Default android permissions

[kbradford]

In response to Peach’s comment, I am indeed having problems using apktool for Jellybean systems. Specifically I’m attempting to remove permissions for my apk’s on the Kindle Fire HD.

I can decompile, modify, and recompile just fine. It even installs correct, but once the app is started there is are error that will cause Amazon to flat out reject. If you start in landscape, lock the screen, turn to portrait and then unlock the app will force close.

I have checked and a normal Corona apk that is unaltered will handle this case fine. An apk that gets decompiled, recompiled, and jarsigned (even with no other changes to anything in the apk) will cause this crash.

This is very disappointing as this has been the only way to remove unneeded permissions from Corona apks. Without this ability I’m sure my apps will begin getting numerous reviews about unneeded permissions.

Corona, please make this permissions issue a top priority! [import]uid: 84258 topic_id: 25382 reply_id: 124893[/import]

[Andriy_Pertsov]

@kbradford
Totally agree with you.

@CoronaLabs
+1 “make this permissions issue a top priority!” [import]uid: 9058 topic_id: 25382 reply_id: 125438[/import]

[bigfish]

I second that! Please, make this a priority issue. [import]uid: 101889 topic_id: 25382 reply_id: 125547[/import]

[Andriy_Pertsov]

@kbradford
Totally agree with you.

@CoronaLabs
+1 “make this permissions issue a top priority!” [import]uid: 9058 topic_id: 25382 reply_id: 125438[/import]

[bigfish]

I second that! Please, make this a priority issue. [import]uid: 101889 topic_id: 25382 reply_id: 125547[/import]

[wunderwuzzi]

Is there an update on this? I just got contacted by Amazon that they want to put my app up for the “Free App of the Day”, but I don’t want to until the permissions are fixed. I really don’t need any of them.

It’s been nearly 6 months that this was brought up… can we get a fix please?

I’m thinking of doing it manually, but read that some things crash on latest Android. Did someone solve the problem with crashes on Kindle Fire HD?

—wunderwuzzi [import]uid: 118947 topic_id: 25382 reply_id: 126750[/import]

[wunderwuzzi]

@kbradford: Did you also remove the libraries as pointed out by ludicrious or just the permissions? Wondering if the crashes are related to the removed libraries or really just the permissions.

If it crashes it means that actually something is really secretly using those permissions which seems to be a big privacy issue in my opinion.

–wunderwuzzi [import]uid: 118947 topic_id: 25382 reply_id: 126753[/import]

[mike470]

You do have to set

launchPad = false,

in your config.lua if you remove those permissions through apktool. [import]uid: 160496 topic_id: 25382 reply_id: 126754[/import]

[wunderwuzzi]

Yes, I’m doing that and removed the three permissions that Corona sets by default:

Just wondering if there are still crashes with JellyBean devices afterwards? I don’t have a Kindle Fire HD, so can’t test. Do you know?

–wunderwuzzi [import]uid: 118947 topic_id: 25382 reply_id: 126755[/import]

[mike470]

I have done this to all my APKs - for google play, amazon, and nook, and no one reported any crashes. Of course, maybe they are crashing and not telling me [import]uid: 160496 topic_id: 25382 reply_id: 126756[/import]

[wunderwuzzi]

Thanks Mike this is very helpful information!!

Btw. did you also delete the openfeint folder and some of the others under the smali subdirectory, or just remove the permissions? Wondering if maybe the crashes that were mentioned are related to internal code trying to touch those files (that might have been deleted), and not in regards to the permissions.

–wunderwuzzi [import]uid: 118947 topic_id: 25382 reply_id: 126757[/import]

[mike470]

I didn’t delete those files. They are really not THAT huge (my total APK size is 20M) and if it ain’t broke…

I am not hugely concerned with someone diving into my APK and discovering (gasp) “spyware” files. What I am concerned with, though, is someone trying to install it and saying “why would a kid’s math app require access to the phone state and internet” and either canceling the sale or leaving a one-star rating. [import]uid: 160496 topic_id: 25382 reply_id: 126759[/import]

[wunderwuzzi]

Yes, same concern here. I don’t want those permissions. Removed them and submitted to Amazon, let’s see if it passes their testing…

Thanks for your input.

–wunderwuzzi [import]uid: 118947 topic_id: 25382 reply_id: 126761[/import]

[kbradford]

I was able to successfully remove permissions and recompile without errors using the newest apktool 1.5

My issue is that I had an old version of apktool I had been using for over a year, and the first time it runs it creates some “frameworks” in C:\Users<username>\apktool\framework<br>
Those frameworks were based on Android 2.2, so even though I was using a new apktool the frameworks were old and this would prevent certain options in the AndroidManifest.

To fix it I just deleted everything in that framework folder, decompiled with apktool, modified the manifest, recompiled, signed, and zipaligned.

It would still be great if Corona offers an easy way to do this, but for now this isn’t too bad. [import]uid: 84258 topic_id: 25382 reply_id: 126763[/import]

[Andriy_Pertsov]

Today I tried to remove unused permissions - downloaded latest ApkTool (1.5), Android SDK (Rev. 20), JDK (1.7), using Corona SDK 927. I had no luck to install resulting .apk file (even without any changes in manifest) on device with Android 2.2 (got “Application not installed” message). So this is not for me - as I do not want to find out what “magic” I need to get worked application.

@CoronaLabs
Please, make removing unused permissions a top priority. We really need it. [import]uid: 9058 topic_id: 25382 reply_id: 126771[/import]

[wunderwuzzi]

Is there an update on this? I just got contacted by Amazon that they want to put my app up for the “Free App of the Day”, but I don’t want to until the permissions are fixed. I really don’t need any of them.

It’s been nearly 6 months that this was brought up… can we get a fix please?

I’m thinking of doing it manually, but read that some things crash on latest Android. Did someone solve the problem with crashes on Kindle Fire HD?

—wunderwuzzi [import]uid: 118947 topic_id: 25382 reply_id: 126750[/import]

[wunderwuzzi]

@kbradford: Did you also remove the libraries as pointed out by ludicrious or just the permissions? Wondering if the crashes are related to the removed libraries or really just the permissions.

If it crashes it means that actually something is really secretly using those permissions which seems to be a big privacy issue in my opinion.

–wunderwuzzi [import]uid: 118947 topic_id: 25382 reply_id: 126753[/import]

[mike470]

You do have to set

launchPad = false,

in your config.lua if you remove those permissions through apktool. [import]uid: 160496 topic_id: 25382 reply_id: 126754[/import]

[wunderwuzzi]

Yes, I’m doing that and removed the three permissions that Corona sets by default:

Just wondering if there are still crashes with JellyBean devices afterwards? I don’t have a Kindle Fire HD, so can’t test. Do you know?

–wunderwuzzi [import]uid: 118947 topic_id: 25382 reply_id: 126755[/import]

[mike470]

I have done this to all my APKs - for google play, amazon, and nook, and no one reported any crashes. Of course, maybe they are crashing and not telling me [import]uid: 160496 topic_id: 25382 reply_id: 126756[/import]