5 votes

Are there any android 13 apps that can successfully spoof location (or otherwise thwart stalkerware)

(apologies if this isn't the correct place to ask, I'm just a bit out of ideas)
(content warning for abusive parents)

I have a friend who's abusive parents track her location using the stalkerware app life360.

she currently runs graphene os (android 13) on a pixel 7 pro.

in my past android experience there are plenty apps that can spoof your location via developer settings. however they all crash on android 13 (or at least on graphene..)

see below (none of these work, and they also crash on my android 13 phone, but they have worked for me in the past on like android 9):
https://github.com/mcastillof/FakeTraveler
https://github.com/wesaphzt/privatelocation
https://github.com/warren-bank/Android-Mock-Location
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lexa.fakegps&gl=US

if there are no functioning apps that will do this. do you know any other solutions? on other android roms or with root with magisk / xposed? obviously this is less secure than graphene os but the current problem is her parents more than anything else.

we r also considering a secondary phone just for the stalkerware which can be opportunistically left in innocent places. or just killing the life360 app on occasion when needed. or just letting the phone die when it needs to. But not sure how obvious this might be to the abusers. any insight is appreciated.

(suggestions like "leave her parents" are good but far easier said than done and while it will eventually happen its not feasible at the moment. That being said if you can provide detail suggestions are welcome)

Thanks :)

11 comments

  1. [2]
    cfabbro
    (edited )
    Link
    It seems like a reasonably complicated process, but this appears to be the sort of thing you're looking for: https://www.xda-developers.com/how-to-fake-location-android-gps-spoofing/

    It seems like a reasonably complicated process, but this appears to be the sort of thing you're looking for:
    https://www.xda-developers.com/how-to-fake-location-android-gps-spoofing/

    If you want to fake your location on any app or game on Android, here's how you can use GPS spoofing and fake your real-time location.

    2 votes
    1. KittyCat
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      I'd be comfortable walking her through the process having done a lot of custom rom stuff myself in the past. Just depends on if we can find a decent rom for her phone. Thanks for the suggestion...

      I'd be comfortable walking her through the process having done a lot of custom rom stuff myself in the past. Just depends on if we can find a decent rom for her phone. Thanks for the suggestion :). Although she would need to wipe her phone again lol.

      1 vote
  2. [7]
    moocow1452
    Link
    Turning off location services/gps/airplane mode is always an option, but it should be an option in developer mode to allow mock locations....

    Turning off location services/gps/airplane mode is always an option, but it should be an option in developer mode to allow mock locations.

    https://eos-gnss.com/knowledge-base/articles/mock-location-android-eos-tool-pro#:~:text=Go%20to%20your%20%E2%80%9CSettings%E2%80%9D%2C,the%20%E2%80%9CAllow%20mock%20locations%E2%80%9D.

    That being said, ain't no solution like a burner. If they trust her to set up the app herself, could throw it on a BlueStacks emulator and just feed it locations IRL or otherwise.

    2 votes
    1. [6]
      KittyCat
      Link Parent
      as i understand it life360 reports when it gets denied access to the location. so thats not really an option. That EOS app might work but it seems like it requires a physical device to be paired...

      as i understand it life360 reports when it gets denied access to the location. so thats not really an option.

      That EOS app might work but it seems like it requires a physical device to be paired to the phone.. not ideal but maybe an option if its not too expensive.

      Also, how would one feed locations to blustacks, like remotely? We want her parents to be able to see her location most of the time (when shes not doing anything) so they dont get suspicious but then be able to when needed switch to a fake location. If that requires physical access to blustacks thats not really ideal.

      1 vote
      1. [5]
        moocow1452
        Link Parent
        Was more of a hypothetical thing, but in theory it could be some sort of server push thing where the app is installed on the emulator, and it just passes along the genuine location until you hit a...

        Was more of a hypothetical thing, but in theory it could be some sort of server push thing where the app is installed on the emulator, and it just passes along the genuine location until you hit a button, and then it doesn't.

        Either way, its own physical device shouldn't be necessary as long as you go into developer settings and turn on Mock Locations. Unless life365 has ways to work around it, it should just report the set location as is. Or if she's already running her own custom ROM, just run an older version until a better solution presents itself.

        1. [4]
          KittyCat
          Link Parent
          her phone is so new that I don't think older custom roms are available. The phone shipped with android 13 so I'd be surprised if an older rom were available.

          her phone is so new that I don't think older custom roms are available. The phone shipped with android 13 so I'd be surprised if an older rom were available.

          2 votes
          1. [3]
            moocow1452
            Link Parent
            When in doubt, you may want to talk to some experts then. https://grapheneos.org/contact#community

            When in doubt, you may want to talk to some experts then.

            https://grapheneos.org/contact#community

            2 votes
            1. KittyCat
              Link Parent
              I've actually already posted over on their forums :) Maybe I'll give Matrix a go too

              I've actually already posted over on their forums :)
              Maybe I'll give Matrix a go too

              2 votes
            2. KittyCat
              Link Parent
              so update, that was a bit of a dead end. some dickhead basically just started accusing me of grooming my friend with literally no evidence and then said that obviously her abusive parents are...

              so update, that was a bit of a dead end.

              some dickhead basically just started accusing me of grooming my friend with literally no evidence and then said that obviously her abusive parents are correct to be abusing her and must have very sane and normal reasons to be doing so. And then the moderators deleted my post because "both sides".

              love being transgender on the internet!!!!!

              1 vote
  3. [2]
    Moonchild
    Link
    aluminum foil?

    aluminum foil?

    1 vote
    1. KittyCat
      Link Parent
      possibly could be used on occasion. But we don't want to arouse suspicion. Her parents have to believe that they are tracking her location 24/7. If it cuts out too often for whatever reason...

      possibly could be used on occasion. But we don't want to arouse suspicion. Her parents have to believe that they are tracking her location 24/7. If it cuts out too often for whatever reason they'll be angry.

      2 votes