Red square flashing at edges of screen

[Tabarnak]

Has anyone else seen this? It happenes when I turn on the GPS and when I click a few other things...

 

[SharpBarb]

Do you have "Strict Mode" enabled under Settings->Developer Options?

 

[Tabarnak]

I was on, off now but still getting the red square

 

[stenzor]

 

[bobthebob]

me too - don't know what the hell this is. very annoying.

 

[abundantmind]

Me too. What I find the most disturbing is that it tends to flash when I'm viewing what I consider to be fairly "personal" stuff -- like text messages. It also seems that there is a slight lag immediately after the flash, which makes me wonder if some virus might be taking a screenshot and sending the image off to someone, somewhere.

Disturbing, if it's true.

 

[quickaudi]

what OS/ROM, what apps are running in the background?

 

[SweatyPits]

 

[abundantmind]

I've actually got a Nexus S, but I've noticed the issue popping up on various hardware platforms. Just search for "red flashing border" and you'll see that it also affects the Galaxy Nexus and an Asus Tablet. The Asus tablet thread has a "screenshot" that shows exactly what happens on my Nexus S.

This morning I just got a bank deposit notice via SMS. When I opened up the SMS thread, the red border flashed for about 10-15 seconds before I got control of my phone, again. It stands to reason that IF THIS IS A VIRUS, it was copying information from the entire thread -- including the pages and pages of old SMS messages that are no longer visible (need to scroll up) on the screen.

Very, very disturbing!

I'm on 4.0.4 stock
Kernel version 3.0.8-g6656123
android-build@vpbs1#1
Thu Feb 2 16:56:02 PST 2012

 

[zebug]

I searched for that exact string, "red flashing border" and nothing popped up for the tablet for me. Could you link the post here so people can see what this looks like?

 

[dhworph]

definitely a strict mode thing. I just turned it on and got the red box when launching camera app. Maybe try turning strict mode off and then doing a reboot.

After turning strict mode off, mine is still doing the red border flash. I just rebooted and now it has gone back to normal.

 

[KillerQ97]

Me too. What I find the most disturbing is that it tends to flash when I'm viewing what I consider to be fairly "personal" stuff -- like text messages. It also seems that there is a slight lag immediately after the flash, which makes me wonder if some virus might be taking a screenshot and sending the image off to someone, somewhere.

Disturbing, if it's true.

Haha...

I'm sure the virus people would eliminate the flash portion of their sneaky screen shots. And to think that the first release had a shutter sound as well...

 

[phw8558]

Haha...

I'm sure the virus people would eliminate the flash portion of their sneaky screen shots. And to think that the first release had a shutter sound as well...

^^^LOL .Also was getting it on the evo 3d and was on strict as well. Will reboot and see what happens.

So far so good.

 

[Burgmann]

I had same problem with 4.0.4 on Galaxy S2.
I toggled Strict Mode on and back off -- then did restart.
red border flash seems to be gone now.

 

[Dubbin1]

It is strict mode doing what its supposed to do.

 

[TimFoo]

It is strict mode doing what its supposed to do.

I suggest anyone with this condition practices backing up all their apps.

Have the same red flashing boundary on my tablet when I launch Chrome and the red flash is extra long/prounced when I save a bookmark. It may meant that the app is sending a message to their 'server' in the 'cloud' or writing to the SDcard or something .

From the www it looks like it is meant to be a warning of sorts from android.os.StrictMode when the tablet is in developer mode. Can hardly comprehend the situation.
One bad thing that may eventually happen is for the Android OS to Have a stack overflow and if the firmware does not trap this condition, it is going bellyup and may end up even hanging up on could boot (startup).

I don't know if that was the real reason the last time it happens to my tablet and I had to get some help from the service people to reinstall the firmware and ended up having to start with a clean slate (meaning: reinstall all apps).

I still have to live with having the same red flashing boundary on my tablet whenever I launch Chrome....

Now I keep fingers crossed evertime I have to go through a cold boot at startup.

P/S I use a humble AC Rayan Tab 7 on WiFi.

 

[TimFoo]

I just checked, my strictmode is not enabeled.
My case could be something else.

TIA, Will appreciate any suggestions.