It’s also been a few months since then, and I decided to run another audit on my Samsung Galaxy S25+<\/a>.<\/p>\n I have been using AI features and apps a lot more and have definitely felt a bit uneasy about some privacy practices, so I took the weekend to confirm whether my suspicions are correct or if there were any surprising new results.<\/p>\n Plus, I am still a bit of an app hoarder, and this would be a good time to delete apps that abuse permissions without my knowledge or use too many by default.<\/p>\n To review your app permission settings, go to Settings > Privacy or Security and privacy. On Google Pixel (Android 16), tap Security & privacy.<\/p>\n WhatsApp<\/p>\n A messaging app service that spammers love to use<\/p>\n WhatsApp was the first app to go away. Mainly for two reasons. One, I rarely use it. I might use this app once, but I found that it has access to my permissions each week.<\/p>\n The last time I physically opened WhatsApp was months ago, maybe even half a year ago.<\/p>\n According to the Usage history, it used Contacts and accounts along with Photos and videos permissions in the last 24 hours.<\/p>\n It probably has to do with the syncing process, but on my phone, many apps go into deep sleep when they are not actively being used.<\/p>\n This includes freezing activities, such as permissions. Plus, I didn’t love WhatsApp to begin with. For some reason, I’m seeing a lot of fraudulent activity from strangers trying to send scam offers<\/a>.<\/p>\n I am not necessarily blaming the platform since people or bots can contact you through Google Messages, trying to do the same thing, but I also have an easy blocklist that can filter out spam.<\/p>\n As a result, I uninstalled the app, but chose to retain my data.<\/p>\n Link to Windows<\/p>\n A Microsoft-based app that does nothing for me<\/p>\n I must quickly mention that I am not a massive fan of Microsoft products. I still use programs like Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, but only when necessary.<\/p>\n My love for the ecosystem has waned over the years, so I avoid Microsoft Copilot unless it’s required for work (thankfully, there is a way to scrub off Copilot on your PC<\/a>).<\/p>\n Link to Windows is a byproduct of old practices I used with my Samsung Galaxy S23. But since upgrading to my Galaxy S25+<\/a>, I forgot this app existed.<\/p>\n When I first installed the app, the idea was that I would use it to check my text messages, enable app mirroring, and manage photos between my phone and computer.<\/p>\n But I have other services that fill those gaps, and I do not want to make calls or read text messages on my PC anymore while I am working.<\/p>\n As of right now, I schedule specific breaks for myself to do that.<\/p>\n Plus, I found that when I used it on my Galaxy S23, it caused noticeable battery drain because apps require a consistent Bluetooth connection to work properly.<\/p>\n Eventually, that led me to stop using it altogether.<\/p>\n I haven’t opened the app since last summer, when I upgraded my phone, but in the last 24 hours, I still see that both Contacts and accounts and SMS permissions are being used in the background.<\/p>\n Thus, after seeing those results, I added it to my purge pile.<\/p>\n You cannot uninstall this app directly. But you can remove your account through the app’s settings and restrict its permissions.<\/p>\n Google Photos<\/p>\n A Google app that rarely stays installed on my phone<\/p>\n I forgot why I even left this app installed, since I tend to uninstall and reinstall it to keep it updated for work-related assignments that require the app.<\/p>\n But other than that, I don’t normally touch it because I can’t stand cloud-based photo management apps.<\/p>\n This is just a Google product rotting away on my Samsung phone, and, quite frankly, I avoid Google Photos on my Google Pixel 8.<\/p>\n Moreover, anything I upload is through Files by Google and sent to my Google Drive account.<\/p>\n After doing a quick review, I also noticed that it used permissions in the last 24 hours and uses Photos and videos permissions, which is to be expected.<\/p>\n This is likely used for system cache purposes, as I have Google Photos backups turned off.<\/p>\n Plus, I don’t really love the memory function anymore when the app notifies me, mainly because I am still grieving the pets I’ve lost over the years.<\/p>\n Sadly, this time the app couldn’t be fully uninstalled; I could only disable and remove its updates.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n \t\t The Google Photos features that drive me mad<\/p>\n Google Meet<\/p>\n Another Google app that doesn’t affect my day-to-day<\/p>\n It seems like this is another Google app that I forgot existed on my device.<\/p>\n I have never used Google Meet on my phone, even for work. I prefer sitting at a desk and using the platform with one of my computers.<\/p>\n Yet I still see activity listed in the app for the last 24 hours; it uses my Contacts and accounts permissions.<\/p>\n So again, no reason to give free rein to Google Meet when I won’t give it to Google Photos (though I can only disable the new experience app and uninstall the old one).<\/p>\n Google app<\/p>\n An app that uses way too many permissions<\/p>\n Google app made me conflicted. I have solemnly used it for Google Lens, but other than that, I don’t really ever open the app.<\/p>\n However, this one was a bit of a monster for how much freedom it has with my permissions (the fact that I had to scroll down to review the permissions it was using in the last 24 hours was alarming to me).<\/p>\n According to my settings, the Google app used five permissions: Nearby devices, Location, Contacts and accounts, SMS, and Call logs.<\/p>\n But instead of uninstalling the app, I decided to disable it.<\/p>\n The reason is that if you remove the app completely, some functions on your phone won’t work, such as the “Hey Google” voice command, which I find helpful when I need a hands-free experience.<\/p>\n De-bloating your phone is also worth it<\/p>\n As someone who buys carrier-specific phones rather than unlocked ones, I generally need to be much more conscious of the bloat on my phone.<\/p>\n While I am transferring over my apps, contacts, and general data from my old phone to my new one, I also normally look for any carrier-specific apps and services and disable them.<\/p>\n That way, you don’t have to worry about apps taking up unnecessary storage space while potentially tracking your data.<\/p>\n Generally speaking, my Samsung puts a lot of bloatware to sleep, but removing it from my view gives me peace of mind.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n![\"a](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/last-24-hours-usage-1.jpg\")
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/whats-app.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"a](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/link-to-windows.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/google-photos.jpg\")
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\n ![\"Google](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/google-photos-features-disable.jpg\"\/)
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\n\t\t\t6 annoying Google Photos settings you can turn off right now (and should)
\n\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n![\"One](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/google-meet.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"a](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/google-app.jpg\")
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\n ![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/a-samsung-smartphone-displaying-a-menu-to-uninstall-a-system-app-with-a-large-red-trash-can-icon-in-.png\"\/){kind=icon}
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