NZ Herald Android App wants excessive permissions

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#978984 2-Feb-2014 18:00

joker97:
insane: Is there an easy way or a summary to view all your apps permissions? I'm quite keen to reign in some of the info I'm freely giving away unnecessarily.

I did find a nice setting to turn off under the advanced wifi options, it reads 'Let Google's location service and other apps scan for networks, even when Wi-Fi is off'

Under settings applications

Then turn them of with app ops app if u have 4.3 4.4 4.4.1

Yeah but that's the long way, found something called aSpotCat which lists your apps based on what permission they are using. App Ops takes care of the rest as I'm still on 4.3. Surprisingly I'm not as exposed as I thought, and I never leave location services on 24/7, only when needed. Crisis averted :)

surfisup1000

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#978987 2-Feb-2014 18:20

04fuxake: I just use the mobile websites for Stuff and NZ Herald. I've never seen what the apps give me over them.

I include the metservice app in that list. The web version is far superior to the app.

ajobbins

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#978999 2-Feb-2014 18:38

surfisup1000:
04fuxake: I just use the mobile websites for Stuff and NZ Herald. I've never seen what the apps give me over them.

I include the metservice app in that list. The web version is far superior to the app.

And the app isn't even free

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nathan

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#979019 2-Feb-2014 20:05

surfisup1000:
ajobbins: Last night I saw that I had a pending app update for the NZ Herald app on my android.

Going into the update, NZ Herald seems to be asking for some pretty excessive access to my personal data, without any explanation about why. The update 'whats new' simply says "Bug fixes and app enhancements", with no suggestions about what 'enhancements' actually need that data for.

Ohh, you should send a news tip to the herald about how they are taking peoples contacts.

Wonder if they will publish self-scandals?

very doubtful. They run an editorial complaining about Facebook, Google, Apple doing "tax avoidance" http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11185239

meanwhile they are in court with the IRD over unpaid tax of NZ$48 million. The IRD is seeking to impose penalties of 50% of the tax in dispute and interest in addition to the tax claimed.

hypocrisy much?

thegeekboy

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#979263 3-Feb-2014 11:01

TimA: The app is terrible regardless, Uninstalled today and submitted a complaint to the herald and also on facebook like John plus privacy commissioner.

I removed it ages ago - simply because it was a horrible app - and permissions-greedy.

Journeyman

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#979602 3-Feb-2014 18:34

I noticed the new app requests when it asked to update the other day... deleted it immediately. I contacted the Herald today, via their website, to ask why the need these permissions. It will be interesting to see what their response is. No doubt some PR twaddle.

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ajobbins

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#980241 4-Feb-2014 18:21

I wrote to the Herald on Saturday, but am yet to get a reply. I'll give them a day or two longer then I'll send my email off to the Privacy Commissioner.

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Klipspringer

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#980248 4-Feb-2014 18:46

ajobbins: I wrote to the Herald on Saturday, but am yet to get a reply. I'll give them a day or two longer then I'll send my email off to the Privacy Commissioner.

Don't think u have a case. If you don't like what the app is doing then don't use it. Its easy enough to see what the app is doing it does after all "ask you for permission". What more do you expect?

JimmyH

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#980254 4-Feb-2014 18:59

Thanks for the warning. Haven't installed the update yet, but will now uninstall the app instead.

Don't tend to use either the Herald or Stuff apps (or websites) much any more - ever since they abandoned actual journalism and factual reporting in favour of a "news lite" mix of stale reprints, puff pieces and advertorials.

Re: discussion on alternatives - the Guardian is sort of OK but I find it a bit too much of a "the world is terrible" whinge fest most of the time. I tend to so for the BBC, Sydney Morning Herald, the Telegraph and the Washington Post from my phone when I want news.

ArcticSilver

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#980276 4-Feb-2014 19:30

I uninstalled the app for this reason and posted a negative review. Glad to see others are taking a stand too.

I won't update Facebook either due to its latest update, It wont be lasting much longer until I get rid of that one as well.

ajobbins

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#980340 4-Feb-2014 21:50

Klipspringer:
ajobbins: I wrote to the Herald on Saturday, but am yet to get a reply. I'll give them a day or two longer then I'll send my email off to the Privacy Commissioner.

Don't think u have a case. If you don't like what the app is doing then don't use it. Its easy enough to see what the app is doing it does after all "ask you for permission". What more do you expect?

Now I am not a legal expert by a long stretch, but my understanding of the privacy act is that NZ orgnaisations are only allowed to collect informaton that is genuinely relevent to their normal business activites. If they want to collect my phone book for marketing reasons, they have obligations under the privacy act to justify why they need it.

http://privacy.org.nz/the-privacy-act-and-codes/privacy-principles/purpose-for-collection-of-personal-information-principle-one/

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#980343 4-Feb-2014 21:53

If you have a Samsung Android, in the Samsung App store there is an app called "Permissions Manager". It's an official Samsung App.

It allows you to firewall what permissions apps can/can't have. It's the same as those apps that require root, except this doesn't, I assume because it's a Samsung Official App.

ajobbins

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#980348 4-Feb-2014 21:57

Additionally, organisations aren't allowed to collect information that is 'unreasonably intrusive'. I absolutely think the information the NZ Herald app is asking for is well into the unreasonably intrusive territory.

http://privacy.org.nz/the-privacy-act-and-codes/privacy-principles/storage-and-security-of-personal-information-principle-five/

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ajobbins

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#980370 4-Feb-2014 22:10

I decided to send my email to the privacy commissioner anyway.

Irrespective of NZH's response to me and this situation, I think it warrants being on record with the PC.

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mattwnz

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#980376 4-Feb-2014 22:22

ajobbins: I decided to send my email to the privacy commissioner anyway.

Irrespective of NZH's response to me and this situation, I think it warrants being on record with the PC.

You maybe lucky to get a reply, if they are anything like the commerce commission. I emailed them with a product concern a few weeks ago , after an article said to contact them, and no reply. I think these gov depts have very limited resources. They do seem to forget that people reporting problems are a low cost way for them to find out about them. I have now given up on reporting things. But good on you for doing it, as clarification is needed in this area, as these things intrude more into privacy.

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