Despite the fact that viruses under Android really do not exist, even Google Play is periodically infiltrated by Trojans that can do no less harm. Another thing is that in order for them to harm you, you need to not only download them yourself, but also actually allow them to host on your device. However, few people know that you yourself can, without much difficulty, even without removing the Trojan or spyware from memory, simply prohibit them from acting on your device. I explain how it works.
Android better protected than you thought
This, of course, is about the privilege system that appeared in Android in 2015. Since then, any application that you install on your device will have to request the appropriate permission to access certain OS tools. This can be phone calls, SMS messages, access to geolocation services or built-in memory, and much more. Google thought about the privilege system in such a way that in Android there is simply not a single function with which an application could perform meaningful actions without permissions. This is what we need.
App Permissions Android
Every time you install a program, regardless of the source, you always give it a certain amount of permissions. I admit that you do not even notice this, giving consent to all requests that appear on the screen in the form of a small dialog box. But in this way you often open a complete carte blanche to those programs that should not be given it at all. Just think, why does a calculator need access to your SMS messages and why does a photo editor need to make phone calls? It is clear that there is no need and something is wrong here.
If you know for yourself that you do not always take a responsible approach to the issue of granting privileges to software, or did not pay attention to this procedure at all, you need to urgently check all the permissions that you, willingly or unwittingly, distributed to the installed applications.
How to remove app permissions
- To do this, open the 'Settings', find the 'Applications' section, and from there go to the 'Rights' tab, where you will see all previously granted privileges;
Find a menu with permissions and customize everything the way you want it.
- You will see many tabs like 'Geodata' 'Contacts',' Microphone, etc. – open each of them in turn and check the applications that have access to them;
- If you are not satisfied that a particular program has a certain privilege, just go to its page and select the 'Deny' option in the window that opens;
You are the master of the situation. Grant and revoke privileges to apps as you see fit
- Repeat this manipulation with all system functions and applications, leaving the permitted privileges and blocking those that you think would be safer to block.
Blocking malicious applications on Android
Not sure if the app is reliable? Then strip him of all privileges
Despite the fact that the described method may seem too simple and even primitive, its effectiveness is truly difficult to overestimate. The fact is that by prohibiting an application from accessing a particular system function, you, in fact, limit its working potential. Let's say you've always been confused that the camera app has the ability to read and send messages. It is possible that in this way the developers are simply spying on you, and, having lost the corresponding privilege, they will stop tracking your correspondence.
In this sense, the privilege system can prove to be a very successful tool in the fight against Trojans. After all, even if malware enters a device, it, like a benign one, will need all the same privileges. Therefore, having found a potentially unsafe program in the list, simply deprive it of data by your own inattention of permissions. In the end, this is the easiest way to protect yourself from malicious and not very software that you had the imprudence to download to your device.