App permissions, it is time to start talking about it

Security is something that concerns everyone in different degrees. Regarding Android, we’ve been (untruthfully) alarmed so many times. In the cases it was true, like the malware apps detected on the market last March, Google fastly solved the issue with not too many collateral damages. Thus, virus and malware it isn’t still a real hreat to our devices’ integrity thanks to a stable OS and Google’s privacy policy.

However, there is an issue that is barely discussed and which implications are really important: permissions.

First time you install an app it asks you to accept some permissions. Thanks to these permissions, the app will be able to use or not some features of your phone as well as get access to some of them. For example, if one permission needs full access to the data connection, it will be able to connect as long as you have it enabled. There’s no problem when the app that asks for this permission is an online game or a multiplatform push messenger but… What happens if it also asks for permission to read/write SMS from your Android? Let’s say that it’s weird, suspicious, specially if the developer doesn’t explain what is that for in the app description on the market. These apps could become intrusive and dangerous.

Today we want to help you to discover two apps to monitor and manage permissions for avoiding these situations.

The only flaw is they need your device to be rooted.

LBE Privacy Guard

This is probably the best regarding interface and performance. It helps you to manage your privacy by deeply controlling permissions for each app. You can accept/reject permissions at your whim, one-by-one or for all apps. All the permissions are sorted by categories in order to make it easier to find them. What’s more, it contains a firewall which automatically blocks malware and trojans. It also blocks data connection attempts. Track all your permissions and the changes you did with the app by checking the changelog. LBE Privacy Guard is probably the best of this kind of app regarding interface: good-looking, easy to find all the features and fluent. High recommendable if you aren’t use to, or you don’t like, the classic developers dashboard appearance (like the app below).

Permissions Denied OK, it doesn’t look as beautiful as LBE, but it works as good as it (we would say even better). Actually, you can perform same stuff but it’s even faster than LBE. That means: in a few taps you will be able to accept/reject permissions, deny the same permissions for all the apps asking for it (you can’t do this with LBE), backup/restore your permissions profile and many other advanced options.

Permissions are meant to be something that we will have to take into account to avoid malware and misappropriation. These apps are a good start.

(via elandroidelibre)