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Two Permission Questions

N

newandroid10

Newbie
Could anyone explain to me what the following permissions do exactly?
I only saw the first one for the first time yesterday. Does that mean the app can choose whether it wants to send data over wi-fi or 3G on its own?
For the second one, I've seen it a lot, but it sounds like it could reveal a lot of personal information. What is it generally used for?


SYSTEM TOOLS
CHANGE NETWORK CONNECTIVITY
Allows an application to change the state of network connectivity.

PHONE CALLS
READ PHONE STATE AND IDENTITY
Allows the application to access the phone features of the device. An application 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.
 
The first one looks like something that would be in a widget that allows you to toggle wifi or 3G connections. I doubt it could have any significant malicious impact except draining the battery by toggling rapidly. The second one is indeed in that thread, and he explains it way better than I ever could.

Phone state and identity
This permission is of moderate to high importance. Unfortunately this permission seems to be a bit of a mixed bag. While it's perfectly normal for an application to want to know if you are on the phone or getting a call, this permission also gives an application access to 2 unique numbers that can identify your phone. The numbers are the IMEI, and IMSI. Many software developers legitimately use these numbers as a means of tracking piracy though. This permission also gives an application to the phone numbers for incoming and outgoing calls.
Click to expand...
 
Yep, phone state and identity is in the guide, network connectivity is not for the reason drdoom mentioned -- it's one of those low/no impact permissions.

I am going to try an add all of them eventually, but the harmless ones get a back seat to the dangerous ones.

But of course, it's also good to remember: my guide is not 100% perfect/complete/whatever -- it's just some helpful info the best that I can provide it.

So it's good you asked the question :)
 
Sorry about that. The second is, of course, in the thread (and I should have known that since I've read and seen it there before! I was just more focused on finding out the first one.)

Anyway, thanks for answering my question and a huge thank you to alostpacket for writing that thread because it is simply awesome and extremely useful.
 
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