Ask Slashdot: How Can I Protect My Android Devices From Hackers? 295
A reader writes "My Android phone (an unrooted OptimusV running 2.2.2) and my Android tablet (Arnova 7g3 running 4.1) have been subjected to hacking via either 'forced Bluetooth attack' or through the Wi-Fi signals in the home where I currently rent a room. I got an Android phone at the start of this year after my 'feature phone' was force Bluetooth hacked hoping for better security, yet I still have major security issues. For instance, my Optimus's Wi-Fi again shows an error, although I am sure that a hack is causing this since when I reset the device when it's out of range from this home's signal the Wi-Fi works fine. And now the tablet (as of recently) can't access this home's open Wi-Fi, though it works fine when at other outside hot-spots. So, my question is: Are there any good (free?) security apps out there that would actually prevent this from occurring? It's not like I'm doing nefarious things on the internet, I just want to keep it private."
Try.. (Score:5, Insightful)
I am not convinced you are being 'hacked'.
Re:Good fix (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:More likely bad wifi chip/driver in the phone (Score:2, Insightful)
Also, compatibility between routers and hardware is not uncommon either. My toshiba laptop couldn't reliably connect to my parent's router, though it works fine with Linksys. And I've seen many HP laptops have problems with many router brands.
Its likely your phone, or your router diverges from the wifi standard in some non compatible that causes problems.
I seriously doubt you are being hacked. Just shit technology.
Move? (Score:2, Insightful)
I know it may not be real practical but if your roomates or close neighbors are hacking you all the time this might not be a very good establishment? I wonder what their motives are and if they can be trusted outside the digital realm as well. I'm also skeptical as to whether or not you are really being hacked. These things aren't that easy. I don't see how any non root app is going to be able to solve security problems which appear to be a problem of the OS.
hacked?! (Score:5, Insightful)
You aren't being hacked, the owner of the wifi in your house is fed up with you skanking his wifi and blocking you.
How did this get posted?
Is this a joke? (Score:5, Insightful)
So you have two devices having problems connecting to your home access point, and you assume you need protection for your android devices? It sounds more like you need to fix a problem with your access point, in that it's stopped accepting connections. Maybe it's exhausted DHCP assignments for your devices, or your MAC addresses are being blocked - maybe because someone was trying to spoof them, maybe because of a bug in the access point.
Going from "my devices are having problems connecting to my access point at home only" to "help, hackers are attacking my android devices" is a bit of a stretch, isn't it?
And more of a stretch is how this got front page...
Para-droid? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Try.. (Score:4, Insightful)
Exactly. I would recommend to dial back the paranoia, not every bug is evidence of being hacked. Unfortunately the WiFi stack of Android is absolutely full of bugs, but most only cause a bad connection or a disconnect.
That being said, Android 2.2 is way out of date, and you should not consider it secure in any sense of the word. Watch the information that you put on your phone, including login data. And there is nothing you can do about it, except complain to the manufacturer about it not being "fit for purpose".
Re:open WiFi? (Score:5, Insightful)
100%, absolutely, positively, this. There is no app out there that will effectively protect you from yourself -- and, make no mistake, it is you creating the problem. If you run around roaming from AP to AP, run unsecured at home (what?!), and leave your BT on even when not in use, you're gonna have a bad time.
Re:Try.. (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:open WiFi? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Submitter here... (Score:5, Insightful)
I've had enough of a crash course in android this year to know it's real, especially when I have family members who are in law enforcement and gov't jobs that they can't/won't talk about. Those people do have access to the 'interesting' toys...
I don't know, dude. The most logical answer anybody here can give you: your wifi access at home is crap because a) both of your devices work fine using other hotspots and b) both of your devices don't work at home. Btw, Android 2.2.x (aka Froyo) is known to have wifi problems in enterprise settings. Google fixed that in 2.3. Just another example how other explanations make a lot more sense than "I am being hacked." And the quote above makes you sound a bit of a looney.
A perfunctory glance at this post tells me (Score:4, Insightful)
...that SternisheFan is not being "hacked". I do get the impression that he's somewhat clueless, though, and could benefit from the wisdom of the /. community.
For one thing: do not keep BT on all the time - that's going to sap a bit of energy from your battery. Not terribly much, but since it's also a potential safety risk, there is absolutely no need to have Bluetooth on unless you need it.
It's when the wi-fi situation was mentioned, that I realized the poster is clueless.
Re:open WiFi? (Score:3, Insightful)
100%, absolutely, positively, this. There is no app out there that will effectively protect you from yourself -- and, make no mistake, it is you creating the problem. If you run around roaming from AP to AP, run unsecured at home (what?!), and leave your BT on even when not in use, you're gonna have a bad time.
What good is Bluetooth if I have to turn it on every time I want to use it and then turn it off again when I'm done? At work my phone pairs to a Bluetooth speaker, when I'm on the train it pairs to my Bluetooth headset, when I'm driving it pairs to my car audio system. If I have to mess with my phone to turn Bluetooth on and off each time I want to use it, I may as well just plug in a cable.
Re:Why are you a target? (Score:5, Insightful)