topic Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: #InnovationLab #42: Library Privacy... in Tech Talk

#InnovationLab #42: Library Privacy...

TheMystic — Tue, 07 Jun 2022 06:39:50 GMT

This post is about a configuration change in My Files app.

I'm not sure if this is an oversight, but showing files from hidden folders or folders with .nomedia files in the default libraries or recent files list is a bad idea.

Some of my WhatsApp friends send me files that are of a private nature. These files automatically go inside a folder called Private inside the WhatsApp media folder.

Unfortunately, these files show up both inside the libraries as well as in the Recent files list of My Files app. This despite the setting to not show hidden files. That setting implicitly should also hide files inside hidden folders or folders with a .nomedia file in them.

Same holds true for other folders with a .nomedia file in them.

Kindly fix this.

Re: #InnovationLab #42: Library Privacy...

mHappiee — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 05:40:12 GMT

How do you send "Private nature" files ? 🤔

Re: #InnovationLab #42: Library Privacy...

mHappiee — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 05:49:39 GMT

When I turn OFF "show hidden system files" in my phone, it doesn't not show hidden files in Recent file list of My Files app

Re: #InnovationLab #42: Library Privacy...

TheMystic — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 06:24:38 GMT

This is not about the files you send, but ones you receive.

Some of my friends send me interesting messages (images, videos, documents) that can cause embarassment if they are visible in the gallery. So i change the media visibility of such chats to OFF:

You can set this for each contact separately by going to the View Contact setting.

Once done, all media files and documents they send are saved inside a folder called Private, within the media folder for each type of file. WhatsApp automatically creates the Private folder inside each media folder and also creates a .nomedia file inside each of them, so any app respecting this setting wouldn't show these files by default.

The My Files app ignores this when you access the libraries or the recent files list.

Re: Re: #InnovationLab #42: Library Privacy...

mHappiee — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 06:22:37 GMT

Nope... WhatsApp Status folder also has .nomedia ... So status gets ignored when I turn OFF "show system hidden files"

Re: Re: #InnovationLab #42: Library Privacy...

TheMystic — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 06:22:35 GMT

Don't know which version of the My Files app you are using.

You won't see the hidden files when you browse normally. But when you go through the library route or the recent files list, they are showing up. Atleast on my device that has My Files app version 13.0.01.31.

Re: Re: Re: #InnovationLab #42: Library Privacy...

TheMystic — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 06:23:51 GMT

See if the same thing happens for the documents folder, as well as pictures and videos folder (those inside the WhatsApp media folder).

Re: Re: Re: #InnovationLab #42: Library Privacy...

mHappiee — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 06:23:34 GMT

Ooo
.
My "My Files" is 12.2.04.441

Re: Re: Re: Re: #InnovationLab #42: Library Privacy...

mHappiee — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 06:25:34 GMT

Yes... video and images are being ignored... Idk about documents... But documents should also be ignored...

Re: Re: Re: Re: #InnovationLab #42: Library Privacy...

TheMystic — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 06:25:52 GMT

That could explain it. But do check for the other folders i mentioned above. May be they haven't paid attention to this yet.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: #InnovationLab #42: Library Privacy...

mHappiee — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 06:26:22 GMT

Re: Re: Re: Re: #InnovationLab #42: Library Privacy...

mHappiee — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 06:30:30 GMT

Documents are also being ignored... (Not restricted to WhatsApp folder only, the folder had .nomedia file)

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: #InnovationLab #42: Library Privacy...

TheMystic — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 06:35:55 GMT

Then I'll consider this a bug with this version of the app. But if possible, ask someone to send you a document file after turning off the media visibility of that person's chat. And let me know too.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: #InnovationLab #42: Library Privacy...

TheMystic — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 06:40:40 GMT

By the way, did you open any of those files first using the file manager? They show up in the recent files list only if you open them.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: #InnovationLab #42: Library Privacy...

mHappiee — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 06:44:31 GMT

Ok...
.
I'll check this and update...

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: #InnovationLab #42: Library Privacy...

mHappiee — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 06:45:17 GMT

Nope... It was .tmp file auto generated system file

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: #InnovationLab #42: Library Privacy...

mHappiee — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 08:56:11 GMT

I checked images, videos, documents...
.
When done private, it does not show in Recent files in My Files or in Gallery

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: #InnovationLab #42: Library Privacy...

mHappiee — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 08:56:56 GMT

documents were zip files and image documents (original .jpg image)

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: #InnovationLab #42: Library Privacy...

TheMystic — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 09:04:39 GMT

Try documents in pdf format. I have a few of them, which are essentially a few pictures put together in pdf format, and sent to me by a friend. These documents show up both in the documents library, as well as the recent files list if i open them from within the documents library.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: #InnovationLab #42: Library Privacy...

mHappiee — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 09:16:36 GMT

Hmmmmm....
.
After opening it is listed on Recent files... But before that it was not listed
.
.
.
Now i see your problem