Where to find phone battery Samsung Mini

Newcad

twopenny said:

"you can also still get old Android version compatible apps as "APK's" from places other than the Playstore." I've been told that you can only get apps from Playstore, so that's a revelation

Just google - Android 4.1 apks - to see if you can find the particular app that you are looking for.
You will need to change a setting on the phone to allow installs of apks: https://osoyoo.com/2020/10/30/how-to-enable-apk-installs-on-your-android-device-running-android-4-1-or-later/

Of course Google don't recommend using 3rd party apks and will say they are not as 'safe' as getting your apps from the Playstore. (but of course with old Android versions you can't still get them from Playstore).
Google do have a point to some extent, there is always a chance that some bad actor has sneaked malware into an apk code, but it doesn't happen often and if you use a popular site for getting your apks then you should be fine.

HillStreetBlues

I agree with Newcad I've sideloaded  a few apk files and never had an issue.

400ixl

HillStreetBlues said:

I agree with Newcad I've sideloaded  a few apk files and never had an issue.

Until you do. Google take down thousands of apps a year that are found to have trojan viruses in them. Unless you know how to validate how they have been certified you are at a much higher risk of side loading.

Its the most innocuous of applications that are the ones which are infected.

Not saying I don't side load, but I at least have the knowledge to to some fairly decent checks on them. Wouldn't recommend it to anyone who can't. You could say good bye to your bank account balance (at the extreme end) or give away passwords etc.

Newcad

400ixl said:

HillStreetBlues said:

I agree with Newcad I've sideloaded  a few apk files and never had an issue.

Until you do. Google take down thousands of apps a year that are found to have trojan viruses in them.

Takes them down from - The Google Playstore.

Which says a lot about whether getting apps from the Playstore is actually any "safer" than sideloading apk's.

twopenny

OK but surely if I'm using a different gadget from anything else I use the virus wouldn't affect anything on my 'puter or main phone?

Or does it go by router rather than appliance?

400ixl

Newcad said:

400ixl said:

HillStreetBlues said:

I agree with Newcad I've sideloaded  a few apk files and never had an issue.

Until you do. Google take down thousands of apps a year that are found to have trojan viruses in them.

Takes them down from - The Google Playstore.

Which says a lot about whether getting apps from the Playstore is actually any "safer" than sideloading apk's.

In the majority of cases, before they are put into the play store in the first place. So yes it is far safer than side loading apps which have likely been modified after being extracted from the Play Store or have never been in the Play Store at all.

Unless you really know what you are doing side loading apps is not a good idea for the vast majority of people.

But then again, neither is running out of support OS versions, which then need side loaded out of support applications.

Encouraging people to use applications which have a much higher possibility of containing remote control software or key loggers is not really a good idea.

400ixl

twopenny said:

OK but surely if I'm using a different gadget from anything else I use the virus wouldn't affect anything on my 'puter or main phone?

Or does it go by router rather than appliance?

Unlikely to transfer to other local devices but not unheard of as they are inside the firewall. But hopefully if the other devices are secure and patched there shouldn't be an issue. But why risk it in the first place?

Newcad

400ixl said:

Encouraging people to use applications which .....

There is a big difference between "Encouraging people" and offering advice to a specific question from a specific user

PS. 'Always buy up to date stuff' is not exactly MSE.

PRAISETHESUN

twopenny said:

OK but surely if I'm using a different gadget from anything else I use the virus wouldn't affect anything on my 'puter or main phone?

Or does it go by router rather than appliance?

Personally I don't recommend side-loading apps unless you know exactly what you are doing. Whilst the risk can be low if you take steps to protect yourself, it is never zero.

It's unlikely any viruses would be transmitted between your secondary phone and your main phone/computer, unless you connected them directly (eg. to share photos, etc). The main risk would probably come from any accounts you use on the secondary phone potentially being compromised (eg. the passwords to your email or Google accounts get stolen, etc).

twopenny

I'm pretty much computer savey but phones are a mystery and I swore I wouldn't have apps - but I thought it would be a good place to start learning.

I'll probably ask one of the IT charity folks and I've only got as far as Google Playstore  and not tried it. Sounds like I should get a cheap new phone really as a novice with no children to ask

In answer to the question 'why a tablet and laptop' I have a physical problem and am sometimes stuck at home, even laying on the bed so I could watch Iplayer etc on a tablet. It's also quicker loading for a play on the forums or quick search. 

I don't want to be carrying a bigger phone everywhere when I rarely use it.