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> Seriously, you're blaming the OS because it allows you to run useful software on it, just like a desktop computer. Unlike a desktop computer Android prevents

> Seriously, you're blaming the OS because it allows you to run useful software on it, just like a desktop computer. Unlike a desktop computer Android prevents you from taking steps to protect yourself. Without rooting your phone you can't even install firewalls or prevent applications from ever connecting to the outside world. Google designed their OS to collect and leak your data. It's why their permissions system (even when working as designed) is garbage. Google doesn't want you to have the ability to protect yourself. It assumes responsibility and lets you (sometimes) disable some permissions from some apps (but not others) at their discretion. No one does that on my desktop computers. Most people's phones are filled with apps they don't want but aren't even allowed to uninstall.

lern_too_spel 7y ago
> Without rooting your phone you can't even install firewalls or prevent applications from ever connecting to the outside world. Of course you can. There are multiple apps that do this. One example: https://f-droid.org/en/packages/eu.faircode.netguard/ https://f-droid.org/en/packages/eu.faircode.netguard/
- autoexec 7y ago
  It looks like netguard is a VPN service, not a true firewall. A firewall on my desktop doesn't require me to route all my traffic through a VPN. Netguard also injects ads in your traffic (or at least did) https://imgur.com/a/2YG7Q https://imgur.com/a/2YG7Q
  - lern_too_spel 7y ago
    Nope. It runs solely on the device. How else would it know which app is making the network request? What are you basing your strange claims on? > Netguard also injects ads in your traffic (or at least did) https://imgur.com/a/2YG7Q https://imgur.com/a/2YG7Q Netguard is open source (with a license not supported on iOS: https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard), so there is no reason to use a build that shows ads. Alternatively, as I said earlier, there are multiple firewall apps you could use that don't require root.
    - autoexec 7y ago
      From their own FAQ: > NetGuard will do its best, but it is limited by the fact it must use the VPN service. FAQ: https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard/blob/master/FAQ.md https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard/blob/master/FAQ.md See also: https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/4uhl3w/netguard_adblocking_vpn_version_245_adds/ https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/4uhl3w/netguard_ad...
      - lern_too_spel 7y ago
        VPNService is an API (https://developer.android.com/reference/android/net/VpnService https://developer.android.com/reference/android/net/VpnServi...). Your own link points tp this documentation. It does not require sending your data to a VPN, and in this case, it obviously doesn't. The weird thing is that you went out of your way to research to find a misleading quote when the page itself points out why the quote is misleading and that the app is open source (negating your ads claim earlier).
        autoexec 7y ago
        It has to route traffic through a local VPN to drop the traffic. Doesn't play well with other VPNs for this reason. Real firewalls need root. The VPN trick is a hack to get around that while still providing some of that functionality. Yes, you could edit the source code and compile it yourself every time it updates to remove the ads, but I think that's a little much to expect. Ultimately this is functionality users should have access to by default without needing to resort to hacks and ad-filled workarounds.
        mirimir 7y ago
        > Real firewalls need root. Real computers let you install trusted stuff that has root.
        lern_too_spel 7y ago
        > Doesn't play well with other VPNs for this reason. Real firewalls need root. "Real firewalls" also don't play well with other VPNs. I don't see what functionality you think you're missing here. > Yes, you could edit the source code and compile it yourself every time it updates to remove the ads, but I think that's a little much to expect. Nobody's suggesting that. Just install another build (like the one I posted on F-droid) or any number of other apps that do the same thing. > Ultimately this is functionality users should have access to by default No OS comes with this functionality by default, only the APIs to implement it, exactly like Android.
- HenryBemis 7y ago
  Android: without rooting your phone, I keep writing this on HN :) it is called "NoRoot Firewall". Free app, it creates a VPN within your phone and asks you for every ip:port to allow/block and one can also use rules such as Block 111.111.., port: 123. Worth checking out. I have e.g. a chess app, I keep it block all IPs/Ports. I never have to worry for tracking, spying, ads, etc.

lern_too_spel 7y ago

> Without rooting your phone you can't even install firewalls or prevent applications from ever connecting to the outside world. Of course you can. There are multiple apps that do this. One example: https://f-droid.org/en/packages/eu.faircode.netguard/ https://f-droid.org/en/packages/eu.faircode.netguard/

autoexec 7y ago
It looks like netguard is a VPN service, not a true firewall. A firewall on my desktop doesn't require me to route all my traffic through a VPN. Netguard also injects ads in your traffic (or at least did) https://imgur.com/a/2YG7Q https://imgur.com/a/2YG7Q
- lern_too_spel 7y ago
  Nope. It runs solely on the device. How else would it know which app is making the network request? What are you basing your strange claims on? > Netguard also injects ads in your traffic (or at least did) https://imgur.com/a/2YG7Q https://imgur.com/a/2YG7Q Netguard is open source (with a license not supported on iOS: https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard), so there is no reason to use a build that shows ads. Alternatively, as I said earlier, there are multiple firewall apps you could use that don't require root.
  - autoexec 7y ago
    From their own FAQ: > NetGuard will do its best, but it is limited by the fact it must use the VPN service. FAQ: https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard/blob/master/FAQ.md https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard/blob/master/FAQ.md See also: https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/4uhl3w/netguard_adblocking_vpn_version_245_adds/ https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/4uhl3w/netguard_ad...
    - lern_too_spel 7y ago
      VPNService is an API (https://developer.android.com/reference/android/net/VpnService https://developer.android.com/reference/android/net/VpnServi...). Your own link points tp this documentation. It does not require sending your data to a VPN, and in this case, it obviously doesn't. The weird thing is that you went out of your way to research to find a misleading quote when the page itself points out why the quote is misleading and that the app is open source (negating your ads claim earlier).
      - autoexec 7y ago
        It has to route traffic through a local VPN to drop the traffic. Doesn't play well with other VPNs for this reason. Real firewalls need root. The VPN trick is a hack to get around that while still providing some of that functionality. Yes, you could edit the source code and compile it yourself every time it updates to remove the ads, but I think that's a little much to expect. Ultimately this is functionality users should have access to by default without needing to resort to hacks and ad-filled workarounds.
        mirimir 7y ago
        > Real firewalls need root. Real computers let you install trusted stuff that has root.
        lern_too_spel 7y ago
        > Doesn't play well with other VPNs for this reason. Real firewalls need root. "Real firewalls" also don't play well with other VPNs. I don't see what functionality you think you're missing here. > Yes, you could edit the source code and compile it yourself every time it updates to remove the ads, but I think that's a little much to expect. Nobody's suggesting that. Just install another build (like the one I posted on F-droid) or any number of other apps that do the same thing. > Ultimately this is functionality users should have access to by default No OS comes with this functionality by default, only the APIs to implement it, exactly like Android.
HenryBemis 7y ago
Android: without rooting your phone, I keep writing this on HN :) it is called "NoRoot Firewall". Free app, it creates a VPN within your phone and asks you for every ip:port to allow/block and one can also use rules such as Block 111.111.., port: 123. Worth checking out. I have e.g. a chess app, I keep it block all IPs/Ports. I never have to worry for tracking, spying, ads, etc.