• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

restrict apps from using data connection

ayaznoor

ayaznoor

Well-Known Member
So im looking for an app, that lets me block certain apps from using data connection, since i use a data package which covers only facebook and whatsapp if i use other apps (or the ones running in background) i would be charged. My phone allows me to restrict background data only after i set data limit, that too on clicking and selecting each app individually from all the apps that have used data connection previously.

So please let me know if there's an app which makes it easier to control data usage and one that works.

Also, my phone is NOT rooted, so please advice accordingly.
 
El Presidente said:
There's an option in 3G Watchdog which allows you to restrict all apps to WiFi, would that do what you're after?
Click to expand...

Actually no, i have no issue if any app uses wifi connection without telling me, im looking for an app that allows me to control my data usage. I want to restrict all background data at once, but allow for a few exceptions. Thanks for your input though.
 
ayaznoor said:
Actually no, i have no issue if any app uses wifi connection without telling me, im looking for an app that allows me to control my data usage. I want to restrict all background data at once, but allow for a few exceptions. Thanks for your input though.
Click to expand...

That's what restricting to WiFi would do, it would stop all apps using background data on a data network, only allowing access when your phone is connected to WiFi.

Droidwall would work, but you need root for that.
 
divinebovine said:
Doesn't look like it offers exceptions for specified apps. OP is looking to whitelist two apps and restrict the rest.
Click to expand...

If you press the app in the Usage by Application screen, there's an allow on mobile option. So block all, then allow the 2 apps that they want that way.

It might only be a feature of the Pro version though.
 
Good thread,im looking for a app that i can have where you can have packet data on but all apps would connect through wifi only,then you could have picture messages sent to the phone without worrying about data cost.
 
I totally don't get it how smart folks in android team can be so stupid, not to provide a firewall. The data cost here in the US is crazy expensive and then android pings like zombie. I read a pretty good article by a forensic expert on how android alone can wipe your all data (can't seem to find now) but seriously, after reading that my jaw dropped.

I am in the same boat. Looking for a firewall on non-rooted phone.
 
Comments in Play look pretty good. I wonder how they do that without root. Apps aren't supposed to be able to affect other apps except to change settings identified in the permissions. And accessing the IP tables requires root.
 
deltaforce said:
... The data cost here in the US is crazy expensive and then android pings like zombie. ...
Click to expand...

Would you explain more, please? Which app/apps is/are doing all the pinging? Is that the extraordinary "Google Services" data count we're seeing, perhaps checking 1/sec. for the Google servers?

A single UDP ping is minimal data, usually about 148 bytes/round-trip (max., and usually ~18% less), and even with 1 ping/minute it would be difficult to use an entire month's data quota.

1ping/min. * 1440min./day * 30day/mon. * 148B/ping * KB/1024B * MB/1024KB * GB/1024MB = ~ 0.006GB.ping/mon.

6.1 MB/mon. of UDP is most certainly not insubstantial, yet is a necessary part of the data-usage experience IMHO. I usually use more than that as part of my professional presence on the Internet, perhaps you do also?

At 1ping/sec. that amounts to 60 times that byte count, about 365.8 MB/mon., but I haven't seen such consistent UDP rates from my stock Android Nexus 4.
 
deltaforce said:
I totally don't get it how smart folks in android team can be so stupid, not to provide a firewall. The data cost here in the US is crazy expensive and then android pings like zombie. I read a pretty good article by a forensic expert on how android alone can wipe your all data (can't seem to find now) but seriously, after reading that my jaw dropped.

I am in the same boat. Looking for a firewall on non-rooted phone.
Click to expand...

Settings > data usage

All apps using data are listed and can be set to restrict data usage thus then only having network access over wifi, pretty much negating the need for an additional firewall app. So in short, they do provide a 'firewall like' service.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom