Is it possible to steal sensitive information from SMS?

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Deal Cadet
Digitalguy

Text messages may contain sensitive information, such as passwords, OTP, account/card details or gift card details.

Most Android apps want permission to access SMS.

How can I protect my text messages on Android?
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Deal Cadet Deal Cadet
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Unless you trust the app with SMS permissions, you should not be giving the permission. Other option is to use some spoof app to spoof the SMS permission

Shopping Friend Shopping Friend
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That is next to impossible almost every other app needs sms permission or won't work

Simple solution is 2 have multiple phones 1 for social handles and everything other for finance

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Deal Lieutenant Deal Lieutenant
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My suggestion would be, if your sms contains really sensitive information. It will be better if you use that number on a feature phone.

You can never rely on Android for privacy. Many projects tried to overcome these limitations by sandboxing the sms/communication module and providing a fake dummy data to the system and other apps. but those are not practical solutions.

most of the people I know whose economic portfolio is quite a bit large/ transact heavy amounts through current account they use the transactional phone number in a feature phone.(ie-nokia dabba phone)

Deal Captain Deal Captain
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Avoid giving  sms permission  , and if necessary   ,retrive  it as soon as your work finished  with it .

The PostMighty The PostMighty
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If you care so much about privacy

Go with Iphone or Pixel , Samsung

Dont trust any other vendor

Bdw

Its not always related to your sms app

But other apps accessing your message read permission

Like auto detect otp

Apps like Cred etc do read your financial msg credit card statement related msg even mail to fetch your credit card bill and due date etc

If you wanna protect your msg from all those

Just use a basic mobile without internet smile

Thanku

Deal Cadet Deal Cadet
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Yes , if you give permission to app read your sms ... Paytm use to read my sms and give credit card alerts 

have to restrict apps 

Helpful Helpful
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Tbh Most sensitive data on SMS is limited, Like OTPs are only useful fpr snooper of they get it realtime..

Currently the most dangerous threat to SMS privacy is Loan Apps and Apps that monitor SMS claiming "Credit Analysis"

They are actually learning from your messages and even reading through, This was proved when shady lenders started using private data from SMS and Contacts to call people and threaten to make extra payments and such...This was the reason RBI has banned a lot of Loan Appa since they were snooping and conducting malpractices.

Best policy is don't let unwanted apps run in background, Use a strong App Hibernator, This can boost your phone performance too...

Deal Cadet Deal Cadet
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As said by others, give permission to the app only when it's fully trusted by you.

Deal Cadet Deal Cadet
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Use bouncer app - best for these issues 

Finance Ninja Finance Ninja
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Thanks! Just Paid 99/- really needed for KhataBook App- as they are forcing users to give them SMS permissions!
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