Acer Z150 - Phone app connecting to Chinese servers in the background

default
default Member Posts: 9 New User
in 2015 Archives

My Acer Liquid Z5 (Z150) is connecting to 118.26.237.37 using the Phone app. Why?
http://whois.domaintools.com/118.26.237.37

Answers

  • IronFly
    IronFly ACE Posts: 18,413 Trailblazer

    check if in settings/Privacy

    Acer UEIP is enabled

    I'm not an Acer employee.
  • default
    default Member Posts: 9 New User

    I just did, and it isn't. Every time I reboot the device it comes up nagging me to "allow acer to collect anonymous data" but I never agreed, only dismissed the notification.

    Thanks for quick reply

  • IronFly
    IronFly ACE Posts: 18,413 Trailblazer

    you can check and uncheck to avoid notification.

     

    i don' have a Z150 but i found very strange that kind of connection, can you please post your build version and build number?

     

    settings/about phone

     

    is your device rooted?

     

    Have you installed any application downloaded outside google play?

    I'm not an Acer employee.
  • default
    default Member Posts: 9 New User

    Thanks for the tip, I'll try that and report later if the notification still appears.

    Build Version: (I wasn't able to find that under any options under "About Phone" section, sorry)

    Build Number: Acer_AV052_Z150_1.030.00_EMEA_GEN1

    I'm new to Android, maybe one of these is the build version but under another name:

    Android Ver: 4.2.2
    Baseband Ver: MOLY.WR8.W1315.MD.WG.MP.V1.P36,2014/06/16 11:26
    Kernel Ver: 3.4.5 ui4@ui4 #1 Mon Aug 25 21:31:32 CST 2014

    And no, it's not rooted, and yes I have installed an .APK or two but ended up deleting those apps

  • IronFly
    IronFly ACE Posts: 18,413 Trailblazer

    would you mind doing a factory reset and then recheck about this kind of connections?

    backup your personal data before doing it.

     

    settings/backup&reset/factory data reset

    I'm not an Acer employee.
  • default
    default Member Posts: 9 New User
    I was afraid you'd ask that... of course I don't mind. I mean, what else have I got left to do? I'll get back to you after I'm done, tomorrow hopefully (don't have much time now) Thanks for help c:
  • IronFly
    IronFly ACE Posts: 18,413 Trailblazer

    nothing else. 

     

    You welcome. Smiley Happy

    I'm not an Acer employee.
  • default
    default Member Posts: 9 New User

    I've performed a factory reset after backing up what I could. I am very, very displeased with the way that Android works or should I say "doesn't work". It is missing so many BASIC and USEFUL functions such as exporting contacts to sim. I am very frustrated. So, after performing the reset and installing a firewall, I still get many apps connecting to various sites or servers, and so does the Phone app. Here is a complete list: http://tdd.cba.pl/cn.html

    [Acer UEIP not enabled]
  • IronFly
    IronFly ACE Posts: 18,413 Trailblazer

    the various Google connections are normal, since it's a Google phone and check about updates and contacts sync (all can be disabled).

     

    export Contact to SIM is available on all my Acer phones.... tap on contacts, then on three little vertical dots or long press on multithread soft button (the 2 squares), import/export appears and i'm able to export to SIM.

     

    about that phone IP....i don't have it but i don't have a Z150 to test it.

    I'm not an Acer employee.
  • default
    default Member Posts: 9 New User

    Well I feel kind of silly now, I was looking it up on the internet and several people have said there was no such option built in [http://forums.androidcentral.com/google-nexus-4/235556-moving-phone-numbers-between-sim-phone.html] I wouldn't have guessed that "Contacts" are actually called "People", took me a while to realize that. Well, thank you very much! I've just learned something new. Could you maybe, despite not owning the exact phone, check and see if your "Phone" app does something similar? They can't be much different - if it's a critical function, then all apps used for calls have it (doubt it) if not, then it's an anomaly and/or possibly spyware.

    I do have the sync option off for everything except "People" - just realized that. I'll disable that and see if it makes a difference

  • IronFly
    IronFly ACE Posts: 18,413 Trailblazer

    i double checked and i don't have any connection to that IP or something related to China.

    I'm not an Acer employee.
  • default
    default Member Posts: 9 New User
    I have just checked again, and despite disabling all sync options, it still connects to that IP through Phone app. It appears that my phone comes with spyware out of the box... wonderful. My problem still haven't been solved and I'm clueless about what else to try, but thank you for your time, and help so far.
  • IronFly
    IronFly ACE Posts: 18,413 Trailblazer

    You welcome. Smiley Happy

     

     

    I'm not an Acer employee.
  • default
    default Member Posts: 9 New User

    Well, I'm not impressed. The specs should've mentioned that it "comes with spyware out of the box". Thanks for that, it makes it so the only use I have for it is NOT to ever use it. Plus, I can't even remove the spyware without root. Very not happy but in fact rather upset, also feeling that I got ripped off very much - that money for how well (or maybe not well) it functions, well, not worth it. Would rather invest in something better.

     

    [edited to comply with guidelines]

  • default
    default Member Posts: 9 New User
    Would somebody be kind enough to tell me what I can do? I cannot keep using the phone, I can't return it either. It's useless to me now. I'm stuck with a brick pretty much.
  • Cory-Acer
    Cory-Acer Administrator Posts: 1,449 Community Administrator

    Hi default,

     

    I'd like to ask if we could get some additional information, specifically logs on the phone. I would suggest to start by resetting completely to remove the possibility of any app, even a connection viewer from being the issue. You can use a fresh google account so that if you have concerns your normal accounts aren't being affected.

     

    To start the log here are the steps:

    1: Input *#*#2237332846633#*#* in the dial pad to enter Engineer Mode.

    2: Move to the tab with “Log and Debugging.”

    3: Select MTK Logger menu.

    4: Click on the play button at the bottom of the screen.

     

    You can use the phone normally to do anything. Of course it is creating log files that will grow quickly. Once you feel you have enough, you can stop the recording. I might suggest using dropbox, google drive, or something simliar and private message those logs over to me please. I'll forward them over to our smartphone team and let them investigate further.

     

    Thanks,
    Cory

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