Samsung Health Update - permission to make and manage phone calls?

[Tony_B]

I have just been prompted to update the Samsung Health app.

During the process it requested permission to "make and manage phone calls"

Why does it need this?

So far I have denied this permission, the app upgrade process does not complete, and I cannot revert to the existing version.

So I am stuck until I give permission for something that I do not understand.

Can anyone advise why this permission is required?

[000Weasel000]

While I agree that Samsung Health shouldn't need to access one's phone and contacts, do you really think Samsung doesn't already have that info, as I believe the Phone app itself grants Samsung access to the data, so it's not like you're giving them access to something they didn't already have in the first place.

But I agree...it's a bad move in my humble opinion.

[chrisban35]

It should come as no shock to anyone, that today's electronics practically know everything you do, when you do it, where you do it, and since they're tied into all the data on your phones, tablets, live refrigerators, Smart TV's, etc they also know what you pay, what you bought, etc... 

If you're worried about "privacy" you SOLD OUT a long time ago CONSUMERS... A loooooooong time ago!

[awgiedawgie]

There's a big difference between "privacy" and allowing an app to MAKE phone calls. And once you grant that permission, they don't have to tell you IF or WHEN they do so. If you have a phone at all, they know everything about you from your eye colour to your next of kin. But they don't NEED to call anyone, so why should you have to give them permission to do it?

I blame it partly on the Android operating system itself. Android's permissions are ambiguous at best. An app may only need one tiny bit of information, or may only need to do one little thing, but because of the way Android's permissions are designed, you have to grant that app A LOT more access than what it really needs.

[AlwaysInAQuandry]

I actually thought I was set up already previously and have both devices linked and did not do the update as the update would not fit on  The device I use to track my steps. So had this new Samsung And signed in And was never able to track my steps Using this computer program. So I so I decided to just use a device that I purchased for a bicycle to track my  Miles walked. I'm sure you can purchase a device that will track your miles Rather than wasting another 350 hours trying to hook this up on a device that I don't use as a phone. Also don't want anyone in my contact list to be contacted if I happen to leave the house. So use your monitor from your bicycle or order one from Amazon and uninstall this program completely As it is way too large to install on a basic cell phone.

[AlwaysInAQuandry]

I concur with The answer to the problem. I have already gone through 7 Samsung Note phones and 6 of them turned black after one year and I was Never able to recover anything from those devices.. The only one that still works like a charm and I have actually gone back to that device 6 different times after each 1 of the other devices went black on me. The note 3 is my reliable source to use when another brand new $1800 device goes dead On me. None of the other devices were ever dropped and the note 3 whathree was dropped several times of course with a cover. Tired of giving $2000 a year to Samsung on little devices and washing machines and dishwashers that just seemed to bleep out Funny that my nokia nine Funny that my nokia 9 Has been to many countries Chase through many airports porch and the only thing that never worked was the camera or the video . Had to leave my cell phone company because they told me my phone would not work on the new 5G network . Change carriers and it works like a charm! 500 times faster Until 3 days ago when I spent 9 hours exploring exploring the Samsung Until 3 days ago when I spent 9 hours exploring the Samsung Website to purchase a device for a friend coming from England. Should have never used my nokia 9 to explore buying a new device device as it has completely rendered  Gorgeous lightning fast nokia 9 with $90 leather cover Completely worthless. Never go to Samsung website To explore purchasing a new device with your working device as they will in fact Embed something in your phone Which will render your phone useless.

[Reyos]

It doesn't need it ongoing, it only needs permission once so it can read your phone number and add it to your profile. Honestly I think forcing you to be findable by others on a health app is a pretty massive privacy violation, but they force you to if you want to use it.