Notes (PFA) app icon

Notes (PFA)

Create and manage notes

SECUSO Research Group · org.secuso.privacyfriendlynotes

Not rated yet 10K+ downloads v2.0.4 8 MB Android 5.0+ PEGI 3 · Everyone

  • Same certificate as the 2 other versions checked Details

At a glance

Latest version
v2.0.4 (23)
Updated
Apr 20, 2025 (1 year ago)
APK size
8 MB
Requires
Android 5.0+ (API 21)
CPU support
Any (no native code)
Category
Lifestyle (app)
Listed since
Jun 10, 2023 (at least)
Permissions
5 (1 sensitive)
Website
secuso.org
Developer contact
[email protected]
Privacy
Developer's privacy policy

About this APK

Notes (PFA) is an app by SECUSO Research Group in the Lifestyle category, listed since at least June 2023. It has no native code, so it runs on any Android processor.

Since version 2.0.2, the APK grew from 6.2 MB to 8 MB. It asks for 5 permissions, 1 of them sensitive: record audio. It asks for the same permissions as version 2.0.3.

What's new in v2.0.4

Added wished options to modify the appearance and behaviour. Fixed small bugs.

Description

From the listing uploaded by “appupdater”.

Privacy Friendly Notes allows you to take and manage notes on Android devices. It belongs to the Privacy Friendly Apps group developed by the research group SECUSO at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. More information can be found an secuso.org/pfa The following four types of notes are available: 1. Simple text notes 2. Checklist notes 3. Audio notes 4. Sketchnotes Furthermore, the notes can be grouped into categories, reminders can be assigned to notes and the notes can be exported to the device storage. How does Privacy Friendly Notes from other similar apps? 1. Minimal Permissions The permission "RECORD_AUDIO" (Category "Mikrofon") is required to record audio notes. In case this permission is not granted by the user (in Android versions higher than 6) it will not be possible to record audio notes. "WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" (Category "Speicher") is used to export notes to the device storage. In case this permission is not granted by the user (in Android versions higher than 6) it will not be possible to export notes. Beside the permissions above the permission “RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED” (Category “Normal/non-critical”) is required to reschedule notifications after a reboot. This permission cannot be modified by the user. For comparison: The Top Ten of similar apps from the Google Play Store , die im Google Play Store requires an average of 11,7 permissions (in December 2016). These are for instance the location permission or the permissions to access, modify or delete storage. 2. No advertisement Moreover, Privacy Friendly Password Generator distinguishes from many other weather applications in the way that it completely relinquishes advertisements. Advertisement might track a user's actions. It could also shorten battery life or use mobile data. You can reach us via Twitter - @SECUSOResearch (https://twitter.com/secusoresearch) Mastodon - @SECUSO_Research@bawü.social (https://xn--baw-joa.social/@SECUSO_Research/) Job opening - https://secuso.aifb.kit.edu/english/Job_Offers_1557.php

Version history

3 versions are listed, going back to v2.0.2.

All 3 versions

Security & authenticity

Security rating: Trusted

Signing certificate

  • Certificate issued to “Philipp Rack” Not the developer's name (“SECUSO Research Group”). Names in certificates can't be verified, so this alone proves nothing.
  • Same certificate as the 2 other versions checked

Store checks and file details

  • Developer signature verified Apr 20, 2025
  • Signed byCN=Philipp Rack
  • Signing certificate (SHA-1)CE:01:A6:12:18:B9:7A:C4:DE:AA:75:DA:4E:5A:FB:DA:05:9D:FF:20
  • File MD55c9683afc19003b2e2b08924792a3e7c
  • Uploaded by “appupdater” Gold tier · 117,810 followers · uploading since 2020

Scans and ratings come from the source store; the certificate comparisons are AAPKs's own, made from the files' published signatures (2 other versions compared). AAPKs doesn't scan files itself — compare the MD5 and signer after downloading.

Permissions (5)

Notes (PFA) requests 5 permissions, 1 of them sensitive.

Required hardware & features

Notes (PFA) APK: questions and answers

Can I install this APK over the version I already have?

Only if it is signed with the same certificate as the copy on your phone and isn't an older version. If Android says “App not installed”, the certificates differ; uninstalling your copy first works but deletes its data unless it is backed up.

Is the Notes (PFA) APK safe?

No one can promise that a file is safe, but some things can be checked. The source store rates this file Trusted. It is signed with the same certificate as the 2 other versions checked. After downloading, check that the file's MD5 is 5c9683afc19003b2e2b08924792a3e7c.

Tags

More Lifestyle apps