Most people have a social media app on their phone which often need access to photos stored on the device.
As soon as you download an app, a message is likely to pop up on your phone asking permission to access certain features. Most people click OK right away, but have you ever wondered what happens when you do?
Some apps like Instagram request access to your photos as without permission to use the camera, the app cannot function. This is similar to Facebook Messenger, as many users will be sending photos to friends and saving picture messages.
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Android said the purpose of a permission is to protect the privacy of the user. Android apps must request permission to access sensitive user data as well as certain system features.
Depending on the feature, the system might grant the permission automatically or might prompt the user to approve the request. System permissions are also categorised as "normal" and "dangerous".
Normal permission groups are allowed by default, because they don’t pose a risk to your privacy. Dangerous permission groups, however, can give apps access to things like your calling history, private messages, location, camera, microphone, and more.
Therefore, Android will always ask you to approve dangerous permissions. Usually, there will be nothing to worry about as apps will purely just use the camera when you request them too.
But AVG, a security software company, say a malicious app can secretly turn on your camera and record what's going on around you. There are a number of ways people can protect themselves.
One way is to cover the camera with sticky tape or a similar material, however this is not the most pratical. Another way is changing the permissions app can access.
This is found in the main settings app on your device at the time. Keep in mind turning off permissions may cause apps on your device to lose functionality.
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