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Saturday, January 12, 2013

Permission Granted

One of the best birthday gifts I recently received was a new tablet. Its a new world to me and an attitude changer. I was under the impression I didn’t need one, and now that I have been introduced to another aspect of computing technology I am amazed at how many things a tablet can do and how useful it can be daily.

You have heard me say many time to watch what you click on when visiting sites or installing programs. And I see just as many warning boxes and check boxes when installing “apps.” As a long time computer person, I find that term hard to get used to. Its just a weird short way of saying program.

Here’s a screen shot of a popular application that you must agree to if you want to install and use it.

Allows the application to take pictures and videos. At any time without your permission.

Now one of the things I learned about tablets that is slightly different from mainstream computers is that most of the apps run in the background even after you close them. They only fully close should the system need the resources for some other use. Other wise it stays running so it can receive updates and/or give you that instant response the next time you use it.

So do you want that camera running all the time and taking pictures whenever it or someone pleases? Since many of these programs are constantly connected to the internet in order to save things to the cloud and obtain updates, where are these pictures you just gave permission to take going?

It could be all innocent, for many programs need to be able to do that because you said so. For example, you snap a picture and you want it saved to the cloud so you can retrieve it later on your other computer. But at any time without your permission?

Okay, here’s another from the same program.

Read calendar events plus confidential information – of everyone on your machine – and share it regardless of its sensitivity.

Do you really want it doing that? I am only mentioning a couple, there are many more in a list, such as using the microphone whenever they please and so on.

A pretty hefty permission when you click “Accept and Install.”

The name of this program doesn’t matter, I am using it as an example. There are many programs – apps – that insist on the exact same permissions whenever you desire to install them.

I am willing to bet many don’t bother to read the long list before clicking ok. As I’ve said many times, you should read all information carefully when you are installing things on tablets, computers or anything else. Only you can decide whether it is safe or worthwhile to do so for your purpose.

At least be in the know, and aware of what you are clicking.