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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The permissions you grant smartphone apps can quietly compromise your privacy.
- Periodically reviewing app permissions helps safeguard your personal data from unnecessary exposure.
- Start by auditing the most sensitive permissions, then make it a habit to revisit them on a regular basis.
Your smartphone, regardless of whether you prefer Android, iOS, or some other niche mobile operating system, can leave digital trails that anyone with the know-how can follow.
Every app I install demands certain permissions to function. If you want food delivered, the app may need GPS access to locate you; a phone optimization tool might require access to your files and folders; or a social networking app might ask for permission to send you notifications.
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While these permissions make things convenient, if you don’t manage them carefully, you could be giving apps far more access than they actually need — and that creates an opening for your private data to leak.
You get to determine exactly what information your phone shares and when it shares it. By running a privacy checkup and adjusting the permissions listed below, you can substantially shrink your digital footprint and steer clear of unnecessary data exposure.
Where do I locate my phone’s permission settings?
Before I dive into each individual permission and discuss what you should allow or deny, you’ll want to know where to look for these settings.
The exact path varies depending on your phone’s manufacturer and model, whether you’re running Android or iOS, and which version of the operating system your device is on.
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On Android devices, the route is typically Settings > Security and Privacy > More Privacy Settings > Permission Manager. On an iPhone, you’ll generally find the relevant controls under Settings > Privacy & Security, or you can go to Settings and tap on the specific app you want to inspect.
Which permissions should I review or turn off?
When you install an app or download a major update, the system will prompt you to choose which permissions to grant. A weather app, for instance, might request “always-on” access to your location so it can deliver precise forecasts, while a delivery service might make the same request so its drivers can find your address.
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If an app is asking for a sensitive permission — such as access to your location or your phone’s microphone — you’ll typically be given options: “allow all the time,” “allow while using the app,” “ask every time,” or “don’t allow.”
As a rule of thumb for protecting your privacy, restrict apps you only use occasionally to “while using the app” access — but I’ll go deeper into each permission below and explain when it might make sense to grant broader access, or none at all.
1. Location services
Since location permissions tap into GPS and can be used to directly track you or identify your frequently visited places over time, this is the first setting you should review.
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If you leave this permission active around the clock, you may be broadcasting where you live, where you work, and any other spots you visit regularly. This can be particularly risky in situations involving stalking or domestic abuse — although some people do keep location sharing enabled so that friends and family can keep tabs on them.
As a general guideline, stick with “only while using the app,” or activate it manually whenever the need arises.
2. Camera access
There’s no reason for your phone’s camera to stay on at all times. Beyond draining your battery, being watched or recorded without your knowledge is a serious privacy violation.
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I recommend granting camera access only on a “while using the app” basis. This applies to camera filters, video calling platforms, and social media apps alike. I have yet to find a single mobile app that genuinely warrants having constant, unrestricted access to your camera.
3. Microphone access
Unrestricted access to your microphone is another high-risk permission that could compromise your data or invade your privacy.
Unless the app clearly needs microphone access — such as for phone calls, voice assistants, or voice-activated controls — your safest moves are to select “ask every time” or “never.” A news-reading app, for example, has absolutely no reason to tap into your microphone or audio recordings.
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This becomes especially alarming if an app also requests camera permission. Unless it’s a dedicated, trusted app like a video conferencing tool, the two together could let the app capture your surroundings, your activities, and everything you say.
4. Contacts and SMS
Contact and SMS permissions are requested by a wide range of mobile apps — from social media platforms to automotive integrations like Android Auto. Be careful about granting access, since this can expose details about your close relationships, your workplace, your social circle, and the content of your conversations.
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For example, Instagram or TikTok might ask to sync with your contacts and recommend friends — but this data could also be leveraged for user profiling and targeted demographic advertising.
Ultimately, it’s your call whether to allow this permission, and you can always revoke it later from your settings.
5. Calendar access
Letting every app on your phone read your calendar is asking for trouble. Apps like Google and Microsoft services, email clients, video conferencing tools, and system utilities often request this access — but you can limit data exposure by choosing “ask every time” or “only while using this app.”
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Without proper controls on calendar permissions, third parties could learn your daily schedule, predict where you’ll be at a given time, discover upcoming travel plans — potentially revealing when your home will be empty — and uncover any medical appointments you’ve scheduled.
6. Health data access
Your health and fitness information is an extremely valuable asset that companies could exploit for insurance assessments, advertising, or even training large language models.
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You should be extremely cautious about letting apps access this data, particularly when there’s no obvious reason for the request. Why would a shopping app, a phone maintenance tool, or a mobile game need your health information, for instance?
As a default position, say no — unless the request comes from an app that is specifically designed for health and fitness services.
7. Additional Permissions to Monitor
- Photos & videos: Your photos and videos can be deeply personal and sensitive, and some may include metadata that exposes details about you and your whereabouts. Whenever possible, choose to deny or restrict access.
- Physical activity: Requests for access to your movement and activity data — such as those sometimes made by map applications — should be handled with the same caution as medical or fitness data, since they can be equally private and revealing.
- Notifications: Be cautious of any app requesting notification permissions. While some apps genuinely need this to deliver alerts and updates, others may seek it to capture two-factor authentication codes and security notifications.
- Bluetooth, nearby devices: Permissions for Bluetooth and nearby device access are commonly required for connected gadgets like smart speakers or video doorbells, but to maintain tighter control over these connections, grant access only while actively using them.
What Should You Do When Apps Request Excessive Permissions?
Before you rush to accept every permission prompt just to get started with a new app, pause and consider why the app actually needs that particular access.
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Requests for overly broad permissions could be a red flag that the app you’ve installed may be hiding something harmful — particularly if it seeks concerning combinations, such as access to your files, camera, and microphone all at once. Or, putting malware aside, the developer may simply be trying to collect as much of your personal information as they can.
Using a mobile app or smartphone service is entirely your decision, as is how much data you choose to share. If the requests feel excessive, remove the app from your device, or turn off specific features on your phone.
How Frequently Should You Review Permissions?
I suggest reviewing your app permissions every couple of months. The more apps you install and actively use, the more often you should conduct a permissions audit.
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Even if you rarely download new apps, it’s still a good idea to verify which apps have access to your data and understand the reasons why. If you haven’t opened an app in a long time, go ahead and remove it.
As a final reminder, keep your operating system and all your apps up to date, and install updates as soon as they become available. An app may seem trustworthy, but outdated software can harbor security flaws that attackers may exploit. You should also take immediate action by removing any app that begins behaving unexpectedly, as there have been instances where apps started out harmless but were later updated to include malicious functionality.
