Mobile User Privacy Unveiled – App Permisisons

Save or bookmark this article as on the same page we will expose some potentially dangerous apps and which high risk permissions they may ask at install or run time, which compromises you to be insecure, prone to hackers or identity thefts

Android Security Architecture ensures that no application by default has permission to perform an action, so the Applications seek Read/Write Permissions to interact and work properly. This may include Read/Write the user’s Private Data (Contacts, Gallery, Calendar  or Emails), Read/Write another app’s files, network access, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth activation, microphone or camera access permissions, keeping the device awake, and so on. As a default procedure, any application while its install must publicize the permissions required for effective execution.

If the User isn’t notified of any app permissions at install time. It must ask the user to grant the dangerous permissions at runtime. When your app requests permission. So ideally there are three types of permissions for application developers – Normal Permissions, Signature Permissions and Dangerous Permissions, and another category: “Special Permisisons”, that don’t behave like normal and dangerous permissions

List of Permissions Explained

• Use Fingerprint Hardware
  Allows the app to use fingerprint hardware for authentication
• Read Your Contacts
  Allows the app to read data about your contacts stored on your phone, including the frequency with which you’ve called, emailed or communicated in other ways with specific individuals. This permission allows the app to save your contact data
• Modify your Contacts
  Allows the app to modify the data about your contacts stored on your phone, including the frequency with which you’ve called, emailed or communicated in other ways with specific contacts. This permission allows apps to delete contact data
• Read the Content of your Shared Storage
  Allows the app to read the contents of your shared storage
• Google App Location Permissions
  Access approximate or exact location (network-based), to get your location based on network sources such as phone masts and Wi-Fi networks (Can be in background or foreground)
• Find Accounts on the Device
  Allows the app to get the list of accounts known by the phone. This may include any accounts created by applications that you have installed
• Read calendar events and details
  This permission allows the Google app to read all calendar events stored on your phone and share or save your calendar data
• Read call log
  This app can read your call history
• Read your text messages (SMS or MMS)
  This app can read all SMS (text) messages stored on your phone
• Read phone status and identity
  Allows the app to access the phone features of the device. This permission allows the app to determine the phone number and device IDs, whether a call is active and the remote number connected by a call
• Record audio
  This permission allows the Google app to record audio using the microphone at any time
• Send and view SMS messages
  Allows the app to send SMS messages. This may result in unexpected charges. Malicious apps may cost you money by sending messages without your confirmation
• Add or modify calendar events and send emails to guests without owners’ knowledge
  This permission allows the Google app to add, remove or change calendar events on your phone. This app can send messages that may appear to come from calendar owners or change events without notifying their owners
• Modify or delete the contents of your shared storage
  Allows the app to write the contents of your shared storage
• Take pictures and videos
  This app can take pictures and record videos using the camera at any time
• Answer phone calls
  Allows the app to answer an incoming phone call
• Recognize physical activity
  This app can recognize your physical activity.