One of the most interesting aspects of Android devices may be third-party launchers that offer users a colorful, useful and different look and use. These launchers not only change the look of the phone screen, they can completely change your Android experience, from easy access to the features you use daily to ease of use.
But despite all these advantages, how safe are third-party launchers? Could there be a hidden security risk?
The answer is unfortunately yes… Using any third party app on your Android phone, not just launchers, poses a privacy risk. There are many things that can go wrong with an app gaining access to various files and permissions for certain actions on your device. An app developer can be malicious, and as long as it has the necessary permissions, there isn’t much your Android OS can do to stop them.
Gallery apps can steal your private photos, while keyboard apps can steal your passwords and credit card information. The reason they can do this is because you allow the gallery app to access your photos, and you allow the keyboard app to keep track of everything you type.
Unfortunately, the risks posed by a malicious third-party launcher are much higher than these apps.
Due to the nature of Android launchers, they need to be given a wide enough range of permissions that they can put all the data on your phone at risk. With the support of additional apps that you will usually be asked to download, these launchers are allowed to do almost anything on your phone. They can access your files, read your SMS, make calls, access your notifications and control every part of your phone, including your social media chats. This danger is even greater, especially if you are using older versions of Android that are less secure. Also, some launchers may extend their reach even further by asking you to download some additional apps that were not initially considered suspicious, such as keyboard attachments.
Of course, that doesn’t mean you should stay away from all third-party launchers. Reliable and open source options are among the generally safe launchers. While using a third-party launcher inherently poses a risk, some are options that have been proven safe by public use and scrutiny.
For example, open source launchers such as Kiss Launcher, Zen Launcher, Olauncher and Emerald Launcher can be counted in this group. The fact that a launcher is open source makes it difficult to add a malicious feature as other developers are also allowed to control all the code.
Similarly, Microsoft Launcher, Nova Launcher, Apex Launcher and Smart Launcher are generally considered safe as they come from well-known and reliable sources.
Falling victim to a malicious launcher can be a devastating event because of the level of access they have on your phone. So while all the benefits they give you are interesting, it’s a good idea to do a thorough research first to make sure the launcher is really safe. It is important to be very careful with launchers, especially those advertised as free copies of popular paid launchers, and take every possible step to ensure their safety. It’s also important to stay away from launchers that aren’t in the Play Store.
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