Apps are what make our smartphones truly useful. They help us stay in touch with family and friends, guide us, educate us and sometimes simply entertain us. With the average person having nearly 30 apps on their device, it’s clear that we’re no strangers to downloading and installing apps.

However a word of caution. You should always check the permissions that an app requests while installing.

In this video I have outlined five permissions that you should be aware of and give careful consideration when granting it to an app.

 

Five permissions to check when installing Android apps

1. Access to Internet: be careful that the permission being asked for is appropriate to the app

2. Access to phone and call information: apps will be able to view your call history, send text messages and incur additional costs without you knowing.

3. GPS & precise location: does the app really need your precise location or even access to your GPS?

4.Access to photos/media/files: ensure you only give access to trustworthy apps, with this permissions they have the ability to access a lot of data on your phone.

5. Camera & Microphone access: Apps can access them at anytime and take photos or record audio without you knowing. Make sure you provide access to apps you trust.

If you’re unsure about why the app is asking for you to provide a particular permissions, you can always contact the developer and ask them to clarify.