Kindle safe from "drive by downloads" when in KOReader?

pmul · 08-19-2025, 09:45 AM

Hi,
I know that keeping a Kindle in Airplane mode keeps it safe from "drive by downloads" of new Kindle OS versions, but are we also safe when staying 100% in KOReader? It allows one to toggle/select WiFi from it's own menu. Can Amazon still do "drive by downloads" in this situation?

Frogm4n · 08-19-2025, 04:31 PM

No. KOReader runs on top of the regular Kindle OS, it does not replace it. Certain startup modes kill parts of the Kindle GUI (No Framework) but they don't disable background tasks. The only way to prevent an OS update is to turn on Airplane mode, delete any partial or fully downloaded update BIN files, and install and activate an OTA blocker. Then, you can turn Airplane mode back off.

08-19-2025, 09:45 AM	#1
pmul Enthusiast Posts: 36 Karma: 11764 Join Date: Jul 2009 Device: K-1, K-2-3G, K-3-3G, K4PC, K4iPhone, K4iPad, K-Touch-Wifi, K-Fire, DXG	Kindle safe from "drive by downloads" when in KOReader? Hi, I know that keeping a Kindle in Airplane mode keeps it safe from "drive by downloads" of new Kindle OS versions, but are we also safe when staying 100% in KOReader? It allows one to toggle/select WiFi from it's own menu. Can Amazon still do "drive by downloads" in this situation?

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08-19-2025, 04:31 PM	#2
Frogm4n Evangelist Posts: 465 Karma: 3579113 Join Date: Jul 2023 Device: Scribe 2022, OA2, PRS-350	No. KOReader runs on top of the regular Kindle OS, it does not replace it. Certain startup modes kill parts of the Kindle GUI (No Framework) but they don't disable background tasks. The only way to prevent an OS update is to turn on Airplane mode, delete any partial or fully downloaded update BIN files, and install and activate an OTA blocker. Then, you can turn Airplane mode back off.