Accessing app data files?

[Sunny Rio]

I run a program called Boinc on Windows and Android. It stores files on Windows in c:\programdata\boinc. I assume in Android it will be in Android\data, but on the phone that appears empty, even with show hidden files. When I connect to a Windows PC with a USB cable, I can see folders underneath that for every app on the phone, but they're all empty, which I know is a lie. How do I see these files? I need to change the config file in this app.

 

[Dannydet]

Even if you could see those files, they are encrypted to the device and cannot be altered or copied without rooting the device.

 

[Sunny Rio]

Why? This doesn't happen on Windows, Linux, Mac. Why are Google so over the top? It's my device!!! Let me see it!

 

[Dannydet]

Google and Apple have that in place as a security feature from day one....

 

[mikedt]

I run a program called Boinc on Windows and Android. It stores files on Windows in c:\programdata\boinc. I assume in Android it will be in Android\data, but on the phone that appears empty, even with show hidden files. When I connect to a Windows PC with a USB cable, I can see folders underneath that for every app on the phone, but they're all empty, which I know is a lie. How do I see these files? I need to change the config file in this app.

I think this is why govt law enforcement and other TLAs don't really like mobile devices, such as Android and iOS. Because the data is securely encrypted, and is not easily accessible to them, unlike it is on Windows systems

 

[Sunny Rio]

While I like the government not seeing my files, I strongly dislike not being able to see my OWN STUFF! So if I install Boinc on a Mac, I can't get to the configuration file? I fail to see how that works, since most of the configuration is done in a text file. The GUI only has basic functions. For anyone who's used Boinc, on a Mac I wouldn't be able to set project specific stuff like, well every single thing in this list: https://boinc.berkeley.edu/wiki/Client_configuration

It would appear this is incorrect, Macs aren't as bad as Android, on a Mac the file is accessible by the user in "/Library/Application Support/Boinc Data" - see http://dev.primegrid.com/forum_thread.php?id=3373&nowrap=true

So back to Android, their security features are out of control. Version 7 was good enough. After that everything went wrong. I can't run half the science projects I want to anymore. I'm going to write a com plaint to Google. Are they the ones in charge of Android core programming? Surely there could be an option for me to securely unlock the phone to make it properly accessible? Or is that called rooting?

 

[ocnbrze]

It is called rooting, but it is not secure at all. rooting cracks the phone's security allowing you to have read and write access to the OS which is not secure.

I am not familiar with Boinc. what kind of files are you trying to access? If they are data files and they are not something that you have saved or created in the app, then most likely those are under the app's data files which are encrypted as @Dannydet and @mikedt suggested.

 

[Sunny Rio]

It is called rooting, but it is not secure at all. rooting cracks the phone's security allowing you to have read and write access to the OS which is not secure.

I don't care, it lets me do what I want with my own property. When security gets in the way of the owner, it's wrong.

I am not familiar with Boinc. what kind of files are you trying to access? If they are data files and they are not something that you have saved or created in the app, then most likely those are under the app's data files which are encrypted as @Dannydet and @mikedt suggested.

They're just the config files. This is an example:

<app_config>
<app>
<name>genefer15</name>
<gpu_versions>
<gpu_usage>0.5</gpu_usage>
<cpu_usage>0.01</cpu_usage>
</gpu_versions>
</app>
</app_config>

That tells the scheduler program to use half a graphics card and bugger all CPU for each genefer15 task. So two tasks will run per graphics card, and no CPU cores will be set aside for them. Editing that text file is the only way to tell it this. I cannot do this on Android because Google has over the top OCD security. I never had security problems on Android 7, why have they added this crap? It's like they hired a security guy to fix the wide open rubbish Android 4, then just let him keep on going.

 

[ocnbrze]

Hmmmm maybe you should get a Linux phone. There are a few out there...... does not seem like android is right for you.

 

[Sunny Rio]

The only phone OS's I've heard of are Android and iOS. And I'd never touch an Apple with a bargepole. So can't I just install Linux on my Android phone, like I'd install Linux on my Windows PC? Both types of phone use ARM chips don't they?

 

[ocnbrze]

Nope you can't the os is locked in on the phone. Like i said there are many Linux phones out there. I think even xda has a phone with Linux on it. Some phones you can root it, and make changes to the os. But completely changing it to a different one is not possible as far as I know.

 

[Sunny Rio]

I avoid Linux on PCs because it's a horrid interface compared to Windows, and there's way less apps available. But I don't know about comparing Linux to Android phones.

 

[kate]

The built in file browser located in Settings->Storage should be able to access Android/Data, or install this app that is a shortcut to it:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.marc.files

If that doesn't work this app says it can access the folder:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.folderv.file

Based on a user review this file browser apparently can also:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.speedsoftware.explorer

 

[Sunny Rio]

The built in file browser located in Settings->Storage should be able to access Android/Data,

That program just crashes. I was using the thing called "files" on the desktop, but it's limited.

or install this app that is a shortcut to it:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.marc.files

I didn't spot this and tried the next one.

If that doesn't work this app says it can access the folder:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.folderv.file

This seems to work, and when it can't get in somewhere, it lets me give it permission.

Based on a user review this file browser apparently can also:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.speedsoftware.explorer

 

[lacopper]

If you need to find hidden files on Mac, then you can use one of the good software Commander One.
Show hidden files and folders on a Mac – Here’s how!

 

[Sunny Rio]

I only have an Android phone and a computer, no toys.