Honest question, how many of us read permissions after scrolling through the description and then download ? It might make sense if you have metered bandwidth, not otherwise. I first try to find an ad-free app, install it and then see if it asks unnecessary permissions and go from there.
Tell HN: Google does not list application permissions in the Play Store any more
121–130 of 174 posts
Re: Tell HN: Google does not list application permissions in the Play Store any more
#122Honest question, how many of us read permissions after scrolling through the description and then download ? It might make sense if you have metered bandwidth, not otherwise. I first try to find an ad-free app, install it and then see if it asks unnecessary permissions and go from there.
I always read the permissions and have decided not to install applications several times because of it. I'm very likely an outlier but I'm still curious about the reasoning behind this change.
Re: Tell HN: Google does not list application permissions in the Play Store any more
#123Honest question, how many of us read permissions after scrolling through the description and then download ? It might make sense if you have metered bandwidth, not otherwise. I first try to find an ad-free app, install it and then see if it asks unnecessary permissions and go from there.
I always look at the permissions for apps I use.
Re: Tell HN: Google does not list application permissions in the Play Store any more
#124While it is much less of a concern with runtime permissions that are optional.... yeah, I greatly dislike this too. In particular because not everything is a runtime permission . E.g. I like to know that [apk X] has no internet or file permissions at all - it rules out nearly all practical ways to leak your information. And google just keeps taking more and more steps to hide that information from me.
My biggest pet peeve is optional runtime permissions that are not optional.
I have a CO2 monitor that you read through an android app. It cost like $250. If you don't give it geolocation permission, it just says "this app needs geolocation permission" and shows you a button to go to your settings to enable it. Any time you disable geolocation, you get that message and button again.
I have yet to find any geolocation functionality in the app.
EDIT: Please see epukaza's comment below. There is a legitimate reason for this permission, which his comment explains.
Re: Tell HN: Google does not list application permissions in the Play Store any more
#125Earlier quoted context omitted.
What's wrong with run at startup?
My calculator doesn't need to run at startup. There's nothing useful it could do in that situation, the only possible reason is to download ads, track me, or just pointlessly waste battery. Ditto for a wide range of apps. Pretty much everything that isn't a messaging app.
Exactly. Tracking me, wasting my resources, etc.
Re: Tell HN: Google does not list application permissions in the Play Store any more
#126Ugh. I really liked that "nutritional label" because the advance warning tells me upfront if the developer values my private data. I would prefer app stores be similar to health warnings on cigarette packets, because predatory data collection and billing practices are so entrenched.
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Re: Tell HN: Google does not list application permissions in the Play Store any more
#127Earlier quoted context omitted.
Same with "run at startup" and some other important ones; there's no way to deny it once installed.
This is why having a firewall installed is essential in every android phone. Afwall+ does the job. My phones are all rooted but if I'm not mistaken it works on non rooted phones as well.
Nope, it requires root, as it should, really. Anything that can mess with networking at a low level needs root; there's no Android permission that I know of that lets you get down to iptables level.
Re: Tell HN: Google does not list application permissions in the Play Store any more
#128While it is much less of a concern with runtime permissions that are optional.... yeah, I greatly dislike this too. In particular because not everything is a runtime permission . E.g. I like to know that [apk X] has no internet or file permissions at all - it rules out nearly all practical ways to leak your information. And google just keeps taking more and more steps to hide that information from me.
My biggest pet peeve is optional runtime permissions that are not optional. I have a CO2 monitor that you read through an android app. It cost like $250. If you don't give it geolocation permission, it just says "this app needs geolocation permission" and shows you a button to go to your settings to enable it. Any time you disable geolocation, you get that message and button again. I have yet to find any geolocation…
They obviously want to collect the "CO2 readings at location" data and sell it to the highest bidder.
Why do they refuse to opt you out of being an unpaid drone generating $0.02 worth of data for them after you paid them $250? Because they can, since we don't have any laws forbidding it.
Re: Tell HN: Google does not list application permissions in the Play Store any more
#129While it is much less of a concern with runtime permissions that are optional.... yeah, I greatly dislike this too. In particular because not everything is a runtime permission . E.g. I like to know that [apk X] has no internet or file permissions at all - it rules out nearly all practical ways to leak your information. And google just keeps taking more and more steps to hide that information from me.
My biggest pet peeve is optional runtime permissions that are not optional. I have a CO2 monitor that you read through an android app. It cost like $250. If you don't give it geolocation permission, it just says "this app needs geolocation permission" and shows you a button to go to your settings to enable it. Any time you disable geolocation, you get that message and button again. I have yet to find any geolocation…
The geolocation information is not for you, it’s just sent along the rest of your information.
Re: Tell HN: Google does not list application permissions in the Play Store any more
#130While it is much less of a concern with runtime permissions that are optional.... yeah, I greatly dislike this too. In particular because not everything is a runtime permission . E.g. I like to know that [apk X] has no internet or file permissions at all - it rules out nearly all practical ways to leak your information. And google just keeps taking more and more steps to hide that information from me.
My biggest pet peeve is optional runtime permissions that are not optional. I have a CO2 monitor that you read through an android app. It cost like $250. If you don't give it geolocation permission, it just says "this app needs geolocation permission" and shows you a button to go to your settings to enable it. Any time you disable geolocation, you get that message and button again. I have yet to find any geolocation…
The app needs the geolocation permission to access the bluetooth radio and scan for devices. Any company can can technically do geolocation using nothing but nearby bluetooth MAC addresses if they have location information for any other phone/device in bluetooth range.