Tag Archives: Google Play Protect

AnTuTu : Why They Got Banned From Google Play Store!

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If you are wondering why you can no longer find AnTuTu apps on the Google Play Store, that’s because they have been banned and removed!

And guess what got AnTuTu apps banned? Cheetah Mobile…

 

Cheetah Mobile : An Insidious Developer According To Google

On 20 February 2020, Google posted that they removed nearly 600 apps from the Google Play Store, banning many of their developers for “disruptive ads” and “ad fraud”.

One of those developers – notorious Chinese app developer, Cheetah Mobile, with a history of buying over popular apps to load them with spyware and malicious advertisements.

 

AnTuTu : Banned From Google Play Store!

And now, it appears that AnTuTu have also been affected by the Google ban hammer, with these apps removed :

  • AnTuTu Benchmark
  • AnTuTu 3DBench
  • AITuTu

Why? It appears those AnTuTu apps were banned, because AnTuTu found to be associated with Cheetah Mobile :

  • Cheetah Mobile CEO Fu Sheng is listed as the Chairman of Beijing AnTuTu Technology Co. Ltd
  • The AnTuTu privacy policy link used the Cheetah Mobile (cmcm.com) domain.

 

AnTuTu Shares Their Point Of View

AnTuTu clarified the issue in their statement to Android Police that :

  • Cheetah Mobile was merely an investor and shareholder, but they remain independent.
  • They purchased and used the legal services from Cheetah Mobile, so the privacy policy link used their domain.
  • They are now working to change their “legal supplier”.
  • Listing Fu Sheng as the Chairman of Beijing AnTuTu Technology Co. Ltd was a requirement of “the investors”.
  • They have already asked Cheetah Mobile to solve these problems.

AnTuTu apps are still available as APK downloads on their website, but installing them outside of Google Play is not without risks, so caveat emptor!

 

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Malware Alert : How Shopper Takes Over Android Phones!

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An Android malware called Shopper is actively taking over smartphones, to post fake reviews on Google Play.. and worse!

Find out what’s going on, and how to prevent your smartphone from being hijacked by Shopper!

 

Shopper : What Does It Do?

Shopper (Trojan-Dropper.AndroidOS.Shopper.a) is an Android trojan that uses the Google Accessibility Service to take over your smartphone.

It is not yet known how users are being infected, but researchers suspect that it may be downloaded through fraudulent ads, or third-party app stores when they try to download legitimate apps.

The malware masks itself as a system application, and uses a system icon called ConfigAPKs to hide itself from the user.

After the user unlocks the screen, the Shopper trojan launches and gathers information about the device, which is then sent to the attacker’s servers.

The attacker’s servers will then send commands to the Shopper trojan to execute one or more of these actions :

  • Check the rights to use the Accessibility Service. If permission is not granted, it will send a phishing request until it gets it
  • Turn off Google Play Protect, a safety check on Google Play Store apps before they’re downloaded
  • Post fake positive app reviews in Google Play, for those apps

  • Open links received from the remote server in an invisible window
  • Download and install advertised apps from Google Play Store
  • Download and install apps from the Apkpure third-party app store
  • Show ads when the smartphone screen is unlocked
  • Create labels to advertised ads in the app menu
  • Replace the labels of your installed apps with labels of advertised websites
  • Use your Google or Facebook account to register on popular shopping and entertainment apps, like AliExpress, Lazada, Zamora, Shein, Joom, Likee and Alibaba

 

Shopper : Who’s Getting Infected?

Right now, Kaspersky researchers say that it is most widespread in Russia (28.46%), following by Brazil (18.70%) and India (14.23%) :

 

Shopper : How To Block It?

To reduce the risk of being infected by Trojan-Dropper.AndroidOS.Shopper.a, take these actions :

  • Do NOT install apps from untrusted sources
  • Block the installation of apps from unknown sources in your smartphone settings
  • Be wary of apps that require the use of the Google Accessibility Service, especially if the app is not meant to offer accessibility features to the disabled
  • Always check application permissions to see what your installed apps are allowed to do
  • Use a reliable mobile security solution

 

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HUAWEI Phone Clone : Foolproof Way To Bypass Trump Ban?

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A new video has emerged, showing how HUAWEI Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro users can use HUAWEI Phone Clone to get access to apps without Google Play.

Let’s check it out and find out if HUAWEI Phone Clone is a foolproof way to bypass the Trump ban!

Updated @ 2019-10-14 : Added our analysis on the effectiveness of HUAWEI Phone Clone in bypassing the Trump ban.

Originally posted @ 2019-10-09

 

HUAWEI Phone Clone : Foolproof Way To Bypass Trump Ban?

The HUAWEI Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro will go on sale very soon. But people are wondering – what can you install on the HUAWEI Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro smartphones?

This video that was shared with us shows how HUAWEI Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro users can bypass the Trump ban by simply using the HUAWEI Phone Clone app that is pre-installed in HUAWEI smartphones.

Here is a summary of what the video (which is in Mandarin, with English subtitles) reveals :

  • The HUAWEI Mate 30 Pro does not come with any Google apps pre-installed.
  • HUAWEI Phone Clone is then used to clone all data, including apps, from your old Android smartphone to the new Mate 30.
  • The process is simple, using a QR code to link and sync the two smartphones.
  • After the cloning process is complete, the HUAWEI Mate 30 Pro will have all of the data and apps from your old smartphone… including Google apps.
  • According to the host, Mr. Gadget, this is possible because apps that are not based on Google Mobile Services (GMS) are not affected by the Trump ban.
  • That means important apps like WhatsApp, Waze, Facebook, Instagram and PUBG Mobile (okay, okay… it’s a game, not an “important app”… LOL!) are not affected by the Trump ban.
  • The YouTube app cannot be installed or migrated since it runs on Google Mobile Services. However, you can still stream YouTube videos through any browser.
  • Similarly, the Gmail app cannot be installed or migrated. However, you can use the HUAWEI Mail app to access emails from any Gmail account.
  • Mr. Gadget also recommends installing apps through the Aptoide App Store, as an alternative to Google Play Store (which is not available)

Recommended : The HUAWEI 7680 FPS + ISO 25600 Video Showcase!

 

Effectiveness Of The HUAWEI Phone Clone Method

Now, the HUAWEI Phone Clone method is not foolproof.

It allows you to “bypass” the Trump ban by essentially porting over apps that do NOT rely on Google Mobile Services (GMS) to your Mate 30 / Mate 30 Pro smartphone.

But if the app requires GMS (like Gmail or YouTube), you will need to use an alternative app or use the web browser instead. For example :

  • switch from the Gmail app to the HUAWEI Mail app
  • use a web browser to view YouTube videos, instead of the YouTube app

This Phone Clone method is also a one-time deal. It lets you migrate the apps (and your data) over from an existing Android smartphone.

But if you ever need to reinstall the app, you will need to do it through the Aptoide App Store, or some other third-party App Store… because Google Play Store is not available.

Similarly, you will need to use the Aptoide app to update your apps, but this works the same way as Google Play Store.

The HUAWEI Phone Clone method is a good option for those with an existing smartphone to migrate most of their apps to the Mate 30 / Mate 30 Pro.

But it doesn’t solve the problem of not being able to access Google Play Store, or apps that use GMS. The good news though is that Trump may soon come to a trade agreement with China, and we could see Google services restored to the Mate 30 / Mate 30 Pro.

Recommended : HUAWEI Mate 30 + Mate 30 Pro Colour Comparison!

 

What Apps Can HUAWEI Phone Clone Migrate?

Mr. Gadget provided a list of apps that HUAWEI Phone Clone will successfully migrate over to the HUAWEI Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro, which we have summarised in this table :

Categories Apps
Social Media Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Telegram, Tinder, Snapchat
Chat WeChat, WhatsApp
Navigation Waze, Google Maps
Banking Maybank, CIMB Clicks, Hong Leong, Public Bank, AmOnline, OCBC Bank, HSBC
Entertainment Spotify, iflix, dimsum, JOOX, Viu
Photo Editing VSCO, Snapseed, Lightroom, Photo360, Unfold, VUE, Meitu, BeautyCam
Shopping Zalora, Lazada, Taobao, Amazon, eBay, AliExpress, Shopee, Reebonz
Travel Agoda, Trivago, Kayak, Expedia, Klook, Booking.com
Games PUBG Mobile, Mobile Legends
E-Wallet Touch ‘n Go, GrabPay, Boost
Food Fave, HappyFresh, HonestBee, Starbucks, McDonald’s, KFC, Tealive, Pizza Hut, eating, FoodPanda

 

Where Can I Find HUAWEI Phone Clone?

HUAWEI Phone Clone is pre-installed in HUAWEI smartphones. You can also download and install it for non-HUAWEI smartphones, as well as Apple iPhones, at these locations :

 

The HUAWEI Mate 30 + Mate 30 Pro

Everyone knows that the HUAWEI Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro are the first smartphones to be “blocked” by the Trump ban. This is a real shame because they offer truly great features at great price points.

HUAWEI Mate 30 Key Features

  • HUAWEI Kirin 990 mobile platform with Big-Core + Tiny-Core NPU
  • EMUI 10 operating system
  • Leica SuperSensing Triple Camera System that consists of :
    – 40 MP SuperSensing Camera
    – 16 MP Ultra Wide-Angle Camera
    – 8 MP Telephoto Camera with 3X optical zoom
  • 4,200 mAh battery with 40W wired charging and 27W wireless charging

HUAWEI Mate 30 Pro Key Features

  • HUAWEI Horizon Display which curves at an angle of 88 degrees to maximise display area
  • HUAWEI Kirin 990 mobile platform with Big-Core + Tiny-Core NPU
  • EMUI 10 operating system
  • Leica SuperSensing Quad Camera System that consists of :
    – 40 MP Cine Camera
    – 40 MP SuperSensing Camera
    – 8 MP Telephoto Camera with 3X optical zoom
    – 3D Depth Sensing Camera
  • 4,500 mAh battery with 40W wired charging and 27W wireless charging

 

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Safer Internet Day : Google’s Tips To Stay Safe Online!

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To celebrate Safer Internet Day, Google shared these tips on how to stay safe online! Don’t forget to share this with your family and friends!

We know that keeping your information safe and private is important to you, which is why we’ve baked security features into all our products. We’ve also developed technologies to help keep the broader internet safe, too.

Whether you’re using Gmail, Android, YouTube, or are simply browsing the web, here are some of the tools and features that you can be confident will help you keep safe:

 

Safer Internet Tip #1 : Personalize your account security

The Security Checkup provides a clear security status and personalized recommendations to strengthen your account security. A green check mark means you’re good to go, and a yellow or red exclamation point means there’s at least one issue for you to take care of.

Safer Internet Tip #2 : Look out for automatic warnings

Spotting phishing scams or dangerous websites can be a challenge, even for savvy web users. Our automated systems detect and warn you about sites with malware, or attempts to phish you. Just keep an eye out for our warnings and follow the instructions—we’ve got you covered.

Safer Internet Tip #3 : Protect your Google account with two-factor authentication

Secure your email inbox by activating 2-step verification. With this feature, you’ll need a password and a verification code that’s sent to your mobile phone to be able to get into your inbox. Enroll in 2-step verification here to add an extra layer of security your account.

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Safer Internet Tip #4 : Download apps on Google Play for peace of mind on your Android

If you’re an Android user, the safest place to download apps is from the Google Play store. Google Play Protect checks apps and your device around the clock to keep out malicious programs and makes sure you have the latest in mobile security protection.

In 2017 alone, we took down more than 700,000 apps that violated Google Play policies, 70% more than the apps taken down in 2016. Google Play Protect is the ideal security blanket for your mobile device, so can you consider yourself and your data covered.

Google Play Protect is also there to help you if you ever misplace your phone. Visit android.com/find to locate, ring, lock and erase your Android devices—phones, tablets, and even watches.

Safer Internet Tip #5 : You too can help keep YouTube safe

YouTube has always allowed people like you and me to report content we think is inappropriate. Once you’ve flagged a video, it’s submitted for review to YouTube staff who then carefully look at the content to determine whether there’s a violation of YouTube’s Community Guidelines to see if it should be removed. You can also flag individual comments under any video for abuse or spam.

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