Maybe I'm romantically transfigured and / or simply out of date, but I have something against the fact that everyone who writes an app for my phone, wants to have nearly unrestricted access to all my data. Especially if those who have written the app, are a stock company and need to generate money.
That there are other ways, shows this app, that I would like to introduce here: Tinfoil for Facebook, developed by Daniel Velazco.
Tinfoil for Facebook is a wrapper for the Facebook page, disconnected from the browser. It is almost the same as if you were using FB with your browser but with the advantage, that the browser history, cookies and cache are "safe" by the decoupling from the browser.
So FB runs in some kind of "Sandbox" and is not able to access the personal data lying on your phone.
Furthermore, the app offers an additional menu by wiping from the right edge of the screen, making the most commen sub-items such as messages or events accessible more easily.
The App is completely open source.
I've been using the app for a few weeks now and have not found any major problems. Sometimes it stucks a little bit, but still ok.
I can not say whether the app is running better or more stable than the Facebook app, because I've never installed the FB-App on any of my devices.
And just for fun here is the list of the permissions needed by these two apps (Source: Google Play Store):
| Facebook-App | Tinfoil |
|---|---|
| Location | |
|
precise location (GPS and network-based) approximate location (network-based) |
approximate location (network-based) |
| Photos/Media/Files | |
|
test access to protected storage modify or delete the contents of your USB storage |
test access to protected storage modify or delete the contents of your USB storage |
| Other | |
|
receive data from Internet download files without notification adjust your wallpaper size create accounts and set passwords run at startup prevent device from sleeping view network connections install shortcuts change your audio settings read Google service configuration toggle sync on and off draw over other apps expand/collapse status bar full network access change network connectivity set wallpaper send sticky broadcast read battery statistics reorder running apps connect and disconnect from Wi-Fi read sync settings control vibration |
full network access view network connections |
| Device & app history | |
| retrieve running apps | --- |
| Identity | |
|
find accounts on the device add or remove accounts read your own contact card |
--- |
| Contacts/Calendar | |
|
read your contacts modify your contacts read calendar events plus confidential information add or modify calendar events and send email to guests without owners' knowledge |
--- |
| SMS | |
| read your text messages (SMS or MMS) | --- |
| Phone | |
|
write call log directly call phone numbers read call log |
--- |
| Camera/Microphone | |
|
take pictures and videos record audio |
--- |
| Wi-Fi connection information | |
| view Wi-Fi connections | --- |
| Device ID & call information | |
| read phone status and identity | --- |
That's a difference .... Especially in "Contacts/Calendar" and "Other" are some real treats.
Of course, everything you do on this app with FB, again is fully accessible for all data collectors, but at least your personal data on your mobile / tablet is more protected and you can now decide yourself, which informations will go to the web.
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