All posts tagged: permissions

I blocked location permissions on every site but websites were still tracking me through 3 other signals I hadn’t considered

I blocked location permissions on every site but websites were still tracking me through 3 other signals I hadn’t considered

Published by skeptic

You’ll be so wrong to think that you’re invisible just because you clicked the “Don’t Allow” button on a website’s location prompt. It helps, but it’s just one of the many sneaky signals that browsers use to track you across the web. I found a few signals that reveal more about you than you realize. They may seem like innocent attributes, but in practice, they are weaponized to turn your browser into a tracking beacon for advertisers, data brokers, and analytics companies. Here are the other signals you haven’t considered. My timezone was exposed No permission required Afam Onyimadu / MUO For the sites that I regularly visit across all the main browsers I use — Brave, Firefox, and Chrome — I turned off location access. I felt it was the appropriate step to stop these websites from tracking me. I was quite disappointed when I ran the fingerprinting test on EFF’s Cover Your Tracks and saw that the HTTP headers my device sent still contained my time zone information. Without prompts, warnings, or permission, …

I turned off 4 location permissions I’d forgotten about — my battery lasts noticeably longer now

I turned off 4 location permissions I’d forgotten about — my battery lasts noticeably longer now

Published by skeptic

It is easy to assume your smartphone is resting peacefully in your pocket when you aren’t using it, but it is usually working overtime. Silent battery drain is one of the most common issues for phones today. You need to review your app permissions and disable features you don’t need to stop this constant power drain. Related I checked my Samsung’s battery settings and found 7 apps draining it in the background The biggest battery hogs weren’t what I expected. Your phone keeps trying to find where you are Background location tracking drains your battery Jorge Aguilar / MakeUseOf Background location tracking is a major cause of silent battery drain in mobile devices. Your apps are always juggling sensors and background tasks to find where you are. This constant coordination really stops your device from saving power. Your smartphone relies on entering deep sleep or low-power idle states when you aren’t actively using it to use less energy. However, when you have apps running that do constant GPS logging, they stop the system-on-chip from powering …

The AI agent bottleneck isn’t model performance — it’s permissions

The AI agent bottleneck isn’t model performance — it’s permissions

Published by skeptic

Enterprise AI agents are stalling — not because of model performance, but because of permissioning. Every agentic workflow eventually hits the same wall: what is this agent allowed to touch, on whose behalf, and how does the system know? Workday’s answer is to make its existing system of record the governance layer for agents. Gerrit Kazmaier, the company’s president for product and technology, told VentureBeat in an interview that customers often struggle when they cobble together solutions for their agents.  “Sana makes sure the integrity of the approvals and security model is always adhered to,” Kazmaier said. “Frankly, that’s where we see customers struggling when they try to build do-it–yourself AI by just accessing raw data, so the richness of the security model gets lost, and the results become overly broad.” Workday, which launched Sana in March, expanded its partnership with Google to bring its Sana agent system of record to the Gemini Enterprise — so agents built on Sana are also discoverable there. Architecting accuracy Kazmaier said the biggest hurdle they faced was ensuring …

I revoked Google Play Services’ permissions, and here’s what actually broke on my Android phone

I revoked Google Play Services’ permissions, and here’s what actually broke on my Android phone

Published by skeptic

When you install any app on your Android phone, you decide what permissions to grant during the initial setup. However, when it comes to Google’s own apps, they have all the permissions enabled by default, and you have to dig through settings to revoke any of them later. Case in point: Google Play Services, which has every permission turned on by default, but you can revoke them one by one if you want. That made me wonder, what if I revoked all the permissions for Google Play Services? Would the phone still work? The short answer is yes, the phone still works, but some vital features break along the way. If you rely on any Google apps, you’d want to be careful about which permissions you actually need to leave on for privacy and which ones you can safely turn off. What actually broke when I cut Play Services off Location, sign-in, and sharing took the biggest hit The fact that you can revoke every permission for Google Play Services tells you that not all …

Samsung Galaxy Gemini Permissions for Samsung Apps Explained

Samsung Galaxy Gemini Permissions for Samsung Apps Explained

Published by skeptic

Samsung Galaxy users are now experiencing a significant update that integrates Google’s Gemini AI Assistant with Samsung’s suite of apps. This update introduces a range of AI-driven features designed to enhance the functionality and usability of your smartphone. However, it also raises critical concerns regarding data privacy and user control. Understanding the implications of this update is essential to making informed decisions about how you use your device and manage your personal data. The video below from Sakitech gives us more details. What Is the Gemini AI Assistant? The Gemini AI Assistant is now embedded into several core Samsung apps, including Calendar, Notes, Reminders, and Gallery. This integration enables the assistant to perform a variety of tasks aimed at improving efficiency and convenience. Some of its key functionalities include: Organizing your schedule and managing reminders with ease. Analyzing photos and videos to help you quickly locate specific content. Responding to natural language queries, such as “Show me pictures of sunsets from last summer.” These features are designed to make your device more intuitive and user-friendly. …

I found a second permissions menu on Android that most people never check

I found a second permissions menu on Android that most people never check

Published by skeptic

For years, permissions management has been an essential part of privacy optimization on Android. For over 10 years, Android has offered advanced control over which apps have access to which permissions. Recent versions of Android have also introduced granular control over permissions, such as media access. However, only a few are aware of a second permissions menu on Android because these options are not as frequently shown in prompts as the primary permissions, like camera, microphone, and media access. Despite being quieter, options on this second permissions menu can have a serious impact on how apps have access to system permissions. Related I checked which apps had location access and found 10 that had no business having it I discovered apps with unnecessary location access—and fixed it in just a few minutes. You only know half the story The permission pop-up only does so much Credit: Abhijith N Arjunan/MakeUseOf As I said, Android has improved how we handle permissions. Thanks to the Permissions Manager interface in Android settings, users can get a quick overview of what …

I spent 20 minutes reviewing my Windows 11 app permissions and changed 6 settings right after

I spent 20 minutes reviewing my Windows 11 app permissions and changed 6 settings right after

Published by skeptic

I don’t tend to think of myself as someone who ignores privacy settings, but when I actually sat down and spent 20 minutes or so going through Windows 11’s app permissions, I found six things I should have changed a long time ago. None of these require any technical knowledge and is pretty straightforward to check on your own PC. Here’s what I found, where each setting lives, and why it’s worth the 20 minutes. Related 9 Windows Privacy Settings You Should Change Right Now Take a few minutes to change these settings and reduce the data Windows collects about you. Microphone access for apps that had no business having it Why does a feedback tool need my mic? The first spot I checked was microphone access. I navigated to Settings > Privacy & security > App permissions > Microphone. Then toggled “Let apps access your microphone” to see the per-app list. The first thing I noticed was that the Feedback Hub had access to my microphone. So did Operator messages, Snipping Tool, Xbox, Google …

Claude Dispatch Setup & Permissions in Claude Apps

Claude Dispatch Setup & Permissions in Claude Apps

Published by skeptic

Claude Dispatch offers a fresh approach to managing tasks and automating workflows, combining advanced AI capabilities with practical features to streamline operations. Jannis Moore highlights how this platform simplifies complex processes by centralizing task management and allowing local execution directly on your device. For example, its ability to execute tasks without relying on cloud services ensures secure access to local files, making it particularly useful for sensitive or resource-intensive projects. By integrating seamlessly across devices and platforms, Claude Dispatch minimizes disruptions and supports efficient, uninterrupted productivity. Explore how Claude Dispatch enables you to coordinate multi-step workflows with multiple AI agents, simplifying tasks like overview generation or campaign management. Gain insight into its real-time monitoring features, which allow you to track progress and make adjustments as needed. Additionally, discover how its modular design and multi-agent orchestration adapt to projects of varying complexity, offering scalability for both individual and team-based environments. This explainer provides a clear breakdown of how these features come together to optimize your workflow and enhance overall efficiency. Key Features of Claude Dispatch TL;DR …

How to Use Claude Code “Dangerously Skip Permissions Mode”

How to Use Claude Code “Dangerously Skip Permissions Mode”

Published by skeptic

For developers navigating the trade-offs between efficiency and control, Trelis Research introduces a practical approach to using YOLO mode in Claude Code. This feature skips manual step-by-step approvals, allowing faster execution for tasks like minor bug fixes or repetitive operations. While YOLO mode can streamline workflows, it also carries risks, such as accidental file deletions or system crashes, particularly when used without safeguards. To mitigate these challenges, it’s essential to understand the mode’s functionality and apply it selectively in low-risk scenarios. In this guide, you’ll explore strategies to maximize the benefits of YOLO mode while minimizing potential downsides. Learn how to set up a secure VPS environment, implement memory management practices and establish safeguards like branch protection and limited GitHub access. Whether you’re automating repetitive tasks or optimizing resource usage, these actionable steps will help you maintain both speed and system stability. What is YOLO Mode? TL;DR Key Takeaways : YOLO mode in Claude Code accelerates task execution by bypassing manual approvals, making it ideal for low-risk, repetitive tasks but potentially risky for complex operations. …

Claude Code Concepts : Prompts, Permissions, Tools & Memory

Claude Code Concepts : Prompts, Permissions, Tools & Memory

Published by skeptic

Claude Code is a system for task automation and workflow management that allows users to perform actions using natural language commands. By eliminating the need for extensive programming knowledge, it simplifies tasks like running terminal commands, generating scripts and organizing files. According to Simon Scrapes, one standout feature is the customizable claude.md file, which lets users define task-specific rules and preferences to maintain consistency across workflows. Learn how to craft precise prompts to improve output accuracy, manage permissions to ensure security and use work trees for handling parallel tasks. This breakdown also covers how compact context and sub-agents can help streamline multi-step processes. These insights will provide practical strategies for integrating Claude Code into your projects. Claude Code Concepts TL;DR Key Takeaways : Claude Code is an AI-powered tool that automates tasks, manages workflows and develops applications using plain English commands, eliminating the need for extensive technical expertise. Key features include natural language processing, tool integration, context management, conversation history and customizable permissions for enhanced functionality and security. Advanced tools like compact context, work trees …