security update security take over - Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Questions & Answers

So years ago like Samsung s3 days there was maybe 2 updates a year one would be a complete change form gingerbread to whatever and maybe one to fix a problem with a known bug and that was it.
The worst thing that could happen is you would side load an apk and it would be a rogue app. You would delete it but it would be hidden deeper in the system folders and causing ads and battery drain.
So now in 2019 we now have almost monthly security updates. My question is who is trying to take over my phone? Why and how? Is this even a thing or is it just privacy protection laws going over the top ?
I've rolled back from Pie to oreo and I think I'm on August security patch. So I'm sitting here waiting for the takeover. And I think I could bet my bollocks to a barn dance that nothing is going to happen.
Thoughts????

See this post: https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=79512148&postcount=8.

Related

04/26/16 Software Update

Just did this update. Not sure what changed. Still 5.1.1
See attached images.
I got the notification today too. AT&T's website makes vague reference to a "security update" but doesn't provide any details. I'm waiting to see what this is before taking the update.
I installed it and the only thing I noticed was Android security patch level now says 2016-04-02. I haven't yet found details about the security update.
https://www.att.com/esupport/article.html#!/wireless/KB426851
I've been running this for a few days now and my phone seems to go into deep sleep more than with the March firmware. This has lead to better battery life. I've made no other changes.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A

September 2016 update now live

Head into ur settings and update or wait for it to pop up.
mixxxk said:
Head into ur settings and update or wait for it to pop up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Anyone know what it's for?
Well, it's from September 2, so who knows
Small update, only 47MB.
Text before update only mentioned security updates - nothing about Samsung Cloud or the Gallery app update that was delivered in Europe. Once it finishes updating and optimizing apps, I can see whether anything changed besides moving to a more recent security patch level.
I only noticed Google's monthly security fixes here. I didn't see or notice any other changes.
@evilvoice @stoobie-doo @mixxxk what's the build no.? Is it not N930PVPU2APHE update?
itskapil said:
@evilvoice @stoobie-doo @mixxxk what's the build no.? Is it not N930PVPU2APHE update?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
build number , for me, is MMB29M.G935AUCS4AP12
@mixxxk thanks!
The ATT's page also mentions it.. September patch and that's it.
Would have been nice if they had removed or allowed us to remove Milk Music, since, well, the service is dead as of 9/22...
Still rootable?
Sent from my P01M using XDA-Developers mobile app
It increments the BL to version 4.
I'm not sure if it was the update or not and I haven't installed anything else, but today the android system is EATING my battery. I had been getting around 7hrs of sot but today it's less then 2hrs sot and at 5%. It's showing android system had used like 24 or 25% of my battery and it is at number one for battery consumption.
I'm also suffering from a very hot slow phone that's eating the battery. What's going on???
Anyone have an Odin of this update?
Came here to say I'm having terrible battery life as well since the update. Weird thing is, I updated a couple days ago and the battery issues started today. I also have these disabled the settings from the link below fwiw
http://forum.xda-developers.com/att-s7-edge/how-to/to-drastically-reduce-android-battery-t3445291
---------- Post added at 11:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:14 PM ----------
Just came across this and my Oculus app did auto-update today. Just uninstalled and will see how things go
https://www.reddit.com/r/GalaxyS7/c...date_may_be_to_blame/?st=itp6m1i0&sh=9926b558
Can't uninstall Oculus apk! Is see the Gear VR Service but can't do anythibg.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk
I am too in need of the September Odin files. Tried to downgrade back to July firmware files through Odin after OTA and got the "fused binary" error because of the new bootloader update. Now my EFS partition is damaged and I'm getting wifi password forgets and stability issues among other things.
These days, AT&T is more of an evil empire than Verizon. No WiFi Calling, no VoLTE, no enhanced features unless you use AT&T branded phones. No publishing ROM/firmware files. Locked bootloaders (Samsung is also responsible, I know). AT&T has become the least mod friendly carrier. If anyone gets the PI1 files, please do share.
Also wanted to mention, DO NOT TRY TO RE FLASH ANY PREVIOUS FIRMWARE FILES WITH ODIN after this OTA update. Not only will the update fail, but it may corrupt certain partitions like it has on mine. I am also suspecting the U firmware will no longer flash with the new bootloader update until files are released for that bootloader. Someone please correct me if I am wrong. I will try to do an "emergency software revovery" with smart switch later tonight, if anyone is interested in the results let me know.
Glad I flashed international firmware... no oculus bs here! And my android system is back to normal, around 12%.

Oreo vs Pie - a few questions

Morning folks,
Had my Note 9 a few weeks now. Quite happy with it, and haven't updated from stock oreo yet.
Now that people have had a chance to tweak and play with Pie, I have a few questions -
1) how does battery life compare?
2) are you still able to remap the Bixby button? Currently using bxactions.
3) is split screen still available?
4) what functions have been lost, if any?
5) start functions have been gained, if any?
Look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Cheers for now,
John
There are threads here already about Pie in general (e.g. https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-note-9/help/pie-one-ui-impressions-t3896792) and about your specific questions (e.g. https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-note-9/help/pie-battery-life-experience-t3895668).
Jwsail said:
Morning folks,
Had my Note 9 a few weeks now. Quite happy with it, and haven't updated from stock oreo yet.
Now that people have had a chance to tweak and play with Pie, I have a few questions -
1) how does battery life compare?
2) are you still able to remap the Bixby button? Currently using bxactions.
3) is split screen still available?
4) what functions have been lost, if any?
5) start functions have been gained, if any?
Look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Cheers for now,
John
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can give you Information about my device with my personal using, but remember things can be diffrent from device to device and User to user.
1. Battery getting better and better. Atm i get 2.5 Days runtime with 6 h SoT
2. I guess yes. My bixbyremapper ist working fine so far..
3. You mean this app paring that you can use 2 apps together at the screen ? Then yes *Edit* maybe im too stupid but i cant find this function anymore?! ? Strange..
4. Wifi WPS for example.. more i dont know.
5. Hm my Bad english. Dont understand what you mean. I will translate and edit Posting later okay ?
Gary02468 said:
There are threads here already about Pie in general (e.g. https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-note-9/help/pie-one-ui-impressions-t3896792) and about your specific questions (e.g. https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-note-9/help/pie-battery-life-experience-t3895668).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks Gary. I've had a look at these and they don't what to have been added to for a few months. Maybe they were for the beta?
John
Treasarion said:
I can give you Information about my device with my personal using, but remember things can be diffrent from device to device and User to user.
1. Battery getting better and better. Atm i get 2.5 Days runtime with 6 h SoT
2. I guess yes. My bixbyremapper ist working fine so far..
3. You mean this app paring that you can use 2 apps together at the screen ? Then yes *Edit* maybe im too stupid but i cant find this function anymore?! ? Strange..
4. Wifi WPS for example.. more i dont know.
5. Hm my Bad english. Dont understand what you mean. I will translate and edit Posting later okay ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for that. I'll keep looking into it.
Cheers for now,
John
Jwsail said:
Thanks Gary. I've had a look at these and they don't what to have been added to for a few months. Maybe they were for the beta?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, they're post-beta. Android Pie started distributing to US Note9s in January.
One big problem if you haven't updated yet is that your phone may be exposed to several critical remote-takeover vulnerabilities that have been fixed during the past few months.
Gary02468 said:
No, they're post-beta. Android Pie started distributing to US Note9s in January.
One big problem if you haven't updated yet is that your phone may be exposed to several critical remote-takeover vulnerabilities that have been fixed during the past few months.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I find the new security update really interesting.
Remote takeover? I just wonder who why and how this could be done? I just dont get it
clax6 said:
Remote takeover? I just wonder who why and how this could be done? I just dont get it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's plenty of introductory material online that explains how security vulnerabilities work. Also, Google and Samsung publish monthly descriptions of the vulnerabilities they fix.
Remote-takeover vulnerabilities allow others anywhere in the world to monitor and record everything you type on your phone (including account credentials) and everything you read, see, and hear on your phone. Attackers can read, write, delete, or modify any information or media stored on your phone, or send messages from you to your contacts or to others. They can track your location and turn on your microphone and cameras.
You don't have to be singled out. Many attacks these days are automated and unleashed on millions of target devices. Large international crime organizations increasingly carry out such attacks. The most common reason is theft, but blackmail is also a growing concern. Or attackers can use your phone as a distribution center for material that they don't want traced to them.
Gary02468 said:
There's plenty of introductory material online that explains how security vulnerabilities work. Also, Google and Samsung publish monthly descriptions of the vulnerabilities they fix.
Remote-takeover vulnerabilities allow others anywhere in the world to monitor and record everything you type on your phone (including account credentials) and everything you read, see, and hear on your phone. Attackers can read, write, delete, or modify any information or media stored on your phone, or send messages from you to your contacts or to others. They can track your location and turn on your microphone and cameras.
You don't have to be singled out. Many attacks these days are automated and unleashed on millions of target devices. Large international crime organizations increasingly carry out such attacks. The most common reason is theft, but blackmail is also a growing concern. Or attackers can use your phone as a distribution center for material that they don't want traced to them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there actually any proof that this has happened?
clax6 said:
Is there actually any proof that this has happened?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's proof that some of it has happened and that all of it is easily accomplished using known exploits. What you do about it is a tradeoff, similar to home-security issues. You can leave your front door unlocked and probably not get robbed; or you can use locks, alarms etc. and possibly still get robbed. The tighter your security, the less likely it is for there to be a breach; but tighter security comes at a cost (money, convenience, etc.). So you need to weigh what you stand to lose against what you stand to gain, and that depends on individual circumstances.
Call recording and Swift installer support. Two biggest reasons for staying on Oreo for me.
This update is so bad I can only compare it to Windows ME & Vista. I downgraded thanking God because my bootloader stayed in v1.0.
It really seems like the Note 9 hardware is not built for this One UI Pie.
I'm sorry to be reading all this dislike of the Pie+OneUI update. I just bought the Note9 and really wanted to go straight to Pie+OneUI because of themes and because by now Pie should be in good shape--after all, Android 9 is a year old and has been rolled out to this device for three months? My note has been turned on for about 30 minutes, and I'm applying OS updates as I type. How bad can it possibly be?
gruuvin said:
I'm sorry to be reading all this dislike of the Pie+OneUI update. I just bought the Note9 and really wanted to go straight to Pie+OneUI because of themes and because by now Pie should be in good shape--after all, Android 9 is a year old and has been rolled out to this device for three months? My note has been turned on for about 30 minutes, and I'm applying OS updates as I type. How bad can it possibly be?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just do the updates to the OS and then factory reset device.
Good as Gold from there on
Hazzay88 said:
Just do the updates to the OS and then factory reset device.
Good as Gold from there on
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ouch! I just booted for the first time (into a year old version of Android8), walked through initial wifi, Google, and Samsung account setup, did all the sequential updates (about 7 or 8 downloads and reboots) to get to the latest version ***CSD1 of Android9+OneUI, and then I installed about 30 of my apps, and finally installed Nova Prime and setup my homescreen (all took a few hours).
Think there will be performance issues because of all the sequential updates? Only to be remedied now by doing a factory reset? (assuming the idea is to load ***CSD1 without all the incremental update steps)... And just to confirm, a factory reset would roll me back to the latest Android9 version with security updates which were released in April this year, and not to the original year-old Android 8 that the phone device shipped with, correct? (I don't see why the updates would not also update the factory reset image)........
Okay, as I think about this... I believe there is no "factory reset image".... The way Android works is the /system partition IS the "factory reset image", and a factory reset operation simply wipes everything in the /data partition (and cache, etc). Therefore, since I did my updates before installing all of my apps, then I believe that doing a factory reset now and re-installing all of my apps would only result in a possible change to the 'stuff' in /data that relates to the initial setup: wifi, Google, and Samsung account setup--app-reinstall would result in the same states, since in both cases, apps were installed after all updates. And since wifi and account setup data is likely no different on the Oreo ROM vs Pie, a factory reset at this point seems like a complete waste of time and probably bad advice. Not so sure there is any reason to do a factory reset immediately after initial account setup and updates. I think I just rubber-chickened this thread!
In any case,
What can I test and what results should I look for to see if the sequence of updates has caused performance issues that a factory reset would cure?
Thanks for your response, Hazzay!
gruuvin said:
Ouch! I just booted for the first time (into a year old version of Android8), walked through initial wifi, Google, and Samsung account setup, did all the sequential updates (about 7 or 8 downloads and reboots) to get to the latest version ***CSD1 of Android9+OneUI, and then I installed about 30 of my apps, and finally installed Nova Prime and setup my homescreen (all took a few hours).
Think there will be performance issues because of all the sequential updates? Only to be remedied now by doing a factory reset? (assuming the idea is to load ***CSD1 without all the incremental update steps)... And just to confirm, a factory reset would roll me back to the latest Android9 version with security updates which were released in April this year, and not to the original year-old Android 8 that the phone device shipped with, correct? (I don't see why the updates would not also update the factory reset image)........
Okay, as I think about this... I believe there is no "factory reset image".... The way Android works is the /system partition IS the "factory reset image", and a factory reset operation simply wipes everything in the /data partition (and cache, etc). Therefore, since I did my updates before installing all of my apps, then I believe that doing a factory reset now and re-installing all of my apps would only result in a possible change to the 'stuff' in /data that relates to the initial setup: wifi, Google, and Samsung account setup--app-reinstall would result in the same states, since in both cases, apps were installed after all updates. And since wifi and account setup data is likely no different on the Oreo ROM vs Pie, a factory reset at this point seems like a complete waste of time and probably bad advice. Not so sure there is any reason to do a factory reset immediately after initial account setup and updates. I think I just rubber-chickened this thread!
In any case,
What can I test and what results should I look for to see if the sequence of updates has caused performance issues that a factory reset would cure?
Thanks for your response, Hazzay!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In your case you don't need a factory reset, you updated your device straight out of the box which is just as good as a clean install. A factory reset sometimes helps users who have been running apps for a while on the previous version, and restoring user data causes system instability due to the OS major upgrade.
Also, I've done exactly the same thing 3 months ago, and haven't had a single issue [emoji846]
Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk
gruuvin said:
Ouch! I just booted for the first time (into a year old version of Android8), walked through initial wifi, Google, and Samsung account setup, did all the sequential updates (about 7 or 8 downloads and reboots) to get to the latest version ***CSD1 of Android9+OneUI, and then I installed about 30 of my apps, and finally installed Nova Prime and setup my homescreen (all took a few hours).
Think there will be performance issues because of all the sequential updates? Only to be remedied now by doing a factory reset? (assuming the idea is to load ***CSD1 without all the incremental update steps)... And just to confirm, a factory reset would roll me back to the latest Android9 version with security updates which were released in April this year, and not to the original year-old Android 8 that the phone device shipped with, correct? (I don't see why the updates would not also update the factory reset image)........
Okay, as I think about this... I believe there is no "factory reset image".... The way Android works is the /system partition IS the "factory reset image", and a factory reset operation simply wipes everything in the /data partition (and cache, etc). Therefore, since I did my updates before installing all of my apps, then I believe that doing a factory reset now and re-installing all of my apps would only result in a possible change to the 'stuff' in /data that relates to the initial setup: wifi, Google, and Samsung account setup--app-reinstall would result in the same states, since in both cases, apps were installed after all updates. And since wifi and account setup data is likely no different on the Oreo ROM vs Pie, a factory reset at this point seems like a complete waste of time and probably bad advice. Not so sure there is any reason to do a factory reset immediately after initial account setup and updates. I think I just rubber-chickened this thread!
In any case,
What can I test and what results should I look for to see if the sequence of updates has caused performance issues that a factory reset would cure?
Thanks for your response, Hazzay!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You won't have an issue as you had a new phone with no previous data on it.
Ps of you factory reset a device it won't go back to the OS version it came out of the box. It will remain on the latest version of the update.
Updated to Pie immediately after turning on the Note 9 for the first time, then installed my apps, then installed my sim. This is THE SMOOTHEST, best OS, best battery efficiency, best looking.....
..... it's the best!
is the note 9 Pie's camera quality improved? Still staying on Oreo for months as I have not ever heard of praises for improved cameras and still some users need to install GCam but seems note 9 Pie does not support GCam ?

October 22 update

Hi guys, does anyone know what this update does? It is small (164 mb or so), this is on top of the one ui 2.5 which i got a few weeks earlier. It only said it contains funcionality and stability improvements, phone is still on the same october security patch. What could be the reason for this update? I have a feeling that this was not planned.
Maybe camera stability updates.
Not sure, I know that once I got the One Ui 2.5 update I started to experience random reboots which has never happened before. I hope it fixes whatever is causing that.
This update broke my phone - went from stable to "no sim" every 20 minutes... so now I have to reboot every 20 minutes.
Tread lightly!

M21 says it is up-to-date when it isn't

Hello,
My M21 says it is up-to-date, but it isn't and I can't figure out why. I've even gone so far as to do a full factory reset, and still it won't update. The factory reset was the last option I knew.
Alot of google-searches resulted in the feeling that this is an isolated case.
Samsung Switch on PC also says the phone is up to date.
All my colleagues (it is a company phone) have the same model, and they have all received the updates long ago.
I've added screenshots of the software-information it is showing.
If anyone knows a solution to this, please let me know.
Thanks for any replies or clues anybody might give.
Lol, if I was you I would disable OTA updates!
If the OS is fast, stable and fulfilling its mission... let it be! Upgrades can and do break things.
No rollback from 11 as it upgrades the bootloader version too. Let that soak in; it's a one way ticket once punched Mr Wick... consequences.
Android 9/10 best, Android 11* so-so, Android 12* is a mess... in my opinion.
With Pie and higher you are protected from the worst rootkits. Unless you do something stupid security and malware won't be an issue.
*do you really want cpu cycle sucking scoped storage fully active? Some apps like the old free version of WPS Office will most likely not load.
I was actually hoping that the update would fix some of the inconveniences I've noticed since I started using it.
Things like:
Random restarts while the phone is doing nothing, needing me to enter the PIN for both SIM's. Like in the middle of the night. The alarm still goes off in the morning, however it goes of at max volume... Or in the middle of a run (i use the phone for sports tracking), causing me to lose the workout data.
Random disconnects from bluetooth devices
Sometimes slowdowns for no apparant reason
Incredibly slow camera
This is a company phone, and before this I had a personal Nokia 8.1. Transitioning to the M21 just feels like a step back. It's slower and has more buggy behavior. I was hoping the updates would fix it, because rooting is against company policy.
And this is apart from the security updates that haven't come through since october 2020, while all colleagues with the same phone did get those updates.
And I'm also just curious why this one says it has the most recent updates, while it clearly doesn't. Whether I choose to install those updates is another matter. It just doesn't give me the choise.
NCC369 said:
I was actually hoping that the update would fix some of the inconveniences I've noticed since I started using it.
Things like:
Random restarts while the phone is doing nothing, needing me to enter the PIN for both SIM's. Like in the middle of the night. The alarm still goes off in the morning, however it goes of at max volume... Or in the middle of a run (i use the phone for sports tracking), causing me to lose the workout data.
Random disconnects from bluetooth devices
Sometimes slowdowns for no apparant reason
Incredibly slow camera
This is a company phone, and before this I had a personal Nokia 8.1. Transitioning to the M21 just feels like a step back. It's slower and has more buggy behavior. I was hoping the updates would fix it, because rooting is against company policy.
And this is apart from the security updates that haven't come through since october 2020, while all colleagues with the same phone did get those updates.
And I'm also just curious why this one says it has the most recent updates, while it clearly doesn't. Whether I choose to install those updates is another matter. It just doesn't give me the choise.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's not a stable load. I don't blame you for wanting to ditch it if that's the best it can do.
I never get random reboots or the rare crashes I see seldom require a reboot.
Make sure global power management is disable and that a 3rd party app isn't the cause.
It's possible that the firmware is corrupted; a reflash to the same rom might be a safer option.
Or you could try flashing the next OS version up... avoid 12 though. Lots of reported issues across the board with it, and lots of people doing rollbacks to ditch it.
This will probably get time intensive.

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