Tag: Free

Android Apps

Free VPN apps on Google Play turned Android phones into proxies

Android

Over 15 free VPN apps on Google Play were found using a malicious software development kit that turned Android devices into unwitting residential proxies, likely used for cybercrime and shopping bots.

Residential proxies are devices that route internet traffic through devices located in homes for other remote users, making the traffic appear legitimate and less likely to be blocked.

While they have legitimate uses for market research, ad verification, and SEO, many cybercriminals use them to conceal malicious activities, including ad fraud, spamming, phishing, credential stuffing, and password spraying.

Users may voluntarily register on proxy services to get monetary or other rewards in return, but some of these proxy services employ unethical and shady means to install their proxying tools on people’s devices secretly.

When secretly installed, victims will have their internet bandwidth hijacked without their knowledge and risk legal trouble due to appearing as the source of malicious activity.

Proxying Android VPN apps

A report published today by HUMAN’s Satori threat intelligence team lists 28 applications on Google Play that secretly turned Android devices into proxy servers. Of these 28 applications, 17 were passed off as free VPN software.

Satori analysts report that the offending apps were all using a software development kit (SDK) by LumiApps that contained “Proxylib,” a Golang library to perform the proxying.

HUMAN discovered the first PROXYLIB carrier app in May 2023, a free Android VPN app named “Oko VPN.” The researchers later found the same library used by the LumiApps Android app monetization service.

“In late May 2023, Satori researchers observed activity on hacker forums and new VPN applications referencing a monetization SDK, lumiapps[.]io,” explains the Satori report.

“Upon further investigation, the team determined that this SDK has exactly the same functionality and uses the same server infrastructure as

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Android Apps

Android 15 could finally reclaim some free screen real estate

Summary

  • Android 15 may require apps on the Play Store to utilize edge-to-edge mode, displaying content under the status bar and navigation bar for a better user experience.
  • Implementing edge-to-edge mode is currently opt-in, and may not be feasible for smaller apps or those with buttons that would overlap with system bars.
  • These changes could have a significant impact on foldable phones and make Android apps resemble iOS apps. The final decision will be revealed with the release of the initial developer beta builds for Android 15.


Android updates have focused on the beautification of user interfaces since Android 12 when Google introduced Material You and dynamic theming. However, things continue to get better, and a lot of improvement now comes through optimization of the existing UI designs. Recently spotted code suggests apps could look better on Android 15, with proper optimizations in place for displaying under the status bar and gesture navigation bar, so content can utilize every inch of the device display.

In the early days of Android, navigation buttons and the status bar rendered a large portion of our screens useless. However, screen-to-body ratios soared, and phone displays became larger, while Android allowed apps to display content under the status bar, around hole-punch cameras, and beneath the navigation bar or pill seen when using gestures. This is aptly named edge-to-edge mode, but even on Android 14, it is opt-in, and app developers aren’t pressured to implement it.

Yes, full-screen apps like e-book readers, video players, and the best Android games use edge-to-edge mode, but you won’t see it with apps like Google Keep or smaller apps developed by individuals. That’s partly because in-app buttons would overlap with the system bars or the effort involved in implementing the relevant APIs just won’t make sense.

edge-2-edge-mode-Android-15-forced-portrait

Source: Mishaal Rahman/Android Authority

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Android Apps

Don’t want to pay for Evernote? Try ColorNote, a free app I’ve depended on for years

Free Android apps on the Play Store are as abundant as drops of water in the ocean. Good free apps, however, are hard to come by. Now that Evernote is locked behind a paywall, many users are not as inclined to use the app anymore. If you’re looking for a free Evernote alternative that doesn’t bombard you with ads, there’s a fantastic alternative to consider.

ColorNote is a basic, lightweight note-taking app that I’ve been using for over a decade now. It isn’t anywhere near as pretty as Evernote, and the Android app isn’t available on other platforms, but I still think it’s the best free app of its kind that you should turn to in the wake of the recent Evernote change. Here’s why.

It does exactly what a note-taking app should

ColorNote note-taking app for Android

(Image credit: Namerah Saud Fatmi / Android Central)

At the risk of stating the obvious, ColorNote does a fine job of acting as your digital notepad. You can create lists, jot down text, and add tasks to your calendar. This bare-bones approach actually helps a lot because it keeps the note-taking app from looking too cluttered. As an added bonus, this also makes the app super lightweight.

You can color code your notes, archive them, and even back them up to your email. Backups can be automated, so you don’t have to worry about losing your data. There’s even a trash can for discarded notes, and it stores everything until you empty it out yourself.

ColorNote doesn’t have any ads within the app, which makes it even snappier and more attractive. Since you’re paying zilch for the experience, it’s hard to complain about the no-frills, bloat-free experience.

There are a surprising number of “premium” features

ColorNote note-taking app for Android

(Image credit: Namerah Saud Fatmi / Android Central)

We’ve established that this

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Android Apps

See What’s Free on Android and iOS Apps this Week

Thousands of Android and iOS apps are available, and while everyone has favorites, sometimes we seek something new. Aware that not all can afford paid apps, we at nextpit have scoured the Apple App Store and Google Play Store to find normally paid apps now available for free!

Firstly, you should bear in mind that the iOS and Android apps listed here are available for free. In other words, we have absolutely no idea when this offer will expire. It is imperative you download and install whatever app that strikes your fancy as soon as possible. 

We also ensured that none of these free apps in our list are rated at less than 3.5 stars. Unlike our Top 5 Apps of the Week, we do not perform in-depth reviews of the apps listed. 

Tip: If you stumbled upon an interesting app that is listed here but don’t need it just yet, we would recommend you install it before deleting it. By doing so, you will save the app in your library and install it later without having to pay for it, even after the promotion has ended.

Android apps available for free for a limited time

Android apps for productivity and lifestyle

  • Print Photo ($2.99): Most of us use our smartphones as our primary photography tool. This app lets you resize photos and make them ready for printing at a photo shop.
  • Manual Camera: DSLR Camera Pro ($4.99): If you want to exercise more creativity using your smartphone’s camera, this app provides manual controls.
  • Loan Calculator ($14.99): While death and taxes are considered certainties in life, I do think loans fall under such a category as well. This app lets you know just how much you owe creditors like banks. 
  • Sleep Sound (
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Android Apps

Get Your Free Apps of the Week here!

What do you know—we are now in the second half of 2023. How fast time flies! However, that does not change the fact that it is yet again another brand new week where you can check out nextpit’s free apps of the week. Published twice a week, we hope that you will be able to benefit from our list of free apps.

These apps are free on iPhone and Android temporarily. Normally they are paid apps, but developers occasionally offer them at no cost at all. We hunt for the best deals for you twice-weekly on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Note that while the list of apps here is free at the time of publishing, these deals do tend to expire without any prior warning based on the developer’s own preferences. The promotional period for apps on these platforms can end at any time at the behest of the developer.

NextPit ensures none of these apps in our free list are rated lower than 3.5 stars. Unlike our Top 5 Apps of the Week, we did not install and review any of the listed apps. You are strongly encouraged to perform your due diligence before downloading, as some of them might have hidden in-app purchases.

Tip: If you find an interesting app on our list but don’t need it now, install, and delete it. This will save the app to your library, allowing you to install it later without having to fork out a fee, even after the promotion ends.

Android apps available for free for a limited time

Android apps for productivity and lifestyle

  • Unit Converter Pro [4.7-stars / $0.99]: Do you need to convert between different units in your everyday life? This app gets the job done, and then some.
  • QR and Barcode
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Android Apps

Free Android & iOS Apps This Week!

We have now come to the end of yet another hectic week at work and life in general. In fact, it is hard to believe that half a year is going to pass us by soon. Why not sit back and relax by enjoying some free apps and games on the Google Play and Apple App Store? 

Normally, these apps will have a price tag attached to them, but for a limited time only, you can pick them up for free on iPhone and Android. Do take note that this list is published twice weekly, on Tuesdays and on Fridays.

These are not free apps by themselves, let’s be honest. These are normally paid apps on Google Play and Apple App Store which will require you to pay if you want them. However, developers do get generous occasionally by making their apps available to the masses for free. This is what we do twice a week—look through the Google Play Store and Apple App Store to look for the best bargains for you.

Note that while the list of apps here is free at the time of publishing, these deals have a tendency to expire without any prior warning based on the developer’s whims and fancy. The promotional period for apps on these platforms can be unpredictable and can end just like that.

NextPit ensures none of these apps in our free list have a lower than 3.5 rating. Unlike our Top 5 Apps of the Week, we have not reviewed any of these. You are encouraged to perform your due diligence before downloading, as some of them might have hidden costs.

Tip: If you find an interesting app on our list but don’t need it now, install, and delete it afterward. This will save the app to your library,

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