Permissions - bluelinepc/signalcheck GitHub Wiki
Most Android applications require users to grant some permissions in order to function properly, and SignalCheck is no exception. SignalCheck only requests what is absolutely needed; in the interest of transparency and maintaining user trust, listed below is every permission that SignalCheck requests, and the rationale for doing so. Newer versions of Android “group” several permissions together, but SignalCheck does not access anything outside of what is listed below. Click on a particular permission to see the definition from the Android Developer Reference.
ACCESS_BACKGROUND_LOCATION, ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION, ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE, ACCESS_WIFI_STATE, and READ_PHONE_STATE: All of these permissions are needed in order to gather information about your current network connection(s), which is the whole purpose of SignalCheck. Upon first launch of the app, the user will be prompted to grant phone and location permissions; users must be aware that failing to grant these permissions when requested will severely hinder the core functionality of the app.
Precise location permission is required to obtain mobile and Wi-Fi connection information, and ability to log location information. Users must select "Allow all the time" to permit background access, for proper display of notification icon and logging when app is in the background. Precise permission is strongly recommended, and mandatory on certain devices and Android versions. Phone permission is required to obtain certain elements of mobile connection information that Android deems sensitive.
INTERNET: This is to allow crash reports to be automatically uploaded to the developer to identify problems with the app that need to be resolved. This is done through the Bugsnag service. It is also used in the Pro version when users enable an option to display their external IP address.
RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED (Pro only): This is to allow SignalCheck Pro to automatically start when the device boots up, if the user chooses. Android now designates this as a “normal” permission that is automatically granted.
VIBRATE (Pro only): This is to allow vibrating notifications if the user chooses to enable alerts. Android now designates this as a “normal” permission that is automatically granted.
WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE: This is to allow the app to save, modify, and read files on the device. This is needed to export Site Logs, backup Log databases, or import Log databases. All file writing and modification is confined to the /SignalCheck folder on your device; Log imports are retrieved from whatever folder the user explicitly selects. This permission is no longer requested or needed as of version 4.71.
WRITE_SETTINGS (Pro only): This is to save some application preferences on the device. This permission is rarely requested on modern devices.
In addition to the above permissions, SignalCheck Pro also attempts to request the following device-specific permissions; the app does nothing with this data other than provide menu shortcuts to external activities for user convenience:
- com.htc.permission.APP_SHARED
- com.lge.permission.LGHIDDEN
- com.lge.permission.SPRINTHIDDEN
- com.sec.android.app.factorymode.permission.KEYSTRING
- com.sec.android.app.hiddenmenu.permission.KEYSTRING