Quote:
Originally Posted by 27offsuit
duke doing work, nice job.
I have a question: Have a new Galaxy s4 and still getting it "up and running". When loading an Xfinity App the other day so I can have better email access, before I hit install it listed all the App permissions that I would need to give to Comcast(just a sucky, sucky company that everyone rightfully hates) and the list scared the crap out of me to the point where I'm like f this I ain't letting these scumbags have all this access to my phone, text, wi-fi, gps, and everything else you name it.
So am I just being paranoid and these "permissions" are required for them to properly be used on my phone, or am I being rightfully concerned?
Thanks in advance
You're right to be paranoid if it's an unknown entity or a known bad company. There have been issues with apps accessing user contact lists to spam all of their contacts with text messages asking the recipients to download the app. And Facebook, for example, used to access contact information without asking and upload it to their servers, so now your friends' cell phone numbers are (privately) linked to their profile on Facebook even if they never put it up there.
In general, look through the app description and reviews on Google Play before installing. Oftentimes the developer will explain why they need those permissions, and those apps are almost always fine to use. If there are issues, often times users will post about them in the reviews.
As for the Xfinity app specifically, I can't help you there. I don't like them either, though.
Edit: to be clear, the vast majority of apps/permissions are fine. But if you're installing sketchier apps and such, be careful and look through the reviews.
Last edited by dukemagic; 01-07-2014 at 03:14 PM.