Disturbing Notification I received (SNAPCHAT)

[Disturbing Notification]

I have an S7, latest updates etc, I keep my phone pretty secure but I randomly get this notification.(see picture).

Note that I get this notification even when Snapchat is not running. Should I be alarmed? What do you techies make of this. Contacted Snapchat a few days ago and got no response...

 

[kevinter]

 

[mikedt]

What is this "app permission monitor" thing? I've never seen that before on a phone or tablet. Is it some third-party security app you've got installed?

 

[kevinter]

What is this "app permission monitor" thing? I've never seen that before on a phone or tablet. Is it some third-party security app you've got installed?

No its Samsungs inbuilt app

 

[svim]

Apps and their Permissions settings are always an issue you should be paying attention to. If this involved something like an email app it would be a questionable matter for it to have Permissions to the Camera app enabled, but given that Snapchat is a photo/messaging app it's pretty likely it does require direct access to the Camera app.
If you look at Snapchat's Play Store page, in its Permissions statement the Camera is listed as one of many:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.snapchat.android&hl=en_US

 

[kevinter]

Apps and their Permissions settings are always an issue you should be paying attention to. If this involved something like an email app it would be a questionable matter for it to have Permissions to the Camera app enabled, but given that Snapchat is a photo/messaging app it's pretty likely it does require direct access to the Camera app.
If you look at Snapchat's Play Store page, in its Permissions statement the Camera is listed as one of many:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.snapchat.android&hl=en_US

Yes but even if Snapchat is not even running? Why would Snapchat need permissions to access my camera when I am not even running it? Thats the concerning part. Whether the notification came later due to some glitch maybe my S7 is old or whatnot. I am not sure.

 

[svim]

That's not how any apps work, they get loaded into active memory when used and they'll stay there until they get displaced by other actively used apps. Just because you're not actively using an app or don't see it in your display that doesn't mean the app just disappears and all its previous interactions with your phone's system resources just stop. Simply because you're not using an app it's settings do not just magically reset themselves in the background.

 

[kevinter]

Ok, so in your opinion what would you do in this situation, just ignore it or should this be considered hacked device? Should I be worried?

 

[mikedt]

Ok, so in your opinion what would you do in this situation, just ignore it or should this be considered hacked device? Should I be worried?

Sounds like this whatever it is Samsung app is crying wolf, suggest you turn it off or remove it. Snapchat needs to run in background so it can receive your messages and notify you. If has camera permissions of course, so Snapchat can use the camera and take pictures when you want it to.

 

[svim]

Ok, so in your opinion what would you do in this situation, just ignore it or should this be considered hacked device? Should I be worried?

Use that Samsung monitoring app to learn which apps are using whatever permissions so you can make educated decisions on what to disable or leave enabled. You can do the same thing by just going through your Settings >> Apps menu, one app at a time, or let that Samsung utility do it. Don't assume everything on your phone is some kind of potential threat, take the time to delve into your Settings menu and set up your phone improve your quality of life, not something that you're apprehensive to use every time you pick it up.
https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/privacy-tips-for-android-phone/
(... these are valid tips but you do need to be flexible to find the equivalents on your phone, especially taking into consideration how much Samsung opts to alter the Settings menu in its devices.)