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Ask Slashdot: How Can I Protect My Android Devices From Hackers?
SternisheFan 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."
Why don't you turn Bluetooth off until you need it?
I am not convinced you are being 'hacked'.
This IOS versus Android stuff is as tired as the Windows 95 versus OS/2 screeds of 1995.
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?
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...
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.
I shouldnt have to put up a firewall with stateful packet inspection just to get on the internet either, but we do.
Good-bye
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.
Have you seen a doctor? You have given a pretty decent account of what life feels like to a paranoid schizophrenic. I'd rule that out first before assuming that all your devices are hacked. Do you even have any evidence they were hacked? Or did they just start acting weirdly, and you assume them to be hacked? Give us something to go on, at least.