An app for a conference - with a surprising set of features
I'm going to a conference next week, and the conference invites me to "Download the app!" Well, OK, you think, maybe a bit of overkill, but it would be useful to have an app with schedules etc. Here is the app listed on google play.
Oh and here's a list (abbreviated) of permissions that the app requires:
"""This application has access to the following:
- Your precise location (GPS and network-based)
- Full network access
- Connect and disconnect from Wi-Fi - Allows the app to connect to and disconnect from Wi-Fi access points and to make changes to device configuration for Wi-Fi networks.
- Read calendar events plus confidential information
- Add or modify calendar events and send email to guests without owners' knowledge
- Read phone status and identity
- Camera - take pictures and videos. This permission allows the app to use the camera at any time without your confirmation.
- Modify your contacts - Allows the app to modify the data about your contacts stored on your device, including the frequency with which you've called, emailed, or communicated in other ways with specific contacts. This permission allows apps to delete contact data.
- Read your contacts - Allows the app to read data about your contacts stored on your device, including the frequency with which you've called, emailed, or communicated in other ways with specific individuals. This permission allows apps to save your contact data, and malicious apps may share contact data without your knowledge.
- Read call log - Allows the app to read your device's call log, including data about incoming and outgoing calls. This permission allows apps to save your call log data, and malicious apps may share call log data without your knowledge.
- Write call log - Allows the app to modify your device's call log, including data about incoming and outgoing calls. Malicious apps may use this to erase or modify your call log.
- Run at start-up.
"""
Now tell me, what fraction of those permissions should a conference-information app legitimately use? (I've edited out some of the mundane ones.) Should ANYONE install this on their phone/tablet?
Syndicated 2013-05-20 00:06:07 (Updated 2013-05-20 00:06:25) from Dan Stowell