Spyware takes on many forms. It’s on your phone right now. While “malicious spyware” may generate headlines and prompt Google (and Apple) to force delete thousands of apps, most spyware is better hidden. It tricks you into granting access to your location and sometimes your camera and microphone. Then it sends this data to its handlers.
This is permission abuse. Google has strict rules on how apps can request and then use sensitive permissions, but these rules have not been as effective as needed in stopping this data harvesting. Even the most popular apps ask for more than they need.
Google has released two innovations that do matter, though. The first is a Privacy Dashboard that lets you quickly check which apps are tapping your location, camera and microphone. Go to Settings > Security & privacy > Privacy > Privacy Dashboard. You can also search your phone for “privacy dashboard.”
The second innovation, which has just been released, is a universal “uninstall” button that lets you delete an app from all your devices with a single tap. Now there’s no hunting around. You find an abusive app, you delete it with one quick click.
As Android Authority explains, “Google Play Store v48.8 update introduces a new, easier way to uninstall apps remotely. Users can now find an ‘Uninstall’ button directly on individual app listings to remove the app from secondary devices This new method, combined with the existing filter in the ‘Manage apps & devices’ section, offers a more robust remote app management experience.”
While malware steals the headlines, permission abuse impacts millions more users. This isn’t necessarily dangerous, albeit you should not share your location and other data without making a deliberate decision to do so. But the ad and mobile marketing industries will always harvest as much as they can. Don’t let them.
Permission abuse is also a major red flag, marking out the vacuous apps that are often linked to more abusive installs pulled from outside the Play ecosystem. As ever, only install apps from official stores and be careful what you allow them do to.
