App Permissions and Online Safety Quiz

You download a new simple puzzle game. It asks for permission to access and manage your phone calls. What is the most likely reason for this?

• It's a mistake and the app doesn't actually need it.

• The game needs to pause itself automatically if someone calls you.

• It's a suspicious request; the game shouldn't need access to your calls and you should deny it.

• The app developer needs this to track how long you play the game for.

A photo editing app you installed asks for permission to always have access to your location, even when you're not using the app. What is the safest course of action?

• Allow it, so you can see on a map where you took all your photos.

• Deny it, because a photo editor only needs access to your photos, not your location history.

• Select the option to 'Allow only while using the app.'

• Allow it, but remember to turn off your phone's location services when you're not using the app.

You install a new keyboard app with custom themes. To work, it asks for 'Full Network Access.' What is the biggest risk with this permission?

• The app might use a lot of your mobile data downloading new themes.

• The app could potentially send everything you type, including passwords and private messages, to a server.

• The app will slow down your internet connection for other apps.

• The app needs this to make sure your spelling and grammar are correct.

An app you've used for a year releases an update. After updating, it asks for a new permission to access your microphone. What should you consider before granting it?

• You should always accept updates and new permissions to keep the app secure.

• Consider what new feature in the update would require the microphone and decide if you trust the app with that access.

• Deny it, because apps should never be allowed to change the permissions they need.

• Allow it, because the microphone is probably just being used to collect data for advertising.

You download a social media 'helper' app that promises to show you who has unfollowed you. It asks for the permission to 'Draw over other apps.' Why is this permission particularly risky?

• It will drain your battery by constantly running on your screen.

• It can place buttons and ads over other apps that are difficult to close.

• It allows the app to get more of your attention so you use it more often.

• It can be used to create fake login windows over real apps to steal your username and password.

A free game is asking for permission to access your entire contacts list. What is the most likely reason a malicious app would want this?

• To help you invite your friends to play the game with you.

• To collect the phone numbers and email addresses of your friends and family for spam or phishing attacks.

• To back up your contacts list safely in the cloud.

• To see which of your friends are already playing the game.

You find a website that lets you download a paid app for free. When you install it, your phone warns you that you need to 'Allow installation from unknown sources.' What does this mean?

• It means the app is very new and hasn't been added to the official store yet.

• It means you are bypassing your phone's main security check, and the app could contain harmful malware.

• It's a standard message that you have to agree to for most apps to install correctly.

• It means your phone's storage is almost full and can't verify the app.

You are looking at an app's permissions in your phone settings. What is the key difference between the 'Storage' permission and the 'Camera' permission?

• 'Storage' allows an app to save photos, while 'Camera' allows it to take them.

• 'Storage' gives access to all your existing files, like photos and downloads, while 'Camera' only lets the app use the camera hardware.

• 'Camera' permission also automatically gives 'Storage' permission.

• 'Storage' permission uses more data than 'Camera' permission.

Some apps won't open at all unless you agree to every single permission they ask for, including ones that seem unnecessary. What is the best response to this?

• Agree to all of them just so you can use the app, but be very careful what you do in it.

• Find the app developer's email and send them a complaint about their policy.

• Search for an alternative app that does a similar thing but asks for fewer, more reasonable permissions.

• Grant all the permissions to get the app working, then go into your phone's settings and revoke them one by one.

A weather app is asking for permission to access your device's Calendar. Which of the following is the most reasonable justification for this request?

• The app has no legitimate need to access your personal calendar.

• The app wants to add severe weather alerts directly into your schedule.

• The app needs to know what day it is to show you the correct forecast.

• The app is trying to see if you have any holidays planned so it can show you the weather for your destination.