Owning and using a smartphone is one of the perks of living in the 21st century. Smartphones connect us with each other in various interactive ways, and help us get hold of information instantly. However, the extensive use of smartphones has raised a red flag in terms of both privacy and security.
We may not spend too much time thinking about the safety of the information we share (or the information we permit access to), but we spend enough time on our smartphones to be exposed to various perils.
Needless to say, the lack of attention only enhances the likeliness of abusive behavior on behalf of developers, advertisers and even legal entities.
In this article, we will provide useful information about app permissions in Android.
Why Android?
According to statistics by Net Market Share as of February 2016, Android has the biggest market share with almost 60%. Apple’s iOS is second with 32.28%, and Windows Phone is third with less than 3%.
This makes Android the most widely used mobile operating system, and Android users – the most likely ones of becoming victims of some form of fraud or malware. Users that download and use various apps from Google Play Store should pay close attention. Google Play Store is not impeccable when it comes to screening apps.
Why Are App Permissions Important?
And why you shouldn’t treat app permissions like you treat EULAs.
App permissions are privileges that applications demand when they want to access sensitive information on your device. As you already know, smartphones are full of (our) personally identifiable information (PII), and it’s not okay for apps to use our PII without asking permission first.
If you want to know what exact permissions your apps have acquired, go to your phone’s Settings, then Apps, click on the app’s name and scroll down a bit to have a look at the permissions. For example, Shazam has the following permissions and can access the following on our phones:
- Read phone status and identity;
- Take pictures and videos;
- Record audio;
- Approximate location (network-based);
- Precise location (GPS and network-based);
- Modify or delete the contents of your SD card;
- Read the contents of your SD card;
- Find accounts on the device;
- Read Google service configuration;
- Full network access;
- Receive data from Internet;
- View network connections;
- Access Bluetooth settings;
- Pair with Bluetooth devices;
- Control vibration;
- Prevent phone from sleeping;
- Change your audio settings;
- Read sync settings;
- Toggle sync on and off.
If you want to know the permissions of an app you’re planning to install, locate it on Google Play Store and click Permission Details.
Even though permissions may look kind of scary, they’re not always evil and in most cases they help your device stay protected against suspicious apps. In other words, giving app permissions is not necessarily a bad thing. In many cases, an app wouldn’t work properly if it didn’t demand permissions from the device.
However, when certain permissions are visibly not related to the app’s functionalities, then you should be concerned and should think twice before installing the app. Why would a dictionary app want to access your contacts? This would be the perfect illustration of an app overstepping its rights (and permissions).
Here we get to the first paradox – apps such as Facebook Messenger are often the ones with the most intrusive permissions. Shortly said, things would be much better if we could control permissions. So, can we?
Android App Permissions
Android app permissions change whenever a new version of the operating system is released. In older versions such as KitKat and Lollipop, you don’t have much choice rather than accepting all permissions, or declining them and not installing the app.
In the past of Android, every permission was displayed separately. According to your choice, the app could update automatically. Back then, you were prompted to click Accept on the new permission, and any app could suffer from adding new permissions.
At some point, Google decided to group similar permissions so that permission listings could become shorter. The problem now is that app updates can add permissions in a group without asking the user’s permissions as they did in the past.
How to Control App Permissions in Android 14
Controlling app permissions in Android 14, currently the latest version of the OS, is essential to maintaining your privacy and ensuring that apps only access necessary data. Here’s a short guide on how to manage app permissions in Android 14:
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Open Settings:
On your Android device, open the Settings app.
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Navigate to Apps:
Scroll down and tap on Apps.
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Select the App:
Tap on the specific app for which you want to manage permissions.
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Go to Permissions:
In the app info screen, tap on Permissions.
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Review and Modify Permissions:
You will see a list of permissions requested by the app. Toggle the switch next to each permission to grant or deny access.
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Advanced Permission Settings:
For more detailed control, tap on See all permissions to review and modify permissions individually.
Why You Should Monitor Your Apps and the Permissions You Grant Them
Simply put, apps and advertisers are intertwined. In 2010, The Wall Street Journal made an investigation on 101 applications and showed how marketers were tracking mobile users through apps, or various mobile software products installed on users’ smartphones. Researchers found out that 56 of the investigated apps shared (with advertisers) the phone’s unique ID number, 47 apps shared the phone’s location and 5 shared personal information about the user.
What can you do to manage your apps and permissions?
- Research your applications before installing them;
- Carefully read the privacy policy, terms of service and list of permissions in Google Play Store;
- Check if the permissions the app asks are covered by the app’s functionalities;
Milena Dimitrova
An inspired writer and content manager who has been with SensorsTechForum since the project started. A professional with 10+ years of experience in creating engaging content. Focused on user privacy and malware development, she strongly believes in a world where cybersecurity plays a central role. If common sense makes no sense, she will be there to take notes. Those notes may later turn into articles! Follow Milena @Milenyim
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