Have full network access

android.permission.INTERNET

Required for the WebView to access the internet. Without this permission, Privacy Browser would be “No Browser: Protecting Your Privacy by Staying Completely Off the Internet”.

Install shortcuts

com.android.launcher.permission.INSTALL_SHORTCUT

Required to add shortcuts for websites to the launcher desktop.




In addition, Privacy Browser Free displays ads from Google's AdMob network using the Firebase backend. For the free flavor, Firebase adds the following permissions even though they are not listed in the manifest file.

View network connections

android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE

Allows the ads to tell when you are connected to the internet and when you aren't (presumably so they don't try to reload an ad when you are disconnected). They can also tell if you are connected via Wi-Fi, 2G, 3G, 4G, etc.

Prevent phone from sleeping

android.permission.WAKE_LOCK

Allows the ads to keep the processor from sleeping and the screen from dimming, although in my testing I don't think the ads actually do this.

Receive data from Internet

com.google.android.c2dm.permission.RECEIVE

Allows Google to send information directly to the AdView without having to receive a request first (cloud-to-device messaging).

Receive data from Internet

com.stoutner.privacybrowser.free.permission.C2D_MESSAGE

Secures the cloud-to-device messages so that only Privacy Browser Free can receive them.