AdHell 2 - Rootless Ad Blocking

[FiendFyre]

AdHell 2​

*** Disclamer

I first want to note that the original developer did not help me in any way with this, he did not provide me with the code (it was found from public forks from his Github), nor guidance on modifying the app. I do not want to cause him any further inconvenience or trouble with his job.
I simply forked the code and made some minor changes, so majority credit goes to the original dev, but as he is now dissociated from the project any other developers (including some of the contributors from the first version) are welcome to help continue. I take no responsibility for any issues this app may cause with your device.

Introduction

Hi everyone, since Adhell was removed from the Play Store and the code was taken down from Github, I (not the original developer) got a copy of the publicly available code and made some changes to remove dependence on the original developer's server and removed the subscription on the new permissions feature. It was a very quick and dirty edit, but it was just to ensure the app still works once the original developer takes down everything related from his website, which the app relies on.
The way this app works was to utilize Samsung's Knox framework which included a Firewall feature that allowed ads to be blocked. The additional features such package disabling and permission blocking were also done through Knox. In order to make a Knox compatible app, a license has to be used, and the only way to get one is from Samsung unfortunately. It is fairly easy to get a "development" key from Samsung which lasts for 1-3 months (I believe) and so I have modified the app to require each user to enter their own key. I know this is not ideal, but it will keep working like this, and it reduces threat of Samsung revoking the license and disabling the app entirely for everyone. If any developer wants to help me rework the app, please let me know, help is definitely appreciated, and my code is still open source and available on Github. I'm a broke college student with very little time to work on this, and am by no means a professional dev, so I apologize in advance for slow updates and probably little in the way of additional features. I will do my best to keep it working.

Installation instructions

So to procure your own "developer" license, you need to go to this link, and either register for a Samsung account or sign into your own, and then enroll as a developer. After that proceed to this link and generate a Knox Standard SDK Enterprise license key with a generic "key alias" (I recommend something like "testing", not something like "adhell", just in case). Copy over the key to your device somehow (email, Join, Pushbullet, etc.) as it is pretty long. When you open up the new Adhell 2 app, you will see a popup asking you to enable device admin access, enter a key, and then enable license, do the three steps in that order. If the key is not entered correctly, the license will not activate.

Download

This link will randomize the package name to stop Samsung from blocking the app. Every 2 minutes you can rebuild the app, but please only do this if the current version stop working.
http://adhell.nobelium.xyz

Changelog

Current changelog: -- 8/27/17
[note] -- Made all features free
[changed] -- Changed app to rely on user supplied Knox license

If anyone wants to donate, it is very much appreciated, and here is a PayPal link - this will go towards funding my college tuition which is too damn expensive.
The app will be free and I will not be re-enabling the subscription or making any features premium.

XDA:DevDB Information
AdHell 2, Device Specific App for the Samsung Galaxy S8

Contributors
FiendFyre, Raymonf
Source Code: https://github.com/MilanParikh/Adhell2


Version Information
Status: Beta
Current Beta Version: 2.2.0
Beta Release Date: 2017-11-27

Created 2017-08-27
Last Updated 2017-11-27

 

[Xingle]

Nice. But why did you remove the blocked url reports?

 

[FiendFyre]

Nice. But why did you remove the blocked url reports?

I didn't think I did, the button is still there?

 

[Xingle]

O yea. I just it after turning on the app. My bad. Sorry.
Thanks a lot for the app. If you add a donation app on play store I might be able to donate something. Do let me know if you ever do something like that. Paypal isn't my thing unfortunately :|

---------- Post added at 06:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:53 PM ----------

I didn't think I did, the button is still there?

O yea. I just it after turning on the app. My bad. Sorry.
Thanks a lot for the app. If you add a donation app on play store I might be able to donate something. Do let me know if you ever do something like that. Paypal isn't my thing unfortunately :|

 

[Hobson318]

followed your steps. got my key. enter it in and it fails to register. what is the middle button for in the popup? submit knox key i think it says. i have tried reinstalling it a couple times. i have used both the really long knox key samsung gave me and the much shorter key. i have tried with and without pushing the middle button before the activation button. nothing seems to work. no idea what i am doing wrong here. verizon s8+ running unlocked firmware.

Edit: Just went and got an enterprise key as someone on reddit suggested that was the correct key to use. No difference. Still won't activate.

 

[EgoMaximus]

Nothing happens when i click submit nox key or activate

 

[meatlocker]

followed your steps. got my key. enter it in and it fails to register. what is the middle button for in the popup? submit knox key i think it says. i have tried reinstalling it a couple times. i have used both the really long knox key samsung gave me and the much shorter key. i have tried with and without pushing the middle button before the activation button. nothing seems to work. no idea what i am doing wrong here. verizon s8+ running unlocked firmware.

I have the same issue. I have made sure that the license type is Enterprise (the first tab on the Samsung site). The 'Submit Knox' key never grays out, and the 'Activation' takes almost a minute before it comes back as failed.

I have Adhell 1.7.3 installed but deactivated. Don't know if that matters.

 

[Bart3n]

Submitted and got 2 keys.. neither one of them works..

 

[FiendFyre]

followed your steps. got my key. enter it in and it fails to register. what is the middle button for in the popup? submit knox key i think it says. i have tried reinstalling it a couple times. i have used both the really long knox key samsung gave me and the much shorter key. i have tried with and without pushing the middle button before the activation button. nothing seems to work. no idea what i am doing wrong here. verizon s8+ running unlocked firmware.

Nothing happens when i click submit nox key or activate

I have the same issue. I have made sure that the license type is Enterprise (the first tab on the Samsung site). The 'Submit Knox' key never grays out, and the 'Activation' takes almost a minute before it comes back as failed.

I have Adhell 1.7.3 installed but deactivated. Don't know if that matters.

Working on figuring out the License activation fail everyone, the same version (same .apk file) was working just fine yesterday and testers had no issues. Seems like Samsung might have done something on their end. Give me a little bit to see what's going on.

 

[Xingle]

Activated fine on my end.

 

[kyzn]

Nice keeping an eye on this.

Sent from my SM-G950F using XDA Labs

 

[FiendFyre]

Ok everyone, it seems like Samsung is blocking my app specifically. When I change the package name (basically the internal app identifier) the license verification goes through just fine. I just tested on two devices and it worked just fine once I changed the package name, and if I change it back the verification breaks again. I'll see if I can find a permanent fix to stop them from blocking the app, but in the mean time I'll post up a new .apk with a changed package name. Keep in mind, Samsung seems to be monitoring this, and it will likely stop working again.

 

[Hobson318]

Sammy has people working hard on Sunday. Already none of my keys are working. SDK (either long or short) nor Enterprise are working.

 

[FiendFyre]

Sammy has people working hard on Sunday. Already none of my keys are working. SDK (either long or short) nor Enterprise are working.

Damn, updating now.

 

[testreaper]

This may sound a bit weird but adhell (1) is working jusf fine for me..

 

[Hobson318]

Damn, updating now.

working now with the enterprise key and the latest apk

 

[FiendFyre]

working now with the enterprise key and the latest apk

Ok good, thanks for letting me know

 

[Nedrozak]

It works with the latest apk. Good job!

 

[FiendFyre]

This may sound a bit weird but adhell (1) is working jusf fine for me..

Do you mean the original app from the play store? I do believe that is still working, if you find the apk online (it's posted everywhere), problem is it's reliant on some stuff from the original dev's servers, so when that goes down, anyone trying to install will have trouble. That's why I made this. But Samsung doesn't like me apparently.

It works with the latest apk. Good job!

Thanks!

 

[Pawbrotm]

It's actually starting to look silly how hard they are trying to stop people that don't care about their useless assistant that does only one thing - wastes resources and a potentially useful physical button. Button remappers first and now this.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk