Users often tend not to look at App permissions, while installing from Play Store, either out of ignorance or for other reasons. Permissions in Marshmallow are less granular and bundled compounding the problem
Is there a way to easily find alternative apps ( within Play Store) having same functionality but asking for lesser permissions?
Yes, good news is that there is an app released on Play Store recently for that SecuRank :
Use SecuRank to find safer alternatives to the GENERAL-PURPOSE apps you have installed. SecuRank automatically scans your smartphone to find safer replacement apps that provide the same functionality as the ones you currently use. SecuRank uses natural language processing and permission usage analysis to identify and recommend alternative apps.
For more information on how SecuRank works, visit our website at https://securank.me/
This app was released on Play Store on 07 Oct and a paper presented on 24 Oct 16 by the developer in the pre conference workshop of the annual CCS conference ( to start today). The paper explains how it works in detail and can be downloaded from here
(Yes, the app itself asks for network permissions but may need more when updated)
Snapshots from my device, highlighting alternative apps for alarm clock app. It offers potentially safer apps which can be directly accessed by clicking and mentions permissions not used in suggested alternates
Happy weeding ! Only draw back is that it claims to scan General Purpose apps only, but as the list shows it covers root apps, which are not general purpose IMO
Disclaimer: I am in NO way affiliated with this app, but love the idea
Edit: Thanks Izzy for pointing out related ways of filtering for alternatives
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