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Help Stumbled upon an evil app lurking - Mobile Tracker

S

seekingbuddha

Newbie
As i was looking through the apps that are running in the background in my Samsung Galaxy S4, i found this app running as "a cached process". A quick net search shows that this app is present in new Samsung phones too and has access to everything in your phone. I mean it can do anything (without your knowledge). I got even more curious, because even after i did a "FORCE STOP", there does not seem to be a way to "TURN OFF" this app -> If i go into Settings->App Manager->ALL tab->Select "Mobile Tracker" the button to "TURN OFF" is grayed out. But the app does not show up in the "TURNED OFF" section of applications. This means that the app will get reactivated again (by some other process or when i reboot the phone - i am not sure). Surprisingly, there is not much discussion about this app on the internet.

With all the hoopla surrounding privacy issues, i am surprised this app is not getting much attention. Does anyone know how to "TURN OFF" this app without rooting my phone ?
 
yes, it's a case of "accept what sammy gives you" or root it and flash a custom ROM. My assumption with any mobile device is that the mfgr and carrier know everything about what I do on it, and I act accordingly. I never do things like banking/credit card stuff .
 
good catch @Slug. I checked in my moto device and realized that I had long ago disabled "Motorola Device Policy" which I think is the same thing. Good reminder!!! :)
 
kris443 said:
Good reminder!!! :)
Click to expand...

It's another example. if you like, of how Android differs from other mobile platforms. Sure there's a default security solution (Android Device Manager) built-in, but alternatives are made available by many OEMs for those who prefer to remain outside Google's ecosystem.

You can, of course, use both if you want. I, for example, can track/lock/wipe my phone either via Google or Sony's respective services. Choice is good. :)
 
yes, choice is good. That got me to thinking, though - the phone is supposed to have both moto and google, but in reality, from moto's website, it only goes to google. Oh well!
 
Slug said:
See this XDA thread. It's an anti-theft feature from Samsung apparently.

Check in Settings/Security/Device administrators for the app, and uncheck it. Now go to Settings/Apps and it should be possible to disable it.
Click to expand...

I do not know about other phones, but on my phone (galaxy S4), it is not possible to get rid of "Mobile tracker" program. I have checked the Security settings and this program is not listed there (and all other apps in there are unchecked). I tried going into Settings/Application Manager/ALL and select "Mobile tracker". The option to "TURN OFF" this program is grayed out and is not possible to click on that icon. When i try a "Force Stop" on this program, it will stop but gets restarted soon (some other samsung app is monitoring and restarting it i guess). So, as far as Samsung galaxy S4 goes, without rooting it is not possible to get rid of this tracking app that gives out data about all that i am doing with my phone. This could be very well the same problem on many other samsung phones. BTW, i am using T-mobile. I do not know if that matters. Thank goodness, i have nothing to hide ;) but i pity those who put a lot of emphasis on privacy issues.:D
 
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