Ask what the app needs to do
An app may request access to your location, camera, contacts or microphone. Before agreeing, compare that request with the feature you want to use. A video call needs a microphone; not every app does.
- Open your device’s Settings and search for permissions or privacy. Menu names vary.
- Choose one app you recognize. Review what it can access.
- Turn off access you do not need or choose a more limited option if offered. Test the feature afterwards.
Sources:[1]
Keep useful access working
Accessibility tools may need permissions to read a screen or support voice control. A blanket “deny everything” approach can break a feature you depend on. Make one change at a time so you can undo it.
- Ask before changing another person’s settings.
- If a change stops a needed feature, return to the same setting and review the official instructions.
- Install apps only from trusted sources, and still check the developer and permissions. An app-store listing is not a guarantee of safety.
Share less in messages
Avoid sending passwords, banking details or identity documents in an unexpected message. Even a familiar-looking request deserves a separate check when it asks for sensitive information.
Try one small step
A little practice, no pressure.
Choose one rarely used app. Find its permissions. Decide which access is necessary, change only one setting, then check that the app still does what you need.
Sources & review
Source check: October 5, 2026. These links go to the original publishers; listing a source is not an endorsement. Safety and reporting guidance follows these official Canadian pages. Confirm current details there before acting. Device steps were checked against these manufacturer guides, not tested on your physical device. Menus vary by model, software version, language and region.
- Get Cyber Safe — Phones and tablets - Get Cyber Safe
- Google — Android accessibility overview - Android Accessibility Help
- Get Cyber Safe — Phishing: Don't get reeled in - Get Cyber Safe