Android 15 Archives

AppWizard

August 22, 2025

Android’s latest update can force apps into dark mode – how to see it now

The latest beta release of Android 16 introduces enhanced dark mode capabilities, allowing for intelligent inversion of the UI in apps that lack built-in dark mode support. This feature evaluates an app's "Light Theme" attribute to determine if inversion is necessary and applies color inversion techniques to standard Android Views, Composables, and WebViews. Additionally, Android 16 QPR2 can generate themed icons for apps without their own, using a color filtering algorithm to ensure they match the user's selected theme. This functionality is aimed at improving accessibility for individuals with low vision and photosensitivity, as well as catering to users who prefer a darker aesthetic. The beta version is currently available only to Pixel device owners, with a public release expected later this year.

AppWizard

August 18, 2025

How To Password Protect Your Android Apps (And Why You Might Want To)

Google has introduced security features for Android devices to enhance user privacy, including the "Private Space" feature for password-protecting specific applications. To enable Private Space, users must navigate to Settings, then Security & Privacy, select Privacy, and find Private Space. Users can set a different password from their screen lock for added security and can choose various authentication methods. Apps can be transferred to Private Space by pressing and holding the app icon and selecting the option to install it there. The Private Space feature is available only for devices running Android 15 or newer. Users should check their Android version in Settings under About phone or About tablet. For added privacy, using a separate Google account for protected apps is recommended to reduce risks associated with account compromise.

AppWizard

August 11, 2025

Google is giving Android’s headphone and earbud notifications a fresh new look

Google is enhancing the user experience on Android devices with a visual update for headphone and earbud battery status. The updated notification features color-coded rings around icons for each earbud and their charging case, allowing for quick assessment of battery status. Dynamic icons indicate whether the earbuds are charging and if the case is discharging power. This redesign replaces the previous method of displaying a battery icon with a percentage. The update will be available with the rollout of Android 15 QPR2 on Pixel devices.

AppWizard

August 8, 2025

DOOGEE U11 Just Got Smarter: Android 16 Update Supercharges This Budget Tablet With AI, Gaming, and Dual Apps

DOOGEE has released the Android 16 upgrade for its U11 tablet, enhancing speed, intelligence, and usability with new features like Game Space Mode and App Cloner. The U11 is popular among students and young professionals, recognized for its performance and display, and is DOOGEE's best-selling tablet on Amazon Japan. The upgrade offers a refined user interface, faster transitions, and improved privacy controls. The App Cloner allows users to manage two accounts of the same app on one device. Game Space Mode enhances gaming with features like SDR to HDR enhancement and performance optimization for popular games. The U11 now includes Gemini AI, which assists with content creation, language learning, and research. The tablet features a robust design, an 11-inch HD display, a 90Hz refresh rate, an 8580mAh battery, and dual stereo speakers. The U11 is currently available at a 50% discount on Amazon.

Tech Optimizer

July 28, 2025

Renting Android Malware With 2FA Interception, AV Bypass is Getting Cheaper Now

The cybercriminal landscape is experiencing a transformation with the emergence of malware-as-a-service (MaaS) platforms targeting Android devices, allowing individuals with minimal technical skills to deploy advanced mobile threats through accessible subscription-based malware kits. Notable platforms include PhantomOS, priced at 9 monthly, offering features like remote application installation and two-factor authentication bypass, and Nebula, starting at 0 monthly, which provides automated data extraction of SMS, call logs, and GPS data. Both platforms utilize Telegram for command and control, enabling easy management of infected devices. These MaaS platforms employ advanced evasion techniques, utilizing fully undetectable malware that can bypass major security measures, ensuring persistence and compatibility with various Android versions, including the latest Android 15. This shift signifies a move toward industrialized cybercrime, where specialized providers handle technical complexities, allowing criminals to focus on targeting victims.

Winsage

July 25, 2025

Find forgotten Wi-Fi passwords, SSIDs in Windows and Android

Windows laptops can retrieve the Wi-Fi password for the current network by searching for "View Network Connections," right-clicking the active connection, selecting Status, and then clicking on Wireless Properties to view the password under the Security tab. For older networks, users can open a command prompt and type "netsh wlan show profile" to see saved Wi-Fi profiles, then use "netsh wlan show profile [NETWORK NAME] key=clear" to reveal the password in plain text. On Android devices, users can view stored Wi-Fi SSIDs and passwords by accessing the quick settings menu, tapping the current network name for the password, or navigating to Saved networks for other networks. Verification may be required to share the password, which can be displayed alongside a QR code for easy sharing.

AppWizard

July 18, 2025

Android’s Linux Terminal arrives on the Galaxy Z Flip 7, but Z Fold 7 users are left out

Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 7 is the first non-Pixel smartphone to support Google's Linux Terminal app, which allows users to run Linux programs within a virtual machine. This feature is not available on the Galaxy Z Fold 7. The Terminal app operates on a modified version of Debian within the Android Virtualization Framework (AVF), introduced with Android 13 and categorized as an Android 16 feature for Samsung devices. The app's availability is dependent on specific technical requirements related to the chipset; the Galaxy Z Flip 7 uses the Exynos 2500, which supports the necessary non-protected virtual machine, while the Galaxy S25 and Z Fold 7 use the Snapdragon 8 Elite, which is limited to secure virtual machines. Future updates from Qualcomm may address this limitation. The Terminal app currently does not support graphical applications, but there are indications that such features may be developed in the future.

AppWizard

July 16, 2025

Samsung fixes the Secure Folder flaw that let anyone see what apps you’re hiding

Samsung has addressed a vulnerability in its Secure Folder feature that previously allowed individuals with physical access to a device to view hidden apps and photos. This flaw arose from the Secure Folder being classified as a "work profile," which certain system components did not recognize as secure. With the release of One UI 8, Samsung has reclassified Secure Folder as a "private" profile, ensuring it is treated as a secure space by Google’s components. This change prevents unauthorized access to its contents, but the Secure Folder must be fully hidden for enhanced protection. However, it currently does not integrate with third-party launchers, as Samsung has not yet implemented the necessary APIs for compatibility.

AppWizard

July 12, 2025

New Android TapTrap attack fools users with invisible UI trick

A new tapjacking technique called TapTrap can exploit user interface animations on Android devices, bypassing the permission system and potentially allowing access to sensitive data or harmful actions. TapTrap operates with zero-permission applications, layering a transparent activity over a malicious one. This vulnerability exists in both Android 15 and 16. Developed by researchers from TU Wien and the University of Bayreuth, TapTrap manipulates activity transitions using custom low-opacity animations, making risky prompts nearly invisible to users. An analysis of nearly 100,000 apps revealed that 76% are vulnerable to TapTrap due to specific conditions related to activity launching and animation handling. The attack has been confirmed on Android 16, including tests on a Google Pixel 8a. GrapheneOS has acknowledged its vulnerability to TapTrap and plans to include a fix in its next release. Google is aware of the issue and intends to address it in a future update.

AppWizard

July 9, 2025

TapTrap Android Exploit Allows Malicious Apps to Bypass Permissions

A new Android vulnerability named TapTrap allows malicious applications to bypass the operating system's permission system without requiring special permissions. It exploits activity transition animations to mislead users into granting sensitive permissions or executing harmful actions. Researchers from TU Wien analyzed 99,705 applications on the Google Play Store and found that 76.3% are susceptible to this attack. TapTrap uses low-opacity animations (approximately 0.01 alpha) to make sensitive permission dialogs nearly invisible while still registering touch events. The attack can last up to six seconds and can lead to unauthorized access to critical functionalities like the camera and microphone, and even device administrator privileges. TapTrap bypasses existing defenses against tapjacking in Android, affecting popular web browsers as well. A user study showed that all participants failed to detect at least one variant of the attack. As of June 2025, Android 15 remains vulnerable, with no timeline for a comprehensive fix. The vulnerability has been assigned two CVEs, and researchers disclosed their findings to Google in October 2024. They propose solutions to mitigate the risks, including blocking touch events during low-opacity animations and setting an opacity threshold of 0.2.