If you are using Samsung as your smartphone of choice, you might have come across the skmsagentservice Android app, and you might want to know a few things about it. Recent studies by World Watch have it that more than 95% of people worldwide are using a form of smart mobile devices, including smartphones, tablets, and iPads.
There are 5 types of operating system-providing companies including; iOS and Android. Android mobile devices, specifically Samsung devices, have an app called the skms agent service.
Many people are either unaware of or oblivious of its functions. What is this app? Is it legitimate? Is it some form of ransomware? What are its advantages and disadvantages? Get the answer to all these by reading this article.
What Is Skmsagentservice Android App?
The skms agent service is a system Android application with a package name com.skms.android.agent found in Samsung mobile devices, including phones and tablets, and some Android mobile devices.
The SKMS application is needed for Near Field Communication (NFC) operations using the Embedded Secure Element (eSE) hardware chip.
By system app, we mean that the mobile device needs the application for its functioning, which is why you find the app pre-installed on the mobile device even before buying it.
Most of the system apps such as KLMS agent and Nativedropboxagent are critical for the functioning of mobile devices, and some basic functionalities may be interfered with upon the removal of these apps.
What is The Function of The Skms Agent Service App?
The skms agent service app is found pre-installed as a system app such as silent logging in a Samsung mobile device, and this means that it has its role in the device. Simply put, the skmsagentservice app is a prerequisite if you want to share information between two or more eSE-enabled devices using NFC technology.
It supports communication between the devices’ applications and NFC and between NFC and eSE chips.
What Is The Purpose Of SKMS?
Skms denotes a repository or a collection comprising databases and tools for any company that provides IT services to clients. The repository has multiple roles, including collecting, analyzing, collating updating, presenting, and when needed, sharing information between the company providing IT and the clients. The SKMS basically have fur critical layers including;
- Data and Information Layer; this layer is responsible for collecting raw data and converting it to useful information.
- Information Integration Layer; this is another layer whose role is to process and integrate the information from the previous layer.
- Knowledge Processing Layer; in this layer, the information from the second layer is broken down, ready to be disseminated in the particular areas of application.
- Presentation Layer; this is the final layer of the skms, and it is the point where services are assigned to the clients.
Understanding Embedded Secure Element (eSE)
Any single mobile device has a tamper-proof silicon microchip on which safe data storage occurs. This very chip found as hardware is what’s called the eSE chip. When information is stored on the eSE chip, only authorized personnel can access it, which is the storage is considered safe.
The IT world has diversified eSE chips which are now available in various sizes and shapes. The chips are useful in many fields, including sales ticketing, transportation, payment operations, and access controls.
How Skmsagentservice app, NFC Technology, and eSE Relate
Are you wondering what the connection between skms agent service app, NFC technology, and eSE is? You will understand it in this section of the article. In a nutshell, the skmsagentservice app is the interface between skms and NFC services, and NFC services and eSE chips. It’s a sort of go-between.
Without skms agent service application, skms would never work, meaning that NFC and eSE would never interact. When you have to make payments using your mobile device or read NFC tags, you definitely need the skmsagentservice app. Without it, you would never be able to exploit those functionalities.
What Are The Permission Requirements For The Skms Agent Service App?
Most apps including com.tmobile.pr.adapt and com.wssyncmldm in mobile devices require permission(s) to operate. While some require one or only a few permissions, others need multiple permissions.
Thankfully, the skms agent service app only needs ‘Storage’ permission to work. To be sure about this, go to ‘Settings’ on the main menu, and select ‘Apps.’
From the list that appears, choose skmsagentservice. Check on the permission option, and you will realize that all the app needs is Storage permission. The fewer permission an app needs, the less burden it subjects the device to.
What is The Advantage of The Skms Agent App?
The skmsagentservice app is useful, especially if you utilize NFC mobile eSE services. Whether it’s at points of sale, shipment, or ticketing services, the app becomes necessary. Therefore, it’s not a question of whether the app is useful, but when it is useful.
Are There Disadvantages of The Skms Agent Service?
You might want to know whether the skmsagentservice app has any disadvantages. The main issue with this app is power consumption. Remember, the app comes pre-installed on Android phones like iothiddenmenu, and this has a lot of implications.
Like most system pre-installed apps, the skmsagentservice consumes power as it runs in the background, and you might need to charge your phone more often than you would do without it.
Second, the app takes part of the device’s RAM. RAM determines lots of things about a mobile device, including how fast it executes commands. The last bit of the disadvantages have to do with space consumption.
The app occupies a considerable amount of memory, which is also a concern, especially when the memory is consumed, and your mobile device starts slowing down. All the same, the skmsagentservice android app is crucial, and you definitely need it. Its advantages far outweigh the demerits.
Should I Remove The Skms Agent Service App?
You may at some point feel like uninstalling the skmsagentservice app, especially if you have never used NFC mobile eSE services. However, this app is legitimate and Android-approved.
Although there have been claims that, like most bloatware apps, the skmsagentservice app is malware, we assure you that it is a legit app that has nothing to do with viruses such as OMACP. It will not steal information from your phone.
Therefore, since the app is not harmful to the device but quite helpful for NFC services, there would be no need to remove it. However, if you feel like uninstalling, there are two ways of doing so. Find out from the next section.
Deleting It Using The App Remover
The App Remover can uninstall the skmsagentservice app without losing critical information. It will only delete the files related to the app and clear such data, but it will do nothing more than this.
To delete skmsagentservice using App Remover.
- Go to Playstore.
- Download App Remover.
- Install it on your device.
- Open the app, and it will collect all the apps on the Android device.
- Select skmsagentservice Android app from the list and hit on the Uninstall option.
- Confirm the action by clicking on ‘YES,’ and the app will be deleted.
How To Uninstall Skmsagentservice With USB Debugging
You can alternatively uninstall skmsagentservice using Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires a Windows PC. It allows you to create a Unix shell for the device which can uninstall system apps.
- Click ‘Settings’ then ‘System’ and ‘About phone.’
- Tap on the ‘Build Number’ about ten times to activate Developer Options.
- Go to ‘Settings,’ then ‘Developer Options’ and ‘USB Debugging.’
- Download ADB on the PC and open the zip file.
- Once the zip file is extracted and the folder is opened, press and hold the SHIFT key and double-click on a blanks space.
- Click ‘open powershell window here’ and enter ‘adb services.’ Use a USB cable to connect the device to the PC.
- Type ADB shell pm uninstall – com.skms.Android.agent on the phone and the app will be uninstalled.
Conclusion
Skmsagentservice or com.skms.android.agent as a package name is a system app pre-installed on Android mobile devices. It connects SKMS to NFC and NFC to eSE when working with payments, ticketing and points of sale services, and other operations using the eSE microchip. The app is crucial to the device and need not be removed. However, when you have to remove it, the article enlightens you on the procedure to follow.