in blocking of ads, dark mode support, sponsor skipping in videos, more control over video resolutions and qualities, or disabling certain YouTube elements and features were what made it popular.

According to The Verge, Google sent the owners of Vanced a cease and desist letter. Details are not clear at this point, but the letter resulted in the discontinuation of YouTube Vanced. The app will continue to work according to the developers, but it will stop working eventually. Third-party YouTube apps (and others) need regular maintenance, especially when new changes are introduced that affect functionality on the official service.

YouTube Vanced AlternativesYouTube Vanced users may continue to use the app for now on Android, but it will stop working eventually. The following list includes alternatives for Vanced that users may want to try out.

NewPipe

[Image: newpipe.png]

NewPipe is another open source client for YouTube that makes a lot of things better than the official YouTube app by Google. NewPipe is not available on Google Play, but Android users may download it from the developer website or through F-Droid.

NewPipe blocks video ads on YouTube, supports video downloads and background playback among other things. It is fast and efficient to use, and gives users a lot of options to customize the viewing experience on YouTube.

SkyTube

[Image: skytube-youtube-app-android-open-source.jpg]

SkyTube is yet another open source third-party client for YouTube. The Android application is available via its own website and via F-Droid.

Like NewPipe, it is adding features that many users would call essential to the YouTube experience on Android. Videos play without advertisement and the option to download content is also provided. The app offers a view-experience only, which means that it does not support signing in to a YouTube account.

Still, features such as channel subscriptions, bookmarks or reading comments are all supported by it.

LibreTube

[Image: youtube-libre.png]

LibreTube is an open source YouTube frontend that is currently available as a beta. It is updated regularly

The client, while in beta, supports major features such as an ad-free viewing experience and downloads.

Firefox for Android with uBlock Origin

[Image: youtube-firefox-scaled.jpg]

Firefox for Android is one of the few browsers for Android that supports extensions. While it does not support all extensions available for Firefox anymore, it does support a few essential ones, including uBlock Origin.

All you need to do is download Firefox, select Menu > Add-ons, and enable uBlock Origin. When you visit YouTube in the browser, advertisement is blocked automatically.

Download to this is that you don't get any extra features that third-party clients offer, such as the downloading of videos. Functionality is limited to what YouTube's web version is offering.

YouTube alternatives and other options

YouTube users and creators who are looking for alternatives, may want to check out the following services:
  • DTube -- DTube is a decentralized platform that uses blockchain and P2P technology. The platform is ad-free and revenue is earned through crypto-currency earnings.
  • Invidious -- Another open source frontend for YouTube that blocks ads, disables tracking and offers lots of customization features. Runs in any browser.
  • Piped -- Piped is an open source frontend for YouTube that several clients and services use. Users can self-host a Piped instance to benefit from zero tracking, no ads and more.
Now You: have other YouTube options that work on Android?
... Continue Reading]]> Quote:The popular third-party YouTube client Vanced for Android is being discontinued. The developers announced the decision on the official Twitter account and through other channels.

[Image: youtube-vanced.jpg]

I reviewed YouTube Vanced back in August 2020 here on this site. YouTube Vanced was never available on Google Play, which meant that its installation was not as straightforward. Once installed, it offered a number of features that improved the YouTube viewing and browsing experience.

Features like built-in blocking of ads, dark mode support, sponsor skipping in videos, more control over video resolutions and qualities, or disabling certain YouTube elements and features were what made it popular.

According to The Verge, Google sent the owners of Vanced a cease and desist letter. Details are not clear at this point, but the letter resulted in the discontinuation of YouTube Vanced. The app will continue to work according to the developers, but it will stop working eventually. Third-party YouTube apps (and others) need regular maintenance, especially when new changes are introduced that affect functionality on the official service.

YouTube Vanced AlternativesYouTube Vanced users may continue to use the app for now on Android, but it will stop working eventually. The following list includes alternatives for Vanced that users may want to try out.

NewPipe

[Image: newpipe.png]

NewPipe is another open source client for YouTube that makes a lot of things better than the official YouTube app by Google. NewPipe is not available on Google Play, but Android users may download it from the developer website or through F-Droid.

NewPipe blocks video ads on YouTube, supports video downloads and background playback among other things. It is fast and efficient to use, and gives users a lot of options to customize the viewing experience on YouTube.

SkyTube

[Image: skytube-youtube-app-android-open-source.jpg]

SkyTube is yet another open source third-party client for YouTube. The Android application is available via its own website and via F-Droid.

Like NewPipe, it is adding features that many users would call essential to the YouTube experience on Android. Videos play without advertisement and the option to download content is also provided. The app offers a view-experience only, which means that it does not support signing in to a YouTube account.

Still, features such as channel subscriptions, bookmarks or reading comments are all supported by it.

LibreTube

[Image: youtube-libre.png]

LibreTube is an open source YouTube frontend that is currently available as a beta. It is updated regularly

The client, while in beta, supports major features such as an ad-free viewing experience and downloads.

Firefox for Android with uBlock Origin

[Image: youtube-firefox-scaled.jpg]

Firefox for Android is one of the few browsers for Android that supports extensions. While it does not support all extensions available for Firefox anymore, it does support a few essential ones, including uBlock Origin.

All you need to do is download Firefox, select Menu > Add-ons, and enable uBlock Origin. When you visit YouTube in the browser, advertisement is blocked automatically.

Download to this is that you don't get any extra features that third-party clients offer, such as the downloading of videos. Functionality is limited to what YouTube's web version is offering.

YouTube alternatives and other options

YouTube users and creators who are looking for alternatives, may want to check out the following services:
  • DTube -- DTube is a decentralized platform that uses blockchain and P2P technology. The platform is ad-free and revenue is earned through crypto-currency earnings.
  • Invidious -- Another open source frontend for YouTube that blocks ads, disables tracking and offers lots of customization features. Runs in any browser.
  • Piped -- Piped is an open source frontend for YouTube that several clients and services use. Users can self-host a Piped instance to benefit from zero tracking, no ads and more.
Now You: have other YouTube options that work on Android?
... Continue Reading]]> <![CDATA[How to delete the Advertising ID on Android]]> https://www.geeks.fyi/showthread.php?tid=16742 Thu, 17 Feb 2022 07:02:29 +0000 harlan4096]]> https://www.geeks.fyi/showthread.php?tid=16742 Quote:
[Image: android-12-delete-advertising-id.webp]

The Advertising ID is a unique string that is used for advertising purposes on Android devices. Powered by Google Play, the advertising ID is used by applications for monetization purposes.Apps and advertisers may use the Advertising ID on Android for identification purposes, as it may provide them with information on user activity on the device. The information is then used to deliver personalized advertisement.

Starting in Android 12, Android users may delete the Advertising ID on a device so that it can't be used anymore by applications or advertisers. Previous versions of Android supported resetting the ID only, but not disabling it entirely. Google plans to bring the deletion option to previous versions of the Android operating system by April 2022.
 
Quote:As part of Google Play services update in late 2021, the advertising ID will be removed when a user opts out of personalization using advertising ID in Android Settings. Any attempts to access the identifier will receive a string of zeros instead of the identifier.

This Google Play services phased rollout will affect apps running on Android 12 starting late 2021 and will expand to affect apps running on all devices that support Google Play starting starting April 2022.

Delete the Android Advertising ID

Here is what you need to do to delete the Advertising ID on Android. Note that you can generate a new ID at any time after deleting it, which is also explained below.
  1. Open the Settings on the Android 12 or higher device.
  2. Go to Privacy > Ads.
  3. Activate the "Delete advertising ID" option on the page that opens. The page lists the current advertising ID and the "Reset advertising ID" option as well.
  4. A new page with information opens. It states that ads will still be displayed, but that they may be less relevant without the advertising ID. Additionally, apps may have other tracking means and may still be able to display personalized ads.
  5. Select the "Delete advertising ID" button on the page to proceed.
Once you activate the button, you are taken back to the Ads settings page. All options are gone and the new "Get new advertising ID" option is displayed instead. You may activate it at any time to generate a new unique advertising ID on the device.

Google's Privacy Sandbox for Android

Announced on February 16, 2022, Google plans to introduce "new, more private advertising solutions on Android" in the coming years. Called Privacy Sandbox for Android, it will "limit sharing of user data with third parties and operate without cross-app identifiers, including advertising ID".

You find the entire announcement on Google's The Keyword website.

Now You: what is your take on this development?
... Continue Reading]]> Quote:
[Image: android-12-delete-advertising-id.webp]

The Advertising ID is a unique string that is used for advertising purposes on Android devices. Powered by Google Play, the advertising ID is used by applications for monetization purposes.Apps and advertisers may use the Advertising ID on Android for identification purposes, as it may provide them with information on user activity on the device. The information is then used to deliver personalized advertisement.

Starting in Android 12, Android users may delete the Advertising ID on a device so that it can't be used anymore by applications or advertisers. Previous versions of Android supported resetting the ID only, but not disabling it entirely. Google plans to bring the deletion option to previous versions of the Android operating system by April 2022.
 
Quote:As part of Google Play services update in late 2021, the advertising ID will be removed when a user opts out of personalization using advertising ID in Android Settings. Any attempts to access the identifier will receive a string of zeros instead of the identifier.

This Google Play services phased rollout will affect apps running on Android 12 starting late 2021 and will expand to affect apps running on all devices that support Google Play starting starting April 2022.

Delete the Android Advertising ID

Here is what you need to do to delete the Advertising ID on Android. Note that you can generate a new ID at any time after deleting it, which is also explained below.
  1. Open the Settings on the Android 12 or higher device.
  2. Go to Privacy > Ads.
  3. Activate the "Delete advertising ID" option on the page that opens. The page lists the current advertising ID and the "Reset advertising ID" option as well.
  4. A new page with information opens. It states that ads will still be displayed, but that they may be less relevant without the advertising ID. Additionally, apps may have other tracking means and may still be able to display personalized ads.
  5. Select the "Delete advertising ID" button on the page to proceed.
Once you activate the button, you are taken back to the Ads settings page. All options are gone and the new "Get new advertising ID" option is displayed instead. You may activate it at any time to generate a new unique advertising ID on the device.

Google's Privacy Sandbox for Android

Announced on February 16, 2022, Google plans to introduce "new, more private advertising solutions on Android" in the coming years. Called Privacy Sandbox for Android, it will "limit sharing of user data with third parties and operate without cross-app identifiers, including advertising ID".

You find the entire announcement on Google's The Keyword website.

Now You: what is your take on this development?
... Continue Reading]]> <![CDATA[Tip: All Simple Mobile Tools Android apps are free on Google Play currently]]> https://www.geeks.fyi/showthread.php?tid=16393 Sat, 25 Dec 2021 08:37:04 +0000 harlan4096]]> https://www.geeks.fyi/showthread.php?tid=16393 Quote:
[Image: sinple-mobile-tools.webp]

Simple Mobile Tools is a developer of high quality open source Android applications, which are available as free and paid versions on Google Play. The tools are excellent replacements for native Android applications that are included by default on the device.I reviewed Simple Gallery Pro, a Google Photos alternative, some time ago here on this site and liked it a lot. The apps come with zero tracking and require only permissions that are needed for their functionality. All apps are rated highly on Google Play

Note that these applications are also available on F-Droid, and that the Google Play Store versions may have features that the F-Droid versions don't have.

If you check out the Simple Mobile Tools page on Google Play right now, you will notice that all Pro apps are currently available for free.

These are:
  • Simple Calendar Pro: Events
    • Simple Calendar is a hugely customizable, offline calendar app for Android mobile phones designed to do exactly what an android personal calendar should do in 2021. No complicated features, unnecessary permissions, and no ads!
  • Simple Notes Pro: List Planner
    • Need to take a quick note to make a shopping list, reminder for an address, or a startup idea? Then look no further as this is the simple organizer tool you've been looking for : Simple Notes: To-do list organizer and planner! The best of note taking apps and sticky notes free for android mobile phones. No complicated setup steps needed, just tap the screen and type in what you came for and create notes, quick lists, checklist or backup for any idea.
  • Simple Contacts Pro
    • A lightweight phone number smart contact app for managing your contacts loved by millions of people. The contacts can be stored on your device only through this smart contact phone book app and it can also be synchronized by different means. This phone number smart contact phone book will help you keeping your contacts in one place without the hassle of backing up your contacts as the contacts backup are always in sync with the contacts you add.
  • Simple File Manager
    • Simple File Manager Pro is a super quick & professional file and folder manager for Android devices. Use Simple File Manager to easily compress, transfer & convert media files with a few clicks. It has all of the major file manager & folder management features, including customizing the home folder and selecting favorite folders for quick access.
  • Simple Gallery Pro: Photos
    • Simple Gallery Pro brings you all the photo viewing and editing features you have been missing on your Android in one stylish easy-to-use app. Browse, manage, crop and edit photos or videos faster than ever, recover accidentally deleted files or create hidden galleries for your most precious images and videos. And with advanced file-support and full customization, finally, your gallery works just the way you want.
  • Simple Draw Pro: Sketchbook
    • Want to draw something creative but you have no paper? This sketchbook drawing app will suit you perfectly. Just pick a color and start drawing, it is as easy as that. You can either save the drawing in a file, print it or share it directly through email or social networks so that your friends can have some fun with it too
A click on the install button installs the selected version of the application on the Android device. The applications are excellent replacements for Google apps that come with most Android applications out there.

Note that you can make a donation on the official homepage to support development of these applications, if you like them. You can also check the developer's free applications using the provided link above.

Now You: do you have favorite developers or applications? Feel free to name them in the comments below!
... Continue Reading]]> Quote:
[Image: sinple-mobile-tools.webp]

Simple Mobile Tools is a developer of high quality open source Android applications, which are available as free and paid versions on Google Play. The tools are excellent replacements for native Android applications that are included by default on the device.I reviewed Simple Gallery Pro, a Google Photos alternative, some time ago here on this site and liked it a lot. The apps come with zero tracking and require only permissions that are needed for their functionality. All apps are rated highly on Google Play

Note that these applications are also available on F-Droid, and that the Google Play Store versions may have features that the F-Droid versions don't have.

If you check out the Simple Mobile Tools page on Google Play right now, you will notice that all Pro apps are currently available for free.

These are:
  • Simple Calendar Pro: Events
    • Simple Calendar is a hugely customizable, offline calendar app for Android mobile phones designed to do exactly what an android personal calendar should do in 2021. No complicated features, unnecessary permissions, and no ads!
  • Simple Notes Pro: List Planner
    • Need to take a quick note to make a shopping list, reminder for an address, or a startup idea? Then look no further as this is the simple organizer tool you've been looking for : Simple Notes: To-do list organizer and planner! The best of note taking apps and sticky notes free for android mobile phones. No complicated setup steps needed, just tap the screen and type in what you came for and create notes, quick lists, checklist or backup for any idea.
  • Simple Contacts Pro
    • A lightweight phone number smart contact app for managing your contacts loved by millions of people. The contacts can be stored on your device only through this smart contact phone book app and it can also be synchronized by different means. This phone number smart contact phone book will help you keeping your contacts in one place without the hassle of backing up your contacts as the contacts backup are always in sync with the contacts you add.
  • Simple File Manager
    • Simple File Manager Pro is a super quick & professional file and folder manager for Android devices. Use Simple File Manager to easily compress, transfer & convert media files with a few clicks. It has all of the major file manager & folder management features, including customizing the home folder and selecting favorite folders for quick access.
  • Simple Gallery Pro: Photos
    • Simple Gallery Pro brings you all the photo viewing and editing features you have been missing on your Android in one stylish easy-to-use app. Browse, manage, crop and edit photos or videos faster than ever, recover accidentally deleted files or create hidden galleries for your most precious images and videos. And with advanced file-support and full customization, finally, your gallery works just the way you want.
  • Simple Draw Pro: Sketchbook
    • Want to draw something creative but you have no paper? This sketchbook drawing app will suit you perfectly. Just pick a color and start drawing, it is as easy as that. You can either save the drawing in a file, print it or share it directly through email or social networks so that your friends can have some fun with it too
A click on the install button installs the selected version of the application on the Android device. The applications are excellent replacements for Google apps that come with most Android applications out there.

Note that you can make a donation on the official homepage to support development of these applications, if you like them. You can also check the developer's free applications using the provided link above.

Now You: do you have favorite developers or applications? Feel free to name them in the comments below!
... Continue Reading]]> <![CDATA[Restore "Open in Tab" In Google Chrome on Android (disable Tab Grouping)]]> https://www.geeks.fyi/showthread.php?tid=15185 Mon, 31 May 2021 06:48:48 +0000 harlan4096]]> https://www.geeks.fyi/showthread.php?tid=15185 Quote:
[Image: chrome-open-in-tab.png]

Google introduced Tab Groups in the company's Chrome web browser some time ago. The main idea behind tab groups is to improve the manageability of tabs in the browser by grouping them automatically. Say, you open the Ghacks website, and then two articles in new tabs in Chrome. Instead of displaying the articles as individual tabs, all three tabs would form a group automatically. When you are done, you may close the group and with it all of its tabs.

Tab Groups are not liked by all Chrome users, and recent changes to the code for Chrome on Android have sparked quite the controversy. Previously, Chrome users could disable Tab Groups by disabling the feature on Chrome's experimental flags page. Chrome would stop creating tab groups automatically.

The update invalidated the flag. While still there, setting it to disabled has no longer an effect. Chrome is still creating tab groups automatically, and there is no option in the menu to open a link in a new tab (and not inside the tab group).

Chrome users on Android have two options by default when it comes to opening links by long-tapping them. Either open the link in a tab in the group or open it in an incognito tab.

Disable Chrome Tab Grouping

It is still possible to restore the option to open links in a new tab, and not in a tab group, in Google Chrome for Android. The functionality is powered by an experimental flag, and it is possible that this flag is going away at one point, rendered useless by Google, or modified.

For now, here is what you can do:
  1. Load chrome://flags in the Chrome version on Android.
  2. Use the search at the top to find Tab Grid Layout.
  3. Set the flag to Disabled.
  4. Restart the Google Chrome browser on Android.
The classic option to open links in a new tab is restored after the restart. Set the flag to Enabled or Default to restore the status quo.

Closing Words

Chrome was never a browser that gave users lots of customization options. Often, Google would introduce a change and remove options after a while.

Making Tab Groups the default and only option in Chrome is a classic Google move. It is possible that the feature is still being worked on and that options to disable it will be introduced, but I would not hold my breath.

For now, disabling the Tab Grid Layout will restore the classic behavior.

Now You: What is your take on Tab Groups?
... Continue Reading]]> Quote:
[Image: chrome-open-in-tab.png]

Google introduced Tab Groups in the company's Chrome web browser some time ago. The main idea behind tab groups is to improve the manageability of tabs in the browser by grouping them automatically. Say, you open the Ghacks website, and then two articles in new tabs in Chrome. Instead of displaying the articles as individual tabs, all three tabs would form a group automatically. When you are done, you may close the group and with it all of its tabs.

Tab Groups are not liked by all Chrome users, and recent changes to the code for Chrome on Android have sparked quite the controversy. Previously, Chrome users could disable Tab Groups by disabling the feature on Chrome's experimental flags page. Chrome would stop creating tab groups automatically.

The update invalidated the flag. While still there, setting it to disabled has no longer an effect. Chrome is still creating tab groups automatically, and there is no option in the menu to open a link in a new tab (and not inside the tab group).

Chrome users on Android have two options by default when it comes to opening links by long-tapping them. Either open the link in a tab in the group or open it in an incognito tab.

Disable Chrome Tab Grouping

It is still possible to restore the option to open links in a new tab, and not in a tab group, in Google Chrome for Android. The functionality is powered by an experimental flag, and it is possible that this flag is going away at one point, rendered useless by Google, or modified.

For now, here is what you can do:
  1. Load chrome://flags in the Chrome version on Android.
  2. Use the search at the top to find Tab Grid Layout.
  3. Set the flag to Disabled.
  4. Restart the Google Chrome browser on Android.
The classic option to open links in a new tab is restored after the restart. Set the flag to Enabled or Default to restore the status quo.

Closing Words

Chrome was never a browser that gave users lots of customization options. Often, Google would introduce a change and remove options after a while.

Making Tab Groups the default and only option in Chrome is a classic Google move. It is possible that the feature is still being worked on and that options to disable it will be introduced, but I would not hold my breath.

For now, disabling the Tab Grid Layout will restore the classic behavior.

Now You: What is your take on Tab Groups?
... Continue Reading]]> <![CDATA[Simple Gallery Pro for Android is a local Google Photos alternative]]> https://www.geeks.fyi/showthread.php?tid=15068 Mon, 17 May 2021 16:52:58 +0000 harlan4096]]> https://www.geeks.fyi/showthread.php?tid=15068 Quote:
[Image: simple-gallery-pro-android.jpg]

Simply Gallery Pro is a free photo management application for Google Android devices that works well as a replacement for Google Photos, provided that sync functionality is not required.

I'm in the process of replacing Google's default applications on Android with alternatives that are better for privacy. While there is not always an app available that matches all functionality, a good application is usually available.

Google Photos is the default photos management app on many Android devices. It is convenient to use, and supports the syncing of photos and videos with Google's online photo storage service. Users may have privacy concerns, or prefer to use local applications that don't contact remote servers at all. If you fall into the category, you may be interested in trying out Simply Gallery Pro.

Simple Gallery Pro for Android

Despite its Pro in the name, it is a free app for Android that runs locally on the device. It is a photo management application with photo editing options and some interesting features added on top of the core functionality.

You can grab it from F-Droid or from Google Play; the app has zero trackers and requires some permissions to work correctly. The application opens quickly on the device and displays the local media in folders such as Camera, Screenshots, Whatsapp Images, or Download. Each folder displays the most recent image as the thumbnail image. As far as image and video file support is concerned, it supports major formats including JPEG, PNG, MP4, MKV, SVG and others.

A search is provided to find files quickly, and you may also use filters to display only certain types in the interface. New folders are created from the menu and you may use these to better manage the media on the device.

The recycle bin is displayed by default, but you may hide it. It may be used to recover accidentally deleted photos or videos.

A tap on a folder lists all media in columns in the interface. One great feature of Simple Gallery Pro is the ability to increase or decrease the column size. Instead of displaying three columns with images or videos, you can use the increase option to display five or ten columns at once and thus lots of image or video thumbnails without scrolling.

Simple Gallery Pro displays quite a few options when you select multiple images. Open the menu to run the following operations on the selection:
  • Rotate
  • Rename
  • Properties
  • Hide
  • Copy or Move To
  • Set As
  • Edit
  • Add to favorites
  • Fix Date taken value
  • Select all
The options make common operations such as moving, deleting, or rotating a breeze, as it takes just a few taps to run the operations.

A tap on an image or video displays it immediately, and you may then use swipe actions to flip to the next or previous one. You can delete individual media or multiple items by selecting them in one operation, use share functionality, favorite images, or open the built-in image editor to edit the image. The editor supports the usual options, e.g. rotate, resize or filters, but not advanced options.

You can look up detailed information of images, e.g. EXIF values or original resolution, create slideshows, or use the built-in hiding option to protect media on the device. Photos and videos that you hide may be protected with a pin, pattern or fingerprint scanner, and you may furthermore protect the app in its entirety or on some of its feature, e.g. to only allow deletions if the pin is entered successfully.

Closing Words

Simple Gallery Pro is an excellent photos management app for Android devices. Users who don't require syncing, or get their syncing from another app, may want to give it a try. It is easy to use yet powerful enough to manage lots of photos and videos on Android devices.

Now You: which photos app do you use on your devices?
... Continue Reading]]> Quote:
[Image: simple-gallery-pro-android.jpg]

Simply Gallery Pro is a free photo management application for Google Android devices that works well as a replacement for Google Photos, provided that sync functionality is not required.

I'm in the process of replacing Google's default applications on Android with alternatives that are better for privacy. While there is not always an app available that matches all functionality, a good application is usually available.

Google Photos is the default photos management app on many Android devices. It is convenient to use, and supports the syncing of photos and videos with Google's online photo storage service. Users may have privacy concerns, or prefer to use local applications that don't contact remote servers at all. If you fall into the category, you may be interested in trying out Simply Gallery Pro.

Simple Gallery Pro for Android

Despite its Pro in the name, it is a free app for Android that runs locally on the device. It is a photo management application with photo editing options and some interesting features added on top of the core functionality.

You can grab it from F-Droid or from Google Play; the app has zero trackers and requires some permissions to work correctly. The application opens quickly on the device and displays the local media in folders such as Camera, Screenshots, Whatsapp Images, or Download. Each folder displays the most recent image as the thumbnail image. As far as image and video file support is concerned, it supports major formats including JPEG, PNG, MP4, MKV, SVG and others.

A search is provided to find files quickly, and you may also use filters to display only certain types in the interface. New folders are created from the menu and you may use these to better manage the media on the device.

The recycle bin is displayed by default, but you may hide it. It may be used to recover accidentally deleted photos or videos.

A tap on a folder lists all media in columns in the interface. One great feature of Simple Gallery Pro is the ability to increase or decrease the column size. Instead of displaying three columns with images or videos, you can use the increase option to display five or ten columns at once and thus lots of image or video thumbnails without scrolling.

Simple Gallery Pro displays quite a few options when you select multiple images. Open the menu to run the following operations on the selection:
  • Rotate
  • Rename
  • Properties
  • Hide
  • Copy or Move To
  • Set As
  • Edit
  • Add to favorites
  • Fix Date taken value
  • Select all
The options make common operations such as moving, deleting, or rotating a breeze, as it takes just a few taps to run the operations.

A tap on an image or video displays it immediately, and you may then use swipe actions to flip to the next or previous one. You can delete individual media or multiple items by selecting them in one operation, use share functionality, favorite images, or open the built-in image editor to edit the image. The editor supports the usual options, e.g. rotate, resize or filters, but not advanced options.

You can look up detailed information of images, e.g. EXIF values or original resolution, create slideshows, or use the built-in hiding option to protect media on the device. Photos and videos that you hide may be protected with a pin, pattern or fingerprint scanner, and you may furthermore protect the app in its entirety or on some of its feature, e.g. to only allow deletions if the pin is entered successfully.

Closing Words

Simple Gallery Pro is an excellent photos management app for Android devices. Users who don't require syncing, or get their syncing from another app, may want to give it a try. It is easy to use yet powerful enough to manage lots of photos and videos on Android devices.

Now You: which photos app do you use on your devices?
... Continue Reading]]> <![CDATA[How to access Reddit on mobile without signing-in or using the Reddit app]]> https://www.geeks.fyi/showthread.php?tid=14732 Tue, 06 Apr 2021 11:51:27 +0000 harlan4096]]> https://www.geeks.fyi/showthread.php?tid=14732 Quote:
[Image: reddit-on-mobile.png]

It is not uncommon to find Reddit links in the results of Internet searches. If you click on a link to Reddit, one of two things may happen: the actual page on Reddit may open right away, and you may read the original post and the replies right away, or, the content may be blocked and you may get a prompt to either sign-in to an account or use the official Reddit app to access the content.

The first scenario happens on the desktop, the second exclusively on mobile at the time of writing. The screenshot below (on the left) shows the prompt that mobile users may get when they open a page in a mobile browser without being signed-in. It appears that the content is not blocked for all mobile users, but only a subsection of users.

Reddit states "to view posts in r/*** you must continue in Reddit app or log in" in that case. Others may see the list of topics in a subreddit or the homepage, but any tap on a link opens a sign-up page.

Reddit wants users to use the app on mobile or sign-in at least. While the company has not revealed why it is putting a block in place for some mobile users, it is likely that it wants more information about its users to boost revenue on the site.

As a user, it is a nuisance, especially if you followed a link to a specific discussion as you may have no interest to sign-up or install the official app just to read that one page on the site.

Ways around Reddit's mobile blocking

If you just want to access the content without having to sign-in or use the Reddit app on mobile devices, then you have the following options to do just that-
 
Option 1: "Old" Reddit

Reddit maintains two versions of the site currently. The new version that is loaded by default, and an old version. The latter may be removed at one point in time, but it works fine currently. The old version does not enforce the use of the app or an account to access content on the site. Even better, it is very easy to access, especially if you are on Reddit already.

All you have to do is replace the www part of the address with old, e.g. https://www.reddit.com/r/windows10/ with https://old.reddit.com/r/windows10.

Option 2: Desktop Reddit

Instead of using the old version of Reddit, you may also load the desktop site. Some mobile browsers support this out of the box; this is the case for Brave or Firefox.

Just select Menu > Desktop Site in those browsers to request the Reddit desktop site instead of the mobile site. Downside to this is that the desktop site is not optimized for mobile use.

Option 3: A different browser

If you have multiple browsers installed, you may get the full view in some while others may be blocked. On my device, Reddit was blocking access in Brave by default but not in Firefox. Firefox displayed all posts and there was no block in place.

Closing Words

You may also install a third-party app, but many of those may display advertisement by default. Only some users experience the blocking of the content, those may use any of the methods listed above to access the content on Reddit without signing-in or using the official application.

Now You: do you use Reddit?
... Continue Reading]]> Quote:
[Image: reddit-on-mobile.png]

It is not uncommon to find Reddit links in the results of Internet searches. If you click on a link to Reddit, one of two things may happen: the actual page on Reddit may open right away, and you may read the original post and the replies right away, or, the content may be blocked and you may get a prompt to either sign-in to an account or use the official Reddit app to access the content.

The first scenario happens on the desktop, the second exclusively on mobile at the time of writing. The screenshot below (on the left) shows the prompt that mobile users may get when they open a page in a mobile browser without being signed-in. It appears that the content is not blocked for all mobile users, but only a subsection of users.

Reddit states "to view posts in r/*** you must continue in Reddit app or log in" in that case. Others may see the list of topics in a subreddit or the homepage, but any tap on a link opens a sign-up page.

Reddit wants users to use the app on mobile or sign-in at least. While the company has not revealed why it is putting a block in place for some mobile users, it is likely that it wants more information about its users to boost revenue on the site.

As a user, it is a nuisance, especially if you followed a link to a specific discussion as you may have no interest to sign-up or install the official app just to read that one page on the site.

Ways around Reddit's mobile blocking

If you just want to access the content without having to sign-in or use the Reddit app on mobile devices, then you have the following options to do just that-
 
Option 1: "Old" Reddit

Reddit maintains two versions of the site currently. The new version that is loaded by default, and an old version. The latter may be removed at one point in time, but it works fine currently. The old version does not enforce the use of the app or an account to access content on the site. Even better, it is very easy to access, especially if you are on Reddit already.

All you have to do is replace the www part of the address with old, e.g. https://www.reddit.com/r/windows10/ with https://old.reddit.com/r/windows10.

Option 2: Desktop Reddit

Instead of using the old version of Reddit, you may also load the desktop site. Some mobile browsers support this out of the box; this is the case for Brave or Firefox.

Just select Menu > Desktop Site in those browsers to request the Reddit desktop site instead of the mobile site. Downside to this is that the desktop site is not optimized for mobile use.

Option 3: A different browser

If you have multiple browsers installed, you may get the full view in some while others may be blocked. On my device, Reddit was blocking access in Brave by default but not in Firefox. Firefox displayed all posts and there was no block in place.

Closing Words

You may also install a third-party app, but many of those may display advertisement by default. Only some users experience the blocking of the content, those may use any of the methods listed above to access the content on Reddit without signing-in or using the official application.

Now You: do you use Reddit?
... Continue Reading]]>