Avast WEBforum
Consumer Products => Avast Mobile Security => Avast Mobile Security for Android => Topic started by: omnomnom on April 06, 2012, 07:53:38 AM
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I have been having an issue with the Avast! theft protection that I never encountered with Theft-aware.
"Every SMS command begins with that password and ensures that the SMS will not be visible." Unfortunately all of the SMS commands I send using the password are visible. I get the return from the command just fine, but the command SMS shows up in my texts. Any help/feedback would be very appreciated. This happens on the Galaxy Nexus 4.0.2 and HTC evo 3d. (not.sure.1)
Thank you,
Omnomnom
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Hi,
are you using GoSMS?
Filip
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No, but I am using Handcent on both devices
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Side note: Filip, what's the problem with GoSMS?
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omnomnom: I asked Reinhard to come here and solve this with you since Handcent should be just fine, just wait.
Tech: All this custom SMS stuff is about priorities in Android. GoSMS sets its priority to the same level as avast! does making it collide. We tried to write them numerous times but they never responded as far as I know. I'm afraid this won't change till users of both avast! and GoSMS will start bombarding them with requests to lower their priority a little bit.
Filip
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Tech: All this custom SMS stuff is about priorities in Android. GoSMS sets its priority to the same level as avast! does making it collide. We tried to write them numerous times but they never responded as far as I know. I'm afraid this won't change till users of both avast! and GoSMS will start bombarding them with requests to lower their priority a little bit.
They're losing a customer right now... Uninstalling...
I could never receive support from them also.
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Thank you Filip, I also exchanged a few emails with Vlk in regards to this issue and I can add that when the SMS commands are visible the problem is not caused by using GoSMS, (as I use Handcent) Commands are not sent via internet SMS portal, (I have tried commands from 2 different phones) and Anti-Theft is activated (I would assume because I receive the returns from the commands. ie "2222 locate" returns a map link)
I've used the paid version of Theft-aware since June of last year without a problem and just switched to Avast! a few days ago and now all the commands are visible. I'd hate to lose my phone and tip someone off with a "2222 Locate" command. I can't seem to figure out what's going on and I feel a bit vulnerable now about misplacing my phone when I go out. At least I can remote wipe, but ideally I'd like to be able to track it down (which I did last December when I left my phone in a cab)
I really believe in this app and I know it works!
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The same thing happened to me but I fixed it by uninstalling and reinstalling Handcent.
But as stated above this doesn't work for GoSMS..
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Deleted Handsent and re-installed. Commands are still visible and now the locate command does not return the location. Obviously Avast has some serious issues with this. Its their responsibility not the sms authors to insure this works.
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Well, not really, but I suppose that's another discussion.
I will ping Reinhard again.
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I looked at the Handcent manifest (most recent version) and it seems they also raised their receiver priority to the maximum value (which is illegal by Android OS specification). We will contact them immediately to get this fixed ASAP maybe they are more willing to help than GoSMS.
PS: the behavior of GoSMS and Handcent breaks not only our app, but ALL SMS based anti-theft apps in the market. Please stay tuned. In the meanwhile we recommend to use the stock messaging application.
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I looked at the Handcent manifest
Nice, he looked, thats more then some other he do. LOL
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Deleted Handsent and re-installed. Commands are still visible and now the locate command does not return the location. Obviously Avast has some serious issues with this. Its their responsibility not the sms authors to insure this works.
Forgot to mention I am using TheftAware still but no problems with the latest version of Handcent after the reinstall.
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update 1999 has just been released and it fixes this problem (shows notification if incompatible SMS tool is found).
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I can confirm that the issue is indeed with Handcent. Thank you guys (Filip, Reinhard, Vlk) for your time and willingness to help. Avast seems to be one of the few applications that you can get actual feedback and help from people. Keep up the good work
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Tech: All this custom SMS stuff is about priorities in Android.
My thought: Well, priorities can be changes. Use a Hex-Editor.
I used Gamecih, because it was already installed.
- Opened Gamecih
- Opened Handcent
- searched for the name priority in Gamecih
- Changed both max. Priority to 5
- Changed all other priorities to 2
- Closed both
- Disabled auto-updates for Handcent
Everything works.
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You can edit it, sure, but we can't edit other applications by force.
Filip
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No you cant. But I can :)
It took 2 minutes and now everything works. I dont think that the Handcent or GoSMS developers will ever change the priority.
It is easy for the user to change it himself. I just wanted to let others know.
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Can Gamecih be used with another programs besides games?
Any other Hex editor?
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No you cant. But I can :)
It took 2 minutes and now everything works. I dont think that the Handcent or GoSMS developers will ever change the priority.
It is easy for the user to change it himself. I just wanted to let others know.
How does a user go about changing this? I use GoSMS and would love to have this working.
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One things for sure this thing rips through the TXT's like nothing, on average 3:1 starting to think that email/web interface would be a better option.
regarding GoSMS and other high priority conflicting apps , I guess there's not really much option for now to hide cmds from phone.
probably another good reason why Avast should toggle the password option and use a token coupled with friends numbers only feature.
password be used if using a phone not in friends on phone.
obvious reasons , thief installs goSMS , owner sends text 2222 locate
thief smarter then average thief and calls 2222
disables Anti-theft device.
keeps phone.
few ideas regarding this;
perhaps allow a user defined control token like : hawoo which acts as the trigger for AVAT.
and instead of cmds like locate , get sms etc..
also customisable like ;
pickmeup at 1 = get last 1 sent sms
dropmeoff at 4 = get last 4 recieved sms
whereis mum = locate phone
etc.
hawoo whereis mum , thief may not be so clever to know what that means..
unless he/she reads this post lol.
that's why I say customizable tokens/cmds. then we can decide which would be best for the phone.
still not as good as totally hiding them.