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Apps can force update against your wishes!

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  Apps can force update against your wishes! The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> - 2021-01-20 09:29 -0800
    Re: Apps can force update against your wishes! mike <this@address.is.invalid> - 2021-01-21 04:03 +0530
      Re: Apps can force update against your wishes! The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> - 2021-01-20 22:53 -0800
        Re: Apps can force update against your wishes! mike <this@address.is.invalid> - 2021-01-21 21:12 +0530
          Re: Apps can force update against your wishes! AJL <noemail@none.com> - 2021-01-21 10:36 -0700
          Re: Apps can force update against your wishes! The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> - 2021-01-21 10:24 -0800
      Re: Apps can force update against your wishes! "Mayayana" <mayayana@invalid.nospam> - 2021-01-22 08:07 -0500
    Re: Apps can force update against your wishes! Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> - 2021-01-21 17:22 +0000
      Re: Apps can force update against your wishes! The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> - 2021-01-21 10:21 -0800
    Re: Apps can force update against your wishes! Yakker <NoMail@IsGoodMail.com> - 2021-01-21 21:18 +0000
      Re: Apps can force update against your wishes! The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> - 2021-01-21 14:09 -0800
        Re: Apps can force update against your wishes! lew <citrustwosac@google.mailer.company.invalid> - 2021-01-22 02:14 +0000
    Re: Apps can force update against your wishes! Anssi Saari <as@sci.fi> - 2021-01-22 10:23 +0200
      Re: Apps can force update against your wishes! mike <this@address.is.invalid> - 2021-01-22 14:28 +0530
        Re: Apps can force update against your wishes! Anssi Saari <as@sci.fi> - 2021-01-22 19:44 +0200
          Re: Apps can force update against your wishes! mike <this@address.is.invalid> - 2021-01-23 04:44 +0530

#73834 — Apps can force update against your wishes!

Hubby's Kardia device (nifty tool [hardware] for running your own 
30-second EKG whenever you want to) just updated the app even though the 
setting was to NOT automatically update.  In this case the app nags 
about upgrading AND has lost a useful function -- being able to scroll 
the trace in a condensed mode to look for PVCs without tapping through 
the menu system.

The Kardia phonedroid said the phone wouldn't work without the update 
(an obvious error even if he meant the device itself) and we're waiting 
for a call back from a manager.

I always set our phones to NOT automatically update anything ever -- I'd 
rather choose a time and let all the apps update at once.  I'm 
absolutely livid that my choice can be overridden.

-- 
Cheers, Bev
   My computer doesn't have to be friendly;
   civil is entirely sufficient.

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#73862

 wrote:

> I always set our phones to NOT automatically update anything ever -- I'd 
> rather choose a time and let all the apps update at once.  I'm 
> absolutely livid that my choice can be overridden.

How do they push an update to an app without us doing it?
Like you I don't update automatically as bad things tend to happen.

One of my apps complained recently it needed an update and wouldn't run
without that update. I closed the app but no joy when restarted. No joy when
rebooting.

I deleted it and reinstalled the same old version.
Seems to work now on that same older version.
All the more reason to save the old zip installers.

Afterward I searched in vain for how they pushed an update notice to the app
but couldn't find any settings anywhere to update my apps.

Maybe they time these things in the hard code?

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#73916

On 01/20/2021 02:33 PM, mike wrote:
>   wrote:
>
>> I always set our phones to NOT automatically update anything ever -- I'd
>> rather choose a time and let all the apps update at once.  I'm
>> absolutely livid that my choice can be overridden.
>
> How do they push an update to an app without us doing it?
> Like you I don't update automatically as bad things tend to happen.
>
> One of my apps complained recently it needed an update and wouldn't run
> without that update. I closed the app but no joy when restarted. No joy when
> rebooting.
>
> I deleted it and reinstalled the same old version.
> Seems to work now on that same older version.
> All the more reason to save the old zip installers.
>
> Afterward I searched in vain for how they pushed an update notice to the app
> but couldn't find any settings anywhere to update my apps.
>
> Maybe they time these things in the hard code?

Why not?  Long ago when cell phones were car attachments my company was 
testing a thing that would report home to the base station the location 
of the remote sensor.  Speed, direction, etc.  It had a wake-up feature 
in the windows software that would turn the windows machine on when 
there was something to report.  There may have been some sort of 
hardware thing that actually turned the winmachine on, it's been quite a 
while (windows 3.1).

I seem to remember that ES File Explorer had an option to delete the 
.apk files after installation.  I'd like to unset that, but I can't find 
it.

-- 
Cheers, Bev
   "Everyone ought to stop and smell crayons once in a while."
                                                       -- DA

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#73929

 wrote:

> I seem to remember that ES File Explorer had an option to delete the 
> .apk files after installation.

I don't recall ES File Explorer working that way.

As I recall ES File Explorer allowed you to check a box to delete all the
APKs it can find when you manually tell it to clean the system.

But you had to do two things for that to happen.
(1) check that box
(2) run the manual cleaning process

But that's as I recall it as there's really no need for ES File Explorer
as far as I can see since many programs are better for file management.

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#73934

On 1/21/2021 8:42 AM, mike wrote:
> The Real Bev wrote:
>
>> I seem to remember that ES File Explorer had an option to delete
>> the .apk files after installation.
>
> I don't recall ES File Explorer working that way.
>
> As I recall ES File Explorer allowed you to check a box to delete all
> the APKs it can find when you manually tell it to clean the system.
>
> But you had to do two things for that to happen. (1) check that box


> (2) run the manual cleaning process

Unfortunately the version of ES File Explorer (4.2.1.2a) that's
available in the Amazon App Store requires a $$ upgrade to ES Premium
to run file cleaning.

BTW the original ES File Explorer app has never returned to the
Play Store since being banned, though there are many lookalikes.


> But that's as I recall it as there's really no need for ES File
> Explorer as far as I can see since many programs are better for file
>  management.

I've come to like the Google 'Files' app though it may not be
appropriate for the Google paranoid.

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#73942

On 01/21/2021 07:42 AM, mike wrote:
>   wrote:
>
>> I seem to remember that ES File Explorer had an option to delete the
>> .apk files after installation.
>
> I don't recall ES File Explorer working that way.
>
> As I recall ES File Explorer allowed you to check a box to delete all the
> APKs it can find when you manually tell it to clean the system.
>
> But you had to do two things for that to happen.
> (1) check that box
> (2) run the manual cleaning process

I've tried to uncheck that box, but it doesn't seem to work -- it 
interprets that tap as CLEAN NOW!!!!!

> But that's as I recall it as there's really no need for ES File Explorer
> as far as I can see since many programs are better for file management.

I created a lot of ESFE shortcuts long ago to make moving files between 
my phone and computer easy.  Laziness frequently wins :-(

-- 
Cheers, Bev
            Linux -- the ultimate freebie!

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#74016

"mike" <this@address.is.invalid> wrote

| How do they push an update to an app without us doing it?
| Like you I don't update automatically as bad things tend to happen.
|

   In general the push idea is a misnomer. Software calls home.
For example, if you allow push in Firefox then it will periodically
check in with a specific mozilla domain. So you might seem to
get a reminder from Ace and Acme but actually they're working
through mozilla.
  In other cases it's probably just the software itself calling home. 

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#73932

The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> wrote:
> The Kardia phonedroid said the phone wouldn't work without the update 
> (an obvious error even if he meant the device itself) and we're waiting 
> for a call back from a manager.

I can't vouch for their lack of malware, but:
https://apkpure.com/kardia/com.alivecor.aliveecg
seems to have previous versions.

Theo

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#73940

On 01/21/2021 09:22 AM, Theo wrote:
> The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> wrote:
>> The Kardia phonedroid said the phone wouldn't work without the update
>> (an obvious error even if he meant the device itself) and we're waiting
>> for a call back from a manager.
>
> I can't vouch for their lack of malware, but:
> https://apkpure.com/kardia/com.alivecor.aliveecg
> seems to have previous versions.

Thanks.  He seems to be willing to tolerate the current nuisance, but I 
downloaded the installer and old kardia files anyway.

Given the annoyance of the ads (every time you tap something a new ad 
pops up which covers the entire screen and you have to hunt for the tiny 
x to get rid of it)  in many of the actual google-approved apps, it's 
hard to believe that malware could be worse :-)

-- 
Cheers, Bev
            Linux -- the ultimate freebie!

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#73957

The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> wrote in
news:ru9p90$94t$1@dont-email.me: 

> Hubby's Kardia device (nifty tool [hardware] for running your
> own 30-second EKG whenever you want to) just updated the app
> even though the setting was to NOT automatically update. 

At a guess, you are using the free version. The not so subtle hint is "unless you use the paid version, we plan to make life miserable via advertising". 

DNS66 may take care of some of it (or may not). If it doesn;t fix the Kardia app, it will quieten down a lot or other unwanted advertising. Setting it up is not as simple as installing an app. You need to install via F-Droid.
https://www.ghacks.net/2016/10/25/dns66-host-based-blocker-for-android/






-- 
Steve (--) 

I filter using XNEWS. 
If you expect a response and don't see it,
don't take it personally. 

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#73962

On 01/21/2021 01:18 PM, Yakker wrote:
> The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> wrote in
> news:ru9p90$94t$1@dont-email.me:
>
>> Hubby's Kardia device (nifty tool [hardware] for running your
>> own 30-second EKG whenever you want to) just updated the app
>> even though the setting was to NOT automatically update.
>
> At a guess, you are using the free version. The not so subtle hint is "unless you use the paid version, we plan to make life miserable via advertising".
>
> DNS66 may take care of some of it (or may not). If it doesn;t fix the Kardia app, it will quieten down a lot or other unwanted advertising. Setting it up is not as simple as installing an app. You need to install via F-Droid.
> https://www.ghacks.net/2016/10/25/dns66-host-based-blocker-for-android/

The ads aren't the problem -- the problem is not being able to scroll 
the trace except in an expanded version, which makes it difficult to 
evaluate the number of PVCs in order to discount the automatic "afib" 
diagnosis.  It really sucks when you lose utility with an update, and 
that's what happens most of the time.


-- 
Cheers, Bev
    There's something wrong with my keyboard.
    Whenever I type x I get x.

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#73983

On 2021-01-21, The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> wrote:
> On 01/21/2021 01:18 PM, Yakker wrote:
>> The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> wrote in
>> news:ru9p90$94t$1@dont-email.me:
>>
>>> Hubby's Kardia device (nifty tool [hardware] for running your
>>> own 30-second EKG whenever you want to) just updated the app
>>> even though the setting was to NOT automatically update.
>>
>> At a guess, you are using the free version. The not so subtle hint is "unless you use the paid version, we plan to make life miserable via advertising".
>>
>> DNS66 may take care of some of it (or may not). If it doesn;t fix the Kardia app, it will quieten down a lot or other unwanted advertising. Setting it up is not as simple as installing an app. You need to install via F-Droid.
>> https://www.ghacks.net/2016/10/25/dns66-host-based-blocker-for-android/
>
> The ads aren't the problem -- the problem is not being able to scroll 
> the trace except in an expanded version, which makes it difficult to 
> evaluate the number of PVCs in order to discount the automatic "afib" 
> diagnosis.  It really sucks when you lose utility with an update, and 
> that's what happens most of the time.
>
>
Like someone else said, AliveCor, went from "free" to premium for
service; most likely due to the 'connection' to crapple's watch.
apple probably got most of the money.

I have the P80B color & the ecg manager is free as is the apk for my 
tablet.  Saw this thread & checked for updates which I did as guessing
that things have changed since 2015. 

 Don't need it now as have been implanted with a pacemaker.  May
 be fun to play with it.  The firmware has not changed but the
 software for the PC got a new ecg manager but the apk looks to be the
 same, according to the date of the apk.  I did not try its long term
 monitor like using a holter.

There is also a free app to learn about reading an ecg somewhere.

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#74008

The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> writes:

> I always set our phones to NOT automatically update anything ever --
> I'd rather choose a time and let all the apps update at once.  I'm
> absolutely livid that my choice can be overridden.

As far as I know, since apps can freely write in their own installation
directory, this has always been possible and so apps can completely
bypass Google's Play Store settings about updates. Also it seems that's
exactly what the Play Store and its components do to keep themselves
updated. Not that this is generally done and seems like an odd
choice. More of a thing that malware does.

I actually have a couple of apps that aren't in the Play Store so they
update themselves but only after asking and they obey the permission
about app installations too.

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#74009

Anssi Saari <as@sci.fi> wrote:

> As far as I know, since apps can freely write in their own installation
> directory, this has always been possible and so apps can completely
> bypass Google's Play Store settings about updates.

The Google Play reviews complained the one app that tried to update itself
on me contains "request install packages" permission to which the developer
responded those permissions are needed for "inapp updates."

What permissions is it exactly that I might disable?

How about this?
   android.permission.REQUEST_INSTALL_PACKAGES
   Allows an application to request installation of packages

The $64 question is how to disable that specific permission?

 

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#74027

mike <this@address.is.invalid> writes:

> What permissions is it exactly that I might disable?
>
> How about this?
>    android.permission.REQUEST_INSTALL_PACKAGES
>    Allows an application to request installation of packages

That's it, yes.

> The $64 question is how to disable that specific permission?

It doesn't seem to show up in the app settings. My phone's rooted so I
can simply use App Ops (and its helper Shizuku) from Play Store.

There is some non-root support in these apps, it seems a little
complicated but maybe it's worth a try.

There are other permission manager apps in the Play Store too. Android
11 apparently has wider permission management built in.

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#74043

Anssi Saari <as@sci.fi> wrote:

>>    android.permission.REQUEST_INSTALL_PACKAGES
>>    Allows an application to request installation of packages
> 
> That's it, yes.

I would like to disable android.permission.REQUEST_INSTALL_PACKAGES  

> It doesn't seem to show up in the app settings. My phone's rooted so I
> can simply use App Ops (and its helper Shizuku) from Play Store.

I am not rooted.
 
> There is some non-root support in these apps, it seems a little
> complicated but maybe it's worth a try.

I installed
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=rikka.appops&hl=en_US&gl=CA
 
> There are other permission manager apps in the Play Store too. Android
> 11 apparently has wider permission management built in.

Can that or this disable android.permission.REQUEST_INSTALL_PACKAGES?
https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.zzzmode.appopsx/

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