Apps having access to Android Camera

[WWGD]

Should any Android apps be given access to its( Android) camera? Re a blackmailing email I recently received, I want to cover as many security angles as possible. So I recently checked the list of apps in my Android that have access to my camera. There were a few, WhatsApp and Google being reasonable ones. Messages too had access. I don't see why it should. Should it?

 

[jedishrfu]

Well folks do send photos in their messages so I guess thats a yes.

 

[jedishrfu]

Its good to review your apps periodically and remove one you seldom use and also suspicious ones.

 

[FactChecker]

Are you worried about access to the camera or to the photos?
If you don't do any video calls, I don't know why any app other than the camera app needs access to the camera. It might allow an app to take photos or videos that you are not aware of.
Access to photos that you have already taken is a different thing.

 

[Wrichik Basu]

It might allow an app to take photos or videos that you are not aware of.

With the newer Android versions, that's not really possible. Your app has to be in the foreground to use the camera. When sensitive components like camera or microphone are in use, Android shows a green dot in the top right corner of the screen. Services can be made to use camera, but it's not stable and highly prone to be shut down by the system.

 

[berkeman]

When sensitive components like camera or microphone are in use, Android shows a green dot in the top right corner of the screen.

Ah, I've been wondering what that green LED dot meant. Thanks!

 

[DaveC426913]

There's also a diff between "need" and "want". In a lot of cases, you can simply deny the app access to the function and see what happens.
It may

• be just fine,
• complain and disable certain features,
• ask to enable the features when it needs them,
• just refuse to function.

 

[Wrichik Basu]

There's also a diff between "need" and "want". In a lot of cases, you can simply deny the app access to the function and see what happens.
It may

• be just fine,
• complain and disable certain features,
• ask to enable the features when it needs them,
• just refuse to function.

Yeah, Android 6+ requires devs to ask for runtime permissions. According to Play Store's guidelines, if a permission is denied, an app should simply disable the feature that depends on that permission (unless it's a core feature) and not nag the user continuously over the refused permission.

 

[WWGD]

Yeah, Android 6+ requires devs to ask for runtime permissions. According to Play Store's guidelines, if a permission is denied, an app should simply disable the feature that depends on that permission (unless it's a core feature) and not nag the user continuously over the refused permission.

I have my Step Tracking App sending me notifications to the effect I haven't taken enough steps. I will block it . Seems permission to notify me existed by default.

 

[FactChecker]

I have my Step Tracking App sending me notifications to the effect I haven't taken enough steps. I will block it . Seems permission to notify me existed by default.

Permission for an app to send notifications is an entirely different subject.

 

[DaveC426913]

Permission for an app to send notifications is an entirely different subject.

Yes. OMG. What an annoying feature.

 

[WWGD]

Permission for an app to send notifications is an entirely different subject.

Yes, I was addressing notifications in general.