Each time you install an application on Android, the various permissions required by the app are highlighted in order to function properly. These permissions are related to the features and data stored on the phone, such as the phone book, messages, internet connection, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS position and more.
Permissions on Android are essential to make an app work: if we accidentally remove the permissions to an app, it may not work properly or it won't open anymore (it always depends on the nature of the requested permission).
For example, WhatsApp must read the address book otherwise it cannot find our friends and assign a user to the precise phone number.
In other cases, however, the permissions are certainly exaggerated and it may not be necessary, for example, for a game to require localization or access to the address book or messages (somewhat suspicious behavior).
Let's see together how to manage and authorize permissions on Android applications, showing you both the menus integrated in the latest versions of the operating system and some third-party apps to have everything at your fingertips whatever your smartphone is.
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Before continuing, you need to know that Android has introduced permission management from version 6.0 : if we have a smartphone with this version of Android or a later version, we can read this guide without problems (and possibly install the recommended apps below).
If, on the other hand, we have a very old smartphone with Android 5.0 or earlier, it is better to change it as soon as possible with a newer one, since the system is really obsolete by modern standards; the best smartphones for each price range can be found in our guide -> Best Android smartphone from 100 to 1000 Euros .
1) Manage permissions with Android
On Android you can manage the permissions of the installed applications by going to Settings> App> App name ; inside the app's summary window, we will have to look for the Permissions or Permissions menu, so we can view what the app uses while it is in use or in the background.
The already checked permissions were authorized by the user during the installation phase or when the permission was requested by the app (for example geolocation is requested by WhatsApp when we send the location to our friends).
If there is any permission that does not convince us, we can also remove the check mark, taking care not to remove some important check mark for the correct functioning of the app; if, on the other hand, we believe that the app must have multiple permissions (perhaps because in the meantime it does not work well or creates problems), we can also activate the permissions that we consider appropriate.
In any case, the Android system will expressly ask us to authorize a permission for the app, showing us a small pop-up window when necessary.
To this we add that, during the installation of the app, we will be shown the permissions required by the app on our phone: we still have time to give up the installation if we immediately notice some permission inconsistent with the purpose or functionality app.
If, on the other hand, we want to manage all the permissions of the Android smartphone collectively (without opening all the apps one by one), just find the Permissions menu, usually present in Settings or in the Energy Saving menu (depends on the smartphone model and Android version in use).
From this menu we will be able to manage every single permission, displaying the apps that access it, but also to decide the apps that place themselves in automatic auto-start (this is also a permission required by the apps) and view the lesser known permissions that can interfere with normal phone operation.
Compared to a few years ago, therefore, we have more control over the permissions required by the apps, so as to avoid unpleasant situations or give data to those who collect them to sell them (perhaps offering free apps).
2) App to check permissions
Using the tools integrated in Android is definitely the best way to manage app permissions but, if we are lazy or have a dated version of Android, we can also use third-party management apps ; the only recommendation is that at least for these control apps we will have to authorize all the permissions, otherwise we might as well not install anything and rely on what the system offers us (generating a paradox like "who controls the controllers">
- Bouncer is a very useful app for Android smartphones, since it allows you to give temporary permissions to the apps, thus allowing us to cancel the permissions at any time.
The operation is simple: when an app asks for permissions, Bouncer "interposes" and asks us whether to provide temporary permissions, even with any configured timers (we can give permissions for an hour for example).
As soon as we exit or close the app, Bouncer will automatically remove the authorization without having to worry about apps that invade privacy and waste the battery.
Bouncer can also deactivate permissions and activate them only when the app is in the foreground, so as to prevent someone from spying on us or collecting data when the app is in the background.
- For all Android smartphones we can use App Ops, designed specifically to manage the permissions of each individual application in an easy and intuitive way .
With this app we will be able to manage all the permissions of the installed apps and manage the various permissions individually as a category, so as to effectively replace the integrated systems (which can also be more inconvenient to manage or unavailable among the various menus).
- Another app to consider to manage permissions is Revo App Permission Manager .
This app shows the permissions granted on the Android smartphone with a pie chart, in which the low-risk, medium-risk and high-risk permits are cataloged (the latter are those that we will have to provide more sparingly to the apps, since they allow us to trace our position or collect information and data about us).
In addition to the pie chart, it allows you to manage each permit individually, showing the apps that exploit it and blocking, if necessary, unconvincing or poorly reputed apps.
READ ALSO -> Protect privacy on Android and installed apps
