[85_305]

I just installed map my run since BlackBerry world doesn't have it. Are there any downsides to this? I've heard lots about android apps ruining or harming blackberries when sideloaded

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[SK122387]

I don't have a whole bunch but the worst I've experienced is less than stellar battery life.

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[jaydee5799]

they don't harm blackberries. They run constantly and use battery and memory.

[deadcowboy]

Does granting full permissions to Amazon's apps allow access to all of your information, or is the android runtime truly sandboxed?

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[anon(1852343)]

Does granting full permissions to Amazon's apps allow access to all of your information, or is the android runtime truly sandboxed?

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I think you have to grant all permissions to android apps as you dont get options to pick and choose permissions. Its all or nothing

Blackberry Passport running 10.3.2.798

[conite]

Does granting full permissions to Amazon's apps allow access to all of your information, or is the android runtime truly sandboxed?

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Sandboxing has nothing to do with permissions.

The Android code is prevented from accessing the protected parts of the OS itself, but if you permit apps full access to your contacts, file system, etc - then they can access those things.

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[deadcowboy]

Sandboxing has nothing to do with permissions.

The Android code is prevented from accessing the protected parts of the OS itself, but if you permit apps full access to your contacts, file system, etc - then they can access those things.

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So allowing Amazon's two baked-in apps to run on your BB10 handset with full permissions is a potential security risk (as it is out of your control what Amazon does with what information it has access to...which in some cases could be quite a lot).

Right? Seems rather silly to bake these into the OS to me. I wish we had gotten a native Amazon app store with permission management.

Welp, at least Android M will have permission management.

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[conite]

So allowing Amazon's two baked-in apps to run on your BB10 handset with full permissions is a potential security risk (as it is out of your control what Amazon does with what information it has access to...which in some cases could be quite a lot).

Right? Seems rather silly to bake these into the OS to me. I wish we had gotten a native Amazon app store with permission management.

Welp, at least Android M will have permission management.

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First off, the Amazon Appstore apps themselves are safe.

Second, we can get granular control over other apps if you download an Android permission manager app (android 4.3 was an anomaly as it allows more control over permissions - and that's the version of the BlackBerry Android Runtime). Although many Android apps may break if you deny them necessary permissions.
https://mega.co.nz/#!IJxl2SiS!6UwENs...OTPuLqslbRyIKg

Third, Blackberry Guardian vets Android apps when you install them.

Fourth, native apps could mine your data just as easily if you grant them permission as well.

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[deadcowboy]

Good point. But I only grant native apps the bare necessities, and even then, I sometimes just delete them if they want too much. It's not that I have any sensitive info on my phone, it's just the principle of it.

The way I see it, Amazon is a company that'd love to have your personal info. That's what the Fire Phone was all about.

What miffs me is that I can't retract permissions to the Amazon apps.

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[eyeb]

I don't mind Amazon apps, I use the tunein pro radio from it's app giveaway

what bothers me about amazon is that it needs to open amazon app to check that I'm logged in >.> if it didn't do this I would use more amazon apps but I dislike things "piggy" backing onto other programs, it's almost virus like to me. So I install what I want, then uninstall Amazon app lol, after that the apps cry about not having amazon, but I just keep pressing okay and warning goes away and app works

[85_305]

Merely installing an amazon app uses extra memory and battery??? Or actually using the app uses more memory and battery??

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[dlrogers81]

I don't use the Amazon app store, I use Snap and all of the Android apps I use all work fairly good on my Passport.

Sent from my Passport using Tapatalk

[dphjeff]

Sandboxing has nothing to do with permissions.

The Android code is prevented from accessing the protected parts of the OS itself, but if you permit apps full access to your contacts, file system, etc - then they can access those things.

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Let me ask, how do you turn off permission on Android apps? The only thing one can do is look at what each app accesses and either use them or delete them according to what permission one would like to give.

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[conite]

Let me ask, how do you turn off permission on Android apps? The only thing one can do is look at what each app accesses and either use them or delete them according to what permission one would like to give.

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I posted a link to an Android Permission manager above. Post#8

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[dphjeff]

I posted a link to an Android Permission manager above. Post#8

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Point taken, will try it. I'm thinking the majority will not work if one denies permission. Permissions are not something Android app developers won't things to be turned off. In the Google world it's like the wild wild west! Anything goes and suck as much info as they can.


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[anon(2325196)]

They're inefficient android programs that mostly suck. There are a limited few that are of good quality. Android 'apps' are like the wild west, shooting from the hip, and living by the seats of their pants.

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[Peter_Cincy]

Based on three months' experience, two things stand out:
1. Battery life issues. You really have to pay attention here, or you may start to see your battery drain for no good reason. It's enough to turn off the "run when minimized" option on most Android apps. I found at least one app - the Kindle reader - that I had to delete altogether as there was no way to stop the drain.
2. Amazon store apps are not always the most current versions, and updates don't necessarily show up through the store. I have installed several apps from Amazon that show updates through Snap. However, I always install from the Amazon store first, having the impression that the store is a safer, at least for BlackBerry, place than Snap. But I don't know if that's factually the case.

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[deadcowboy]

The inability to delete Amazon's baked-in apps or retract permissions makes for a potential security issue imo.

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[conite]

The inability to delete Amazon's baked-in apps or retract permissions makes for a potential security issue imo.

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Then don't install any Android apps, and sign out of Amazon Appstore app. Problem solved.

Personally I only install apps I trust - Android or otherwise.

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[Trauma Surgeon]

Running on android: insecure, uncontrolled, battery hogs.

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[Tim Heard]

The Amazon App Store may technically be "safe" but from my point of view, it definitely qualifies as malware.
It often turns itself on even if I have manually turned it off, and is clearly tracking elements of my behavior.
With respect to android apps obtained from the Amazon app store, I have uninstalled several for similar behavior and one for seeming to turn on other apps - all leading to huge battery drains on my phone.

First off, the Amazon Appstore apps themselves are safe.

Second, we can get granular control over other apps if you download an Android permission manager app (android 4.3 was an anomaly as it allows more control over permissions - and that's the version of the BlackBerry Android Runtime). Although many Android apps may break if you deny them necessary permissions.
https://mega.co.nz/#!IJxl2SiS!6UwENs...OTPuLqslbRyIKg

Third, Blackberry Guardian vets Android apps when you install them.

Fourth, native apps could mine your data just as easily if you grant them permission as well.

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[conite]

The Amazon App Store may technically be "safe" but from my point of view, it definitely qualifies as malware.
It often turns itself on even if I have manually turned it off, and is clearly tracking elements of my behavior.
With respect to android apps obtained from the Amazon app store, I have uninstalled several for similar behavior and one for seeming to turn on other apps - all leading to huge battery drains on my phone.

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The Amazon app provides services to other apps (in-app purchase mechanism for instance), and provides push notifications to the HUB. As a result, it must have active background services/processes running. It is not malware.

Many Android apps are similar in that they require running services in the background for notifications and other features.

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[Tim Heard]

How one defines what malware is or isn't is somewhat subjective.
It definitely diminishes the performance of the device, and it doesn't allow the user to limit it's permissions.
It's malware enough to me that I have decided (at least for now) to give up access to all the Android apps I downloaded from it so I could log out of it. (Since it's nearly impossible to uninstall it permanently.)

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[deadcowboy]

Then don't install any Android apps, and sign out of Amazon Appstore app. Problem solved.

Personally I only install apps I trust - Android or otherwise.

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How does signing out of the Amazon app store solve this? Permissions are still granted. Amazon still has access to my information. I'd have to reinstall my OS.

I'm worried on principle. This is definitely an issue that deserves some discussion. Not dismissal. Try thinking critically.

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[85_305]

WOW great info guys. Thank you very much.

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