If You See This On Your Phone, Your Apps Are Spying On You
While dangerous apps stealing your credentials, banking information and data also steal most of the headlines, there's a much wider problem for Android users. Many of the apps on your phone are secretly spying on what you do and reporting back.
This permission abuse is rife, despite Google warning developers that 'your app should request only the permissions that it needs,' especially when it comes to sensitive data. That 'sensitive information' includes your location, messages, photos and videos, as well as your camera and microphone and 'accessibility' settings that control a phone.
Now there might be a solution — finally. On-screen alerts that warn as soon as apps access sensitive functions such as your camera, texts or location. This 'dangerous" abuse is widespread. Some of the most popular apps on your phone request permissions they don't need. And as Cybernews has warned, users must 'pay attention."
As spotted by Android Authority, 'Samsung is cooking up a privacy and security powerhouse in One UI 8," one that will finally warn users with messages 'to review and revoke permissions from apps that may be overstepping their bounds.'
Just last month, Apteco warned this abuse is out of control even on iPhone. This highlights, it said, 'how extensive data collection has become across a huge variety of apps and also provides insight into how user profiles are built from multiple data variables in order to enable things such as personalisation and targeted advertising.'
When Cybernews checked 50 of the most popular Android apps, it says it found there were seemingly 'no limits' on 'dangerous permissions.' Multiple reports with multiple lists of popular apps abusing permissions. Something has to change. And now it looks like Samsung might have a solution — at least in part.
Samsung's new 'Alert Center' will warn users about 'sneaky apps, security risks, and aging account settings." Critically, these new messages seem to include 'when apps access sensitive permissions like location, microphone, camera, contacts, and more, especially when they are accessed in the background or too frequently.' No confirmation yet as to when this will hit phones as part of the One UI 8 upgrade.
It seems this will make it clear when permissions are being exploited, going beyond Google's Privacy Dashboard. That means users can decide if that app should be using that permission at that time. 'These alerts will name specific apps, such as 'XYZ accessed your camera' or 'ABC accessed your text messages in the background'.'
Just as with Android 15 and One UI 7, the forthcoming One UI 8 and Android 16 moves the bar on security and privacy. These new alerts won't eradicate permission abuse on their own, but just as with Apple's privacy labels this will shine a light on what's going on and give users pause for thought before clicking yes too reaily.
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