Brightest Flashlight free app has disturbing permissions

**nikeairs23** · 02-10-2013, 06:12 AM

I try not to download many apps unless its highly rated and in goggle store.

So, I've been using this flashlight app for months. Yesterday I noticed something while using the flashlight to look at a spot that we want mention here on a friend of mine. I didnt want to tell her, but I noticed that instead of the usual white screen, the camera lens was somehow activated. I thought it was just a glitch from me going back and foward between the app and the camera. Then I go and look this up, and read about different permissions. Now when I open Google store usually, I don't see anything about permission. But today I used the desktop feature and saw the stuff about taking pics and videos. I was a lil angry. Ok, a lot angry. How does google allow this?

I read somewhere it has to do with accessing the camera to use the flash, but what happens to the pics it takes. These people probably have my most intimate of pics on file. This is bs. I'm heated. Is this how celeb nude pics get leaked?

**fusion09** · 02-10-2013, 11:35 AM

Not sure how they can get away with this. I am still amazed there is no flashlight app i have found that doesn't allow the user to dim the light to more usable levels for nightly walks to the bathroom which is usually less than 1 lumen needed and the flashbulb from the phone is closer to 50-100 lumens.

**nrm5110** · 02-10-2013, 12:24 PM

Originally Posted by fusion09

Not sure how they can get away with this. I am still amazed there is no flashlight app i have found that doesn't allow the user to dim the light to more usable levels for nightly walks to the bathroom which is usually less than 1 lumen needed and the flashbulb from the phone is closer to 50-100 lumens.

First off the apps not taking pictures it needs that permission to access the flash module.

Second you can't control the voltage going to the led because its dangerous for one and two that would require a lot of coding to the kernel which an app can't do I think you both need to do a bit more reading Lol.

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**nikeairs23** · 02-10-2013, 04:33 PM

Originally Posted by nrm5110

First off the apps not taking pictures it needs that permission to access the flash module.

Second you can't control the voltage going to the led because its dangerous for one and two that would require a lot of coding to the kernel which an app can't do I think you both need to do a bit more reading Lol.

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So are you saying some shady character hasn't been spying on me thru the flashlight app?

**nrm5110** · 02-10-2013, 04:41 PM

Originally Posted by nikeairs23

So are you saying some shady character hasn't been spying on me thru the flashlight app?

I'm telling you its unlikely these apps need that permission in order to say to the camera hey turn on the flash. Its tricking it by saying hey we are taking a picture or video or something.

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**nikeairs23** · 02-10-2013, 09:40 PM

Originally Posted by nrm5110

I'm telling you its unlikely these apps need that permission in order to say to the camera hey turn on the flash. Its tricking it by saying hey we are taking a picture or video or something.

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Well, you seem very knowledgeable on the subject. Its still scary though. If pics are being taken, I dont see them on my phone. Makes me wonder. I also think developers should address this concern in the description.

**nrm5110** · 02-10-2013, 10:17 PM

Originally Posted by nikeairs23

Well, you seem very knowledgeable on the subject. Its still scary though. If pics are being taken, I dont see them on my phone. Makes me wonder. I also think developers should address this concern in the description.

Good developers normally address permissions that seem out of line. Say the app needed the camera permission and the internet access permission or access to cell data then you would have reason for concern but as it stands I don't see anything crazy.

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