My Android Phone's Browser Was Hijacked!

Last week, I went to a website on my smartphone and something took over the native Samsung web browser.  In fact, it was affecting the Chrome web browser as well.  Rebooting the phone didn't solve the issue.  A factory reset would've worked but I wanted something less impacting than resetting my phone.  AV apps didn't detect the browser hijack, which is a pity...AV apps for PCs tend to discover such anomalies, but smartphone apps are quite behind in this regard.

I found a fix, though.  I had to clear the cache (of the browser app) and force stop the app.

Note that this was not a malicious compromise of the phone.  I clicked nothing when the browser was hijacked and was prompting for me to acknowledge that I had viruses on my phone.  If I had clicked the links the links the hijack attempt was trying to force me to click, chances are that the phone would've been compromised, though.  As it was, the prompting didn't go away until I cleared the app cache and force restarted the browser app.

This was the very first time I've ever experienced such an issue with an Android smartphone (or any smartphone).

Samsung Galaxy Note Edge

For my daughter's birthday, I upgraded her phone from an HTC One M8 to a Samsung Galaxy Note Edge.  I actually opened the box for her and ensured it had a full charge so that when she came home, from school, she'd be able to immediately play with it.  That she did!  I actually resisted the urge to play with it while it was charging, so she was able to enjoy the whole factory setup experience.

Just seeing her phone made me want to upgrade mine and I did just that!  I upgraded from my Note 3 to the Note Edge.

I was actually on the fence on whether to get the Note 4 or the Note Edge...decided that it wouldn't hurt to try the Edge and if I found to not like it, I could always 'edge up' to something else a bit later.

Some observations:

• The Edge consumes quite a bit more battery power during the day compared to my Note 3 and my daughter's M8.  This might be due to the quad display.  It consumes less power when in power saving mode, but it's nowhere near what it was with the Note 3.  There's also the ultra power saving mode, which I haven't tried yet...I'm not sure if it hobbles the phone too much (it also goes to grayscale).
• It takes some time to get used to the phone's display edge.  I keep thinking that it's about to slip out of my hands.
• The phone will get hot when using it while the display is on.
• Quick charges are ridiculously fast!  This is good, since this phone consumes power quickly.
• There's no Android 5.x for the Note Edge yet (or, at least I haven't seen the upgrade prompt for it yet).  This phone is currently at v4.4.4.  It may not seem to be a big deal, but I got a taste of 5.x on my Note 3...loved it and currently miss it dearly on my Edge.
• Verizon only had the phones in Black...I'm not sure if White was promotional or if they ran out of stock when I bought the phones, but there was a two week gap between buying the two of them, so if there was a stocking shortage, you'd think that it wouldn't last two weeks.
• There aren't many phone cases available for this phone, currently.  My daughter has the Samsung wallet cover.  I have the Verizon shell/holster combo w/ kickstand (which I had for my Note 2).  I'd much rather have an Otterbox Defender on this phone, but until they're available, I'll be happy with what I currently have.
• There was at least one app that I had on the Note 3 that wasn't detecting the user config file on the SD card that came from the Note 3.  I had to manually grab the config from the Verizon Cloud and overwrite them on the SD card for them to work (mainly Tasker).  mSecure also had a problem taking imported backup and I ended up having to manually copy over a backup.  I exported a copy of the database to G-mail and imported the G-mail copy without issue...wouldn't work with the Edge, as the app kept complaining that it couldn't see G-mail's SMTP server.  I didn't have that issue with the Note 2 and 3.
• The fingerprint reader is better than what reviewers are stating.  I've been using it with little issue...it's pretty accurate.
• The heart monitor is iffy...I'm not sure if it's precise but my pulse is usually higher than average, and it's right in that regard...I wouldn't use it in place of a dedicated blood pressure and pulse monitor, though.
• No problems using my Pebble watch...BT is BT, I guess.
• It doesn't feel any bigger than my Note 3, although it's slightly bigger.

I haven't messed with the S-Pen yet.  I have fiddled with setting up the Edge...that's gonna take some getting used to.

Now, there was an issue with my daughter's Edge.  I plugged it in when I first removed it from the box and it had a green line in the middle of the screen, going from top to bottom.  It disappeared the first day of use, then returned and stayed after that day.  I'd been trying to find out how to return/replace it and Verizon has NO documentation on how to do that...it's not included on their My Verizon pages nor does any information regarding returning/replacing or troubleshooting come with the phone.  I visited 2 different stores and got no help.  The first store didn't even check my account, I don't think...they saw that they didn't have any Edge phones to swap with mine, so they sent me to another store that was 1/2 hour away.  I got to that store and they immediately told me that they couldn't pull up the account.  I had to call their employee assistance line to request a replacement.  They treat employee accounts differently and that's what really irked me...I'm not just an employee.  I'm a damned customer.  These phones and the service isn't cheap...I deserved better service than I got.  I ended up spending at LEAST 3 hours in two stores last night.  Then I came home and was on the phone for another hour, being bounce around different tech teams.  I also spent another hour on the phone today, as well, but I finally got the right person and they were able to assist me in getting a new phone sent to me.  This could've been done yesterday without all the traveling and phone time if Verizon had understood how to help me...they didn't know a thing.  I was so ticked that I almost considered moving to a competitor ASAP.  Verizon needs to do a better job at customer service (I've said this many times to friends and colleages)...the run-around I got last night was pretty ridiculous.  They also need to make the custom replacement process for employees more transparent than what it currently is, because it's hardly transparent.  They need to make it so that the employees feel like customers...I felt like a damned leper last night.  And on top of that, I had to rush ship my daughter's phone back to them since this was the 14th day of ownership...if they'd know WTH they were doing yesterday, I wouldn't have been quite as rushed.

We'll see if the new phone is without problems...it'll be here tomorrow.

Smartphones - Maxing Out Your Storage Capacity?

Maxing Out Your Storage Capacity?  This article can help you regain storage space.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2014/08/01/no-more-storage-space-on-your-phone-heres-what-you-should-trash-first/

I skimmed over the article.  It appears sound as far as what it recommends.  It speaks in a way that people should understand, no matter what brand of phone you're using (it has screenshots of both Android and Apple smartphones).

Do I need this?  No.  I already know how to free up space when I've reached the storage limits (I usually back up everything on my SD card onto my PC, then place it on a dedicated storage drive).  But I'm sure this will be able to help people like my mother or wife or daughters.

Enjoy!

Edged Up...Also Got the Note 3!

So, my daughter's 13th birthday was yesterday.  The wife and I got her an iPhone 5S (which is what she wanted).  While we were at the Verizon store, I was told that I was eligible for the Edge program (I will not explain Edge here...most Vz customers will know what Edge is).  I was curious, as I'm tired of always being locked to a phone for 2 years, so I had the Vz shop explain everything to me.  I believe the Edge program would benefit people who like to upgrade ahead of 2 years.  So, I went home and did some thinking.  I'm aware that the Note 4 will eventually be out...I always miss these releases.  I almost decided to wait until my contract with my Note 2 ended (that wouldn't have been a bad idea, either).  I did some research online and it was very difficult for me to decide which phone I'd like to upgrade to, because the Note 2 is THAT good...seriously.

There were two other phones that caught my eye that I could get through Verizon:  The HTC One Max and the LG G2.  The thing I didn't like about the Max was that it is just a big HTC One M8.  It is also extremely large at 5.9" in display area...that might've been too much for me.  Those cons weren't the kickers, though.  The kicker was that the back camera was 4MP (really???)  And a phone that big (I hate the word phablet, so I won't be using that term) needs a stylus.  The LG G2 looks like it would've held my interest...it has LOTS of features and the phone appears to be more responsive than the Galaxy S4 (probably due to Samsung's Touchwiz bloat).  The Note 3 is better than both of them, although I was willing to compromise (but only to an extent).

I ended up getting the Note 3.  I might've been happy enough with the HTC One Max, but I would not have been happy with that camera.  I came close to getting the G2, though.  What lured me toward the Note 3 was the fact that I was already familiar with the Note 2, which would help me when using the Note 3.  Also, the phone on the Note 3 is spectacular and has slow-motion (120fps) capture and 1080p 60fps capture as well.  The charging/syncing port is different, too (using USB 3.0 now and has a funky new port that can still use a regular micro-USB cable to sync).

I got the black version and got an Otter Defender case (will have to sell the Note 2 Otter Commuter case that I have).  I sorely missed the belt clip, which the Commuter case doesn't use, but I could never find a Defender case for my Note 2 in local shops.  One thing I don't like about the Defender is that built-in screen protector...my stylus doesn't like it at all, so I've been using my finger when texting.  I was tempted to cut out the plastic, but I'll try using it for a few weeks instead of being hasty.  Another thing:  I got my daughter a Lifeproof case for her phone...that damn thing was expensive, but I wanted no excuses that she got it wet or broke it.  I wanted to get one for my new phone, but apparently they aren't making them for the Note 3.  That's OK, though, because it doesn't have a belt clip.

For some reason, migrating my data to the new phone took forever, but I've been using the Note 2 heavily the last year, so there was much more data that had to be pushed to the new phone.  As well, I was never near wifi for it to complete the syncing (was shopping after I got the new phone).

My next purchase will be a larger microSD card (64GB).  I ran upon the limit of my 32GB microSD card several times the last 12 months.  I might also look into another battery, because I'm using a Pebble smartwatch now and I have to keep BT on for it to work with my phone...my phone is sucking down battery power bigtime.  I 'm lucky if I can get 10 hours of usage out of it.  If I don't touch the phone, battery life is fine, though.

There was also an Android update waiting for me when I got my hands on the phone (v4.4.3).

Other than getting all my apps installed on the new phone, I've not played with it yet.  I still need to get the Next launcher running again (will have to customize a new theme).

I'll post up any new findings I discover/experience.

Phones and Screen Protectors

So, I saw a Google+ post today regarding screen protectors (someone bought one for their Note 2).

I've used screen protection on my phone but I really think it is overkill, unless your phone spends lots of time in your pocket with your keys and spare change.  As well, they are difficult to install and can sometimes interfere with the usage experience, especially if you're using a stylus (as with the Note 2).

Some people think that screen protectors, which are small pieces of plastic, keeps your screen from being shattered from face-down drops.  Generally, that's not the case, although there are several screen protectors that are marketing just that (such as the Amzer ShatterProof screen protector).

Here's a good link of a group of people discussing general protectors vs. shatter-proof protectors.  I homed in on this, specifically:

a good screen protector will hold your glass in place after its shattered, but wont stop it from shattering. 

most screen protectors do not cover the whole screen, they leave the edges exposed. when you drop your phone, its 90% likely to land on a corner first, so you'd need to reinforce the corners to minimise vibrations and the resultant damage in the case of a drop.

Now, I've used a protector twice in the past but I've never kept them on for more than a few days.  As well, I've NEVER had any of my phones' or PDAs' screens being scratched, but then again:

• I never put my phones in my pockets with keys or change (I never put phones in my pockets if pockets are empty, either). 
• I always use a belt holster.
• I do not put my phones face down on any surfaces.

I've shattered screens before (with and without protectors).  I don't believe in YouTube videos testing this aspect of phones, because I don't think most people on YouTube are qualified enough to proficiently test/measure this aspect of phones.  I've seen quite a bit of people thinking that general screen protectors will prevent shattering in face-down drops. No.  Just like with any other glass, a plastic covering will only prevent the glass from flinging everywhere.  Just because you see it on the internet doesn't mean it's true.

I'm now going to show some back-and-forth arguments on this topic, from a reference (it may be better to go to the actual link, because the blogger.com keeps altering my formatting):

 Originally Posted by ice456789 

The hair-width screen protector won't make a difference in a drop or a fall. If you had that screen protector on and you dropped your phone and it didn't crack, that means it wouldn't have cracked if you didn't have the screen protector. The only thing a protector can do in this case is mitigate the damage. It would maybe help (debatable how much it would help) a small crack from becoming a large crack but other than that it does nothing from to save you from an impact. It takes a large amount of force of impact to cause the reinforced glass in your phone to crack; that much force will not be mitigated by a less-than 1mm flexible plastic film enough to make a real difference. That's like expecting rubber soled shoes to save you from lightning if you decide to play golf during a thunderstorm.

What they ARE useful for is keeping the screen scratch free. Sand in your pocket or on your hands can scratch the phone. Also some protectors make it easier to clean oils from your fingers off the screen or make those oils less visible. Finally, some provide interesting effects like privacy or a mirror finish. So in those ways they can provide protection but unfortunately they do not offer any impact protection.

 Originally Posted by Liderc 

Check your windshield the next time you get in a car accident that breaks it, that 1mm film in between it saves lives. I don't think you can say for certain whether a screen protector helps absorb impact or not, I can definitely say it doesn't hurt it.

1) The plastic in a screen protector is nothing like what is used in windshields.

2) The film in windshields does not prevent the window from breaking, it just prevents the pieces from flying everywhere. It does nothing at all for absorbing impact energy. If it did, our soldiers would be wearing a 1 mm piece of plastic instead of a 20lb flak jacket. I really wish that was the case.

 Originally Posted by ice456789 

1) The plastic in a screen protector is nothing like what is used in windshields.

2) The film in windshields does not prevent the window from breaking, it just prevents the pieces from flying everywhere. It does nothing at all for absorbing impact energy. If it did, our soldiers would be wearing a 1 mm piece of plastic instead of a 20lb flak jacket. I really wish that was the case.

You are exactly right. I work in the auto industry, the film is an anti-shatter device. Just keeps the glass from spraying the driver and passenger in the event the glass breaks. The glass the auto industry uses is something else though. It is extremely hard to break. We've had to bust driver side windows out with ball-peen hammers its extremely hard to do, dont even try windshields. The object has got to be sharp for a quick puncture. Auto glass is extremely resilient. The downside is it scratches very very easy. 

When it comes down to it, its all just physics. Just like working with steel. Higher Rockwell Hardness means its moredurable and scratch resistant, but becomes more brittle. I dont believe there is a wonder glass the does the best of all. Just gotta pick whats right for you.

 Originally Posted by ice456789 

1) The plastic in a screen protector is nothing like what is used in windshields.

2) The film in windshields does not prevent the window from breaking, it just prevents the pieces from flying everywhere. It does nothing at all for absorbing impact energy. If it did, our soldiers would be wearing a 1 mm piece of plastic instead of a 20lb flak jacket. I really wish that was the case.

So take this for what it's worth, but I called my father who's a mechanical engineer for Ford. I asked him what material they use in windshields to prevent them from crumbling during a shatter/crack, he said "it's similar to the films you would use on your phone or tablet."
I didn't even tell him why I was asking about it, he just threw that at me. 
As I said, I think you'd be surprised if there were tests done to show how much a "thin piece of plastic" helps absorbing an impact.
There's also a bit of a difference between absorbing a bullet and absorbing a fall to a hard surface from 3-5'' feet, your analogy is flawed.
The fact remains you have no proof proving that it doesn't help, while it's common knowledge that plastics are often used to absorb impact, whether they are thin or thick.

Last interesting post in that thread:

I think I just had a brain aneurysm reading the responses about screen protectors providing shatter protection to the screen. Unless you are using a screen protector that's a couple millimeters thick, you won't be getting any appreciable amount of energy dissipation within the screen protector on impact. These things are maybe 100 micrometers at best in thickness. I don't care what it's made of, its not saving your screen.

Now here's a good screen protector.  It seems similar to the Amzer ShatterProof.  People have to realize that these are not general screen protectors.  These protectors are designed with high ballistics in mind (high in the sense of objects or phones being thrown/dropped or purposely damaged).  Just because several screen savers are exceedingly capable in protecting screens doesn't mean they all have the same capability.  They aren't created equally.

Last reference post on this topic:

In order for a screen protector to prevent a crack, it would have to be designed so that it would distribute the pressure across the screen. With screen protectors like IS and PhantomSkinz, etc, this is not possible. These protectors aren't designed to distribute pressure, but instead to prevent scratches to the screen. Now if he was using a hard plastic cover on his screen then that would be a different story, as the thickness of such item would aid the resonant forces outward instead of inward. If you are using a thin screen protector, it wouldn't have the capacity to handle the forces, therefore the resonant forces concentrate at the sight of impact, creating a fracture for the force to escape.

References:

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=964454 - iPhone-specific

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1368848

http://www.droidforums.net/forum/galaxy-nexus-accessories/191335-do-we-really-need-screen-protector.html

http://forums.crackberry.com/blackberry-storm2-f145/screen-protectors-will-save-your-lcd-screen-being-cracked-399472/