Is there an effective way to remove trackers from apps?
I use Apk Editor Pro for Android to remove trackers. This application works with a Manifest file, but trackers are not always located in this file. I don’t know what other files may contain trackers, how can I edit them and compile the application on my phone.
Perhaps you have some ideas?
11 replies
At my previous company we edited apks to add performance trackers. We modified the dex code directly. It was not easy, but it is possible. Some apps are obfuscated, which makes finding libraries hard. But a principal we used was to look for where the app called into the system code, especially around URL requests. So you could look for all calls to the system network libraries, and identify which ones were calls to tracker systems, and no-op those bytes.
But, it's probably much easier to just use the adguard dns server.
DuckDuckGo comes with app tracker blocking as another option
It's nice, but sometimes it just seems to break down my connection and need to turn it off an on again if I suddenly am nit able to loap up anything.
I've never tried removing trackers, but I do run the TrackerControl app (from fdroid) to track and block them.
Which one is the correct one? There are two different versions on f-droid and the only difference between them is the publisher/creator
The one with the version number that ends in 'fdroid' is the one linked to on trackercontrol.org
Ah ok. Thanks. Unfortunately it conflicts with netguard but thank you for telling me about the app
Good app. However, on non-rooted devices the use is a bit problematic. Need to select or activate a firewall or activate Vpn.
I use DNS ad/tracker blocking on android.
I use either libredns or MullvadDNS
What can you say about the service nextdns.io?
I use warden for it, don't know if it works, but it feels like it does lol