[ale] OT: Blocking Android app access over wifi

[neal at mnopltd.com]

On 2019-05-22 12:01, DJ-Pfulio via Ale wrote:
> I've had my Purell stolen by foreign customs when leaving to come to 
> the
> USA.  Overzealous interpretations of US prohibited carry on.

My point w.r.t. cruise was that Purell is provided at entrance to the 
buffet, and most guests use it.  Then some bozo sneezes, and of course, 
when you sneeze, if you are a bozo, you sneeze into your given hand.  
And then you use that hand to pick up the tongs.  Which has now 
contaminated the tongs.

RCC also has Purell in multiple places such that you can re-goop your 
serving hand as you head for your table.   Or just always use the dining 
hall.   IMHO, the food on your plate in the dining hall has been touched 
by far fewer hands, and food contamination flows in one direction.  The 
buffet is just a giant contagion bowl of random motion.

> 
> Also had water purchased AT THE GATE, inside security, taken 10 ft from
> entering the aircraft door. This has happened in 3 different countries
> ... actually from 3 different continents on return flights to the USA.
> 
> I've always been able to live without data connectivity away from home
> and work. Sure, it is "nice to have", but just get your offline maps 
> and
> mark the places you want to see BEFORE leaving.

I agree.  I build Google maps for each port, including important phone 
numbers, and then export to a .Kmz file, then import that into Maps.Me.  
Then I don't need data based mapping.

BUT, when the poop hits the ventilator, the bus gets a flat, the rental 
car doesn't show up, somebody twists an ankle and you NEED an Uber,  you 
may still need local phone service.   Payphones a tourist can access are 
mighty rare in the EU.


> What happens when your
> phone is stolen at the first port?  A friend had his phone stolen on
> day-1 of a 3 week European trip (along with his wallet all credit 
> cards,
> cash).  His backup phone was stolen on day-2.  Thankfully, his passport
> wasn't stolen.

I agree, it's a challenge. Regrettably, pickpockets are common in the 
EU, especially Italy.   It's a risk-less crime - there is little to no 
chance a tourist will return to the EU for a trial date.  No return 
witness, case gets dismissed.  So they operate with impunity.  And they 
get real good at it.

> 
> On 5/22/19 12:03 PM, Neal Rhodes via Ale wrote:
>> We got back recently from a transatlantic cruise back-to-back with a
>> Mediterranean cruise.   We did the opposite of what you have done - we
>> did not use ship data at all.   I had a UK SIM card from going to
>> Ireland last year and stuffed that in.  20GBP for 8GB of data.   And
>> roaming within EU is required.  So we had no data onboard, but data 
>> and
>> voice as soon as we hit ports.   Practically, we wanted voice and data
>> in ports - that's where we might get into trouble and need it.  
>> Onboard
>> ship we have a sick bay.
>> 
>> Honestly, on RCC even the comedians onstage get to joke about how bad
>> the ship's WIFI is.  You probably don't have the bandwidth to get into 
>> a
>> lot of trouble.
>> 
>> Yes, I think the Data Saver only applies to mobile data usage.  Maybe
>> just leave the tablets in Airplane mode as others have suggested.
>> 
>> I will note that practically, in dozens of ports from Azores to
>> Dubrovnik we encountered ZERO customs.  We just walked off and on the
>> ship.  Only thing the ship cared about was smuggle booze onboard.  
>> This
>> WAS a bit of a hassle on the flight back, because customs in 
>> Copenhagen
>> groused that our password wasn't stamped on entry into the EU in the
>> Azores.
>> 
>> regards and have a nice trip.  Use Purell EVERYWHERE.   Especially 
>> AFTER
>> you touch the tongs others have touched.
>> 
>> Neal
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On 2019-05-22 09:29, Chris Fowler via Ale wrote:
>>> Not sure if this is really OT since Android = Linux ;)
>>> 
>>> I'm going on a cruise in a few days and have purchased the maximum
>>> data package from the ship.  I need to severely limit wifi usage on 
>>> my
>>> Note 8.  I see I can block background from "Mobile Data", but I don't
>>> see a wifi option.  I see I can restrict certain wifi APs and I'm
>>> thinking that my treat them as mobile.
>>> 
>>> I've deleted apps I do not really need.  I've block K-9 mail from
>>> background on mobile, but I'd like to block it from foreground so 
>>> that
>>> it only syncs when I tell it to.  I'll check its config.  I'll delete
>>> FaceBook and Messenger.  I don't want to delete Dropbox or NextCloud
>>> so I need to restrain them.
>>> 
>>> I've installed Google's Datally and it looks promising, but 
>>> everything
>>> it does seems to be for mobile data only.  I'd really like to treat
>>> wifi with the same level of priority.
>>> 
>>> Any suggestions from those that may have locked their phone down?
> _______________________________________________
> Ale mailing list
> Ale at ale.org
> https://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale
> See JOBS, ANNOUNCE and SCHOOLS lists at
> http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo