What’s your opinion about how Android Market describes its own permissions? Is Google damaging users and developers with descriptions like these?
DIRECTLY CALL PHONE NUMBERS
Allows the application to call phone numbers without your intervention. Malicious applications may cause unexpected calls on your phone bill. Note that this does not allow the application to call emergency numbers.
DISPLAY SYSTEM-LEVEL ALERTS
Allows an application to show system alert windows. Malicious applications can take over the entire screen.
RETRIEVE RUNNING APPLICATIONS
Allows application to retrieve information about currently and recently running tasks. May allow malicious applications to discover private information about other applications.
What do you think?
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Moving to Q&A
Is it possible for someone to put together an App or Dialer enhancement which is able to automatically look up incoming phone numbers on the internet (assuming a data connection is available) using sites like these:
http://www.aber.ac.uk/cgi-bin/user/auj/stdcodes.pl
http://www.ukphoneinfo.com/locator.php
and display the available Exchange name/description thereby giving an immediate approximate location for the calling number?
I search Google Play and couldn't see anything along these lines.
I realise the two sites listed are for the UK but presumably there are similar "reverse directory" lookup sites for other countries?
If anyone knows of such an App could you point me in the right direction?
I'm after the advice of someone who knows about Android permissions and security.
I'd like to make use of this app - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.faradayinstitute&hl=en
That requires these permissions:
This app has access to these permissions:
Your messages
receive text messages (SMS)
Network communication
full network access
view network connections
view Wi-Fi connections
Phone calls
read phone status and identity
Storage
modify or delete the contents of your USB storage
Microphone
record audio
Your social information
read your contacts
modify your contacts
read call log
write call log
Your accounts
find accounts on the device
System tools
send sticky broadcast
test access to protected storage
Affects battery
control vibration
prevent device from sleeping
Your applications information
run at startup
Audio settings
change your audio settings
But isn't that list of permissions completely OTT? I expressed my concerns to them and received the following reply:
I am writing to update you with regards to your enquiry about the Faraday App. I have been in touch with our developers and they have informed me that although this is a long list it is quite common with Android. They are currently working to see if they can reduce the list, however, there is nothing to worry about since you know the origin of there App, The Faraday Institute, and therefore can easily determine whether you wish to allow access (if it is a source you trust/is reputable etc..). The reason they need access to some parts is simply to add their details to your phone, (access your phone book for example is only to add The Faraday to your contacts).
I hope this answers your query for now. I will update you when I receive more information from the developers. Please feel free to contact me if you require further assistance.
I'm no expert but it doesn't really seem satisfactory - or am I worrying necessarily?
Ergates said:
I'm after the advice of someone who knows about Android permissions and security.
I'd like to make use of this app - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.faradayinstitute&hl=en
That requires these permissions:
This app has access to these permissions:
Your messages
receive text messages (SMS)
Network communication
full network access
view network connections
view Wi-Fi connections
Phone calls
read phone status and identity
Storage
modify or delete the contents of your USB storage
Microphone
record audio
Your social information
read your contacts
modify your contacts
read call log
write call log
Your accounts
find accounts on the device
System tools
send sticky broadcast
test access to protected storage
Affects battery
control vibration
prevent device from sleeping
Your applications information
run at startup
Audio settings
change your audio settings
But isn't that list of permissions completely OTT? I expressed my concerns to them and received the following reply:
I am writing to update you with regards to your enquiry about the Faraday App. I have been in touch with our developers and they have informed me that although this is a long list it is quite common with Android. They are currently working to see if they can reduce the list, however, there is nothing to worry about since you know the origin of there App, The Faraday Institute, and therefore can easily determine whether you wish to allow access (if it is a source you trust/is reputable etc..). The reason they need access to some parts is simply to add their details to your phone, (access your phone book for example is only to add The Faraday to your contacts).
I hope this answers your query for now. I will update you when I receive more information from the developers. Please feel free to contact me if you require further assistance.
I'm no expert but it doesn't really seem satisfactory - or am I worrying necessarily?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what kind of app is it? (currently unable to access playstore)
mjz2cool said:
what kind of app is it? (currently unable to access playstore)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just a "news" app. Here's the description:
The official application of The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion at St Edmund's College, Cambridge. Access news, leading stories of the day, educational resources, and much more, from the institute that is leading research in the understanding of the relation between science and religion.
Bump
Ergates said:
Bump
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And once more for luck!
Ergates said:
And once more for luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any views?
I am trying to block a few specific apps from my home network I have the websites blocked but that isnt blocking the apps themselfs, is there any way to view the sights, login servers etc that the apps are calling?
specifically im trying to block dating apps like pof, i have pof.com blocked with pfblockerNG (using pfsense) but that in no way blocks the pof app, as im struggling to see the calls using my router, i was hoping i could do it on the phone level, i have decompiled the app and blocked all the addresses in the xml file, but the app is still working...
Hi
We run Maas360 to control approximately 200 android mobiles. One thing lacking in this MDM is to be able to populate the contacts with important numbers. We need to be able to put an Icon on the home screen of all the mobiles so that when they tap the icon it will dial a special landline number that we have for emergencies. I have looked through a lot of the dialer apps but the all seem to use the phones contacts which we don't have any control over. Can anyone think of a way we can achieve this? Currently google chrome is greyed out on the phones due to limiting them to no internet and no playstore access.
Ideas anyone?
Regards
Houndog1952