By Jackson Godwin. Cybersecurity Analyst & Penetration Tester.
I Examined Every Permission Carefully
After noticing the strange behaviour on my phone, I opened the app’s permission settings.
This time, I didn’t simply glance at them.
I read every permission one by one.
The app had been granted access to:
- Accessibility services.
- Display over other apps.
- Notifications.
- Storage.
For an app whose main purpose was organising screenshots and notes, some of these permissions seemed excessive.
That immediately raised my suspicion.
The App Knew More Than I Expected
I began researching how certain permissions work.
I discovered that permissions such as Accessibility Services are designed to help people with disabilities use their devices more easily.
They are valuable and important features.
However, if abused by a malicious application, they can potentially be misused to observe user interactions or perform actions on behalf of the user.
The permission itself wasn’t dangerous.
Granting it to the wrong app was.
Then I Looked at the Developer
I returned to the app store.
This time I examined the developer instead of the reviews.
I noticed something unusual.
The developer had only a handful of applications.
Several had recently been removed.
Some reviews mentioned unexpected behaviour after recent updates.
Others complained about excessive advertisements and privacy concerns.
I realised I had focused only on the overall rating instead of reading the newest reviews.
The Updates Changed Everything
The app had originally been a simple productivity tool.
But after several updates, it requested more permissions and introduced additional features.
That taught me an important lesson.
An application you trusted six months ago may not be the same application today.
Updates can improve security and functionality.
But they can also introduce changes that deserve closer attention.
My Battery Told Part of the Story
I checked my phone’s battery statistics.
The productivity app appeared much higher on the list than I expected.
It had been running frequently—even during periods when I hadn’t opened it.
High battery usage doesn’t automatically mean an app is malicious.
Many legitimate apps use battery power for notifications or background tasks.
However, unexpected background activity can be a reason to investigate further.
I Removed the App
Rather than continuing to guess, I uninstalled it.
Then I restarted my phone.
Over the next few days I noticed several improvements.
- Battery life became more consistent.
- The phone stayed cooler during normal use.
- The unusual behaviour stopped.
Whether every issue had been caused by the app or not, removing unnecessary software reduced my exposure and improved my device’s performance.
Convenience Had Cost Me Privacy
The app genuinely solved a problem.
It was useful.
It saved time.
That usefulness made me trust it.
I approved permissions without asking an important question:
Does this app actually need all of this access to perform its main job?
I had confused convenience with trustworthiness.
The Biggest Lesson Was About Permissions
The experience changed how I think about mobile apps.
Instead of asking:
“Is this app useful?”
I now also ask:
“Does this app need the permissions it’s requesting?”
That single question has prevented me from installing several applications since then.
In the final part of this article, I’ll explain the biggest warning signs of risky mobile apps, share practical tips for reviewing app permissions safely, and reveal the simple rule I now follow before tapping “Allow.”
Continue Reading: The App That Secretly Recorded My Screen (Part 3)