PhoneScan

PhoneScan: Scan Malware And Privacy

PhoneScan: Privacy & Security Scanner is a robust Android application designed to empower users with control over their device’s privacy and security. Available on the Google Play Store, PhoneScan helps you monitor and manage apps on your device, ensuring you stay informed about potential risks and maintain a secure digital environment. Built with a user-friendly interface and leveraging Android’s powerful APIs, PhoneScan is your go-to tool for safeguarding your personal data without compromising performance.

Key Features

  1. Smart App Scanning
    PhoneScan scans all apps installed on your device to identify potential privacy risks. It flags apps that:

    • Request excessive or dangerous permissions (e.g., location, camera, microphone).
    • Consume high network data (>10 MB over 30 days).
    • Run background services or are installed from unknown sources.
    • Match known risk indicators in a curated database (ioc.yaml).
      Scans are performed locally, with results stored in a secure Room database for quick access on app restart.
  2. Advanced Permission Manager
    Take control of app permissions with PhoneScan’s intuitive Permission Manager. Filter apps by 13 permission categories, including:

    • Location
    • SMS
    • Camera
    • Microphone
    • All files access
    • And more
      View detailed app information, such as permissions, data usage (30-day and daily), and install source, to make informed decisions about which apps to trust.
  3. Whitelist Management
    Customize your security preferences by adding trusted apps to a whitelist. Whitelisted apps are excluded from “Not Trusted” scan results unless they match known risk indicators. Key features include:

    • Add or remove apps from the whitelist directly from scan results.
    • View all whitelisted apps in a dedicated screen, complete with app names, icons, permissions, and a “Remove” button.
    • Store comprehensive app details (e.g., permissions, data usage) in the whitelist for a richer user experience.
  4. App Lookup by Package Name
    Curious about a specific app? PhoneScan lets you check if an app is installed by entering its package name (e.g., com.google.android.youtube). If found, the app’s details (name, icon, permissions, data usage) are displayed, seamlessly integrating with the Permission Manager’s UI.
  5. Detailed App Insights
    Dive deep into app behavior with PhoneScan’s comprehensive app details view, showing:

    • App name and icon
    • Package name and UID
    • Permissions (simplified, e.g., “CAMERA” instead of android.permission.CAMERA)
    • Data usage (30-day and daily)
    • Install source (e.g., Google Play Store, system app)
    • Running status
  6. Privacy-First Design
    PhoneScan prioritizes your privacy:

    • No Data Collection: All processing occurs locally on your device, with no personal information collected or transmitted.
    • Secure Storage: Scan results and whitelist data are stored in a local Room database, accessible only to the app.
    • Transparent Permissions: Uses permissions like QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES and PACKAGE_USAGE_STATS solely for scanning and analysis, with user consent required (e.g., Usage Access).
  7. Modern User Interface
    Built with Material Design, PhoneScan offers a sleek, intuitive experience:

    • Smooth animations (e.g., scan progress with CircularProgressIndicator).
    • Responsive layouts with RecyclerView for scan results, permission filters, and whitelist management.
    • Accessible design with contentDescription for TalkBack support.

How It Works

PhoneScan leverages Android’s PackageManager and NetworkStatsManager to analyze installed apps. Key components include:

  • Scanning Engine: Identifies risky apps based on permissions, data usage, running status, and ioc.yaml matches, with results stored locally.
  • Permission Manager: Filters apps by permission categories, displaying details in a RecyclerView.
  • Whitelist System: Stores WhitelistedAppDetail objects (extending AppDetail) in a Room database, allowing exclusion from scan results unless flagged as malware.
  • Package Name Search: Checks app presence via package name, integrating with the app’s UI.
  • Room Database: Persists scan results and whitelist data, ensuring fast access and persistence across app restarts.

Why Choose PhoneScan?

  • Privacy-Centric: No data is sent to servers, ensuring your information stays on your device.
  • Comprehensive: Combines app scanning, permission management, and whitelisting in one app.
  • User-Friendly: Simplifies complex security tasks with an intuitive interface.
  • Customizable: Whitelist trusted apps to tailor scan results to your preferences.
  • Lightweight: Optimized for performance, with minimal impact on device resources.

Technical Details

  • Package: com.tth.antivirus
  • Supported Android Versions: Android 8.0 (API 26) and above, tested up to Android 15 (API 35).
  • Permissions:
    • QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES: To list installed apps.
    • PACKAGE_USAGE_STATS: To monitor data usage (requires user approval).
    • POST_NOTIFICATIONS (Android 13+): For scan progress notifications.
    • Others (e.g., READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE for potential file scanning).
  • Dependencies: Uses AndroidX, Room (2.6.1), Gson (2.10.1), and Material Design (1.12.0).
  • Database: Room with entities (AppIndicator, CertificateIndicator, ScanResultEntity, WhitelistedAppDetail).
  • UI: Material Design with RecyclerView, CircularProgressIndicator, and MaterialCardView.

Privacy and Compliance

PhoneScan adheres to strict privacy standards:

  • No Personal Data Collected: All data processing is local, with no external transmission.
  • Privacy Policy: Available at https://phonescan.app/privacy-policy/, compliant with GDPR, CCPA, CalOPPA, and Google Play requirements.
  • Permissions Transparency: Clearly explains the use of permissions like QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES in the app and policy.
  • Google Play Compliance: Data Safety form completed, stating no data collection, with permissions justified.

Limitations

  • Not a Certified Anti-Virus: PhoneScan is a privacy and security tool, not a replacement for certified anti-virus software.
  • Permission Dependency: Requires user approval for permissions (e.g., Usage Access), which may limit functionality if denied.
  • Local Data: Whitelist data (e.g., data usage) reflects scan time and may not update dynamically.

Future Enhancements

  • Dynamic Data Refresh: Update whitelist data usage and running status in real-time.
  • Bulk Whitelist Actions: Add “Clear All” or multi-select remove in WhitelistActivity.
  • Permission Manager Integration: Filter whitelisted apps in PermissionManagerActivity.
  • File Scanning: Add support for MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE to scan files (e.g., APKs), with Google Play approval.

Get Started

Download PhoneScan: Privacy & Security Scanner from the Google Play Store to take control of your device’s privacy. For support, contact [email protected]. Visit https://phonescan.app/privacy-policy/ for our privacy policy.

Note: For optimal protection, use PhoneScan alongside trusted anti-virus software.