How much should I worry - RE: apps that want phone number

[MikeSD]

I have had my phone number for going on 30 years. I got it back when cell phones were still in canvas bags and McCaw was still selling phones. I think I'm the only person to ever have my phone number, it's that old.

Anyway, in those 25-30 years, I doubt I have had more than 10 wrong numbers or telemarketer calls. Occasionally someone will dial a wrong number. This is because I never give my number out to businesses, period. So my number so far hasn't made it to any telemarketer lists and I'd like to keep it that way.

I now have a galaxy S3 and when I sign up for the google store or whatever the store app is called, one of the thing that it and many apps warn about is access to my number.

What is the likelyhood that if I install one of those apps, that I will find my number on some telemarketer list? What about the store itself? Same question

 

[Bearsyzf]

That is actually a good question , i would like o know about that to.

 

[ceva321]

FYI

from experience on my old iphone, i was required to give my credit card number and telephone number to access the App Store...I never got a phone call from anyone in the 2 years i had my phone.

 

[Ez Duzit]

You are fine giving your number to Google play or the Amazon app store. But it's only a matter of time before Google knows everything about everybody anyway, so don't worry about them having your number. They won't give it out.

As for downloading any other apps, always check the permissions. If they seems excessive go to the devs site and see if he says anything about them. You can also google specific permissions to find out exactly what they could be for, and think how the app might use that. If something doesn't sound right, you don't have to get that app. For example, a game might need access to sd card storage to modify contents so it can store game data there, or it might need access to network communications for small streaming ads, (which is how we get a great many free apps). But if a game wants access to something like your personal information (contacts), or your accounts (email access) that could be cause for alarm.
It's mostly about using common sense. Another thing to keep in mind is an app that's been out six months and has half-a-million downloads is far less likely to cause a problem then an app that's been out 6 days.


Ez Duzit