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M66B / XPrivacy

XPrivacy - The ultimate, yet easy to use, privacy manager
http://forum.xda-developers.com/xposed/modules/xprivacy-ultimate-android-privacy-app-t2320783
GNU General Public License v3.0
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XPrivacy

The ultimate, yet easy to use, privacy manager for Android

XPrivacy is not maintained and supported anymore.

You can use the successor XPrivacyLua on Android 6.0 Marshmallow and later.

Open source Rookie of the year

Publication

Index

Description

XPrivacy can prevent applications from leaking privacy-sensitive data by restricting the categories of data an application can access. XPrivacy feeds applications fake data or no data at all. It can restrict several data categories, such as contacts or location. For example, if you restrict an application's access to contacts, that application will receive an empty contacts list (don't try this with the contacts application itself without a backup). Similarly, restricting an application's access to your location will send a fake location to that application.

XPrivacy doesn't revoke or block permissions from an application, so most applications will continue to work as before and won't force close (crash). There are two exceptions: access to the internet and to external storage (typically an SD-card) are restricted by denying access (revoking permissions). There is no other way to restrict such access because Android delegates handling these permissions to the underlying Linux network/file system. XPrivacy can fake an offline (internet) and unmounted (storage) state, but some applications still try to access the internet and storage, potentially resulting in crashes or error messages. If restricting a category of data for an application causes functional limitations, XPrivacy can once again allow access to the data category to solve the issue. There is a convenient on/off toggle switch for all restrictions for each application.

By default, all newly installed applications cannot access any data category, which prevents a new application from leaking sensitive data right after installing it. Shortly after installing a new application, XPrivacy will ask which data categories you want the new application to have access to. XPrivacy comes with an application browser that allows you to quickly enable or disable applications' access to any data category. You can edit all of an application's data categories.

To help you identify potential data leaks, XPrivacy monitors all applications' attempts to access sensitive data. XPrivacy displays an orange warning triangle icon when an application has attempted to access data. If an application has requested Android permissions to access data, XPrivacy displays a green key icon. XPrivacy also displays an internet icon if an application has internet access, which clarifies that the application poses a risk of sharing data with an external server.

XPrivacy is built using the Xposed framework, which it uses to tap into a vast number of carefully selected Android functions. Depending on the function, XPrivacy skips execution of the original function (for example, when an application tries to set a proximity alert) or alters the result of the original function (for example, to return an empty message list).

XPrivacy has been tested with Android version 4.0.3 - 6.0.1 (Ice Cream Sandwich, Jelly Bean, KitKat, Lollipop, Marshmallow), and is reported to work with most Android variants, including stock ROMs. Root access is needed to install the Xposed framework.

XPrivacy was a lot of work, so please support this project.

If you want to donate, see here for all options.

Use XPrivacy entirely at your own risk.

Features

Screenshots

Restrictions

For easy usage, data is restricted by category:

Limitations

General

XPrivacy

You can restrict the XPrivacy app's access to accounts, contacts, and other things.

Compatibility

Installation

Installation may seem lengthy, but you can do it quickly:

  1. Requirements:
    • Android version 4.0.3 - 6.0.1 (ICS, Jelly Bean, KitKat, Lollipop, Marshmallow); verify via System Settings > About phone > Android version
    • Read about compatibility before installing
  2. Make a backup
  3. If you haven't already, root your device; the rooting procedure depends on your device's brand and model.
    • You can find a guide here for most devices
  4. Enable System settings > Security > Unknown sources
  5. Install the Xposed framework
  6. Download and install XPrivacy from here
    • Alternatively, download it from here
  7. Enable XPrivacy in the Xposed installer
  8. Start XPrivacy one time
  9. Reboot

I do not recommend using XPrivacy in combination with any of the similar solutions, because this could result in conflicts and potential data leaks.

There is an unofficial backported Gingerbread version available here. Please note that only the official version is supported.

If you want to uninstall XPrivacy, you have two options:

  1. Disable XPrivacy in the Xposed installer
  2. Uninstall the XPrivacy application

In either case, don't forget to reboot.

To save space, you can delete the folder /data/system/xprivacy after uninstalling.

Upgrading

When following this procedure, your data will not leak because the Xposed part of XPrivacy keeps running.

Usage

Brief tutorial

Use common sense when restricting; don't expect internet access if you restricted the internet category, etc.

Get used to XPrivacy before using more advanced features, like function exceptions.

Detailed tutorial

XPrivacy starts in the main view, where a data category can be selected at the top. By ticking one or more check boxes in the list below, you can restrict the selected data category for the chosen applications. The default category is All, meaning that all data categories will be restricted.

Tapping on an application icon shows the detailed view where you can manage each of the data categories for the selected application. This view will also appear when you tap on the notification that appears after installing or updating an application. By default, all data categories will be restricted for newly installed applications to prevent leaking privacy-sensitive data. You can change which data categories will be restricted by changing the Template available from the main menu.

Data categories make it easier to manage restrictions. You can drill down the data categories in the detailed view to reveal individual functions. If the category is restricted, you can un-restrict individual functions by clearing the function's check box.

To see restrictions in action, try restricting the category Identification for Android Id Info.

Applying some restrictions requires restarting applications.

You can turn on and off all restrictions for an application using the on/off toggle switch.

Since version 1.99, you can also restrict on demand. This means you will be asked to allow or deny a category/function when the category/function is used by an application. Restricting on demand is the default for newly installed applications (when using the default template). You can turn on and off restricting on demand in the application details view using either the settings or the check box to the right of the on/off toggle switch. You can turn on and off restricting on demand for individual categories and functions using the second column of check boxes.

If an application has requested Android permissions for a data category, the category will be marked with a green key icon. If an application has used or tried to use data, the data category will be marked with an orange warning triangle icon. If an application has internet permissions, a world globe icon will be shown to the left of the application name. These icons are just guidelines because an application can still access some privacy-sensitive data without Android permissions, such as your device's serial number, and because it is not possible to monitor data usage in each and every situation, such as access to the internet or external storage. Be aware that an application can still access the internet through other (sister) applications.

Restricting internet or storage means blocking access to the internet and to external storage (typically the SD-card), respectively. Either of these may result in error messages and even cause applications to force close (crash).

Function restrictions considered 'dangerous' are marked with a reddish background color. These 'dangerous' functions are more likely to cause applications to crash if you restrict them. 'Dangerous' functions can be turned into normal functions by long-clicking them in the default template. This is only recommended for experienced users who know how to identify the cause of a crash in the logcat!

Global settings and application specific settings are accessible from the application list's menu and from the menu of the application's detailed view. The global settings, such as randomized or set latitude/longitude, apply to all applications unless you override them with specific application settings. But saving an empty set of specific application settings (you can use the clear button) will erase all application specific settings so that the global settings will again be in force.

The default restrictions template (in the main menu) is applied automatically to newly installed applications and manually via the menu item 'Apply template' in the application's detailed view.

You can find a very useful overview of all menu items here.

Use XPrivacy entirely at your own risk.

Permissions

XPrivacy asks for the following Android permissions:

If desired, you can even restrict XPrivacy from accessing any of the above, but there are some limitations.

Please note that any Xposed module basically has root permissions and therefore can circumvent any Android permission.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

(1) Will XPrivacy make my device slower?

Maybe a little bit, but you probably won't notice.

If you run comparison benchmarks, please submit them.

But my device is slow with XPrivacy! It appeared that in some cases this was caused by the TRIM bug. See here for more information and a solution.

(2) Does XPrivacy use a lot of memory and battery?

Almost nothing.

(3) Can you help me with rooting my device?

There are many guides to help you to root your device. Use your favorite search engine to find one.

(4) How can I reset an application's XPrivacy settings?

While viewing an application's restrictions, select Menu > Clear, then reboot.

(5) Can I backup XPrivacy's restrictions, settings, and usage data?

Starting with version 1.11.13, you can no longer backup XPrivacy's data with standard backup tools, such as Titanium Backup. This is because the database is no longer stored in the XPrivacy data folder, but in a system folder. I have tried to store the database in the XPrivacy data folder, but this leads to all kinds of permission problems.

The best practice is to use XPrivacy's export function (Main Menu > Export) to backup XPrivacy data, but please note that this requires a pro license.

You can automate backups by sending an intent:

adb shell am start -a biz.bokhorst.xprivacy.action.EXPORT

If you want to specify a file name for the backup:

adb shell am start -a biz.bokhorst.xprivacy.action.EXPORT -e FileName /sdcard/test.xml

You can do this with Tasker, for example:

(6) Precisely which functions can XPrivacy restrict?

Many. See here for details.

(7) How safe is XPrivacy?

Great care has been taken to develop XPrivacy. Nevertheless, on rare occasions, data can leak and applications can crash.

(8) What does "An internal check failed..." error message mean?

An internal check of XPrivacy failed, resulting in potential data leakage. Please press OK to send me the support information so I can look into it.

(9) What is the procedure to update a ROM?

Assuming you don't wish to wipe data, and that Xposed and XPrivacy are already installed before updating the ROM, the best procedure to update a ROM is:

  1. Export XPrivacy settings
  2. Enable airplane/flight mode
  3. Use the menu option in XPrivacy to clear all data
  4. Reboot to recovery
  5. Flash ROM
  6. Flash Google apps (optional)
  7. Re-activate Xposed using Xposed toggle
  8. Reboot to Android
  9. Restore the android ID (when needed. For example, with Titanium backup)
  10. Import XPrivacy settings
  11. Disable airplane/flight mode
  12. Fake the network type (Wi-Fi, mobile)

If you skip the export, clear, or import steps above, some system applications can end up with the wrong restrictions because the ROM update might have changed these applications' UID's.

To import and export XPrivacy's data, you need a pro license.

(10) Can I restrict root access?

Yes, via Shell > su, but be aware that applications can acquire root privileges through native libraries too. An example is Android Terminal Emulator.

(11) Will restrictions be applied immediately?

Changes to restrictions may require up to 15 seconds to take effect because of caching. Changing internet and storage restrictions requires restarting the application. Please note that in many cases pressing back within target applications merely moves the application to the background.

(12) Does XPrivacy include a firewall?

You can restrict internet access for any application. But if you want to partly enable internet, for example for Wi-Fi only, you will have to use a firewall application, such as AFWall+. XPrivacy works within Android, and detailed firewall rules can only be applied within the Linux kernel.

The latest versions of XPrivacy allow you to white and black list IP addresses and host names.

(13) What does the "Unable to parse package." message mean?

This means XPrivacy's apk file is corrupt. Try disabling your popup blocker or downloading using another device.

(14) How do I make a logcat?

The simplest way is to use an application like Logcat Extreme or Catlog, but logcats captured this way are not always sufficient. The best way to capture a logcat is:

If you need a logcat from system start, you can run this command on your device (this will force an Android restart):

killall system_server; logcat | grep -i xprivacy

Upload the captured logcat somewhere, for example to Google Drive, and link to it from the issue you created. Don't forget to mention the UID of the application to look into, when relevant.

(15) Where does XPrivacy store its settings?

XPrivacy's restrictions, settings, and usage data are stored in an sqlite3 database in this folder:

/data/system/xprivacy

(16) Why doesn't clearing the check box for a data category also clear the functions inside that category?

In the application details view, it will. In the main list view, you are protected against losing the restriction settings inside a data category by accidentally unchecking that category's check box. The restriction settings inside a category only apply when that category is restricted.

(17) How can I export/import my settings?

You need a pro license to import your settings. Exported settings are stored in the folder .xprivacy in the file XPrivacy.xml. You can copy this file to the same place on any other device. When importing, settings are only applied to user and system applications that actually exist on both devices.

The export file will contain all restrictions and settings, but note that allowed accounts and contacts (not the accounts and contacts themselves) can only be imported when the Android ID is the same.

Also see the above FAQ about what to do when updating your ROM.

(18) Why does a GPS status icon still appear after I have restricted locations?

This is by design. XPrivacy only replaces the real location with a fake location. It even uses the real location to randomize the fake location. The idea is that everything should appear as normal as possible to an application.

See here for some addtional details.

(19) How about multi-user support?

Secondary users can install and use XPrivacy the same way as the primary user. The primary user cannot manage the restrictions of secondary users. This is because Android totally separates the environments of the users (which is a good thing, from a security perspective). Each user has its own set of settings, so each user can define its own template and global fake values.

(20) Why is the Settings > Fake data > Search button disabled?

Because some Google components are not installed.

(21) Do I still need root after installing Xposed?

No, root is only required to install Xposed one time.

(22) Why isn't XPrivacy available in the Google Play Store anymore?

Because Google removed it. Read the explanation here.

(23) What is "Template" used for?

XPrivacy uses the default template to apply restrictions to newly installed applications. Templates can also be used when you select "Apply template" from the menu inside the application detail view.

(24) Will there be iOS or Windows Phone versions?

No. Because they are not open source, it's too difficult to implement something like XPrivacy on these OS's.

(25) Will you restrict...?

No, because I don't consider this information to be privacy-sensitive data (i.e. able to identify you and collect data about you). I am happy to add new restrictions for data that is really privacy-sensitive.

For the few users who will be using this, it is too much work to implement. The calendar and contacts API are quite complicated. There is also a better way to accomplish this. You can use different users on your device with different accounts. To enable multiple users for a phone you can follow these instructions or install this Xposed mod. Note that the user selector on the lockscreen works in landscape only.

(26) Will you revoke permissions?

Android permissions cover only a part of the functions that leak privacy-sensitive information. Revoking permissions will make quite a few applications unusable/crash. XPrivacy feeds applications with fake or no data, which keeps most applications working. In other words, XPrivacy is not a permission manager, but a privacy manager. If you need a permission manager, there are several Xposed modules that offer this functionality.

(27) Does XPrivacy work with SELinux (Fort Knox)?

Yes, I develop XPrivacy on a device with SELinux in restrictive mode.

(28) How does the tri-state check box work?

The tri-state check box works this way:

Note: By default, categories and functions are filtered by permission, so you may not see all of them. The check box state is independent of this.

(30) What should I do if an application force closes (crashes) or something doesn't work?

Inspect the application's usage view, via the main menu item Usage data to see which restrictions were enforced. Restrict and unrestrict one by one until you have found which one causes the application to force close. Wait 15 seconds after each change to let the XPrivacy cache time-out. Help others by submitting your working set of restrictions.

See also this FAQ item.

(31) Can XPrivacy handle non-Java applications?

In general, due to Android's isolated virtual machine architecture, calls to native libraries and binaries are via Java and so XPrivacy can restrict them. XPrivacy can cover any route to a native library or binary.

XPrivacy cannot hook into native libraries, but can prevent native libraries from loading. This can break applications such as Facebook, but can prevent malware from doing its work.

XPrivacy can also restrict access to the Linux shell (including superuser) to prevent native binaries from running. You can find these restrictions in the Shell category.

Starting with version 2.0, XPrivacy can protect against direct interprocess communication (IPC).

(32) Why do I see data usage when an application does not have the corresponding Android permission?

Many functions do not require Android permissions, so this is quite normal. Sometimes an application tries to access a function for which it doesn't have an Android permission. Since XPrivacy usually runs prior to the function, such access will be noted.

If you filter on permissions, and an application tries to use a function without having permission, the application will still be shown.

If you think a function requires permissions while XPrivacy shows it doesn't, please report it.

(33) How can I restrict the hardware, external MAC, IP, and IMEI number?

You can restrict the (internal) IP and MAC addresses and IMEI number for any application.

The external IP is assigned by your provider and cannot be changed. You could use a VPN or TOR to hide your external IP to a certain extent.

The hardware MAC address can be changed on some devices, but this is device-dependent and can only be done at the driver or kernel level. XPrivacy only works on the Android level and is device-independent.

The same applies to the IMEI number, additionally complicated by legal issues in most countries.

(34) What is the logic behind on demand restricting?

(37) Do I need to have the Google Play Store/services installed for the pro version?

Only for the pro license fetcher, not for a pro license acquired through a PayPal donation. The pro license fetcher needs the Google Play Store/services for fetching a pro license, but not for using a pro license.

(38) What does the update service do?

The update services runs after upgrading XPrivacy and after each boot. It takes care of migrating settings, randomization of fake data, and upgrading settings for new versions.

(46) Why do I need to register to submit restrictions?

To prevent a malicious application author from automatically submitting many allow restrictions to outvote the legitimate users.

(47) What is IPC?

It is an acronym for Inter-Process Communication. See here and here for more information.

(48) Can XPrivacy be detected by other application?

Yes, but I don't see this as a problem, since security through obscurity is not a good principle.

(49) Why do I keep getting a 'Restart required' message?

Things to do / check:

The most common problem seems to be the storage location of the XPrivacy application.

If these suggestions don't help, please create an issue and provide a logcat (see Support).

(50) Do you have suggestions about additional privacy-related software?

IMHO, in addition to XPrivacy, you should at least install an ad blocker and a firewall:

Here is a list of additional privacy-related software:

Please note that none of these applications are written by me, so please be sure to contact their respective authors for support questions.

(51) What does the on/off toggle switch do in the application details view?

It turns all restrictions for the application on or off, but still allows you to change the restrictions.

(52) Why was my issue closed?

I have really spent a lot of time developing XPrivacy and I am happy to look into any issue, but I am asking you to properly document your issue. It doesn't work or it crashes is not sufficient! So, please help me help you by describing the exact steps to reproduce the problem and/or provide a logcat.

See Support for more details.

(53) What happens if I make XPrivacy a device administrator?

This will ensure that other applications cannot uninstall XPrivacy without your knowledge.

(54) Why do exporting and importing take so long?

There are more than 400 restrictions per application. Additionally, there can be quite a few application specific settings (for example, when you use white/black lists). So, yes, exporting and importing restrictions and settings can take quite some time. The default is to export restrictions for all applications, since the export is meant to be a full backup. However, it is possible to filter the applications whose restrictions you want to export using the filter icon in the action bar (for example, only user applications with restrictions), and then to select only these applications using the action bar select all (first icon).

(56) How can I recover from a bootloop?

For devices with a custom recovery (TWRP/CWM) you can flash the Xposed-Disabler-Recovery.zip. Alternatively, (on most devices) press the volume down button 5 times during boot (there will be a vibration with each press when done correctly).

See here on how to enable debug logging without XPrivacy activated in Xposed.

(57) How does Expert mode work?

Expert mode has the following sub-options which can be toggled individually:

(58) Can I write a thesis about XPrivacy?

Yes, you can. I will even help you with it. However, I will not write or review code or text for you. Nevertheless, I will try to answer any questions you have. XPrivacy is open source (see the license) and all code you write needs to be contributed back to the project. To help you, I want to see an e-mail from your professor with a confirmation he or she has read and agrees to this README.

(59) Will you implement multiple profiles?

No, because privacy is not something that is optional. It makes no sense to restrict something during the day and not during the night, or at work and not at home.

(60) Why is the upgrade notification stuck at 100%?

This is by design, so you can see the upgrade has completed successfully. You can swipe away the notification after you have seen it.

(61) Can the default on demand restricting time-out be increased?

Unfortunately this is not possible. The on demand restricting dialog is holding up system processes, and Android may reboot automatically if too much time has passed without a response. Recent versions of XPrivacy have a reset button; use at your own risk.

(62) How can I 'toggle' multiple applications?

Multiple selection works as in any Android application. Tap and hold down on an application in the application list to start selecting, and tap other applications to select more applications. Toggle restrictions will work on the selected applications.

You can use this as a powerful way to apply a template to multiple applications.

You can also use the filters to show the applications you want to act on, since toggle restrictions works on the visible applications by default. There is one exception to this: exporting will be done for all applications by default, since the export is intended to be a full backup.

(63) How can I troubleshoot an issue believed to be caused by XPrivacy?

(64) Is the on demand dialog always shown?

That depends on your ROM version. On stock ROM 4.4.4 (Nexus 5), the on demand dialog is always shown. On older or customized ROMs, the on demand dialog is almost always shown, except sometimes for the functions inet, sdcard and media, and sometimes for restrictions triggered by the hardware buttons (for example, the volume buttons). This is to prevent the on demand dialog from freezing (locking up), caused by an internal Android lock. This freeze cannot be fixed by XPrivacy.

If you want to have the on demand dialog always shown, then you can add the quirk "freeze".

(65) Why is my data is still visible?

The data might be cached by the application, so you might have to wait a while until the cache is updated. It may even be necessary to restart the application or reboot your device to clear the cache.

The Google Maps view can look like a part of an application, but is in fact not. Even if your current position is shown on the map, it doesn't mean the application knows your current position.

(66) How can I directly start ... ?

See question #5 for how to start an export and for details on Tasker.

Similarly you can start other activities:

am start -a biz.bokhorst.xprivacy.action.SETTINGS
am start -a biz.bokhorst.xprivacy.action.SETTINGS --ei Uid 10123
am start -a biz.bokhorst.xprivacy.action.APPLICATION --ei Uid 10123
am start -a biz.bokhorst.xprivacy.action.APPLICATION --ei Uid 10123 --ei Action 1
am start -a biz.bokhorst.xprivacy.action.APPLICATION --ei Uid 10123 --ei Action 2
am start -a biz.bokhorst.xprivacy.action.APPLICATION --ei Uid 10123 -e RestrictionName location
am start -a biz.bokhorst.xprivacy.action.APPLICATION --ei Uid 10123 -e RestrictionName location -e MethodName GMS.addGeofences

Action 1 means clear; action 2 means settings.

am start -a biz.bokhorst.xprivacy.action.USAGE
am start -a biz.bokhorst.xprivacy.action.USAGE --ei Uid 10123
am start -a biz.bokhorst.xprivacy.action.EXPORT
am start -a biz.bokhorst.xprivacy.action.EXPORT --eia UidList 10123,10124 --ez Interactive true
am start -a biz.bokhorst.xprivacy.action.IMPORT
am start -a biz.bokhorst.xprivacy.action.IMPORT --eia UidList 10123,10124 --ez Interactive true
am start -a biz.bokhorst.xprivacy.action.SUBMIT --eia UidList 10123,10124 --ez Interactive true
am start -a biz.bokhorst.xprivacy.action.FETCH --eia UidList 10123,10124 --ez Interactive true
am start -a biz.bokhorst.xprivacy.action.TOGGLE --eia UidList 10123,10124 --ez Interactive true

These actions require root or the permission biz.bokhorst.xprivacy.MANAGE_XPRIVACY.

am startservice -a biz.bokhorst.xprivacy.action.FLUSH
am startservice -a biz.bokhorst.xprivacy.action.UPDATE

With Tasker, you can create shortcuts on your homescreen:

(67) Why do I get 'refused', 'forbidden', or an error while submitting/fetching/navigating the crowd sourced restrictions?

This probably means your IP address has been blacklisted. Typically, this is because of spamming or other kind of abuses. TOR exit nodes and VPS servers are often blacklisted. It is possible your device is infected with malware, and is sending spam without your knowledge.

You can check if your IP address is blacklisted by checking if it is mentioned on one of these lists:

Another potential cause is documented here.

(68) What are unsafe restrictions?

Unsafe restrictions can be disabled by removing the Xposed method hook using a native library. See here for a proof of concept. You can prevent this by not allowing native libaries to load, which will, unfortunately, often result in a crash.

XPrivacy 3 does partly address this problem for vanilla Android KitKat and some other frequently used ROMs (see below). This is done by hooking into the Android counterparts of the user space functions. Unfortunately, not all user space functions have an Android counterpart, meaning that this cannot be done for all restrictions. Nevertheless, the most sensitive data, like contacts and your location, can safely be protected by XPrivacy 3.

XPrivacy 3 modes

About will show if XPrivacy 3 is running in compatibility mode, which means XPrivacy 3 is behaving as XPrivacy 2. If there is no message about compatibility mode, XPrivacy 3 is running in AOSP mode. XPrivacy 3 will always run in compatibility mode on Android versions before KitKat.

You can force XPrivacy 3 into AOSP mode using the main settings. This will work on Lollipop when SELinux is disabled, or in permissive mode, or if you add this build property:

xprivacy.options=ignoreselinux

There is no need to force AOSP mode if XPrivacy recognizes your ROM as a compatible ROM.

If you force AOSP mode, privacy-sensitive data may leak. XPrivacy has many internal checks, so if something is going wrong, you will probably sooner or later get a debug info popup.

For the benefit of others, please report if XPrivacy 3 works for the ROM you are using (also post a screenshot of the About of XPrivacy, so I can see how the ROM is recognized).

(69) What do the state colors mean, and when do they change?

(70) Why do I get a '429 Too Many Requests' message?

This can happen when checking for updates using the main menu. Everybody can download a new version of XPrivacy five times in 12 hours. After this limit, you will get '429 Too Many Requests'. This is to limit the bandwidth of the server to acceptable levels. Simply wait 12 hours after the last download, and you can download again. Please note that I will not make exceptions to this, because the limit is there for a reason.

(71) Why don't I see the changelog

Make sure you have an internet connection and that XPrivacy has internet access (check your firewall). The changelog is an in-app display of this page

(72) Can you make XPrivacy available on F-Droid, Amazon, or other stores/repositories?

I don't want to publish XPrivacy in dozens of places, because it is extra work that doesn't add any value. The current download locations, the Xposed repo and GitHub, should be accessible to almost everybody.

F-Droid also doesn't allow me to sign the APK with my own signature.

(74) Why do I not see a specific application in the application list?

XPrivacy allows you to restrict each and every application. XPrivacy even allows you to restrict itself as well as core Android system components, although there are a few limitations. These limitations are for your own safety (for example, to prevent a bootloop or to keep XPrivacy usable in all circumstances).

The application you are searching for is most likely filtered, for example because it is a system application. You can change the filters by using the main menu Filter. By default, system applications and applications without permissions for the selected category are filtered.

Some applications (components) share data, which means they share the same UID. These applications are shown only once in XPrivacy (this cannot be changed). An example is the Dolphin browser and its plugins/addons.

(76) What happened to the import/export enabler?

Please read here.

(77) Why does my pro license not work?

If your device doesn't have an SD-card, you will need to put the license file into the root folder of the external storage folder. This is the folder you will see if you connect your Android device to a PC. When in doubt, you can use the menu Help, About to see the correct folder name.

If it still does not work, try to put the license file in the alternate location as shown in the About dialog.

(78) Why do I get 'The Play store says not licensed' message when I try to fetch a license?

This message basically means that the Google Play Store thinks you didn't pay for the pro license fetcher.

Please make sure you are using the original Google Play Store application, and that the Google Play Store and Google Play services have internet access (mind your firewall). Make sure you are not using Lucky Patcher, Freedom, or similar applications. Also make sure you didn't restrict the Google Play Store, Google Play services, or Pro License Fetcher using XPrivacy.

Start the Google Play Store and wait about a minute so it can synchronize with the Google servers.

Try to fetch a license again. If you keep having this problem, please contact me.

(79) How can I disable restrictions at boot (experts only)

By creating this file:

/data/system/xprivacy/disabled

Each line should either contain a category name or a category name and function name separated by a slash (/). See here for the correct category and function names.

If SELinux is restrictive, you need to add this build property:

xprivacy.options=ignoreselinux

(80) Why do I get 'Privacy service version mismatch' error?

When installed, XPrivacy has two parts: the Xposed module part and the application part. This error means the Xposed module part and the application part have different version numbers. If a reboot doesn't solve this problem, try disabling and then enabling XPrivacy in the Xposed installer, and reboot again.

(81) Why does restricting a category not restrict all of its functions? What are 'dangerous' functions?

Some functions are marked 'dangerous' (red background) because they frequently cause applications to crash when they are restricted. When a category is restricted, the 'dangerous' functions within this category will not be restricted. These functions can be restricted directly, if needed. Experienced users can change a 'dangerous' function into a normal function by long-clicking it in the default template. Usually, the restriction that caused an application to crash can be identified in the logcat. Again, restricting 'dangerous' functions is only recommended for experienced users and will cause crashes more frequently!

(82) Do whitelists override function restrictions?

Yes, whitelists always override function restrictions.

(83) Do whitelists override the 'Deny' button?

Yes, whitelists will always override the 'Deny' button.

(84) What does the 'Don't know' button do?

Nobody knows. That is why it has that name.

Actually, pressing 'Don't know' will, for 15 seconds, deny non-dangerous restrictions and allow dangerous restrictions.

For a non-dangerous restriction with a whitelist, the whitelist will always override the complete denial.

Support

Please read everything below first!

General

Do not use my personal or XDA e-mail for bug reports, feature requests, or questions.

It is okay to use my personal or XDA e-mail for things that cannot be shared in public, such as security reports.

There is only support for official XPrivacy releases.

There is no support for versions prior to the latest stable release.

It is already enough work to support the latest stable official version.

There is no support for XPrivacy on Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) or Jelly Bean anymore. There is limited support for XPrivacy on KitKat. Limited support means I will try to fix bugs, but only if it doesn't take much time.

I will not look into issues of applications that cost money or have root access.

There is no support for anything other than privacy (no support for game cheating, root cloaking, etc.)

Please check the limitations before reporting a bug, requesting a feature, or asking a question.

Bugs

First ask if other people have encountered the same bug! (see questions below)

If you encounter a bug, please create an issue.

Please describe the exact steps to reproduce the issue, including the wrong and expected result, and include information about your device type, and Android and XPrivacy versions.

To increase the chance I can find and fix the bug, please read here.

Include a logcat when relevant (use gist or a similar service). Try to keep the logcat as brief as possible, include just the crash/problem and a few dozen lines around it. I have looked into many long logcats in the past, too often without any result. Therefore I will not look into long logcats anymore.

One bug report per issue please!

Do not forget to enable XPrivacy debug logging using the settings menu!

Before submitting any issue, please make sure you are running the latest version of XPrivacy.

Before submitting any issue, please make sure XPrivacy is causing the problem by temporarily disabling XPrivacy and seeing if that resolves the issue.

Feature requests

If you have a feature request, please create an issue.

New features are only considered for implementation when requested on GitHub with a detailed description of the feature and only if there are ten +1's within two weeks. You can promote your feature request on XDA, but for a maximum of two times only. Feature requests promoted more than two times will be closed and not be considered for implementation anymore. See here for some more information.

Please read here before voting.

Implementation of new features is dependent on contributions to the XPrivacy project. Please read here for more information.

One feature request per issue please!

Questions

If you have any questions, please leave a message in the XDA XPrivacy thread. More people follow the support thread than the GitHub issue tracker, which increases your chance of receiving a helpful answer. Moreover, the answers given might be beneficial to more people than you alone.

Answering questions on XDA is left to the community. You can read here why.

For questions about Xposed, please use the Xposed XDA thread.

Please do not ask questions on GitHub!

GitHub issues are for bug reports and feature requests.

Changelog

The changelog is here.

Similar Solutions

The PDroid family provides fake or no data, more or less in the same way as XPrivacy does. A difference is that you need to patch Android and that there is (therefore) only limited stock ROM support. The PDroid family is open source. The PDroid family is not supported anymore.

LBE Privacy Guard revokes permissions, which will make some applications unusable. LBE Privacy Guard also features malware protection and data traffic control. Some consider the closed source code of Chinese origin to be a problem.

The members of the PDroid family and XPrivacy hardly use any memory, but LBE Privacy Guard does.

The CyanogenMod Incognito Mode seems not to be fine grained and provides only privacy for personal data, like contacts, if the associated content provider chooses to do so.

The Per App Settings Module revokes permissions like LBE Privacy Guard does. This modules offers many other interesting features.

The Android 4.3+ Permission Manager is like CyanogenMod Incognito Mode.

SRT AppGuard does not require root, and therefore revokes permissions by uninstalling the application to be monitored and reinstalling a modified version. Without a backup, application data will be lost in this process. Compared to XPrivacy, permission control is not as fine grained and comprehensive. System applications cannot be restricted.

After over a year of silence, the author of PDroid 2.0 released DonkeyGuard. DonkeyGuard is not open source.

XPrivacy can restrict more data than any of the above solutions, even for closed source applications and libraries, like Google Play services. Unlike any other solution, XPrivacy has crowd sourced restrictions.

I do not recommend using XPrivacy in combination with any of the similar solutions; this could result in conflicts and potential data leaks.

I need all my time developing XPrivacy, so I will not test XPrivacy alongside any of the similar solutions. If you test XPrivacy alongside any of the similar solutions, you can probably help others by reporting your test results.

In The Media

Contributing

Translations:

Current translations:

  1. Bulgarian (bg)
  2. Catalan (ca)
  3. Czech (cs)
  4. Croatian (hr)
  5. Danish (da)
  6. Dutch/Flemish (nl)
  7. English
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  10. Finnish (fi)
  11. French (fr)
  12. German (de)
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  18. Irish (ga)
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  26. Polish (pl)
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  28. Romanian (ro)
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  31. Simplified Chinese (zh-rCN)
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  41. Welsh (cy-rGB)

Restrict new data:

Using Eclipse:

Testing:

The goal of the XPrivacy project is to provide a free and open source privacy solution for Android to as many as possible people.

To keep XPrivacy maintainable, hooking into private/internal classes and methods is undesirable, since these vary considerably in different Android versions and are often customized/modified by manufacturers and custom ROM builders.

To prevent applications from crashing, fake data should be returned whenever possible. Empty values (null) should not be replaced by fake values to prevent misuse. The same applies to creating new fake data (for example, an account). There is no need to apply restrictions in situations where the user is presented a dialog first (for example, to pick an account). Setting data (in contrast to getting data) should never be restricted; this is outside the goal of XPrivacy.

Application-specific code is undesirable, because it could result in maintenance and support problems.

XPrivacy is intended to restrict applications, but is not intended to restrict Android itself (although this is often possible as a side effect).

See here for XPrivacy code metrics.

Please note that you agree to the license below by contributing, including the copyright.

License

GNU General Public License version 3

Copyright (c) 2013-2015 Marcel Bokhorst (M66B)

All rights reserved

This file is part of XPrivacy.

XPrivacy is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your discretion) any later version.

XPrivacy is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.

You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with XPrivacy. If not, see http://www.gnu.org/licenses/.