Meanings of Different Android Application Permissions

You must have noticed, when installing any App in your Android smartphone, it display a list of permissions the application or extension will be requesting before you install it. Most of you just click on install and never think what about those Android application permissions mean. Some of them may access any of your personal information stored in phone and misuse them if that app is not from trusted source.

There's around twenty two different permissions that an application can use. Here I'm talking about the details behind some of very useful but suspicious permissions of Android apps. There are many other less suspicious permissions like network communication, keeping phone awake, hardware control, system settings, system storage. You no need to worry about that, common sense. For exp an video player needs hardware control to change audio settings, also need access to SD card and internal storage contents to store playlist etc. This'll help you to decide what app to install or not and so you can analyse them and choose whether to install or reject.

Network Communication: Full internet access: We often see this common permission. This mostly need to show ads in an ad supported app other than a browser or something downloading app. To show you ads in app they needs to get them from the Internet. But if the app is ad-free, than its no need to connect to net. You need to alert in this case. Also video/music app also need this to stream online contents.

Your Messages to Read/Send SMS/MMS: Some app need to read, receive, send or edit SMS or MMS and it also cost you money. Many SMS apps need this permission to send SMS also app like phone locator also required this permission in order to send alert via SMS. Also any app which related to images may need this to send taken or edited pictures to your friend by MMS.

Read Contact Data: The app with this permission can read all of your contact data. Apps for messaging, home screen contacts widget , or social networking apps like Twitter or Foursquare will need this.

System Tools: The system tools permission is a mix of different permission in different condition and apps. For exp a mapping app need to prevent phone from sleeping, disable keylock, your personal information and auto start at boot etc or a home replacement app need to change global system settings or an app like App2SD needs permission to delete all app cache data and make app to run always. Actually the System Tools permission is combination or one or lots of different types of permissions which we can't be simply describe here. Best to read them and understand the relevancy with app.

Phone Calls: Read phone state and identity: Many apps like browser or games need to know if your phone is about to ring to pause their process to make phone stable in that condition. If not, than phone or app might be hung at time of incoming call. Also apps for video or music need this permission to give audio control back to phone. Though this permission also can read and send your IMEI no. and other information back server. For exp internet browser and sites may use this to know about your phone to deliver better page rendering or remembering your visit history to measure and deliver best content to you. Recently at UC Forum we ask you to provide your IMEI to registering for UC Browser beta tester group. We'll made the app to work for only specified IMEI model so other will not able to use that app.

Make Phone Calls: Some apps need to make phone calls and they can cost you this way. The apps like Google Voice could ask for this permission. But if any other type of app looking for this permission, you need to alert again.

Your Location: Network-based Location; GPS Location: Any mapping or GPS location app need this permission to know your location. Also apps like Phone Locator need both type of permissions to send your location info when device is missing. Some app who deliver location-based ads also needs it to know your location.

Your Personal Information: Many apps need this permission which contains different permissions like add or modify calendar events, send email to guests, read and write browser's history and bookmarks, read and write contact data, read owner data, read user defined dictionary, and many others. App like Lookout need most of them.

I hope this will helpful to you to understand most of about the Android apps permissions and you can better decide which app to give or not requested permissions. source.
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