Block or allow access to other apps on this device?

DancingDragon

Over the last few days I've had a pop up asking "Block or allow access to other apps on this device" when signing into some banking/financial web sites. This is new to me and I'm not sure what to do. Its been suggested that if I trust the site I should allow it as it could be security related but I'm not sure. Is it necessary or do they just want to snoop around my devices?

TadleyBaggie

Give us a clue, what type of device? Windows, MacOS, iOS. Android?, other…

DancingDragon

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82110571#Comment_82110571

Sorry, Acer laptop, windows 11

Vitor

For a banking site, I would not advise simply clicking Allow because “I trust the bank”. Better advice is: block it initially. If the site continues to work normally, leave it blocked. If a particular banking function fails and the bank's own support documentation says that local application access is required, then allow it for that specific site

Newcad

Such apps often ask for access so that they can use biometrics, fingerprint reader, facial recognition, etc (eg. Windows Hello).

For example my banks app on the phone lets me login using the fingerprint reader rather than asking for 4 characters out of a 15 digit passcode like my Win 11 laptop does because it hasn't been setup to use biometrics. (Of course I could still do that on the phone too, but fingerprint is easier).

The NHS phone app also allows fingerprint logons.

But for that to happen you need to grant the app access to the stored biometric data.

DancingDragon

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82110725#Comment_82110725

I think this is probably good advice so I'm going to block and see what happens. Thank you

sausage_time

Someone reported Vanguard asking this on the Savings and Investment board.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6680369/cheeky-vanguard

Perhaps some library or policy has been updated recently. I have not seen this (Android).