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

Please provide comments and solutions that are helpful to the author of this topic.

Ink

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Jan 8, 2011
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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?
 

Arequire

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Feb 10, 2017
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Screenshot_20201102-181631.png
Nothing enabled in accessibility.
Android 9
 

Ink

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Jan 8, 2011
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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

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Aug 27, 2020
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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:(
 

roger_m

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Dec 4, 2014
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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
 

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