Permissions relevance in Glu Mobile games

[blaaaa]

I just got a new android tablet. pretty fast I noticed the potential danger in apps permissions and started reading around. but in Glu Mobile games. there are a few permissions I'm not sure about and one I just cant seem to find on the web.

1. this is the big one - control system backup and restoreAllows the app to control the system's backup and restore mechanism. Not for use by normal apps. - I don't really understand what this even mean.

2. System toolsautomatically start at boot
Allows the app to have itself started as soon as the system has finished booting. This can make it take longer to start the tablet and allow the app to slow down the overall tablet by always running.

3. why would a game need my location. network base or GPS based. I can imagine its for targeted commercials. but I'm still worried and would like to know If there is any other reasons I need to know about.

and if its not to much trouble, even though I look a lot I didn't completely understood this permission "full Internet access - Allows the app to create network sockets." because I couldn't fully understand what network sockets are.

Thanks In Advance

 

[350X]

avoid anything by GLU, most invasive, spam banner, fill your status bar in app rip off game company there is.

 

[jonbonazza]

Glu is a well known, and highly regarded developer in the gaming community. The reason for their excessive permission requests is because all of their games (at least that I am aware of) use the Unity engine, which is a general purpose game engine. The engine requires these permissions in all games made with it in order to cater to all of the possible games that can be made with it. It's not Glu's fault. All of their games are safe.

 

[alostpacket]

Weird -- I dont see any of those permissions in the latest Unity.

@OP
The only one I would really worry about there is the "control backups" one. As you noted, the others are for advertising/privacy. They might be using it as a way to backup save-games though.

But when you put it all together, they would allow the advertisers to track you from one phone to the next. How important that is, well, is up to you.

 

[blaaaa]

That means that when I change my tablet (I use Teac TC-7120) but continue to use my google ID the commercials from this game application will keep on coming ? with no consideration of me installing the game again ?

 

[jonbonazza]

Weird -- I dont see any of those permissions in the latest Unity.

@OP
The only one I would really worry about there is the "control backups" one. As you noted, the others are for advertising/privacy. They might be using it as a way to backup save-games though.

But when you put it all together, they would allow the advertisers to track you from one phone to the next. How important that is, well, is up to you.

Interesting... I'll have to take a look at the list when I get a chance. With Unity for Android, it is possible to alter the manifest to include your own permissions that are required by 3rd party libraries, so it would be nice to see what libraries are being used. Regardless, GLU is featured regularly on not only Unity's "featured games" section of their site, but also in various renowned game dev blogs, so I doubt that they are doing anything malicious.

 

[350X]

You don't have to do damage to be malicious but they are over intrusive and pushy to the point that I will never play any more of their games and warn everyone else not to. They are worse then a radioshack employee that wants to sell you batteries from 1955 oh and he needs your phone number. And before I ring you up, how about a cell phone, we got lots of great plans, pre-paid? you need pre-paid? OK will that be on your radio shack card? Get 5% cash back if you sign up today? Sure you didn't need any batteries? Free flashlight with 9 batteries, sold in packs of 8.

 

[jonbonazza]

You don't have to do damage to be malicious but they are over intrusive and pushy to the point that I will never play any more of their games and warn everyone else not to. They are worse then a radioshack employee that wants to sell you batteries from 1955 oh and he needs your phone number. And before I ring you up, how about a cell phone, we got lots of great plans, pre-paid? you need pre-paid? OK will that be on your radio shack card? Get 5% cash back if you sign up today? Sure you didn't need any batteries? Free flashlight with 9 batteries, sold in packs of 8.

Definition of Malicious as per Dicionary.com:

Characterized by malice; intending or intended to do harm: "malicious rumors".

Excessive advertisement is not malicious in any way shape or form. and I don't think it is right to attempt to sabotage someone's business based on your own personal opinion, but that's just me. Anyway, I doubt anything I say will sway you, so I don't intend to go any further.

@OP, If I were you, I would check out the reviews first, if it seems ok, then I would try it out for yourself. No ones opinion matters other than yours. There's my words of wisdom for today. =)

 

[RichSz]

For a goof, I perused a few of Glu's games, checking out permissions. I couldn't find any with the ones mentioned in the OP. Could you be more specific as to which game has those suspect permissions? I'm kinda curious now.

 

[350X]

Dicionary definitions can be changed, they are not set in stone and they are not the final word on what a word means.

As society changes, so does the meaning behind the words.

 

[jonbonazza]

I (as well as society as a whole) find a dictionary, whose definitions are regulated by a large body of linguistic experts to be much more credible than some random person on the internet. =)

Alas, this is neither here nor there. Let's try to keep things on topic, shall we?

 

[blaaaa]

For a goof, I perused a few of Glu's games, checking out permissions. I couldn't find any with the ones mentioned in the OP. Could you be more specific as to which game has those suspect permissions? I'm kinda curious now.

Bombshells: Hell's Belles
Blood & Glory: Legend
Samurai vs Zombies Defense
Deer Hunter Reloaded
Eternity Warriors 2
Frontline Commando

All this games ask for this permission (guessed you are speaking on that one)
You find it under "Show all"
and than
Default
control system backup and restore
Allows the app to control the system's backup and restore mechanism. Not for use by normal apps.

 

[jonbonazza]

Odd... Not sure why they--or anyone for that matter--would need that permission. Perhaps you should try emailing them?