upnorth Huawei P20 Pro

[upnorth]

Was fiddling with my phone and it's QR code scanner software and checked some links when I finally found a way to make another browser then Chrome the default. It's a setting in Android and not in the browser. Can't say for sure the path is exactly the same on all Android phones, but it should be something very similar.

Settings/Apps/Apps/Chrome/Default Settings and click on " Clean Default Settings ". Open a link/url and one should get a window with the installed browsers and just click on the preferred and on the button " Always ". Go back to Settings/Apps/Default Apps/Browser and in my case it says, Opera. Final check made with the QR scanners and it now works flawless. ✌

Nortons QR code scanner has sadly been removed from the Play Store.

 

[HarborFront]

To prevent WiFi Hotspot Tracking have you tried either

WiFi Privacy Police

Wi-Fi Privacy Police | F-Droid - Free and Open Source Android App Repository

© 2010-2019 F-Droid Limited and Contributors

f-droid.org

or

WiFi Manager

WiFi Manager | F-Droid - Free and Open Source Android App Repository

Manages your device's Wi-Fi based on your location

f-droid.org

I could not find the feature in my HW Mate 20X phone. I have these features inside my Samsung Galaxy Fold like

Turn on WiFi automatically when you are in places you use it frequently and turn it off elsewhere, and

Detect suspicious activity in current WiFi network

Note :- You can ignore the above apps if the feature is included in other app you are having

Reading materials

Wi-Fi Hotspot Tracking - Schneier on Security

Free Wi-Fi hotspots can track your location, even if you don’t connect to them. This is because your phone or computer broadcasts a unique MAC address. What distinguishes location-based marketing hotspot providers like Zenreach and Euclid is that the personal information you enter in the captive...

www.schneier.com

DefensiveComputingChecklist.com Table of Contents

Full Table of contents for DefensiveComputingChecklist.com

defensivecomputingchecklist.com

 

[upnorth]

To prevent WiFi Hotspot Tracking have you tried either

WiFi Privacy Police

or

WiFi Manager

You raising some very good points and questions IMO.

Haven't tried anyone of those two and probably is because I'm on a pretty good VPN 24/7 with a dedicated Kill-switch as one layer against unknown and malicious re-directions. When it comes to so called Hotspots I rarely connect/use them anyway. Those that I trust enough is automatic saved anyway in the list for Saved Network. I also in general don't have the need as my " Mobile network " through 4G is working well enough.

I understand the risk of possible getting hacked through Hotspots but, personal I consider the major SS7 issue far more concerning and especially Google Playstores constant plethora of malicious apps. Probably a much higher risk.

I could not find the feature in my HW Mate 20X phone. I have these features inside my Samsung Galaxy Fold like

Turn on WiFi automatically when you are in places you use it frequently and turn it off elsewhere, and

Detect suspicious activity in current WiFi network

I actually have that on my P20 Pro. It's called Wi-Fi+ and I can turn it on or off. It has 3 specific unchangeable default features. Automatic change between Wi-Fi and mobile data. Activate Wi-Fi automatic for known networks. Validate network quality.

Detect suspicious activity, I need to trust that my VPN would take care off with it's Kill-switch.

 

[HarborFront]

You raising some very good points and questions IMO.

Haven't tried anyone of those two and probably is because I'm on a pretty good VPN 24/7 with a dedicated Kill-switch as one layer against unknown and malicious re-directions. When it comes to so called Hotspots I rarely connect/use them anyway. Those that I trust enough is automatic saved anyway in the list for Saved Network. I also in general don't have the need as my " Mobile network " through 4G is working well enough.

I understand the risk of possible getting hacked through Hotspots but, personal I consider the major SS7 issue far more concerning and especially Google Playstores constant plethora of malicious apps. Probably a much higher risk.

I actually have that on my P20 Pro. It's called Wi-Fi+ and I can turn it on or off. It has 3 specific unchangeable default features. Automatic change between Wi-Fi and mobile data. Activate Wi-Fi automatic for known networks. Validate network quality.

Detect suspicious activity, I need to trust that my VPN would take care off with it's Kill-switch.

OK found the WiFi+ now. However, just to have the 3 default features you mentioned, requires the WiFi+ to be enabled to automatically switch between WiFi and mobile data to stay online which increases battery usage

Thanks

 

[upnorth]

If it wasn't for guys like @silversurfer and a great note from member @boutthatlife , I probably missed out an actual very easy bug fix as I still haven't got the latest security update from Google.

Androids Beam service is now disabled or as on my phone it's named, Huawei Beam.

Android bug lets hackers plant malware via NFC beaming

Google patched last month an Android bug that can let hackers spread malware to a nearby phone via a little-known Android OS feature called NFC beaming. NFC beaming works via an internal Android OS service known as Android Beam. This service allows an Android device to send data such as images...

malwaretips.com

 

[upnorth]

Updated to EMUI version 9.1.0.345.

Includes updated Android Security patch : October 6, 2019

HUAWEI EMUI/Magic UI security updates Oct-19 | HUAWEI Support Global

consumer.huawei.com

 

[upnorth]

Updated to EMUI version 9.1.0.370.

Includes updated Android Security patch : November 1, 2019

November

consumer.huawei.com

I doubt I will get any more updates this year.

EMUI 10 ( Android 10 ) is hopefully released to P20 Pro Q1.