Advice Request Who has Device Admin & Accessibility privileges on your Android Phone?

[Ink]

After reading FYI: Find My Device doesn't need to be on in 'Device admin apps' to remotely wipe or lock your phone on Android 10, I wanted to check to see who had these special permissions.

Originally my Android device came with Android 8 Oreo, and now on Android 10 I hadn't bothered to check which apps are allowed as Device Admin and Accessibility usage.

Now that I'm aware, I can safely remove Find My Device from Device Admin. In Accessibility, I only have one app allowed (Xperia Assist).

On your Android device, which apps have:

1. Device Administrator privilege?
2. Accessibility usage?
3. Please state your Android version.

"Privacy experts" will claim none for both, but for the average user here, when last did you check these special permissions?

 

[Local Host]

I only had Find my Device, currently there's none.

Then again I use clean Android phones, not the likes of Samsung that come pre-installed with all types of bloatware, in your case you had Xperia Assist.

 

[FireHammer]

Huawei P 30 Lite(Android 10).
Device Admin: Bitdefender Mobile Security & Adguard Premium.
Accessibility: VyprVPN+NordVPN+EkspressVPN+IPvanishVPN+ProtonVPN & BitdefenderVPN.

 

[Arequire]

Nothing enabled in accessibility.
Android 9

 

[ForgottenSeer 85179]

1: none

2: none

Android 11.

 

[Ink]

in your case you had Xperia Assist.

Xperia Assist is not bloatware. It is an useful app, which is much better than Assistant and Digital Wellbeing by Google.

Bloatware are apps or services that provide zero benefits for the user. For example, Facebook app for non-FB users, or mobile operators selling antivirus subscriptions for iPhone buyers.

Accessibility: VyprVPN+NordVPN+EkspressVPN+IPvanishVPN+ProtonVPN & BitdefenderVPN.

Why do they require Accessibility usage?

I have NordVPN and it does not require those permissions, nor a way to allow it.

Android 9

Does Google Pay work without device admin?

 

[FireHammer]

Xperia Assist is not bloatware. It is an useful app, which is much better than Assistant and Digital Wellbeing by Google.


Why do they require Accessibility usage?

I have NordVPN and it does not require those permissions, nor a way to allow it.


Does Google Pay work without device admin?

Hi, @Spawn I did not know, sorry

 

[Ink]

Hi, @Spawn I did not know, sorry

If they add benefits you require, then keep using those features. However, I'm not aware of any from NordVPN.

 

[Arequire]

Does Google Pay work without device admin?

I haven't tried it without admin before, but I just disabled it and received this notification so I assume it doesn't:

 

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

Device Admin: Find My Device, Microsoft Launcher, Screen lock service
Accessibility: Bitwarden, SD Maid
Android version: 7.0 Nougat

 

[Local Host]

Huawei P 30 Lite(Android 10).
Device Admin: Bitdefender Mobile Security & Adguard Premium.
Accessibility: VyprVPN+NordVPN+EkspressVPN+IPvanishVPN+ProtonVPN & BitdefenderVPN.

Weird I have Adguard Premium and doesn't require Device Admin, is not even an option on my phone.

 

[roger_m]

Android 9 phone:
Admin
Find My Device
Screen lock service

There also was Google Pay. But I deactivated it, as it's something I don't use.

Accessibility
AVG Cleaner

Android 10 tablet:
Admin
Find My Device

Accessibility
Nothing