> Let alone the instructions/warnings/risks, I know many Android users who barely go through the permissions they grant an app during installation.
There's a reason for this. I do go through the permissions that apps ask for, which is why I end up never upgrading any apps.
The hugest problem is that the permissions are all ridiculously open-ended. There are apps that ask for permissions there's no reason for them to have; that's not what I'm complaining about here. I've installed apps where every permission they ask for is something they obviously need in order to function at all -- or, I should say, includes something they obviously need in order to function. The permissions are so inclusive that every app is allowed to do terrible things if it's able to function at all. This isn't an improvement over the windows XP model of "everything runs as administrator".
And so, if you're going to be installing apps, there is no reason to read the permissions they request. Any permission you give is enough for the app to screw you over 1000 different ways.
There's a reason for this. I do go through the permissions that apps ask for, which is why I end up never upgrading any apps.
The hugest problem is that the permissions are all ridiculously open-ended. There are apps that ask for permissions there's no reason for them to have; that's not what I'm complaining about here. I've installed apps where every permission they ask for is something they obviously need in order to function at all -- or, I should say, includes something they obviously need in order to function. The permissions are so inclusive that every app is allowed to do terrible things if it's able to function at all. This isn't an improvement over the windows XP model of "everything runs as administrator".
And so, if you're going to be installing apps, there is no reason to read the permissions they request. Any permission you give is enough for the app to screw you over 1000 different ways.