Are Facebook App Permissions Safe?

[SouthTex]

How many of you have the facebook app installed an working on your htc one or android device? I was going to use it but it has LOTS of permissions it needs access to from your calls,texts,changing things on your phone an alot more!

How safe is it to use know all the things it has access to? To me its uncalled for because it doesnt need all those things.

Heres a list-read your texts,draw over others apps,add or modify calender events and send email to guests without owners knowledge,phone calls, record audio.

 

[wizzrah]

Re: Is facebook safe?

How many of you have the facebook app installed an working on your htc one or android device? I was going to use it but it has LOTS of permissions it needs access to from your calls,texts,changing things on your phone an alot more!

How safe is it to use know all the things it has access to? To me its uncalled for because it doesnt need all those things.

Heres a list-read your texts,draw over others apps,add or modify calender events and send email to guests without owners knowledge,phone calls, record audio.

According to Facebook, 1 Billion people use the Facebook app. It seems relatively safe to me. Usually those permissions are there to give the app its functionality.

 

[zkSharks]

Re: Is facebook safe?

See this: http://www.facebook.com/help/210676372433246?refr=m-search

 

[Golfdriver97]

Re: Is facebook safe?

Facebook's new permissions aren't any scarier than using Facebook in the first place | Android Central

https://www.facebook.com/help/210676372433246

Some permissions are necessary but could be rephrased. Say 'read phone calls'...all that means is when you are on FB and a call comes in, the app gets shifted to the background so you can answer the call.

 

[Aquila]

Re: Is facebook safe?

Is using Facebook safe? meh. Their app is not really any worse than the service in general for privacy, but there's nothing to indicate that they're doing anything untoward via those permissions.

 

[ffejjj]

Re: Is facebook safe?

just don't give them special permissions to your bank statements or credit card information

 

[SouthTex]

Re: Is facebook safe?

Thanks everyone! Yeah i was confused a bit when it was time for me to test out the app an it showed all these permissions. I see how it makes sense when it comes to functionality on the phone etc.

I take it, its the same as other apps as well right? Like i was using dynamic notifications an always wondered about the permission stuff.

 

[wizzrah]

Re: Is facebook safe?

Thanks everyone! Yeah i was confused a bit when it was time for me to test out the app an it showed all these permissions. I see how it makes sense when it comes to functionality on the phone etc.

I take it, its the same as other apps as well right? Like i was using dynamic notifications an always wondered about the permission stuff.

It's similar in other apps as well. Again, some permissions like that are needed to give the app some of its functionality.

Sent from my AT&T One X running CodefireX ROM Android Version 4.4.

 

[zkSharks]

Re: Is facebook safe?

Take a look at these two articles.

Android 101: What some of those scary application permissions mean | Android Central
Facebook's new permissions aren't any scarier than using Facebook in the first place | Android Central

Do take note of the "Phone calls -- read phone state and identity" part. It's the "and identity" part that you should be aware (but not necessarily suspicious) of. Following the link in that section leads to the this great example of how interpreting permissions isn't black and white:

Security firm details privacy concerns; developer tells us its side of the story | Android Central

 

[dctokyo]

Re: Is facebook safe?

Are Facebook App Permissions Safe?

let me correct that for you

Is Facebook Safe?

............... IMHO no