How to stop Android apps from accessing your sensitive private data (hint: revoke permissions)
posted by Victor H.
/ Dec 30, 2013, 9:06 AM
Thankfully, Google’s Android operating system allows you to actually control what each and every app accesses. To do so, you don’t need root and any hackery - it all happens via a simple app that is free to download on Google Play.
One such app is called AppOps and it works on most devices we tested (except for a select few running on the latest Android 4.4.2 KitKat, but a fix might come soon).
AppOps tracks the behavior of all your apps, so you can actually see what component of the Android system they are accessing and how often. Don’t want Facebook or Viber to access your location? Just disable the location permissions from within AppOps. Don’t want a flashlight app to get your location data? Disable that permission from AppOps (or don’t download it in the first place).
It’s something for Android users to play with, and even if you don’t have any abusive apps (contrary to popular belief, Google Play is a safe place, it’s some third-party app stores that are not), it will help you better understand the Android mobile platform. You can get it at the link right below, and follow our instructions to learn how to revoke app permissions and keep your private data to yourself.
How to stop Android apps from accessing your sensitive private data
37 Comments
1. fireblade
Posts: 717; Member since: Dec 27, 2013
That's what I like from Android. In android, you are the boss so you can do whatever you want.
Unlike other OS, your authority is limited. You can't do anything if some apps steal your data or do harm to your phone. And you are bound to manufacturer's rule.
posted on Dec 30, 2013, 9:17 AM 16
4. Mxyzptlk unregistered
That's funny because I recall android being pretty limited. Bloatware that can't be removed, locked bootloader, updates that are delayed, fragmentation, and don't even get me started on rogue apps.
If you're going to take potshots at apple, remember all of androids shortcomings.
posted on Dec 30, 2013, 9:31 AM 4
5. casualavi
Posts: 48; Member since: Oct 02, 2013
A big LOL to you!! Shortcomings of Android : Bloatware (root it, remove it), bootloader(there are again methods to it as long as you know how to Google), delayed updates(there are always custom ROMs or Stock Android options), rogue apps(Well, Good + Bad Developers are everywhere)!!
posted on Dec 30, 2013, 9:35 AM 17
8. Mxyzptlk unregistered
Rooting - not everyone is tech savy enough to root and not everyone is aware of rooting. Don't assume.
Bootloader - lol again not everyone's tech savy enough to do that. Might do more harm than good and turn that new phone into a brick.
Custom ROMs - see above
Checkmate
posted on Dec 30, 2013, 10:14 AM 5
12. sprockkets
Posts: 1612; Member since: Jan 16, 2012
Unlocking a bootloader on any nexus device is a simple 3 step procedure, but it resets the tablet upon doing it.
Vs any apple device where you will never ever be able to unlock it.
posted on Dec 30, 2013, 10:25 AM 9
26. androtaku
Posts: 246; Member since: Dec 12, 2013
fandroids tends to think the universe population consist of undead geek who root and customized phone everyday, oh yea try teach that to a productive traders from wall street about custom rom
they can't apprehend that the best way to enjoy smartphone is to have both,not pick sides and condemn the other
posted on Dec 30, 2013, 7:15 PM 0
32. Nexus_bear
Posts: 32; Member since: Nov 19, 2013
Its called nexus.
Checkmate.
posted on Dec 31, 2013, 12:37 PM 0
36. sultangris
Posts: 1; Member since: Jun 25, 2014
It's really quite simple and we call people that are too dumb to figure it out Apple users, haha!
posted on Jun 25, 2014, 2:19 PM 0
38. peter.steier
Posts: 2; Member since: Feb 11, 2016
An anroid phone without root is a brick.
posted on Feb 11, 2016, 3:51 PM 0
6. networkdood
Posts: 6330; Member since: Mar 31, 2010
Wrong, again, mxy - but no one should be surprised, as you are just an APPLE loving troll - fact is when the Captivate first came out, I rooted it and was able to remove unwanted apps - unlock bootloader - speaking of fragmentation - my kids' ipod 4th generation is no longer able to play a lot of the apps he would like to - oops....
posted on Dec 30, 2013, 9:36 AM 13
9. Mxyzptlk unregistered
An apple loving troll huh? Lol I see your insults are about as original as Samsung. I'm pretty sure your lying about the 4th gen ipod since my friend has one and is able to download apps just fine.
posted on Dec 30, 2013, 10:16 AM 2
7. designerfx
Posts: 76; Member since: Mar 26, 2013
Please troll less. It's not even worth addressing your fud.
posted on Dec 30, 2013, 10:00 AM 2
10. tedkord
Posts: 16979; Member since: Jun 17, 2009
The iPhone bootloader is unlocked? (Hint: no, it's not)
You can remove Safari? (No. You can't even choose a different browser to open URLs.) BTW, it's possible to disable preinstalled apps on Android.
How did you enjoy Siri on the iPhone 4? How is that 64bit working on the iPhone 5? (That's also fragmentation)
posted on Dec 30, 2013, 10:17 AM 6
19. ItsTheJuan unregistered
You recall wrong. From the very beginning android was free. Name one thing that Apple can do that Android can't, and vice versa to be fair. If updates are delayed its for a reason, apple would do the same. Apple has their own Bloatware as well. Seriously, who uses half the apps an iphone comes with. As someone who sells phones, I bounce between models constantly and stay with the latest device. Ios has improved the least, and it's not because their software is perfected.
posted on Dec 30, 2013, 3:08 PM 1
31. JunitoNH
Posts: 1946; Member since: Feb 15, 2012
I'll name one thing an iPhone can do right out of the box, which by the way, you can't do with Android. You can't change the DNS server, something so simple, yet Android has to be rooted. Unless, you 4.+ and above.
posted on Dec 31, 2013, 11:49 AM 0
23. wilsong17 unregistered
clearly you havent use 4.3 and up where you can disable the apps dummy
posted on Dec 30, 2013, 5:29 PM 0
13. nestea unregistered
lol, another stupid fandroid.... on iOS you can easily modify permissions for contacts, photos, location access and etc. for a long time....
posted on Dec 30, 2013, 10:52 AM 0
28. stealthd unregistered
Some other OS's, like iOS, don't require you to download an app for this kind of functionality. They ask you on demand and let you manage them out of the box.
posted on Dec 30, 2013, 7:46 PM 0
2. Teja171 unregistered
I donno why this feature was removed in android 4.4 kitkat ? Then why was it introduced in android 4.3 ?
posted on Dec 30, 2013, 9:23 AM 1
11. sprockkets
Posts: 1612; Member since: Jan 16, 2012
Because people found out about it and Google didn't want people using it. It isn't for the user yet because it has the side effect of breaking things when you use it.
posted on Dec 30, 2013, 10:23 AM 1
25. stealthd unregistered
They said it was because it didn't work, or broke some app functionality. If they didn't want people to use it they'd just, you know, not put it in.
posted on Dec 30, 2013, 7:06 PM 0
3. Augustine
Posts: 1043; Member since: Sep 28, 2013
Why do the apps from a couple of three letter agencies, from the FCC and the TSA, need access to your accounts? Could they be Trojan horses for other three letter agencies? It's better to pay attention to app permissions and shy away from those which request too many for no good reason.
posted on Dec 30, 2013, 9:23 AM 1
22. Kaiser2007
Posts: 173; Member since: Nov 16, 2013
FBI, CIA and NSA.
