Did You Know Biggest Privacy Threat — Smartphone App permissions?
In 2021, 3.8 billion people, or 48.16 percent of the global population, would own a smartphone, with an abundance of apps available for download. They ask the user to allow permission to use the device’s services while installing the apps-GPS, contacts, calendar, and browser services are just a few examples. even though developers of the app mention the permissions in the license agreement, only approximately 8% of users read it entirely. After permitting to use the app, the developer can obtain data and information from users’ smartphones through the permission-granted services.
When a person uses applications and is online, they produce a lot of data. By requesting access to their devices, consumers allow the corporation to gather not just personal data but also information about their friends, family, and interests. Companies refer to this type of data as “Big Data,” and machine learning algorithms may be used to utilize it to predict behavior and even present position.
The majority of firms sell or utilize this data for their advertising purposes without the users’ awareness. Facebook, for example, uses WhatsApp to collect data from users and make the platform more user-friendly. Some firms sell this information, and the information may be used for nefarious reasons after it is sold.
However, users can’t completely deny the app’s permission requests in certain situations. By being cautious when installing apps and reading the app’s license agreement, users can know what type of data apps will be collecting.