Why do certain (most) apps ask for permissions that seem to have no relevance to the app's purpose? I get it when certain apps (GPS or TVGuide) ask for "location", but, for example, why does a News app need my 'contacts" or "photos"? I understand the concept of targeted marketing, but how is a photo of my dog or my uncle's phone number going to create a better profile of me? What am I missing?
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Help Why Certain "Permissions"?
- Thread starter jen2440
- Start date
chanchan05
The Doctor
Couls be features. Can't say without seeing the app itself, but some apps have a share function so you can share a news link to a specific contact. Not sure on the photo.
Anyway, if you are using a more recent phone (running 6.0), you can deny certain permissions.
Anyway, if you are using a more recent phone (running 6.0), you can deny certain permissions.
Yes, we'd need more specific information to say more than chanchan has said already. Some news websites allow you to submit your own pictures, so it may be that your news app has a feature like that? Or it may be that the developer was lazy or didn't understand the permissions model and requested things it didn't need, or even that they are malicious, we can't tell without context.
(Neither of the news apps on my phone asks for either of these permissions, so this is pure guesswork).
(Neither of the news apps on my phone asks for either of these permissions, so this is pure guesswork).
Thanks for the quick reply. That makes sense about contacts. I do have 6.0 and you're right, I can elect to turn off certain permissions. However, when you attempt to do this it will often tell you that the app "will no longer run as intended". As an example, the AP news app asks for Camera, Contacts, Phone, etc., but the Reuters news app doesn't ask for any permissions.
I'm not some 'big brother' conspiracy theorist, and obviously I have a choice in what apps I install, but it does annoy the hell out of me that the NFL needs to know my contacts.
But most of the time it still will. Turn one thing off at a time and see what happens. Every time I change permissions it says that but rarely does it actually interfere with the app's ability to function.
chanchan05
The Doctor
It will still run. But when you try to access the feature that needs the permission you denied, it will ask you to turn it on.
For example, AP asks for Camera, Contacts, and Phone. Politico asks for Phone and Storage. Sports apps NFL and ESPN both ask for Contacts and Phone. I admit I am complaining a bit, but I'm really just more curious, and I appreciate the answers I'm getting. It especially makes sense what you said about it from the developers perspective. It's probably just easier to ask for everything.
Thanks. I'll try that. I'm not that secure in my knowledge of how it would work so I haven't tried it before.
"Storage" is easy: if the app offers an option to store articles to read offline (as Politico does) then it will need storage access. Phone is common for apps that play media: if the app cannot read the phone status then it can't stop playing when a call comes in. Most of the apps here claim they are using Contacts permissions to "discover accounts", which is apparently needed for push notifications (yes, that's not at all obvious!), rather than reading or modifying contacts - though whether you'd get a warning if they added those extra capabilities I'm not certain. I'm not sure why AP wants Camera, but the description of that app's functions is extremely limited so there may be a legitimate use.
This is my NFL app, not sure which one you use.
Location I would assume it's to put games that are closer to me as a higher priority and to notify me if tickets are available. Phone, contacts, SMS would be if I were going to share data from the app. Maybe I'll text a buddy a play highlight or email team standings to my brother. None of these permissions seem nefarious to me.
The most definitive way to find out is to ask the developer. Most of the time they will explain things better than we can and are usually very responsive.
Location I would assume it's to put games that are closer to me as a higher priority and to notify me if tickets are available. Phone, contacts, SMS would be if I were going to share data from the app. Maybe I'll text a buddy a play highlight or email team standings to my brother. None of these permissions seem nefarious to me.
The most definitive way to find out is to ask the developer. Most of the time they will explain things better than we can and are usually very responsive.
Many thanks Hadron. Now I'm beginning to get it, especially about the requirement for phone. Guess I'll stop being so paranoid.
As usual from this forum, the responses have been very helpful and it's appreciated. I admit I started this thread as a bit of a rant, but I think I understand "permissions" better now and won't get so uptight about it in the future.
Paying attention to permissions is always a good idea. Calling out developers on them is even better. It can help you understand what's going on when they explain what exactly they are doing, or it can let them know they need to refine their app to use only what is necessary. Or, you can catch somebody trying to sneak in some nastiness and out them. 