yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[JAMin, XDA Neo, S200 ROM Development] alsufary:
oooh yes its work now Thanks:):D
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] catapp:
This launcher app appeared in my update list (Idol 6045i, 5.5). Since it is not currently on my phone it is not really an update. Notice -there is no uninstall option.

Read a bunch of reviews - most were bad, very bad - and once it's on your phone you can't get rid of it so be warned!

It is pushed out by Alcatel.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Drevenu:
My dad's pop4 plus got it too, and it's annoying as hell.

I hope somebody comes up with a way to remove it soon , or even better, a whole ROM fo the phone.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] OndraLu2:
It brought lots of adware (bloatware) I tried to get rid of it but all settings of the desktop are now gone. I have to setup my settings again.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] HolisticSteve:
Form of malware

Same happened to my 3 family Alcatel phones this week. I didn't ask for this forced 'update', don't want it and it has totally destroyed my desktop, contacts and all shortcuts. I phoned Alcatel and complained that they don't offer an uninstall option and what they have done is, without permission, hijacked my phone.

They said they would look into it, but I am not convinced.

Will never get Alcatel again
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] catapp:
I didn't install it on my phone and it disappeared from my update list quite awhile ago.

I don't allow automatic updates. That is crucial. I choose what updates to install.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] titaniummitch:
Joy Launcher problem

I was able to swipe down from the top, I went into settings, to Apps, to Joy Launcher. I tried Force Stop & it didn't work. I then hit the 3 vertical buttons at upper right of screen. I then hit Uninstall Updates. This allowed me to get my screen back. It also returned my homescreen to factory settings. I had to add whatever icons I wanted to the homescreen. Note, I am not tech savvy but this gave me back my functional use of my cell phone.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] NunyaBi:
Same here, I will never get Alcatel ever again because of this joy launcher crap
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] titaniummitch:
Update: Joy Launcher returned. I repeated above actions & it again returned. On Joy Launcher I denied permissions and for a 3d time it took over my screen. I again repeated above actions and this time I was asked if I wanted to replace Joy Launcher with the factory settings. I clicked on yes and I again got my normal screen back. I don't know if Joy Launcher will return again, I'm waiting...
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Moscow Desire:
Are we sure this is Alcatel pushing this launcher? Or perhaps this is bundled with some other type software that persistently re-activates it.

This used to be a common practice for dev's of one program, to get extra revenue by bundling it with their own.

I myself havent installed the most recent update as I feel no need to at this time. I'm currently trying to get rid of that silly "File Manager" that just all of a sudden decided it needed to run actively! :eek:
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] titaniummitch:
Thank you for commenting. As I previously wrote, I'm not very tech savvy.

I don't factually know that it comes from .Alcatel but since 8/14 this keeps returning. I haven't downloaded any new apps. I cannot use the phone until I figure out how to delete the Joy Launcher message from my screen. I refuse to allow the program's permission requests. I wrote to Alcatel on 8/14 & they gave me a case #. They haven't yet addressed the complaint.

Today it returned again yet it wasn't listed as 1 of my apps. I went into apps - permissions & I denied all permissions. Joy Launcher had some permissions even though it didn't appear on my list of apps. After I denied permissions I restarted the phone & it was gone. The problem is that it keeps returning. I don't know how to stop this from being re-installed.

Sorry you are having trouble with the File Manager, I haven't yet experienced problems.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] TheMadScientist:
On another site 1 guy claims he installed another launcher then used all in one toolbox to disable at startup
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] TheMadScientist:
http://download.cnet.com/Joy-Launcher/3000-20432_4-77527969.html

It does seem to be an alcatel app
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Moscow Desire:
No problem mate. Been dealing with OEM crap since the HTC Desire days.

They put this stuff on for several reasons.

1) To give the device a unique feel different from other manufacturers

2) They get money from the developers of said applications to help for a larger profit margin

3) (and the 1 I think is the winner) They let their spouses or partners chose an app "cuz it's cute"

In actuality it's #1 and 2.

If you are rooted, try this app out from the play store. It's what I use.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jumobile.manager.systemapp&hl=en

You can find all the apk's and "com.xxxxx.xxxxx" files. Ya should be able to locate that joy launcher easily. My guess it's re-installing from a couple locations.

As with that Alcatel File Manager, I use ES File Explorer or Root Explorer. I don't like the idea of a program running in memory like File Explorer does. U can tell cause it leaves icons on the notification bar. So I deleted it.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] titaniummitch:
No Joy, (contiunued)

Thanks for the suggestion, Mad Scientist, I'll look into the toolbox. It returned last night and I followed Moscow Desire's advice on preventing automatic updates. I had to search how to do prevent automatic updates, I didn't know I could disable them. I managed to accomplish disabling the auto updates. At some point the screen asked me "Do you want to replace with factory version" & I clicked on yes.

I hope I'm not violating protocol by going into lengthy detail. The inability to use my phone is frustrating. I'm writing about my attempts in case I succeed in regaining control of the phone & maybe my experience could be useful to somebody else. Thanks for the input & guidance.

---------- Post added at 03:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:54 PM ----------

I like your #3.

I appreciate your generous assistance. This app remover might be the answer. I'll wait and if my refusing auto updates (done last night) doesn't solve the problem then I'll download this app remover.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] TheMadScientist:
Not at all thats what we are here for. I'm trying to make mine better too just like you.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] tangodoll:
Hello All, I too was the victim of the rotten Joy Launcher. I think I have now stopped it and now we have a happy Alcatel cell phone.

I did a lot of things, but basically - sorry do not have the cell to hand.

I uninstalled Joy Launcher (from version 7.0 to version 5??) and clicked on Force Stop. Then I uninstalled Updates (from version 7.0 to version 5??) and clicked on Force Stop.

Within Play Store, I selected 'do not install when connected to Wireless' and 'manual install'.

There is one last 'manual install' option which I think is within settings.

The octopus is gone and Joy Launcher doesn't bug me anymore. Yippee!
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] sprocketgearzz:
Update it from Apkmirror site , you will find latest update ver 7.0.1.0.823 . It seems that play store removed it .
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] HolisticSteve:
Response from Alcatel

As I mentioned in my earlier post I emailed Alcatel support. They did not respond so I wrote again, this was my email:

Subject:

Your malware - Joy Launcher

Message:

I have 3 pop4 Alcatel phones. You have forced an installation and update of 'Joy launcher' via Google Playstore.

It has totally removed all of my existing desktop, with its contacts, accounts and shortcuts, etc, which took months of usage and setting up. All is now wasted and lost.

I did not ask for this rubbish program. I do not want it. You have forced it on to me. You have deleted and corrupted my data without my permission.

I have made formal complaints to my network provider as I am most disappointed and angry with Alcatel and will certainly make my thoughts known, because this application is a form of malware.

=====================

I received a response today from Alcatel which was:

Dear customer,

Thank you for contacting us.

Regarding your issue, to deactivate Joy Launcher you need to connect to the internet ( wi-fi network) and a rollback that will remove the Octopus/Spider or any other such annoying features will set in.

What you will also need to do is to go to the settings and then to apps. There you will need to search for the joy launcher and then to click on it and if you see 3 vertical dots, please click on it and then unisntall updates(if not just disable it and uninstall it from the play store).

After you do this, please go to the play store and click on the 3 orizontal lines and settings-> auto-update and click on do not do auto-updates.

We also recommend to get a new launcher from the play store and set it as default in order to fix this.

Please consider rebooting your device if the change doesn't come through.

===

I though I ought to pass this 'fix' on in case it assists anyone. In any event, I will certainly not get an Alcatel phone again because of what they have done. I hate this type of intrusion with software/bloatware which constantly eats your data with spurious and dangerous ads and peaking at your data.

Good luck

Steve
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] bubbleguuum:
The amount of bloatware (some of which is borderline malware) that has been silently installed since 6.0 is appalling. It renders the phone super sluggish.

If your phone is rooted you can uninstall most of it (at least Joy Launcher, File Manager and Weather) using a root system app remover.

Anything in the com.tct package namespace is a candidate for being eradicated.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] HolisticSteve:
How to root Alcatel Pop4 - 5051x

Yes, bloatware is verging on being criminal as the device has the memory stolen from it.

Thanks for informing me that rooting would allow me to get rid of unwanted stuff. The only problem is that I don't know how to do this. I have read different forums and followed numerous links but I have not found a step by step (idiots guide) to root my Alcatel pop4 (5051x) Android 6.0.1

If there is one specifically for that phone I would gratefull for assistance as I do not want to brick my device.

Thanks in advance

ps: I spent ages trying to prove I am not a robot and was about to give it up as a bad job. Is this normal or just me? For example when it asks for street signs does that include picture of the poles only holding the street signs above...? It just goes on and on. I suppose I need a guide to that now !
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] TheMadScientist:
Guys might check for carrier iq on some of these devices. Sprint and verizon is bad for it.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] sloshnmosh:
I've made 5 phone calls to Alcatel regarding this garbage.

Now it seems they think they are "security" experts by adding an "antivirus" feature to an unwanted toolbar that was recently pushed out without my permission.

The toolbar also posts ads (One of which was for "Plenty 'O fish" dating service)

I asked for technical details about this so called "antivirus" program such as where they get their virus signatures, are they heuristic, signature or cloud based and where is all the details of the scan being sent.

The agent claims it cannot interact with any third party apps but I know for a fact that it uses access tokens for Facebook.

I don't know (yet) whether it uses the users Facebook authetication tokens or their own generic.

I also requested to view any personal information that Alcatel has of mine as per their "privacy" policy and have'nt gotten a response yet.

As per their "privacy" policy, Alcatel does NOT consider the users language, location. gender, occupation and unique phone ID, etc, etc personal information!

I was given the same lame advice from Alcatel to disable automatic updates.

I told them that users are advised to have automatic updates enabled so that security and performance updates can be made to apps and that it is a bunch of BS that we need to disable automatic updates because our own device manufacturer is now pushing out adware and possible spyware.

I am curious if we can start a class action over this?
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Not happy:
Complaint confirmed on Alcatel hardware, the pre loaded 'Files' app auto updates to " File Manager" which is not properly named as the boost app and overides the expected android user settings to take over the screen and push advertising.

It auto updates, displays on screen dispite android settings not allowing it. The official response is to uninstall "File Manager" to the factory 'Files' app and turn off ALL updates via the playstore (doing so via the default 'updates' app gets over ridden to push the update again). Seems to have a delay before being triggered again like a virus.

I purchased hardware in good faith that the "Android" advertising and logo was just that, instead the 'Android' brand has been tainted by a bundled rouge provider app 'Files' to push on screen apps and advertising (most likely to the highest bidder) and for an app never included in the original purchase. Nowhere was it stated that Android was adapted with the ability of side loading unknown and future software with manufacturer descretion or that my data, battery, privacy screen and anything else root permissions s can accomplish could be held to ransom without opting in (standard practice which is now void across the entire operating system).

This is a security, privacy, consumer and false advertising complaint that affects the whole android echo system because of a single bad actor, if allowed will see more Android consumers dupped.

I'm ready for this hardware to hit the wall and move elsewhere because it is not only morally wrong it is also questionable illegal. The ball is in Androids court so I will remain optimistic for a short while.

Please allow the playstore to dissalow individual apps to combat these rouge and unwanted installs and android to tighten down on provider permissions to combat rouge manufactures taking advantage via side loading new applications via root permissions.

ATM we have no control over our hardware purchase unless we root to remove adapted android installs with bad intentions / money grabbing from clients. This double dipping greed is seen on my end as an Android exploit not safe to use untill it is properly plugged.

Untill then an uninstall method is much needed
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] bubbleguuum:
Still the best solution to this issue is to root the device and remove the offending TCL system apps with a root system app remover app. Phone runs normally and a tad better after that. You can unroot after you removed these apps. And yes, TCL is to blame pushing this absolute crapware to our devices.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Not happy:
One thing I failed to mention is the side loaded boost app not only fails to adhere to android settings but is installed via the Google playstore without user confirmation for a total new app install, seems to install via MY account without my knowledge or acceptance. Meaning the 'Files' bloatware / Timebomb has un warranted control over both Android and my playstore account.

When Android is advertised on a hardware box I now fail to see a way to properly determine if it is an evil adaptation of android or the real thing.

The question I now have is are my account log in details that are stored on Android secure from a augmented version of Android. Playstore isn't so what other data security leakage do I need to worry about on this supplied version of Android.

Also did the 'Files' app actually spoof another apps playstore details to then spoof the newly installed boost app as a misleading "File Manager" install. Seems to not attract that much security talk for what it is actually capable of doing with system access to a lot of 'secure" stuff.

My phone is being controlled by a C&C server which has taken control of the Android OS, I would like a security fix.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] sloshnmosh:
Actually Hawk app studios that created the "Hawk Super Clean/antivirus" is owned by TCL

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TCL_Corporation

Here are the cold hard facts about our weaponized file manager thus far......

--------------------------------------------------------

It is capable of sending and receiving HTTP-based network requests.

It is loaded with "analytic" engines.

It has advertising SDK's built in (obviously)

It is tied to Facebook in a BIG way and uses access tokens and Facebook user profiles.

(probably why there were still some Facebook engines using up my data even after I had deleted the factory installed Facebook app)

It is also tied to Twitter and may be capable of #HASHTAG

It also servers up ads from our "friends" at Google.

There appears to be some "scanning" abilities as well with Bluetooth and wifi

This is getting all too disturbing!

---------------------------------------------------

#Edited to remove mention of McAfee as McAfee and (possibly Intel) were only part of the official Hawk app and not part of the modified Alcatel apps.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] vugglespeter:
Solved!

My family's Pop 4s have been sabotaged by Joy Launcher (and worse, File Manager). I've managed to uninstall these off our phones. Spent ages following false leads with Google links until I found this one:

hardreset.info/devices/alcatel/alcatel-pop-4-plus/faq/tips-tricks/how-to-manage-auto-updates-in-android/

Turned off auto updates as in first example then followed the second example for Joy Launcher but pressed the 'Uninstall' button at step 4. Repeated the process for File Manager then switched ff the phone and rebooted it.

Problem solved. Neither bloats showing in the loaded apps after 2 days and no rubbish coming any more.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] sloshnmosh:
Adevertising SDK's

Let me try and put this privacy/security nightmare into perspective....

Having streaming advertising SDK's built into a SYSTEM app like our "File Manager" or "Joy Launcher" with every single permission under the sun requested in their manifest XML files is EXTREMELY dangerous from a security/privacy standpoint.

There are numerous studies out there regarding this as well as many exploits that an attacker or unscrupulous advertiser can use to compromise an Android device that has an app that serves up advertisements.

When this app is a SYSTEM app the level of exploitation increases exponentially!

Here is just one of several websites that examine this problem: https://www.mwrinfosecurity.com/our-thinking/ad-network-research/
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mrcorey:
This launcher and the behaviour of Alcatel with other system apps has forced me to root so I can remove them

sent from a phone running a ROM
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] sloshnmosh:
Unfortunately, having ROOT access comes with it's own security/privacy issues as well.

You must be VERY careful which apps are running on a phone with the inherent security of Android removed by granting the user and applications SUPERUSER privileges.

I have seen apps in the Google Play Store that had SUPERUSER permissions in the AndroidManifest.xml for no apparent reason.

(The AllCast app being one.)

AllCast works perfectly fine for casting videos on stock/non-rooted devices so you have to wonder why it would request this broad sweeping permission.

Apps with SUPERUSER capabilities may be able to override settings as well as access directories/files they normally were denied by file permissions.

http://www.linfo.org/root.html

I highly suggest to everyone using Android to examine the applications they run on their devices.

At the VERY least read and understand what permissions they request.

Use a tool such as 7zip to decompress an .APK and view the MANIFEST even with Windows Notepad if you must to see the requested permissions as well as take a peek in the ASSETS folder for clues.

You can also use a decent HEX editor to view the classes,dex files for even more clues.

If something looks suspicious you can go further by decompiling the app with APKtool and other opensource tools.

Here is a link to a Linux Distro designed just for mobile forensics: https://santoku-linux.com/

It comes with APKtool and jdGUI for app decompiling as well as MITMproxy for examining what data is being sent out of a device over WIFI.

Flashing tools, image carvers, Autopsy etc.

(I suggest running this distro only as a virtual machine. Some of the tools in this Linux disk use outdated Java SDK's)
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] alannicholas@cox.net:
This works!

This solution works! Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:cool:
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] nyh:
A working solution, and some additional notes

I got the same "Joy Launcher" crap update, and also similarly crap updates for "File Manager" and Weather app. These apps seem to have criminal intent - they add ads (!) to your homepage, ads in notifications from the file manager, and other suspicious crap. However, the *do* come from Alcatel, not some imposter!

Getting rid of all of them is fairly easy, after you were bitten: Open Google Play app, search "Joy Launcher", see it's installed and click "uninstall". This will not really uninstall this built-in app, but will remove the "updated" version and replace it by the factory installed version, which was sane and ad-free. Then - and this step is important - press on the extra options button at the top for this app and check the "do not automatically update" checkbox. If you forget to do this, the ****ty version of Joy Launcher will come back tomorrow, when Google checks for updates again!

There is one sad snag to this procedure: Since you're basically re-installing your launcher, all your launcher setup, and most importantly, the list of apps on your home screens, will be gone and you'll need to set them up again. Consider taking screenshots of all your home screens if the order of the icons is important to you (I took this as an opportunity to put much fewer apps on my home screen ;)).

Finally, there is another interesting thing to note. It appears that Alcatel is sending this **** at waves, aimed at different devices. On my Alcatel Idol 3 4.7" I got the crappy "Joy Launcher" update a few months ago already. My children, with the 5.5" version of Alcatel Idol, only got it this week. When I search on my 4.7" device "Joy Launcher" in Google Play, I can't even find this app. When I look on the Web Site, I see the "Joy Launcher - Live wallpaper" app does exist, but marked "incompatible" with my TCL 6039S (that's the 4.7" version of the Alcatel Idol 3).

Alcatel, shame on you for doing this.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Stoutwoman:
You can't uninstall, but you can roll back the "updates" to the app and choose to set another launcher as default. Unfortunately, the damthing will reappear the next day, and you will once again have to rebuild your desktop. The only way to keep Joy Launcher off the phone is to disable updating entirely. Drastic, but it will have to do until I can get a better phone.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] sloshnmosh:
So, the "infected" Alcatel apps all have signed certificates signed by THIS guy: http://www.ece.northwestern.edu/~haohong/

Send him an email to let him know how upset you are like I just did.

No sense in wasting time talking to "Customer support", go right to the person that put his name on this garbage.