Why does ES FIle Manager call China constantly?

[AirCatHeavy]

I have a firewall on my phone so I can see when apps try to contact websites. I've noticed that ES File Manager has a never ending thirst for contacting China.

This doesn't make me comfortable.

Anyone know why?

 

[touringhaggis]

Hi,

I read that ES* apps are a bit spywareish and to generally be avoided. Your results tend to bare this assumption out. I personally deleted that app from my phone and have replaced it with X-Plore. Much less in your face with adds for extra apps and does the job rather well. It may take you a day or so to get used to the dual page layout, but once you have it down you'll not want to go back.

Regards,
Eric.

 

[mikedt]

It's phoning home. ES comes from China, and it might be best avoided if you value your privacy. It's something to be aware of with many "free" apps and how they monetize them.

 

[psionandy]

It's not the first time.... In the past they have said it was an error, and then it starts again,


I've stopped trusting it, and have removed it from all my devices, would suggest that ifnyoundont trust it do the same.

Solid explorer is what I use now

 

[AirCatHeavy]

Thanks all.

Uninstalled ES File Explorer

 

[AirCatHeavy]

The problem I have with X-Plore is it is a from a Slovakian country where they really are not bound by US privacy laws or any US laws at all.

X-Plore is based out of Slovakia.
Slovakia, officially the Slovak Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south.

I was going with ASTRO File Manager. Until I read their new super spam privacy invasion clause you have to agree to. Nope.

Solid Explorer is a no go because they require access to your IMEI
"BE AWARE OF IMEI GATHERING PERMISSION. Why does this app need my IMEI number?"

 

[Jhayzone]

I heard that Solid Explorer is one of the best file managers out there and is generally trusted by even the geekiest of Android enthusiast but if you're really that paranoid go and try MK Exolorer, I've been using this for a long time and it doesn't have ads and shady permissions.

 

[AirCatHeavy]

I heard that Solid Explorer is one of the best file managers out there and is generally trusted by even the geekiest of Android enthusiast but if you're really that paranoid go and try MK Exolorer, I've been using this for a long time and it doesn't have ads and shady permissions.

Please don't be personal. It's not a matter of my "paranoia"....it's just what I read and copied straight off of the apps' page on Google Play. I can only go by what I read because I do not know. But I will say that it wasn't just one comment that said that. There are quite a few there with that complaint if you read the reviews.

 

[touringhaggis]

The problem I have with X-Plore is it is a from a Slovakian country where they really are not bound by US privacy laws or any US laws at all.

X-Plore is based out of Slovakia.
Slovakia, officially the Slovak Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south.

Given that Slovakia is a member of the EU they are bound by EU privacy policies. Given that these are more stringent than US policies (the reason why I cannot legally store my customers data on US servers) you should feel safe using X-plore. That said, if you still don't feel safe with a non US based author then that is your choice. After all, the whole point of Android is to have choice.

Regards,
Eric.

 

[mikedt]

The problem I have with X-Plore is it is a from a Slovakian country where they really are not bound by US privacy laws or any US laws at all.

X-Plore is based out of Slovakia.
Slovakia, officially the Slovak Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south.

That's probably better for your privacy actually, as I suspect the CIA, FBI, NSA, etc. doesn't have full access to data that's on servers in Slovakia.

 

[michaelkenward]

That's probably better for your privacy actually, as I suspect the CIA, FBI, NSA, etc. doesn't have full access to data that's on servers in Slovakia.

Yes. The EU does better privacy protection than the US. In the same way that consumers in the EU get better protection than in the US, where the corporates rule the world. (Think warranties and after sales service.) Those of us in the UK wonder where will we stand after the Tory idiots achieve their hard Brexit.

 

[AirCatHeavy]

Real eye opener. Thanks for the perspective everyone. I do know that you're right that the USA has some of the most invasive surveillance of it's citizens of any country. Sad. "Land of the Free"?

 

[AirCatHeavy]

So listen to this.....

After un-installing ES File Manger, it is STILL trying to contact China

 

[mikedt]

So listen to this.....

After un-installing ES File Manger, it is STILL trying to contact China

Is it some other installed app, or is it the firmware itself pinging servers in China? What brand phone is it, like Huawei, ZTE, Motorola(Lenovo), Alcatel(TCL), etc?

If you know the IP address, try a reverse DNS lookup, that might show which company owns the server, e.g. ES, Cheetah Mobile, Qihoo 360, etc.

 

[codesplice]

So listen to this.....

After un-installing ES File Manger, it is STILL trying to contact China

What firewall app are you using? Due to the sandboxed nature of Android, apps aren't always able to positively identify other apps based on the PIDs that would be associated with network traffic. So is it returning a full package name, just a PID, or something else to suggest that an uninstalled app is still trying to phone home?