Android phone security, Any advice ?

bubblesmoney

rufydoofyM wrote: »

Just got my first smart phone and although I shall be using it for browsing etc I don't intend downloading apps. I'm so confused and concerned that all the apps want access to my personal data etc stored on the phone. It feels like my privacy is being invaded by the security apps that are supposed to be protecting me.
If anyone has any advice I'd be grateful

Its alright to be cautious. But don't get unduly worried about the permissions down on the Android market for downloading apps. The Android phones show the permissions for the apps, other operating systems don't show the permissions. Not showing the permissions does not mean they don't exist. So enjoy your new smart phone like it was meant to be used but use some precautions like removing the permission in settings of your phone for side loading apps. If you need to side load apps from elsewhere then do so cautiously after satisfying yourself regarding permissions for the app or look for alternatives on the play app store. Don't download seedy apps with dodgy permissions. Use the staff recommended and editor recommended apps our apps that have been downloaded by thousands or millions of people.read the comments for the app and make up your own mind what suits your needs best. Apps are what a smart phone is usually for, so do enjoy one of the basic features many of which might be useful for you. Leave the needless worrying for some of the tin foil hat people that seem to be on here.

Some of the same tin hat people have been discussing the same in another thread and I have replied there with a link, if interested then read up that link. See https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3991179

Many apps like Yahoo mail, etc have loads of permissions for a reason. They already have all your data in their servers. So does google. When you use a computer browser data is collected by many websites but you do use a computer don't you. Stop worrying needlessly, enjoy your new phone and I mean apps too. If in doubt read up about app permissions etc on xda developers forums for your phone for more authentic information rather than tin foil hat posts here.

Try fun apps like google sky map, google earth, fancy, origami, various musical instrument apps if interested and see the variety that is free. Loads of educational and professional apps too. See what interests you. Enjoy your phone and stop getting unduly worried about permissions so long as you use your phone sensibly.

thegoodman

The permissions are very important. Why would weather or education app need to send text messages and make calls?
The user need to be aware of rights. Trying to advice others not to worry about permissions is asking for trouble.

What I find odd is same people go on about how one should have checked the permission etc when something goes wrong.

By the way the reason windows phone and iPhone do not show rights is due to:
No app is allow to make calls or send text messages. All apps are checked for that
The location point can be switch off if required.

DUTR

thegoodman wrote: »

The permissions are very important. Why would weather or education app need to send text messages and make calls?
The user need to be aware of rights. Trying to advice others not to worry about permissions is asking for trouble.

What I find odd is same people go on about how one should have checked the permission etc when something goes wrong.

By the way the reason windows phone and iPhone do not show rights is due to:
No app is allow to make calls or send text messages. All apps are checked for that
The location point can be switch off if required.

You misunderstand the permissions, and I realised this evening why some apps require what at 1st would seem a bizarre permission, I have camsam on my phone (as well as roadpilot) this evening I decided to use the camsam app without the data on, which works fine :cool:, anyways text messages were arriving, now if the app did not have permission to read Allows the app to access the phone features of the device.( An app with this permission can determine the phone number and serial number of this phone, whether a call is active, the number that call is connected to and the like.) then the sms messages or incoming phone calls would not arrive at the handset.
It's part of the multi tasking ability (but we are not to mention that cos at least the earlier iphones could not do that)

thegoodman

DUTR wrote: »

You misunderstand the permissions, and I realised this evening why some apps require what at 1st would seem a bizarre permission, I have camsam on my phone (as well as roadpilot) this evening I decided to use the camsam app without the data on, which works fine :cool:, anyways text messages were arriving, now if the app did not have permission to read Allows the app to access the phone features of the device.( An app with this permission can determine the phone number and serial number of this phone, whether a call is active, the number that call is connected to and the like.) then the sms messages or incoming phone calls would not arrive at the handset.
It's part of the multi tasking ability (but we are not to mention that cos at least the earlier iphones could not do that)

So weather and many games apps need permission to make calls and send text messages out so Android phones can multi task.
This do not make sense.
The Windows Phone and iPhone can multi task but apps are not allowed to make calls and send out text messages. You can receive the text message while using tomtom or playing a game.

You need to look at your facts again, the reason you have come up with do not make sense at all.

DUTR

thegoodman wrote: »

So weather and many games apps need permission to make calls and send text messages out so phones can multi task.
This do not make sense.
The Windows Phone and iPhone can multi task but apps are not allowed to make calls and send out text messages.
You need to look at your facts again.

They don't need to make calls though, it is just stated that they can (doesn't mean it is adopted) hence why whether it be windows android or apple phones don't have malicious dodgy apps.
You never answer the question, you have an android phone , has that been affected by malware?

Cash-Strapped.T32

Indeed, permissions extend to entire chunks of the OS, they're not a blow-by-blow list of what the app will do.

For instance read/write access to the SDCard is a good example.
That info cannot tell you what data will be written/read, if, when or never.
But for any app to save settings, or copy files, export playlists ~ whatever, this permission must be active.
I tried to say this before, that at the end of the day, the method the coder chose to perform X function in his program will determine what permissions are used, it's *not* necessarily a sign of his nefarious intent to scam-hax you.

In any language there are nearly always innumerable ways to achieve any goal, and though I don't personally write for Android, the truism holds.
One coder might use X-permission to achieve his goal, whereas a coder with a different approach might use permissions Y & Z to achieve exactly the same thing.
Other times you won't be able to get around using a particular permission.

*EDIT* - This bit for TGM -

Some apps might actively monitor the phone's state of activity, and possibly hide themselves or disable audio or video, or do something if a call is active or is incoming - That also requires access to the phone & possibly SMS - Hence why some media players or orther seemingly random apps will have phone access listed as a permission.

Within the iOS environment, the same coding practices will be used (broadly, not taking into account specific differences between the code), you just don't see it.


*EDIT 2* And to paraphrase my reply in an earlier thread because exactly the same point has come up again - If you don't want your apps to be able to access the hardware specific to a phone, then why have a smartphone?
Go home & use your computer. It's brilliant.
I doubt it's quite as simple an WinPhone & iOS simply bar all apps from accessing those functions, and if that really is the case then that's a real stumbling block for some avenues of coding.

thegoodman

DUTR wrote: »

They don't need to make calls though, it is just stated that they can (doesn't mean it is adopted)

So the app have a right to make calls or send out text messages in case app developer need to make some money on the side the option is open. If business is doing fine then no need to.
I can see now why most malware are for Android

Cash-Strapped.T32

thegoodman wrote: »

So the app have a right to make calls or send out text messages in case app developer need to make some money on the side the option is open. If business is doing fine then no need to.
I can see now why most malware are for Android

This is going to sound a bit rude & I do apologise, but this reply shows a real lack of understanding about the nature of the OS, is pretty churlish, and is particularly annoying because I just explained in plenty of detail above exactly what permissions mean.

DUTR

thegoodman wrote: »

So the app have a right to make calls or send out text messages in case app developer need to make some money on the side the option is open. If business is doing fine then no need to.
I can see now why most malware are for Android

You never answer the question, you have an android phone , has that been affected by malware?

thegoodman

Cash-Strapped.T32 wrote: »

I just explained in plenty of detail above exactly what permissions mean.

In case if you are not aware of
In 2011, 65% of new malicious mobile applications targeted the Android platform, compared with Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition, a.k.a. J2ME (27%), as well as Symbian (7%), and Windows Mobile (1%). Overall, one-third of malicious apps targeting Android were designed to steal personal data--such as contacts, call logs, text messages, and photos--from the device. Almost an equal number of malware apps were designed to take control of a user's device. No reported malware for iOS and Windows Phone.

This is going to sound a bit rude, but I don't think most are wrong and only you and DUTR Are correct.
Are you saying most newspaper and tv Chanel are anti-android?