Leo Privacy Guard

[Golfdriver97]

I have noticed in other forums the prolific suggestions of a privacy protection app called Leo Privacy guard. Upon looking up the app in Play, I noticed a lot of things that made me stop and think a moment. Do I really want to allow this app to do so much? To test it out a little, I downloaded it to my Nexus 5, and played around with it a little. I then typed up the permission list from Play and added after each one

Leo:
Device & app history
-retrieve running apps - most likely a direct result of the memory booster, or for the list of apps secured.
Identity
-find accounts on the device - Why?
Contacts
-read your contacts - render certain contacts private.
-modify your contacts - same as above
-find accounts on the device - Why?
Location
-Precise location (GPS and network based) - Why?
-Approximate location (network based) - Why? As above, there are suggested apps, but no ads.
SMS
-read your text messages (SMS/MMS) - render text messages private
-edit your text messages (SMS/MMS) - same as above
Phone
-read call log - Rendering contacts private?
-write call log - same as above?
-reroute outgoing calls - To where? How? Why?
-directly call phone numbers - Why? Seriously question this permission.
-read phone status and identity - This I believe is what pulls you out of any app to answer an incoming call.
Storage
-modify/delete contents of USB storage- backup and recovery of apps
-read contents of USB storage- same as above
Camera
-take pictures and video - Unless for taking pictures of people trying to access the device, why?
Wi-Fi connection information
-view Wi-Fi connections - Why?
Device ID & Call information
-read phone status and identity.
Other
-update component useage stats - Most likely for the memory booster.
-read battery stats - There is no battery use feature on this app. Why is there a permission for it?
-run at start up - Understandable. This is a service, and the OS fires up any service at start up.
-control vibration - There is no vibration setting in this app. Why is there a permission for it?
-change network connectivity - Why?
-close other apps - direct result of the memory booster.
-install shortcuts - One is titled App Joy, another is a memory booster. Not thrilled about a memory booster.
-uninstall shortcuts - The launcher can do this. Why?
-draw over other apps - This is when a lock screen is shown over a protected app.
-view network connections - Why?
-full network access - Reroute to Play store for suggested apps?
-pair with Bluetooth devices - Why?
-access Bluetooth settings - Why?
-control flashlight - No flashlight option in app. Why is this permission here?
-modify system settings - enables a lock
-connect/disconnect from Wi-Fi - Why?

 

[LeoRex]

-Device ID & Call information - Typically used to create a unique ID for your app instance, to help verify things like IAP, etc.

 

[dpham00]

Google also defines app permissions


https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/6014972?hl=en

 

[Golfdriver97]

The app that I am comparing this to is App Lock by developer App Lock Team

Device/App history
-retrieve running apps - probably for the list of apps secured.

Phone
-reroute outgoing calls - How? Why?

Other
-Draw over other apps - This is when a lock screen is shown over a protected app.


So, we have a comparison of 2 different apps. I tried both, and both work equally. I deleted them shortly after testing. I just don't find them needed as I set a PIN on my devices. True, someone can bypass that PIN, but they need to steal the phone from me, in which case, enter other methods to stop them from using my phone.

If I had to endorse one of the apps, I would say the one with the lesser permissions.

 

[Golfdriver97]

To clarify one more thing: I don't really care for an app that includes a Memory booster. Android does not work like desktop Windows machines (Windows versions up to 8.1. I am not sure if 10 runs differently).

 

[Tech-Newb]

Well, the more permission and data collected, the more money they can make.

Posted with ❤Love❤