Textra update blocks Stagefright exploit

[PereDroid]

If I had to guess, I'd say Textra is probably one of the top 5 or 6 SMS apps available in the Play Store. I know I've seen a lot of DF'ers recommend it here when people ask which ones to use. The July 31st update of Textra may just have a feature that will get more of us to try it. I tried it once ages ago and thought I'd give it another go around after I read about this.

The July 31st update of Textra provides a fix for the Stagefright exploit recently announced.

Quote from Delicious Inc. changelog (Textra Dev):

• IMPORTANT: Protection from Stagefright! Video messages can contain an exploit called Stagefright that can harm your phone. Textra SMS protects by ensuring new video messages can not automatically run the exploit.

Hopefully, the other SMS devs will follow suite and those of us on Non-Nexus devices won't have to wait for carrier/manufacturer updates.

Source: Textra
Play Store Link

 

[Jeffrey]

Thanks for the heads up @PereDroid

 

[PereDroid]

Pretty impressed actually. It's lightweight, and REALLY customizable. You can set different colors for the icon and the notification or the text bubbles for each conversation. You can quickly change sounds for each person. You can control the notification shade and quick reply.
I haven't seen one do a lot of these things.


TapaTurbo

 

[dezymond]

Saw the update the other day and wasn't too sure of what StageFright was until I googled it. Glad to see their team is on top of things when it comes to security.

I've been using Textra for about a year now? Hands down the best messaging app I've ever used and I've used them all. They recently implemented more customization options and it really is great. The best part is, even after all the texting I do, it doesn't slow down to crawl unlike a few other messaging apps I've tried in the past. An app really worth paying for.

 

[PereDroid]

Pay for? It's not free? Am I in a trial or something because it didn't ask for money.

TapaTurbo

 

[dezymond]

Pay for? It's not free? Am I in a trial or something because it didn't ask for money.

TapaTurbo

Well it is free, but I'm sure you've seen some ads (unless you're rooted and have adblock)? I think it was $1 so I paid it and I really like to support the devs who develop such great apps. Keeping them funded is what keeps up their great work. Now if I move to another device that isn't rooted, I'll still be ad free.

Sorry, should've used the word donated instead of paid.

 

[PereDroid]

Not rooted. No ads yet. It's been 2 days.

TapaTurbo

 

[liftedplane]

there's a few things I can't stand about it... the adverts for one... and no widget... otherwise I switched from handcent and haven't looked back

 

[liftedplane]

Well it is free, but I'm sure you've seen some ads (unless you're rooted and have adblock)? I think it was $1 so I paid it and I really like to support the devs who develop such great apps. Keeping them funded is what keeps up their great work. Now if I move to another device that isn't rooted, I'll still be ad free.

Sorry, should've used the word donated instead of paid.

I can't seem to find adblock anywhere anymore... used to have it...

 

[dezymond]

Not rooted. No ads yet. It's been 2 days.

TapaTurbo

I don't think ads become active until you've used it for awhile. I forget the time frame, but it's quite awhile actually.

 

[PereDroid]

I'll probably pay for it. I also like to support devs and despise ads in my SMS apps.
Not to mention the free money I've made on Google Rewards. Made about $20 so far.

TapaTurbo

 

[liftedplane]

I'll probably pay for it. I also like to support devs and despise ads in my SMS apps.
Not to mention the free money I've made on Google Rewards. Made about $20 so far.

TapaTurbo

I remember using locket for a while.... made $20 in 3 months... then they changed their entire system. dirtbags.

how's google rewards

 

[PereDroid]

Not going to get rich on it but its short and quick and has paid for quite a few apps for me.

TapaTurbo

 

[dezymond]

I signed up for Google Rewards and never got a survey or anything. I think I signed up late last year too...dang it

 

[Jonny Kansas]

First, off topic, My Google Rewards surveys go in spurts. I won't have any for a long time, then I'll have one every day for a week or so. I recommend downloading it and signing up. Worst case scenario, it just lays there on your device. Best case, you make a bit of change here and there for answering simple questions about your habits, likes, and dislikes that turn into free apps.

As for Stagefright and sms apps, I was reading an article the other day that Google plans to roll out the biggest update ever to Hangouts next week. I'm wondering if this update is going to add the better AW integration and etc. I know they've been working on that for quite a while. I guess it would make sense for them to bake the Stagefright patch into that update, but I'd much rather see them push the patch NOW and the fancy stuff next week.

That said, I may have to give textra a try. I've NEVER really cared about customizing the look of my texting app. It's there to send/recieve messages and pictures for me and that's about it. But, if this one's more secure in the meantime, maybe I'll have a change of heart on the bells and whistles and pay a buck to keep it.