yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] yadida08:
I uninstalled the 2 Xposed modules one by one and the problem still persisted.

So I ended up uninstalled Xposed install but nothing works ... I still encounter the same bug. I will put everything clean with my backup.

I'll make you a return.

Thank you
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] M66B:
I have just released

beta

version 0.43

It may take Google's servers a few hours to make this release available everywhere.

Besides some minor fixes and small improvements a connect timeout has been added for smoother connectivity transitions.
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] Droidphilev:
Hi

I do know about Faq #21 but this is not mentioned in the list there: :)

It would be nice to be able to export/import per app settings also. I flashed 3 roms on my device and exported the setting from the first rom. There is no way to import these into the app in another rom without ruining other VPN settings for this rom. Just an idea (i use this feature a lot in XP).
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] M66B:
Sorry, this will not be added.

If really needed, you can always edit the exported settings file.

Note that apps are properly mapped if you are importing on another device.
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] Droidphilev:
I already expect this answer. Will check if there's an easy way to edit the exported file. Thanks!
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] Primokorn:
VPNs are also a workaround against geo-blocking.

"increase your privacy". Too much general IMO. I would add keywords like ISP monitoring, mass surveillance, analytics, targeted advertising...
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] yadida08:
I confirm that Xposed is the cause of the bug encountered ...
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] Gerolianis:
Marcel, after returning from abroad, I wanted to confirm that VPN/S worked flawlessly all the time. EU roaming as well as non-EU roaming rules applied correctly. No more hiccups like I had encountered before. Great work!

I noticed however that tethered traffic passes VPN/S unfiltered and directly connects to internet. Is there a way to run that kind of traffic through VPN /S too?
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] M66B:
Unfortunately, that is not possible :(
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] Linuxephus™:
[MENTION=2799345]M66B[/MENTION]:

Glad to see you back in the Community and active once again. I hope the VPN/Sentry development goes well.

---------- Post added 10-24-2017 at 00:06 ---------- Previous post was 10-23-2017 at 23:44 ----------

Or better yet, dump both the Facebook and Messenger application and install Hermit from the Google Playstore. Works better, more secure, and performs the same functions without all of the overhead found in the Facebook/Messenger apps. themselves.
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] sulasno:
Hermit vs fella?
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] Linuxephus™:
In my humble opinion from personal experience, I would go with Hermit everytime as installation and use is free for any given website for the first two Lite Applications created.

P.s.- Best we continue this elsewhere to avoid further off topic discussion in the original author's thread.
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] M66B:
VPN/Sentry is near finished.

Did you try it already?
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] Linuxephus™:
Not as of yet. Finishing up some testing of several other sandboxed applications with a manually compiled version of Boxify MDM. However, I'll be more than glad to install for testing with feedback if you need more input via copy/pasting whatever given logging mechanism you have built into the application or direct input from personal use. Whichever suits your need for feedback.
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] M66B:
Feedback is very welcome. Log files are needed in case of trouble only.
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] M66B:
I have just released

beta

version 0.44

It may take Google's servers a few hours to make this release available everywhere.

This version integrates the 'about' dialog into the help and was compiled with NDK r16 beta 1.
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] Linuxephus™:
Roger that.

I'll download the newest Beta you speak of for testing after the Google Servers have saturated your newest upload. Though truth be known I usually blow through far more than 50/100MB a day (usually closer to 7GB).
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] M66B:
The idea is that you first try the app so you can see if it works for you and after that subscribe to the unlimited data usage plan.
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] Linuxephus™:
Correct. I had read that in the opening statement of yours. Despite my irrelevant comment of my own data usage. :good:
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] M66B:
Geo-blocking isn't supported, so that is why I don't want to make claims about it.

About the "increase your privacy": I don't want to raise too many red flags, so I have changed it into "increase your privacy by preventing monitoring, surveillance, etc"

Thanks for your suggestions and please let me know if you have more ideas.
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] Primokorn:
How could it be not supported? By its very nature, a VPN helps against geo-blocking.

Since our trafic uses a french server atm, we can load geo-blocked content for french IP addresses. :confused:
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] M66B:
Yes, I know, but what if the IP changes? And what if the IP geolocation changes? IP geolocation information is generally not very reliable. Since I don't control the IP address directly, I cannot support this. Moreover, evading geo-blocking could be considered illegal and I don't want to support illegal use cases.
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] Linuxephus™:
Too much work would be required to implement geo-blocking due to the very nature in which unique numerical identifiers are associated with the given hardware where the IP is assigned to that hardware for whatever given period of time in conjunction with the potential for that IP Address being listed with a geo-blocking list. Regardless of any alternative DNS Configurations should the IP Address be dynamically changed to a differing geo locality.

At least I believe I've explained that properly.
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] Primokorn:
I meant that OVH always provides french IP addresses so it doesn't matter if they change them. For instance, German users can watch geo-blocked videos on YouTube that can normally only be seen by french folks (based on the IP address).

However I understand it can be considered as illegal in some countries like China.
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] Linuxephus™:
True and understood in most case scenarios. However, if those same OVH Networks solely use a pool of IPV4 Addresses, does it not become a potential for those same addresses to saturate their given geo location assignments over a period of time?

Not to mention, the same principal would hold true nonetheless for use with VPN/Sentry's internal infrastructure.

Feel free to correct me on whatever point I might be incorrect upon however as I have not bothered to validate any of the recent statements I've made other than attempting to recall such correctly from memory.
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] sulasno:
What I need to know are the pros and cons of this app vs professional vpn since the cost are similar
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] M66B:
A firewall and more personal support I guess.
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] M66B:
I have just released

beta

version 0.45

It may take Google's servers a few hours to make this release available everywhere.

Besides a few minor improvements, this version caches DNS responses for the VPN server addresses for smoother connectivity transitions.
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] Droidphilev:
Hi

Dear Marcel, erlier i was trying to search what "alway-on" specifically does. I came on this webpage:

https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/forum/discussion/18700/android-how-to-use-allways-on-vpn

Because i thought this page would have other interesting info i went to their homepage. It seems to be another vpn service. Still their homepage showed the French IP and provider but also that i'm "not safe". You have any idea what they mean by that?

Please keep in mind that i wasn't looking for an alternative at all!
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] Primokorn:
All VPN providers will tell you that you are not safe until you use their own service :)

Go to BlackVPN website and you'll get the same result.
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] M66B:
I have always considered PIA a reliable VPN provider, but I am changing my mind about this right now, because saying you are not safe this way is a plain lie. It is based on nothing else than your IP address, internet provider, location (likely derived from the IP address), the browser, the OS and the screen resolution you are using. With this data only you simply cannot say if you are safe or not.

Actually, they are seeing the IP address of the VPN server, which is just proof VPN/Sentry works okay.
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] M66B:
So, you know what is coming: I will soon block all ports, except port 80 (http) and 443 (https) for the free plan. This does not apply to the unlimited data usage plan. This means for example that sending and receiving email will not be possible with the free plan anymore.

As a reminder: violating the terms of service, for example using BitTorrent, will result in a permanent ban. There are already a few automatic checks in place for this.
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] RBJ26:
I'm not sure what changed between version 43-45, but when I updated from 43 to 45 It was crashing, causing bootloops.

Once I restored version 40 ( the only version I had backed up with titanium backup) all is good again. I tried this twice, so it's confirmed.

Near as I can tell, it's likely linked to xprivacy, as that crashed as well.

Device is Samsung Note 8 running Reservation Remix 5.7.4

Android 6.0.1
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] M66B:
It is highly unlikely that an app like VPN/Sentry causes a reboot.

Check for InetAddress restrictions in XPrivacy.
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] RBJ26:
Once I update to version 45,

System is so unstable, it's difficult to do anything, as it crashes and reboots. So I'm unable to access xprivacy at all.

When I uninstall ver45, and restore ver 40, System works fine. Xprivacy asks for the usual permissions for Sentry/VPN, and all is normal.
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] M66B:
Beta version 0.45 uses a few extra Android APIs, like the already suggested InetAddress (to resolve and cache domain names). This is normal app behavior. If the system reboots because of this, either Xposed or XPrivacy (or maybe other modules) is unstable.
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] RBJ26:
OK, any way I can get version 43 back, or am I stuck on version 40?
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] M66B:
Like with all my apps, only the latest version is supported. Besides that, version 43 will be the minimum version supported by the server soon. This is because the security certificate will change, which is needed to run multiple servers. So, you'll have to find a real solution for this problem.
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] RBJ26:
I understand.

Since I don't see a solution to this other then disabling xprivacy, I guess I'm stuck on ver40 for this device.

Disappointed, but so it goes when you have an older device.
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] Droidphilev:
Ouch, ok. This will be the end for me. :( :(

I do have a problem with 0.45 though: earlier i tried PMP (you know, the closed source privacy app) to check out what this app does. I removed it after a bit. Today i installed a banking app and in it's list there is the URL of protectmyprivacy.org among other URL's that i can't believe this app would contact. Is it possible that the update messed with a log or something?
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] M66B:
I am sorry you have to suffer from people misusing the service.

Can you please provide a screenshot of this?

Edit: did you uninstall PMP while VPN/Sentry was disabled?
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] Droidphilev:
screenshots sent.

I cannot answer that. I do know that that PMP thing was uninstalled yesterday (while i updated Sentry today)
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] M66B:
Thanks for the screenshots.

I have already found and fixed the problem: the app log wasn't properly cleared on uninstalling an app.
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] M66B:
To be clear: this has nothing to do with the age of your device.

VPN/Sentry supports Android 5.0 and later for all devices.
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] RBJ26:
Understood.

Just want to mention that I tried disabling VPN\sentry in xprivacy, tried to upgrade to 45, and had many apps crash, machine went into an unrecoverable bootloop.

I had to wipe and restore complete twrp backup to fix.

I'm open to suggestions to try and fix this, and even if you won't support ver43, I'd like to have it so I can keep using the service.
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] M66B:
I have no other suggestion than to disable XPrivacy.
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] RBJ26:
OK, For me xprivacy is a must have.

I'll keep using VPN/sentry until it no longer functions and go back to Netguard.

Anyway, great app, and I enjoyed testing it.

Cheers.
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] M66B:
I have just released

beta

version 0.47

This version fixes removing the app log on uninstalling an app and adds an option to be notified after installing a new app.
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] M66B:
Actually, it might be the end of the project. Yesterday I had legal counseling and the conclusion was that it is difficult to protect myself against legal trouble resulting from people misusing the service for illegal and/or criminal purposes. Blocking not allowed traffic is already difficult for big companies, so that is not a feasible option and then I am not even speaking about the privacy-related consequences. The problem is that even when I am completely innocent, defending myself against claims costs serious money. If you need examples, search for what happened to some people running a TOR exit node.

As a result, I am considering to remove VPN/Sentry from the Play store (this seems to be the only way to stop renewing of existing subscriptions as well) and to keep it for private use only. Maybe I will try to sell the product to one of the big VPN providers.
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] Droidphilev:
:( :( :( :(
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] dantheman78:
That sucks :(

Another possible way to mitigate the legal risk could be to make a simplified "single user" server that was super easy to deploy on different VPS providers and only charge for the application like Netguard. I've been working on a project that I've been using as an alternative to VPN/Sentry (https://github.com/dan-v/dosxvpn) that is just really a VPN + DNS adblocking with a very simple installer.

Anyways, just a thought. I hope you figure out a way to monetize all your hard work; it's a super cool project.
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] M66B:
If monetizing is the goal, then I don't believe this is a solution, because it will reduce the user base significantly. In my experience, most people want free stuff only anyway. Less than one percent of the VPN/Sentry users are paying users for example, even though the service is severely limited to 50 MB per day. I have made this project paid mainly to get rid of often too demanding and even unreasonable free version users.
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] Droidphilev:
I wonder: was there any misuse from paid users or only from free users? I'm a free user also but if you would make it paid only (so nothing free) i would pay for the service.
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] M66B:
Paid users can misuse the service too, so this doesn't really matter.
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] Primokorn:
Pinch me! It must be a nightmare and I'm gonna wake up...

As already said VPN/Sentry is a masterpiece. I finally have a tool to monitor and control my Internet connections!

Is there still hope or is it a losing battle?
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] dantheman78:
If you are trying to get rid of the free version users anyways, this seems like a reasonable approach to me. If you wanted it to be more cohesive, you could even build the VPN server deployment into the app itself. At first startup, you need to deploy your own server, pick a VPS, and then VPN server gets deployed into the users account.
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] Droidphilev:
Hi,

I cannot imagine that there is no way to protect yourself from what paid users do. It's like selling a Porsche and be responsible afterwards if the driver has an accident or drives to fast and gets caught. :( This also means that these big VPN companies are all paying for misuses of their thousands of users.

I'm not a lawyer though.
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] M66B:
Unfortunately, it is a lost battle I am afraid.
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] M66B:
In the Netherlands, a company director is personally liable for criminal/illegal activities (s)he knows of. Since in this case, you know that the service can be misused and you can, theoretically, prevent such misuse, you are personally liable. I am not willing to take this risk with an uncertain revenue since it could cost me a lot of money.
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] Droidphilev:
I see and understand. Let's wait for what you decide now.
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] Gerolianis:
Bummer :(
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] M66B:
What will happen is this: next weekend I will pull VPN/Sentry from the Play store, so everybody can update to the latest version in the mean time, and in about a month I will let the hired server expire, so everybody can use what (s)he has paid for. Furthermore, I will set the server to not accept new clients anymore. Too bad, but I see no other solution.
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] Droidphilev:
Very sad but all respect for the decision. It was too good to be true.
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] Loader009:
That's really sad...

I was/am offline since monday because of some internet problem. (That's why I still haven't updated the app, guess I should do it anyway, with my very slow mobile connection.)

Then hearing this... now I have to look for another VPN service but none of them will be the same.

I did wonder if you were able to come against illegal stuff and if you can protect yourself from it... I hoped that you would've been able to protect yourself without too much problems. But yeah, only bigger companies are able to do that.

I hope you will name the VPN services to which you will sell your program to.
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] Primokorn:
Probably the most useful app I've ever used since XPrivacy. What a shame!

Hope you will find new great projects to work on.
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] Linuxephus™:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but should your legal counsel not have warned you that you are not in fact providing a service that is specific to an entity that can legally be classified as a Company, nor a Director in lieu of said Company by the very nature of not having registered a Tradedmark or Copyright for a service product (even as provided) locally or internationally for incorporation? Yet as a Developer providing software, which in turn provides a means to a service (even as provided) not classified as an entity that falls within incorporated jurisdiction locally or internationally. Legal counsel should also have informed you to simply update your Terms Of Service to reflect this on an "as is, not liable for services used" (legally interpreted as -not liable for abuse/misuse of services- since you do not *own* any server used to host your service) clause which supersedes local Netherland law for Internationally applicable law in the stead considering the majority of Users, be they trial users or subscribed users, use servers for the nonincorporated service offshore. Viz., your software provides a similar service related to VPN usage is similar to other Developers providing software as a service who are not incorporated and thus not held liable for potential misuse of any kind. Notwithstanding the fact also the point in which your software as a service is hosted/provided offshore (Google Playstore as one factual example) for International use freely with an available subscription for those who so choose. Reference Groklaw for precedence on liability litigation.
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] IronRoo:
No!!! That is bad news, so sorry to hear this especially after your hard work. Hope you can at least sell this.

I'm no lawyer but I do feel like it would be worth getting a 2nd opinion as advice doesn't seem right to me.
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] M66B:
Different developers develop different software. Different lawyers give different advice. I accept this, but it doesn't change I don't want to take the risk. Even if you are right, defending yourself costs serious money.

BTW: your example is a good example: it seems like Groklaw didn't stop voluntarily ...
[Paid Software Announcement and Discussion] Linuxephus™:
And these same developers who develope differing software similar to yours of which I speak, have to this very point in time, be it by EU Law or any other internationally recognized authority pursuant to said law advocacy, yet to be held accountable solely upon the criminal acts of another whilst in the use of their distributed software. And while lawyers give differing advice, *good* lawyers give sound counsel on the merit of knowing what they are giving counsel about. While a simple lawyer may give advice to err on the side of caution due to an unfamiliarity with the subject material on a broad spectrum or simply upon the merit of not being contracted to defend the one seeking advice.

P.s.-Groklaw ceased operations after discovering government surveillance spanning a specific period of time that lead to Ms. Pamela Jones concluding that continuing their particularly specialized set of services (used on numerous occasions by numerous entities to win litigation cases against larger corporate interests) was no longer a viable endeavor leading to the site being archived and no longer operational versus being forcibly shutdown by way of corporate legalese.

All of this being stated: The advice you received was based more upon the absolute slightest *potential* of accountability (what if) versus a realistic scenario where such can be expected (not what if, but when). You provide quite the valuable services to the Community at large. The Majority that comprises the Community benefits from the very endeavors you strive so diligently to provide. It would be a waste and a disservice to yourself and the very Community you serve to simply cease this particular service based upon an unrealistic potential. Should that potential be more of a certainty, that would be a matter more understandable. Yet in this case, it is simply not so my friend. Be that as it may, I and most reading this would urge you to seek a second opinion. Even to the point of speaking with XDA's own available counsel (yes, they have legal counsel available for contact) if they happen not to be the ones you originally spoke with in determining your original decision to cease and desist.