When you first set up Gini Help, the app will ask for permission to access certain features on your phone. This guide explains what each permission does and why we need it to protect you.
Why Does Gini Need Permissions?
To protect you from scam calls, phishing emails, and spam texts, Gini needs to work with your phone's built-in features. Without these permissions, we can't do our job of keeping you safe.
Important: We only ask for permissions that are necessary. We never sell your data or share it with advertisers.
Permissions Explained
Notifications (Highly Recommended)
What it does: Allows Gini to send you alerts and updates.
Why we need it: When someone calls you and Gini screens the call, we send you a notification telling you:
- Who called
- Whether the call looks safe or suspicious
- What the caller wanted
Without notifications, you won't know when calls are screened or if we've blocked a scam.
How to allow: When you see "Gini Help would like to send you notifications," tap Allow.
Contacts (Optional)
What it does: Lets Gini see the names and phone numbers in your contact list.
Why we need it: When you import your contacts, Gini can:
- Automatically allow calls from people you know
- Show you the caller's name instead of just their number
- Help you recognize calls from friends and family
Your contacts stay private. We use this information only to help screen your calls. We never share your contact list with anyone.
How to allow: When you see "Gini Help would like to access your contacts," tap Allow or OK.
Phone (Android Only)
What it does: Lets Gini see information about incoming calls.
Why we need it: On Android phones, this permission helps Gini:
- Identify who's calling you
- Work with your phone's call features
- Provide caller ID information
How to allow: When you see the phone permission request, tap Allow.
SMS/Text Messages (For Text Protection)
What it does: Lets Gini scan incoming text messages for scams.
Why we need it: To protect you from spam and scam texts, Gini needs to:
- Read incoming messages to check if they're safe
- Move suspicious messages to your Held Messages folder
- Alert you when we catch a scam text
We never read your personal conversations. Our system only scans for known scam patterns and suspicious links.
How to allow: Follow the on-screen instructions when you set up Text Message Protection.
What If I Said "No" to a Permission?
If you accidentally denied a permission, or changed your mind, you can turn it on later:
On iPhone
- Open your phone's Settings app
- Scroll down and tap Gini Help
- Turn on the permissions you want to allow
On Android
- Open your phone's Settings app
- Tap Apps or Applications
- Find and tap Gini Help
- Tap Permissions
- Turn on the permissions you want to allow
Permissions Are Always Your Choice
You're always in control. You can:
- Allow or deny any permission
- Change your mind at any time
- Use Gini with limited features if you prefer
However, some features won't work without their required permissions. For example:
- Without notification permission, you won't get alerts about screened calls
- Without contact access, calls from your contacts might be screened unnecessarily
- Without SMS access, we can't scan your text messages for scams
Our Privacy Promise
- We only ask for permissions we truly need
- Your data is encrypted and stored securely
- We never sell your information
- You can delete your data at any time
For more details about how we protect your privacy, see our article on "How Gini Protects Your Privacy."