Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2017 May 14

= May 14 =

Smart phone software necessity
Necessary [other] softwares (.apk and or as well as something else) a smart phone should have. 43.245.123.44 (talk) 00:53, 14 May 2017 (UTC)

Phone Calling .apk 1
What software could I use to make a call from country to country, plus within its district or town or states…, without a simcard, via a WiFi connection…? 43.245.123.44 (talk) 00:53, 14 May 2017 (UTC)
 * I believe Google Voice is what people generally use for that, but I don't know of any legal way to get an APK. Typically you would get it from the Google Play app store. ApLundell (talk) 22:11, 14 May 2017 (UTC)
 * I reviewed; having difficulty in understanding. Could you elaborate the guided article simplistically please? So far I acknowledged the following requisite - please correct me if I'm wrong - :
 * 1) Google Hangout .apk from Google Play Store - if I'm not wrong please state if there is anything better...
 * 2) A U.S _____________________ number for _________________. - I live in a different country, my call receiver's are in U.S. I wish to use this service for future purpose via smart phone as well as PC. What do I do?
 * 3 and so on) What else?...
 * 103.67.159.52 (talk) 22:49, 15 May 2017 (UTC)

Phone Calling .apk 2
What software could I use to make a call from country to country, plus within its district or town or states…, with a simcard, via a WiFi connection…? 43.245.123.44 (talk) 00:53, 14 May 2017 (UTC)

Antivirus
A free reliable antivirus for a smart phone please. 43.245.123.44 (talk) 00:53, 14 May 2017 (UTC)


 * Well...If you're using Android there's a few factors that come into play. For starters any AV is sandboxed, so any infection may have more user rights than the AV (depending on the exploit/infection). Is your device up to date? Do you install things outside the Google Play store? Is your device rooted? Infections on Android are extremely rare, mostly affecting Chinese users who don't have Google Play access so you'll have to provide more information here to get advice tailored better to you. Of course, without knowing which operating system or version this information is as useful as a chocolate teapot...Thanks ツ Jenova   20  (email) 11:52, 15 May 2017 (UTC)


 * Toms Guide has a good round-up of Android security software.
 * However, I want to stress that APK files should only be installed from trusted sources. If you're downloading APK files on the advice of random strangers you're pretty much guaranteed to be hacked sooner or later.
 * You should really be using an app store like Google Play, and if your device can't handle google play, I strongly recommend installing the Amazon App Store and using that.
 * The ability to install "untrusted" software is a great strength of the Android platform, but it should be done sparingly, and only when you're sure you know what you're doing.
 * ApLundell (talk) 14:07, 15 May 2017 (UTC)


 * Amazon app store is a bad idea as it lowers your entire device's security to sideload, and any malicius apps in the store will have unrestriced access to the device. Here's a couple links explaining: 1 and 2. Thanks ツ Jenova   20  (email) 15:27, 15 May 2017 (UTC)
 * I made the the point that installing "untrusted" APKs is dangerous.
 * However, The Amazon store is not special in that regard. This user has been asking for days about manually installing various untrusted APKs. If he cannot or will not use the Google Play Store, then using the Amazon store would be more secure. A lot more. ApLundell (talk) 15:52, 15 May 2017 (UTC)


 * Sure, more secure than random APKs, but less secure than Google Play, or even no app store at all. To install the Amazon app store (outside sources) security must be compromised. Amazon guidelines on apps are lax and a free-for-all. The apps can pretty much do what they want (and download what they want) and Amazon doesn't care, nor check in on them. Amazon won't even state if there is security on the store and multiple scam apps have been spotted over the years. My advice is that no-one should use the Amazon app store unless Amazon gets it's arse in gear and radically improves it. They could start by introducing some actual security (Any would be any improvement). Thanks ツ Jenova   20  (email) 16:08, 15 May 2017 (UTC)
 * Well, that's terrible advice, because for some people the alternative is no app store at all, because they have a device that won't use Google Play. The abstinence-only "Don't install apps on your smart phone" is not good advice, because it will never be followed, especially by a person who is specifically asking about installing apps.
 * The better advice (that I gave) is to use Google Play, but if you can't do that, install Amazon. ApLundell (talk) 16:13, 15 May 2017 (UTC)


 * It's not terrible advice at all. The poster has asked a very simple question about AV. If you run Google Play and don't install outside Google Play you won't need AV since it's sandboxed anyway. If you run Amazon App Store then AV is probably useless as it might not be able to remove an infection (and an infection may even be able to remove the AV). Running into endless hypotheticals is a bit pointless, especially the accusations of who is right or wrong when there's barely enough information here to say if the user is using Firefox OS, Windows Phone, Android, etc. So your "better advice" as you put it likely isn't good advice if the user's phone isn't AOSP compatible or isn't running Android, since neither can install Google Play. Thanks ツ Jenova   20  (email) 08:44, 16 May 2017 (UTC)
 * What???? As already mentioned the user has been asking about installing random APKs for several days now. This isn't a hypothetical. It's nominally possible they aren't running an Android phone but instead are wanting to use the APKs in some emulator in their phone, but even if that's the case it's still better for them to use an app store. The very first post by ApL specifically said to use Google Play, but if your phone can't then use Amazon Appstore. Your advice seems to be unclear. You first seem to be saying that you should only ever use Google Play even though as ApL said some people simply can't. You now seem to be acknowledging some people cannot use Google Play, but still seem to reluctant to accept that the suggestion to use the Amazon Appstore is a better choice in that regard. Instead you seem to either be saying they may not have an Android smart phone (which as I've said is largely irrelevant, they're after APKs so whatever their smartphone, we need to direct them to an APK source) or that they should simply not install any apps, which as ApL is never going to happen especially when the person has been asking about random APKs for many days. Or maybe you're suggesting the person should take great care in what apps they install. Actually I would suggest that applies even on Google Play, but anyway, while that's good advice, the OP's questions strongly suggest it isn't going to be followed very well. Frankly in that case, any app store is not going to be perfect but the Amazon Appstore is still better than nothing. And actually even if you do have good practices, there's no reason why you shouldn't be relying on the Amazon Appstore as your first filter, if you can't use Google Play.  Whatever the case, I'm not seeing a compelling argument from you as to why ApL's first advice wasn't good advice nor any actual better advice. It will be far better to rely on an app store first, before you worry about AV for phone. Since they're after APKs, choose Google Play for that if they can, if they can't then use the Amazon Appstore.  P.S. You brought up the sandbox but I'm not quite sure why. The sandbox is still the same if you use the Amazon Appstore. The difference is you're allowing third party apps to be installed, not that the sandbox disappears. Also Amazon seems to be less sophisticated at tracking and disabling rogue apps. But people can, and have, successfuly gotten apps which break the sandbox onto Google Play, even if it's less common. And even without breaking the sandbox, it's still easy to do harm if the user doesn't actually consider the permissions. For example, send premium rate SMS or call premium rate or certain foreign numbers.  This doesn't mean allowing third party apps is inconsequential but the consequence is that you can accidentally or intentionally install apps from outside Google Play or the Amazon Appstore, nothing to do with the sandbox per se. One of your earlier comments makes it sounds like allowing third party apps is the same as rooting your device. It is not, not even close and your links don't suggest it is. Of course a third party app could take advantage of exploits to root your device perhaps without you wanting this, but again that's a different point. And technically this can happen on the Google Play store as well, it's just very very very rare.  P.P.S. You can of course turn off the installation of third party apps after you install the Amazon Appstore and only turn it back on whenever you want to install an app from the Amazon Appstore or an update although this is probably more annoying than it's worth.  Nil Einne (talk) 13:23, 16 May 2017 (UTC)
 * BTW, I should clarify that turning off installation of third party apps is definitely likely to be a mistake if it means you update apps less frequently. And yes turning off third party apps doesn't resolve any risks from already installed apps, including and bugs or features which may change their behaviour and/or violate the sandbox in some way even without an update/new install. But again this isn't something unique to the Amazon Appstore, it applies to Google Play as well except for various reasons as mentioned the Playstore is better at stopping rogue apps. Nil Einne (talk) 07:02, 17 May 2017 (UTC)

RAM Cleaner
I’ve installed McAfee (30 day trial version) on my smart phone, a button cleans up “___ % memory in use” but not fully. You always have to press it until it displays “memory optimised” or something. What opensource software(s) could I use for antivirus and or as well as for RAM cleaning? 43.245.123.44 (talk) 00:53, 14 May 2017 (UTC)


 * Replied to your post above. Take a look. Thanks ツ Jenova   20  (email) 11:53, 15 May 2017 (UTC)

Skyworks Solutions
Skyworks Solutions's see also section links to Comparison of open-source wireless drivers. Does this company make wifi chips or something? The word "Skyworks" doesn't appear anywhere in the latter article. ECS LIVA Z (talk) 05:23, 14 May 2017 (UTC)

How to make a dynamic picture?
I have a question about Libre Calc: How do I create a drop-down list in Libre Calc which is linked to a worksheet with icons. An entry list must come with a drop-down list that allows someone to set an icon on another worksheet. I can not do it. Example: On the "Import" worksheet, you can insert an icon on the "Announcement Cards" sheet via a drop-down menu. All icons are on an "icons" worksheet. I do not know how to connect these 3 worksheets to achieve that. The goal is to create a dynamiche image in Calc. I would like to receive a ready-to-use solution so that I can finish my program as it should eventually come true. Thanks in advance!

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====================================================================[brontekst bewerken] Ik heb een vraag over Libre Calc. Hoe maak ik een keuzelijst in Libre Calc welke is gekoppeld aan een werkblad met pictogrammen. Op een invoerblad moet een keuzelijst komen waarmee iemand een icoon kan instellen op op een ander werkblad. Ik krijg het niet voorelkaar. Voorbeeld: Op het werkblad "Invoer" kan men via een keuzelijst een pictogram invoegen op het werkblad "aankondigingskaartjes". Alle pictogrammen staan op een "pictogrammen"werkblad. Ik weet niet hoe ik deze 3 werkbladen met elkaar moet koppelen om datgene te bereiken. Het doel is uiteindelijk om een dynamiche afbeelding te maken in Calc. Hoe maak ik een keuzelijst in Libre Calc welke is gekoppeld aan een werkblad met pictogrammen. Op een invoerblad moet een keuzelijst komen waarmee iemand een icoon kan instellen op op een ander werkblad. Ik krijg het niet voorelkaar. Voorbeeld: Op het werkblad "Invoer" kan men via een keuzelijst een pictogram invoegen op het werkblad "aankondigingskaartjes". Alle pictogrammen staan op een "pictogrammen"werkblad. Ik weet niet hoe ik deze 3 werkbladen met elkaar moet koppelen om datgene te bereiken. Het doel is uiteindelijk om een dynamiche afbeelding te maken in Calc. Graag zou ik een kant en klare oplossing ontvangen zodat ik mijn programma kan afmaken zoals het er uiteindelijk uit moet komen te zien. Bij voorbaat dank!Ina Janssen (talk) 08:59, 14 May 2017 (UTC)

Verifying Operation of a Clock Circuit
I've built a simple 2.5 Mhz clock circuit and I'd like to verify that it it outputting the correct frequency. Unfortunately, I can't justify an oscilloscope that this point: is there any free software I can use to test it? It doesn't need to be a full software oscilloscope, just something that can measure the clock frequency. Thanks! OldTimeNESter (talk) 13:42, 14 May 2017 (UTC)


 * Possibly something like this?Phil Holmes (talk) 15:26, 14 May 2017 (UTC)


 * To meaningfully examine a 2.5 MHz signal one would need a sample frequency rate of at least 5 MHz. A soundcard works in the frequency rate of audible sound - as that article notes, topping out at 20kHz. -- Finlay McWalter··–·Talk 15:36, 14 May 2017 (UTC)


 * I suppose if it's sampling a 20KHz signal, the soundcard IC is probably sampling at at least 40KHz and probably a bit more than that. It's still orders of magnitude too low. -- Finlay McWalter··–·Talk 15:56, 14 May 2017 (UTC)


 * There are integrated circuits containing some T flip-flops. A T-ff is a frequency divider by two. See it as a ball pen. Dividing is down over ten T-ffs, gives it a frequency you can hear. There are low frequency counter apps for android avail. -- Hans Haase (有问题吗) 15:35, 14 May 2017 (UTC)
 * For example, in low cost electronic organs, such as the Philicorda and many more, are 12 oscillators, generating an octave. Same tone of the octave below is a 1:2 frequency, each. -- Hans Haase (有问题吗) 16:14, 14 May 2017 (UTC)


 * A few quid (under $10) to eBay will buy you a simple frequency meter, probably as a kit. These are gated counters, so they're OK on single frequency sources, lousy on anything noisy or with a broad spectrum. But they'll tell you your spot frequency, if you don't trust all the digits. Andy Dingley (talk) 09:57, 15 May 2017 (UTC)

Vault 7
In the introduction to Vault 7 it is stated that it affects Windows, MacOS and Linux. Problem is, nowhere inthe article Linux is specifically mentioned, if only by implication. Cab that be rectified??197.233.239.27 (talk) 16:00, 14 May 2017 (UTC)

Ransomware vulnerability
So now we've all heard about WannaCry, and about how many people were vulnerable because they were still running XP, and all that. But aside from everything else, doesn't this also demonstrate that lots of people have pretty appallingly bad backup procedures? If you get hit by ransomware, no matter how virulent it is, can't you just wipe your system and restore from backup? Or am I missing something? —Steve Summit (talk) 17:11, 14 May 2017 (UTC)


 * I agree that most people don't back up properly. But it is hard to do - you need to keep multiple backups, over time.  For instance, one of my backups is to the cloud, but I assume it overwrites the files already there.  If data gets corrupted, backed up, and then I discover that it has been corrupted, the old file has probably been overwritten with the corrupted version.  Bubba73 You talkin' to me? 17:30, 14 May 2017 (UTC)


 * We don't yet know the state of their backup capabilities. Some of the affected organisations (most of the NHS) say they'll be back to normal before Monday which isn't too shabby. Wiping and restoring a patched system (multiple systems) is not always especially quick, plus you might have to lose or recover your recent work. You'd also need to think about your vulnerability to it happening again. Apparently relatively few ransom payments have been made, which might suggest among other things that the backup systems are generally working. -- zzuuzz (talk) 18:23, 14 May 2017 (UTC)


 * Any backup that is physically connected to an infected system will also be encrypted, and the infection spreads through a LAN. If your office had a windows-based server hosting the back-ups ... Well, you ought to have cloud-based or rotating off-site backups... but a lot of places don't. And many private citizens don't. ApLundell (talk) 22:03, 14 May 2017 (UTC)


 * You would hope the backup wasn't infected too or the storage medium. Exactly how Conficker spread across non-networked computers. Thanks ツ Jenova   20  (email) 13:04, 15 May 2017 (UTC)