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2 changed files with 172 additions and 72 deletions
153
FAQ.md
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153
FAQ.md
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NetGuard
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========
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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--------------------------------
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<a name="FAQ1"></a>
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**(1) Can NetGuard completely protect my privacy?**
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No - nothing can completely protect your privacy.
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NetGuard will do its best, but it is limited by the fact it must use the VPN service.
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This is the trade-off required to make a firewall which does not require root access.
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The firewall can only start when Android "allows" it to start,
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so it will not offer protection during early boot-up (although your network may not be loaded at that time).
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It will, however, be much better than nothing, especially if you are not rebooting often.
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If you want to protect yourself more, you can (at least in theory) disable Wi-Fi and mobile data before rebooting,
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and only enable them on reboot, after the firewall service has started (and the small key icon is visible in the status bar).
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Thanks @[pulser](https://github.com/pulser/)
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<a name="FAQ2"></a>
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**(2) Can I use VPN applications while using NetGuard?**
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If the VPN application is using the [VPN service](http://developer.android.com/reference/android/net/VpnService.html),
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then no, because NetGuard needs to use this service. Android allows only one application at a time to use this service.
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<a name="FAQ3"></a>
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**(3) Can I use NetGuard on any Android version?**
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No, the minimum required Android version is 5.0 (Lollipop) because NetGuard uses the [addDisallowedApplication](http://developer.android.com/reference/android/net/VpnService.Builder.html#addDisallowedApplication(java.lang.String))
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method.
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<a name="FAQ4"></a>
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**(4) Will NetGuard use extra battery power?**
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No, unlike most of the similar closed source alternatives.
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<a name="FAQ5"></a>
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**(5) Can you add selective allowing/blocking applications/IP addresses?**
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Unfortunately, this is not possible without using significant battery power
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and adding complex code to do network translation from OSI layer 3 to layer 4
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(and thus implementing a TCP/IP stack), which will inevitably introduce bugs as well.
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This is how most (perhaps all) other no-root firewalls work.
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NetGuard is unique, because it doesn't implement a TCP/IP stack, and is therefore both highly efficient and simple.
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||||
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||||
For more advanced use cases, rooting your device and using an iptables based firewall,
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like [AFWall+](https://github.com/ukanth/afwall), might be a better option and will not sacrifice any battery power.
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<a name="FAQ6"></a>
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**(6) Will NetGuard send my internet traffic to an external (VPN) server?**
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No. It cannot even do this because NetGuard does not even have *internet* permission.
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<a name="FAQ7"></a>
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**(7) Why are applications without internet permission shown?**
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Internet permission can be granted with each application update without user consent.
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By showing all applications, NetGuard allows you to block internet access *before* such an update occurs.
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<a name="FAQ8"></a>
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**(8) What do I need to enable for the Google Play Store to work?**
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You need 3 packages (applications) enabled (use search in NetGuard to find them quickly):
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* com.android.vending
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* com.google.android.gms
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* com.android.providers.downloads
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Since the Google Play Store has a tendency to check for updates or even download them all by itself (even if no account is associated),
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one can keep it in check by enabling "*Allow when device in use*" for all 3 of these packages.
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Click on the down arrow on the left side of an application name and check that option,
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but leave the network icons set to red (hence blocked).The little human icon will appear for those packages.
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By doing this, you can still open the Google Play Store and update/install/uninstall applications since it will have internet access,
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but once you close it, it will not use any bandwidth.
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<a name="FAQ9"></a>
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**(9) Why is the VPN service being restart?**
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The VPN service will be restarted when you turn the screen on or off and when connectivity changes (Wi-Fi, mobile)
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to apply the rules with the conditions '*Allow when screen is on*' and '*Block when roaming*'.
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<a name="FAQ10"></a>
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**(10) Will you provide a Tasker plug-in?**
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If disabling NetGuard is allowed to Tasker, any application can disabled NetGuard too.
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Allowing to disable a security application from other applications is not a good idea.
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<a name="FAQ12"></a>
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**(12) Can you add on demand asking to block/allow access?**
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Besides that this requires questionable Android permissions,
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it is not possible to implement this, given the way NetGuard works.
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For more details, see [question 5](#FAQ5).
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<a name="FAQ13"></a>
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**(13) How can I remove the ongoing NetGuard entry in the notification screen?**
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* Long click the NetGuard notification
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* Tap the 'i' icon
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* Depending on your device and/or ROMs manufacturer software customisations, you can be directed to either:
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* the **App Info** screen and you can uncheck '*Show notifications*' and agree to the next dialog
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* the **App Notifications** screen and you can toggle the '*Block*' slider to on
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Note that, whether or not you get a dialog warning to agree upon, this operation will disable any warning notifications from NetGuard as well.
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<a name="FAQ14"></a>
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**(14) Why can't I select OK to approve the VPN connection request?**
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There might be another application on top of the VPN connection request dialog.
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Some known (screen dimming) applications which can cause this are Lux Brightness, Night Mode, and Twilight.
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To avoid this problem, at least temporary, close all applications and/or services which may be running in the background.
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<a name="FAQ15"></a>
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**(15) Why don't you support F-Droid?**
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Because F-Droid doesn't support reproducible builds.
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Read [here](https://blog.torproject.org/blog/deterministic-builds-part-one-cyberwar-and-global-compromise) why this is important.
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<a name="FAQ16"></a>
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**(16) Why are some applications shown dimmed?**
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Disabled applications and applications without internet permission are shown dimmed.
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<a name="FAQ17"></a>
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**(17) Why is NetGuard using so much memory?**
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It isn't, NetGuard doesn't allocate any memory, except a little for displaying the user interface elements.
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It appeared that on some Android variants the Play store connection, using almost 150 MB and needed for in-app donations,
|
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is incorrectly attributed to NetGuard instead to the Play store.
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<a name="FAQ18"></a>
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**(18) Why can I not find NetGuard in the Play store?**
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NetGuard requires at least Android 5.0, so it is not available in the Play store for devices running older Android versions.
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Some devices have an Android variant with a bug in the services NetGuard requires.
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These devices are black listed for the Play store. See also about [compatibility](#compatibility).
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<a name="FAQ19"></a>
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**(19) Why does aplication xyz still have internet access?**
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If you block internet access for an application, there is no way around it.
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However, applications could access the internet through other applications, like Google Play services.
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You can prevent this by blocking internet access for the other application as well.
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<a name="FAQ20"></a>
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**(20) Can I Greenify NetGuard?**
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No. [Greenifying](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.oasisfeng.greenify)
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or otherwise hibernating NetGuard will result in rules not being applied
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when connectivity changes from Wi-Fi/mobile, screen on/off and roaming/not roaming.
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91
README.md
91
README.md
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@ -79,150 +79,97 @@ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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<a name="FAQ1"></a>
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**(1) Can NetGuard completely protect my privacy?**
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|
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No - nothing can completely protect your privacy.
|
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NetGuard will do its best, but it is limited by the fact it must use the VPN service.
|
||||
This is the trade-off required to make a firewall which does not require root access.
|
||||
The firewall can only start when Android "allows" it to start,
|
||||
so it will not offer protection during early boot-up (although your network may not be loaded at that time).
|
||||
It will, however, be much better than nothing, especially if you are not rebooting often.
|
||||
|
||||
If you want to protect yourself more, you can (at least in theory) disable Wi-Fi and mobile data before rebooting,
|
||||
and only enable them on reboot, after the firewall service has started (and the small key icon is visible in the status bar).
|
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|
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Thanks @[pulser](https://github.com/pulser/)
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This question has been moved [here](https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard/blob/master/FAQ.md#FAQ1).
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<a name="FAQ2"></a>
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**(2) Can I use VPN applications while using NetGuard?**
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If the VPN application is using the [VPN service](http://developer.android.com/reference/android/net/VpnService.html),
|
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then no, because NetGuard needs to use this service. Android allows only one application at a time to use this service.
|
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This question has been moved [here](https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard/blob/master/FAQ.md#FAQ2).
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<a name="FAQ3"></a>
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**(3) Can I use NetGuard on any Android version?**
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No, the minimum required Android version is 5.0 (Lollipop) because NetGuard uses the [addDisallowedApplication](http://developer.android.com/reference/android/net/VpnService.Builder.html#addDisallowedApplication(java.lang.String))
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method.
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This question has been moved [here](https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard/blob/master/FAQ.md#FAQ3).
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<a name="FAQ4"></a>
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**(4) Will NetGuard use extra battery power?**
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|
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No, unlike most of the similar closed source alternatives.
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This question has been moved [here](https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard/blob/master/FAQ.md#FAQ4).
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<a name="FAQ5"></a>
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**(5) Can you add selective allowing/blocking applications/IP addresses?**
|
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|
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Unfortunately, this is not possible without using significant battery power
|
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and adding complex code to do network translation from OSI layer 3 to layer 4
|
||||
(and thus implementing a TCP/IP stack), which will inevitably introduce bugs as well.
|
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This is how most (perhaps all) other no-root firewalls work.
|
||||
NetGuard is unique, because it doesn't implement a TCP/IP stack, and is therefore both highly efficient and simple.
|
||||
|
||||
For more advanced use cases, rooting your device and using an iptables based firewall,
|
||||
like [AFWall+](https://github.com/ukanth/afwall), might be a better option and will not sacrifice any battery power.
|
||||
This question has been moved [here](https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard/blob/master/FAQ.md#FAQ5).
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<a name="FAQ6"></a>
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**(6) Will NetGuard send my internet traffic to an external (VPN) server?**
|
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|
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No. It cannot even do this because NetGuard does not even have *internet* permission.
|
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This question has been moved [here](https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard/blob/master/FAQ.md#FAQ6).
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<a name="FAQ7"></a>
|
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**(7) Why are applications without internet permission shown?**
|
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|
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Internet permission can be granted with each application update without user consent.
|
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By showing all applications, NetGuard allows you to block internet access *before* such an update occurs.
|
||||
This question has been moved [here](https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard/blob/master/FAQ.md#FAQ7).
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<a name="FAQ8"></a>
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**(8) What do I need to enable for the Google Play Store to work?**
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|
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You need 3 packages (applications) enabled (use search in NetGuard to find them quickly):
|
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|
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* com.android.vending
|
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* com.google.android.gms
|
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* com.android.providers.downloads
|
||||
|
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Since the Google Play Store has a tendency to check for updates or even download them all by itself (even if no account is associated),
|
||||
one can keep it in check by enabling "*Allow when device in use*" for all 3 of these packages.
|
||||
Click on the down arrow on the left side of an application name and check that option,
|
||||
but leave the network icons set to red (hence blocked).The little human icon will appear for those packages.
|
||||
By doing this, you can still open the Google Play Store and update/install/uninstall applications since it will have internet access,
|
||||
but once you close it, it will not use any bandwidth.
|
||||
This question has been moved [here](https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard/blob/master/FAQ.md#FAQ8).
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<a name="FAQ9"></a>
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**(9) Why is the VPN service being restart?**
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|
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The VPN service will be restarted when you turn the screen on or off and when connectivity changes (Wi-Fi, mobile)
|
||||
to apply the rules with the conditions '*Allow when screen is on*' and '*Block when roaming*'.
|
||||
This question has been moved [here](https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard/blob/master/FAQ.md#FAQ9).
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<a name="FAQ10"></a>
|
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**(10) Will you provide a Tasker plug-in?**
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||||
|
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If disabling NetGuard is allowed to Tasker, any application can disabled NetGuard too.
|
||||
Allowing to disable a security application from other applications is not a good idea.
|
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This question has been moved [here](https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard/blob/master/FAQ.md#FAQ10).
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<a name="FAQ12"></a>
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**(12) Can you add on demand asking to block/allow access?**
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||||
|
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Besides that this requires questionable Android permissions,
|
||||
it is not possible to implement this, given the way NetGuard works.
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||||
For more details, see [question 5](#FAQ5).
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This question has been moved [here](https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard/blob/master/FAQ.md#FAQ12).
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<a name="FAQ13"></a>
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**(13) How can I remove the ongoing NetGuard entry in the notification screen?**
|
||||
|
||||
* Long click the NetGuard notification
|
||||
* Tap the 'i' icon
|
||||
* Depending on your device and/or ROMs manufacturer software customisations, you can be directed to either:
|
||||
* the **App Info** screen and you can uncheck '*Show notifications*' and agree to the next dialog
|
||||
* the **App Notifications** screen and you can toggle the '*Block*' slider to on
|
||||
|
||||
Note that, whether or not you get a dialog warning to agree upon, this operation will disable any warning notifications from NetGuard as well.
|
||||
This question has been moved [here](https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard/blob/master/FAQ.md#FAQ13).
|
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<a name="FAQ14"></a>
|
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**(14) Why can't I select OK to approve the VPN connection request?**
|
||||
|
||||
There might be another application on top of the VPN connection request dialog.
|
||||
Some known (screen dimming) applications which can cause this are Lux Brightness, Night Mode, and Twilight.
|
||||
To avoid this problem, at least temporary, close all applications and/or services which may be running in the background.
|
||||
This question has been moved [here](https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard/blob/master/FAQ.md#FAQ14).
|
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|
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<a name="FAQ15"></a>
|
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**(15) Why don't you support F-Droid?**
|
||||
|
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Because F-Droid doesn't support reproducible builds.
|
||||
Read [here](https://blog.torproject.org/blog/deterministic-builds-part-one-cyberwar-and-global-compromise) why this is important.
|
||||
This question has been moved [here](https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard/blob/master/FAQ.md#FAQ15).
|
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|
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<a name="FAQ16"></a>
|
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**(16) Why are some applications shown dimmed?**
|
||||
|
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Disabled applications and applications without internet permission are shown dimmed.
|
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This question has been moved [here](https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard/blob/master/FAQ.md#FAQ16).
|
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|
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<a name="FAQ17"></a>
|
||||
**(17) Why is NetGuard using so much memory?**
|
||||
|
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It isn't, NetGuard doesn't allocate any memory, except a little for displaying the user interface elements.
|
||||
It appeared that on some Android variants the Play store connection, using almost 150 MB and needed for in-app donations,
|
||||
is incorrectly attributed to NetGuard instead to the Play store.
|
||||
This question has been moved [here](https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard/blob/master/FAQ.md#FAQ17).
|
||||
|
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<a name="FAQ18"></a>
|
||||
**(18) Why can I not find NetGuard in the Play store?**
|
||||
|
||||
NetGuard requires at least Android 5.0, so it is not available in the Play store for devices running older Android versions.
|
||||
|
||||
Some devices have an Android variant with a bug in the services NetGuard requires.
|
||||
These devices are black listed for the Play store. See also about [compatibility](#compatibility).
|
||||
This question has been moved [here](https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard/blob/master/FAQ.md#FAQ18).
|
||||
|
||||
<a name="FAQ19"></a>
|
||||
**(19) Why does aplication xyz still have internet access?**
|
||||
|
||||
If you block internet access for an application, there is no way around it.
|
||||
However, applications could access the internet through other applications, like Google Play services.
|
||||
You can prevent this by blocking internet access for the other application as well.
|
||||
This question has been moved [here](https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard/blob/master/FAQ.md#FAQ19).
|
||||
|
||||
<a name="FAQ20"></a>
|
||||
**(20) Can I Greenify NetGuard?**
|
||||
|
||||
No. [Greenifying](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.oasisfeng.greenify)
|
||||
or otherwise hibernating NetGuard will result in rules not being applied
|
||||
when connectivity changes from Wi-Fi/mobile, screen on/off and roaming/not roaming.
|
||||
This question has been moved [here](https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard/blob/master/FAQ.md#FAQ20).
|
||||
|
||||
Permissions
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||||
-----------
|
||||
|
|
|
|||
Loading…
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Reference in a new issue