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BentTable123

macrumors member
Original poster
Nov 29, 2015
92
23
I havn't played any iphone games since the iphone 3G. At that time, games could steal your contact book and install permanent cookies or identifiers. Do free games still do that now? Thanks.
 
I'm sure any app has to ask for permission before they can access anything like this, including location, photos ect. I could be wrong but I don't think so.
 
Apple is "supposed" to be checking these apps before they put them in the app library. But, like everything else they are not perfect. There is always a chance and the one that worry me would be the apps that do not ask permission.
 
Apple is "supposed" to be checking these apps before they put them in the app library. But, like everything else they are not perfect. There is always a chance and the one that worry me would be the apps that do not ask permission.
I don't think the apps have a choice, as soon as iOS itself knows there is a request for something like contacts (and there is no way to request or get access without going though the OS) it goes into the permissions flow.
 
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Apps are sandboxed and can not have open dialog with other apps or system services without your permission (unless its something obvious like cellular/wifi).

There are two different ways to view these permissions, from the service or from the app.

If you goto settings > general > restrictions under privacy is a list of services. Under each one it will list which apps have access.

Here is an example.

IMG_0167.jpg

GroupMe.app ask me for permission to view my contacts. I declined it because I'm already in a group text/chat with the people I want.

If you goto settings > (scroll down to the app) you can see see all the service a specific app has privileges to access.

IMG_0168.jpg

Again, contacts is still obviously disabled.

Since this is a system built into the OS it would be very difficult for an app to defeat. While nothing is impossible realistically there is nothing worth worrying about. May want to keep your GameCenter info short and sweet though, I just have a username and thats it.
 
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I don't think the apps have a choice, as soon as iOS itself knows there is a request for something like contacts (and there is no way to request or get access without going though the OS) it goes into the permissions flow.

Sounds great but there is always someone who is working on getting around this.
 
Sounds great but there is always someone who is working on getting around this.
I'm sure there are, like there are those who are working on just general malware or a virus for iOS. Given how almost non-existent those have been over the years it's fair to say that while it's not something to completely ignore, it's also not something to really worry much about either.
 
I'm sure there are, like there are those who are working on just general malware or a virus for iOS. Given how almost non-existent those have been over the years it's fair to say that while it's not something to completely ignore, it's also not something to really worry much about either.

I am not worried in the least. Just pointing out that security is no longer absolute for anyone.
 
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