Problem: Google Hangouts makes texts plainly visible

[Mr.Oz]

In Anti-Theft settings I have a notification:

You are using Android 4.4 or the new Google Hangouts. This will make any incoming text plainly visible to any thief...

I got my first Android phone a few days ago so I don't know much about this yet, but reverted to Google Talk and the notification disappeared. Any thief could install the Hangouts app, so I reinstalled it and used Avast's Application Locking to protect it. Is this enough? I wonder if Hangouts provides a service to other apps. Thieves could potentially get an Avast PIN number this way, if they could read an SMS command text. Does anyone know a solid way to protect against this potential problem?

[Werner]

Hello,

read the full warning sms you received.
you cut the quote of the the SMS where the answer to your question starts:

You are using Android 4.4 or the new Google Hangouts. This will make any incoming text plainly visible to any thief...

the SMS continues:

Us the new SMS Remote Control within the latest version of avast! Mobile Security to send invisible binary SMS commands, and enable Android 4.4 mode within your Anti-Theft installation

Werner

[W4WMM]

My wife's phone: Basic LG
My phone: Samsung S4

She sent me a text message and received this:

avast! Anti-Theft
(www.avast.com)
WARNING: Your SMS message has been received on a device using the new Google Hangouts version.  This causes text SMS to be plainly visible to any person.  Please use avast! Mobile Security for sending commands instead of sending text SMS, and enable Android 4.4 mode within your Anti-Theft installation.  The command will be performed anyways, this is just a warning.

(then she received a second message)

avast! Anti-Theft
(www.avast.com)
ERROR: The command is invalid.

======================

If I understand this, she sent me a text and:

1. avast! told her she needs to use avast! Mobile Security?
2. And to enable Android 4.4 mode.
3. The command is invalid.

But the way I see it:

1. She didn't send a command, she sent me a message.
2. She can't use avast! Mobile Security because she's on a basic phone.
4. She can't enable Android 4.4 mode, because she's on a basic phone.
5. I can't enable it on my smartphone which has avast! Mobile Security because I don't know how.

Thank you in advance for you help...

Alan

[Werner]

f I understand this, she sent me a text and:

1. avast! told her she needs to use avast! Mobile Security?
2. And to enable Android 4.4 mode.
3. The command is invalid.

what text did she send you exactly?
1. avast! told her she needs to use avast! Mobile Security -> SMS remote control to send binary SMS commands which are invisible
2. Android 4.4 Mode needs to be activated on the device where Anti-Theft is installed in order to be able to receive the invisible binary SMS (which is your phone)
3. looks like the message she sent started with your avast! PIN but didn't contain a correct command like "2222 locate"

1. She didn't send a command, she sent me a message.
2. She can't use avast! Mobile Security because she's on a basic phone.
4. She can't enable Android 4.4 mode, because she's on a basic phone.
5. I can't enable it on my smartphone which has avast! Mobile Security because I don't know how.

4. so she won't be able to send you binary SMS codes
5. Open Anti-Theft -> Friends -> Enable support for Android 4.4

regards,

Werner