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Highlights from ZDNET
- Smartphone permissions can quietly invade your privacy.
- Reviewing app permissions can help prevent data exposure.
- Check these permissions first, then audit them regularly.
Your smartphone, whether you prefer Android, iOS, or a major mobile platform, can leave traces that can be traced by those who know to follow.
Every app I use requires some level of permission. If you want to order a takeaway, you need to allow GPS to pinpoint your location; Application usage may require access to files and folders to speed up mobile performance; Or a social media site may require permission to send push notifications.
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While convenient, if smartphone permissions aren’t properly managed, you can give apps more control than necessary — which opens the door to exposure of your personal data.
You can decide exactly what your smartphone reveals about you and when. By running a health check and changing the permissions below, you can drastically reduce your digital footprint and avoid unwanted data exposure.
Where do I find my phone permissions?
Before I delve into each permission and what you need to enable or disable, you should know where you can find the permission settings.
The exact location depends on the make and model of your smartphone, whether you have an Android or iOS handset, and the version of the operating system your device is running.
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However, on Android, you usually need to go to Settings > Security & Privacy > More Privacy Settings > Permission Manager. On iOS, you can find what you need under Settings > Privacy & Security or Settings > Apps you want to explore.
Which permissions do I need to review or change?
When you install an app or it gets a major update, you’re asked what permissions to grant to the app. For example, a weather application may ask for location data “all the time” to provide you with accurate weather reports, and a delivery service may ask you to assist its delivery staff in locating you.
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If an app asks for a permission it deems important, such as your location or access to your smartphone’s microphone, you’ll be asked “All the time,” “When using the app,” “Ask every time,” or “Never.”
To protect your privacy, as a general rule, apps you only use casually should be limited to “while using the app” permissions — but I’ll elaborate on each permission below, and when it’s appropriate to grant detailed permissions, or none at all.
1. Location settings
Because location permissions rely on GPS, which can be used to track you directly or mark your frequent wanderings over time, you should first audit the location settings.
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If you leave this permission on all the time, you can broadcast wherever you are at home, at work, and in places you frequent. This is especially dangerous in cases of stalking or domestic abuse, although some of us leave location sharing so friends and family know where I am.
In general, leave it to “only when using the app” or turn it on manually when you need it.
2. Camera settings
Your smartphone camera doesn’t need to be on all the time. Not only does this drain your battery, but it’s also a huge invasion of privacy to watch or record when you least expect it.
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I recommend allowing permissions only “while using the app”. This applies to camera filter apps, video calling and social media. I have yet to come across a mobile app that can justify always-on access to your camera.
3. Microphone settings
Unfettered access to your microphone is another important permission that can reveal your data or invade your privacy.
Say “Ask every time” or “Never” unless the app you’ve downloaded has an obvious need to access your microphone, such as calls or voice assistance and controls. For example, a messaging app doesn’t need to connect to your microphone or audio recordings.
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This is especially concerning if an app asks for camera access, unless it’s a dedicated and trusted app for purposes like video calls. Together, they can record your environment, your movements and what you say.
4. Contacts and SMS
Contact and SMS message permissions are frequently requested by various mobile applications, from social media platforms to automotive features such as Android Auto. Be careful about allowing this, as it can reveal data about your close family relationships, work, friends, and more — as well as what you say to each other.
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For example, Instagram or TikTok may ask permission to sync with known contacts and provide friend recommendations — but this data can be used for profiling and targeted demographic advertising.
It is up to you whether you allow this and then you can disable this permission at any time.
5. Calendars
Giving every app on your phone access to your calendar can be asking for trouble. Apps like Google and Microsoft services, email, video conferencing, and system apps often require it, but you can choose “Ask every time” or “Only when using this app” to control the flow of your data.
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If you don’t restrict access to your calendar, it can reveal your schedule, where you are, any travel — while you’re away from home — and medical appointments you’ve booked.
6. Access to health data
Your health and fitness information is a goldmine for companies that can be used for insurance, marketing, and even training large language models.
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You should be very careful about allowing apps to access this data, especially if there doesn’t seem to be any reason for it. For example, why would a shopping app, phone app, or game ask for it?
By default, say no unless requested by apps that specifically focus on health and fitness services.
7. Additional permissions to check
- Photos & Videos: Our images and videos may be private and sensitive, and some may contain metadata that reveals information about us and our location. Choose No Access or Limited Access whenever you can.
- Physical activity: Access to your physical data and activity, what mapping apps sometimes request, should be treated the same as access to medical and fitness information, as it can be sensitive and private.
- Notifications: Pay attention to any app that might ask for notification permissions. While some require this permission to send you notifications and alerts, others may ask for it to intercept 2FA codes and security messages.
- Bluetooth, nearby devices: Bluetooth and nearby devices permissions are often required for Bluetooth-connected products like home speakers or smart doorbells, but keep these connections tightly closed and allow them only when in use.
What should I do when apps ask for detailed permissions?
Before you immediately accept every permission request to start using your new software, take a step back and think about why an app needs a particular permission.
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Requests for excessive app permissions may indicate that the mobile app you downloaded contains a malicious secret — especially if it asks for worrisome combinations like your files and folders, camera, and microphone. Or, malware aside, the app’s developer wants as much access to your data as possible.
Whether you use a mobile app or a smartphone service is your choice, as is the amount of data you share. If it is too much, uninstall and remove such software or disable some features in your handset.
How often should I check permissions?
I recommend reviewing your usage permissions every few months. The more apps you install and use, the more often you need to run permission checks.
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Even if you don’t install new software very often, it’s still worth making sure you understand which apps have access to your data and why. If you haven’t used an app in a while, you should delete it.
As a final note, update your operating system and apps and install new versions as they become available. An application may be reliable, but older software may contain exploitable vulnerabilities. If the app suddenly starts behaving strangely, you need to take action by uninstalling the software, as there are cases where apps start innocently but then update maliciously.
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