Total for Android app permissions

The table below describes the full list of Android permissions used by F‑Secure Total for Android. The actually used permissions depend on the software variant and the available features.

Android system permissions in general:

An Android app may have many permissions listed by Google Play, but that does not accurately reflect which permissions the app actually utilizes.
The permissions are bundled on high-level as Groups. A single group contains various permissions as sub-items.
When an app wants to use a single permission from a group, the app may obtain also permissions not actually used by the app.

Android permissions group	Permissions obtained from Group by app and usage per app feature(s)
Notifications	POST_NOTIFICATIONS Used for permissions that are associated with posting notifications Displaying information Keeping application alive for continuous protection
Camera	CAMERA Accessing camera and capturing images/video from the device Password Vault reads QR codes with device camera
Device & app history	PRELOAD Preload websites Safe browser capabilities READ_HISTORY_BOOKMARKS Read your Web bookmarks and history Safe Browsing is observing changes in web history database for safeguarding the user from malicious web addresses WRITE_HISTORY_BOOKMARKS Write web bookmarks and history Modifying history (web site titles) to be able detect users navigation (current web page) in web browser application
Location	ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION Approximate location (network-based) Trusted Wi‑Fi capabilities Allowing Safe Browser to provide location to sites if the user allows it Safe Wi‑Fi feature requires location permission for detecting open Wi‑Fi connections ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION Precise location (GPS and network-based) Trusted Wi‑Fi capabilities Allowing Safe Browser to provide location to sites if the user allows it Safe Wi‑Fi feature requires location permission for detecting open Wi‑Fi connections
Storage	MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE All file access Required for Antivirus functionality READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE Accessing external storage This is added automatically during manifest merge if WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission is requested WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE Erase USB storage, access USB storage filesystem, read the contents of your USB storage, modify or delete the contents of your USB storage Antivirus, while scanning for malicious apps, is accessing also mass storage devices attached to device Antivirus, when detecting a malicious app, can remove the malicious app from a mass storage device per user consent
Biometrics	USE_BIOMETRIC Use device supported biometric modalities Required for fingerprint authentication USE_FINGERPRINT Use fingerprint authentication Password Vault supports login with fingerprint
Device ID & call information	READ_PHONE_STATE Read phone status and identity App and service subscription including as metadata; Android ID on all devices
Wi‑Fi connection information	ACCESS_WIFI_STATE View Wi‑Fi connections Observing the Wi‑Fi networks visited by the device and displays a notification when a previously unvisited Wi‑Fi is visited for the first time VPN trusted networks feature CHANGE_WIFI_STATE Connect and disconnect from Wi‑Fi Wi‑Fi capabilities VPN requires this for detecting P2P Wi‑Fi connections (does not actually change Wi‑Fi state)
Other	ACCESS_DOWNLOAD_MANAGER, ACCESS_ALL_DOWNLOADS, ACCESS_DOWNLOAD_MANAGER_ADVANCED Access download manager and notifications Antivirus observes notifications for new app downloads, and access Downloads folder to access the downloaded apps for scanning Safe Browser needs to be able to store files to Download folder when user chooses to download a file ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE View network connections Optimizing network carrier (Wi‑Fi, mobile, roaming) for client-backend communication ACTION_POWER_CONNECTED, ACTION_POWER_DISCONNECTED Allows app to listen to whether external power has been connected or removed App will be woken for these events BIND_ACCESSIBILITY_SERVICE Accessibility service Used for Family Rules feature: Allowing a parent to protect child from unsuitable web content, and allowing a parent to apply device and apps usage restrictions for a child Used for Chrome Protection feature: To protect user against malicious website BIND_DEVICE_ADMIN Android Device Administrator Preventing children from removing the application without parental guidance, and for Browsing Protection BIND_GET_INSTALL_REFERRER_SERVICE Analytics Required for continuous protection BLUETOOTH Connect to paired bluetooth devices Bluetooth API is used for retrieving the user defined device name, as in Android the name is coupled to the Bluetooth service; Is not actually used for connecting to other devices BIND_AUTOFILL_SERVICE Ensures that only system can bind into autofill service Required for Password Vault capabilities BIND_JOB_SERVICE Protects the applications scheduled job services Required for continuous protection BIND_REMOTEVIEWS Binding different remote views, such as lists or grids Required for Safe Browser capabilities BIND_VPN_SERVICE Ensures that only system can bind into vpn service Required for VPN capabilities BILLING Google Play billing service The app may offer purchasable product upgrades as In-app purchases CHECK_LICENSE Google Play license check Google Play license check used with In-app purchase functionality DUMP Allows an application to retrieve state dump information from system services Required for diagnostics DYNAMIC_RECEIVER_NOT_EXPORTED_PERMISSION The app does not export dynamic receivers Required for safer runtime receivers FOREGROUND_SERVICE From Android P, this is needed to allow the app to use foreground service Foreground service is needed to keep the app running and protect the device FOREGROUND_SERVICE_LOCATION Allows use for foreground service with location type Required for Family Rules, VPN and Safe Wi‑Fi capabilities FOREGROUND_SERVICE_SPECIAL_USE Allows special use for foreground service Required for Family Rules FOREGROUND_SERVICE_SYSTEM_EXEMPTED Allows use for foreground service regardless of system settings Required for Family Rules and for VPN INSTALL_SHORTCUT Install shortcuts For installing Total and Safe browser shortcuts in Launcher INTERNET Receive data from Internet Network access is required for retrieving app / service subscription status Antivirus functionality Safe Browsing KILL_BACKGROUND_PROCESSES Close other apps Parental Control to close blocked applications NFC Control Near Field Communication Safe Browser allows sharing the URL of the current viewed browser page over NFC QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES Allows query of any normal app on the device, regardless of manifest declarations Required for: Antivirus Family Rules (App control) READ Access all files Required for Antivirus functionality READ_CONTACTS Allow application to read the contacts data Required for SMS protection functionality so feature will only check messages received from unknown sender. READ_SYNC_SETTINGS Check status of sync settings Safe Browser capabilities RECEIVE Receive cloud messaging Required for continuous protection RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED Run at start-up Antivirus engine start-up at device start-up Antivirus performs device boot-time scan, when enabled by user in app settings Antivirus feature, to be able to execute scan for external drives when device is booted Safe Browsing feature must be running always to be able to monitor changes in web history database Parental Control must be running always to be able to block unwanted applications For starting VPN RECEIVE_SMS Receive incoming messages Required for SMS Protection functionality so feature can detect spam messages and notify user. REORDER_TASKS Allows the application to change order of tasks Required to automatically bring application to foreground REQUEST_DELETE_PACKAGES Allows the application to request deleting packages To uninstall apps in the device REQUEST_IGNORE_BATTERY_OPTIMIZATIONS Allows application to stay alive by ignoring battery optimizations Required for continuous protection REVOCATION_NOTIFICATION Google Play permissions Required for In-app purchase functionality SCHEDULE_EXACT_ALARM schedule exact alarms Optional for VPN, requested only if needed SEND Send cloud messaging Required for continuous protection SEND_DOWNLOAD_COMPLETED_INTENTS Notify app when a download has been completed Required for Antivirus functionality Safe browser functionality SET_WALLPAPER Set wallpaper Safe Browser needs to be able to set wallpaper if user wishes to use an image opened in browser as a wallpaper SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW Draw overlays on top of other applications Used for Chrome Protection: Allowing the app to display site's reputation on top of Chrome UNINSTALL Internal uninstall Required for uninstalling Total internally USE_EXT_API External API communication Required for continuous protection USE_OVER_IPC Internal app communication Required for communication across process boundary VIBRATE Control vibration Vibration used as a fall-back method for playing a sound for app notifications when device is set to vibrating mode WAKE_LOCK Prevent device from sleeping Safe browser functionality WRITE_SETTINGS Modify system settings System settings are modified for Parental Control (Accessibility, Device Administrator) per user consent WRITE_SYNC_SETTINGS Toggle sync on and off Safe Browser Sync Adapter for URL autocomplete and suggestions