EmailDiscussions.com - View Single Post - How can social networks access your contacts in email?

TenFour · 10 Oct 2018, 09:39 AM

Most people sign up using their smartphone and when they do there is usually a screen asking for all sorts of permissions. Everyone ignores the messages on that screen and accepts the permissions, giving the app instant access to your contacts and often your camera, your location, and a bunch of other stuff that seems irrelevant to the app's function. Technically, app producers are supposed to be limited in what they use all the permissions for, but there have been many reported instances of privacy issues. There are also APIs that companies make to allow app producers to access your contact information on desktop, etc. For example, I have purchased a program before that would allow access to migrate my Google Contacts and Emails to another provider--trusting that they wouldn't be stealing the information, but again, who knew?

10 Oct 2018, 09:39 AM	#2
TenFour Master of the @ Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: USA Posts: 1,731	Most people sign up using their smartphone and when they do there is usually a screen asking for all sorts of permissions. Everyone ignores the messages on that screen and accepts the permissions, giving the app instant access to your contacts and often your camera, your location, and a bunch of other stuff that seems irrelevant to the app's function. Technically, app producers are supposed to be limited in what they use all the permissions for, but there have been many reported instances of privacy issues. There are also APIs that companies make to allow app producers to access your contact information on desktop, etc. For example, I have purchased a program before that would allow access to migrate my Google Contacts and Emails to another provider--trusting that they wouldn't be stealing the information, but again, who knew? Last edited by TenFour : 10 Oct 2018 at 09:44 AM.