Have you noticed com.sec.android.app.camerasaver using your camera in the background? What is it, and what is its function on your phone?
It can be scary to find camera-related apps running in the background of your phone, especially with a rise in incidents of stalkerware apps. But worry not! Com.sec.android.app.camerasaver is not a spying app.
Instead, it is an Android system application that stores and manages videos and photos captured by your phone’s camera. Below is everything you need to know about the app and what it does on your phone.
What is com.sec.android.app.camerasaver, and what are its functions?
Com.sec.android.app.camerasaver is not an app in itself, but the package name for the app. The components of the package name can be broken down as follows:
- Com – this signifies that the package is from a commercial entity or company.
- Sec – an acronym for Samsung Electronics Co., LTD. It signifies that the package is from Samsung.
- Android – it signifies that the package is designed for the Android platform.
- App – This designates the package as an application.
- Camerasaver – this is the application’s name.
Therefore, it is clear that com.sec.android.app.camerasaver is the package name for a camera-saving application for Samsung Android phones.
The application has several functions, including:
1. Data storage for the camera app
Com.sec.android.app.camerasaver is the application that is responsible for saving photos and videos captured by your phone’s camera.
2. Camera management
The app manages the device’s camera, ensuring it functions properly and is ready to use when needed.
3. Gallery integration
Given its role in storing photos and videos captured by the camera, it is likely that the application works with the gallery app to organize and display media.
4. Privacy indicators
As part of Android’s Privacy Indicators, com.sec.android.app.camerasaver helps display a green dot notification on the screen, indicating that the camera is being actively used.
What permissions does the Samsung camera saver app have?
There is little information about the full range of permissions the Camerasaver app has on Android devices. However, given its function, the following are some of the possible permissions the has:
- Camera – the app has camera permissions, allowing it to access the images and videos captured.
- Storage – it has storage permission, allowing it to save captured media.
The app may also have other permissions, such as microphone access (for recording audio in videos) and location services (for geotagging captured images).
Is com.sec.android.app.camerasaver dangerous?
Com.sec.android.app.camerasaver is not dangerous. First, it is a system application that comes pre-installed on your phone (not downloaded from the app store), so you don’t have to worry about it being filled with viruses or malware.
Secondly, the application is developed by a reputable company, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., so you don’t have to worry about it being a malicious third-party app.
However, while the app is not dangerous, some Samsung phone users have expressed concerns about its operations.
Several people have reported that the application accesses the camera in the background immediately after booting their devices. This has led to concerns that the app is performing suspicious activity, such as spying on users.
However, despite these concerns, no reported cases of the app being stalkerware have been found. As one user has put it, it’s common for apps to have hidden permissions that allow them to run in the background.
Can you uninstall the Samsung camera saver app?
No. Com.sec.android.app.camerasaver is a pre-installed system application. Therefore, you cannot uninstall it from your phone or disable it.
You can delete the application from your device using a root uninstaller (after rooting your phone) or an Android Debug Bridge (ADB) tool. However, neither of these options is advisable.
First, uninstalling system apps with root or ADB carries several risks, like voiding your device’s warranty or damaging it beyond repair.
In addition to these general risks, the com.sec.android.app.camerasaver is not a standalone app but a critical component of the Samsung camera system.
Therefore, uninstalling it would, at best, cause your camera to stop working and, at worst, damage your phone’s camera system extensively.
You should also note that since it’s a pre-installed system app, you can’t download it from the app store. Therefore, uninstalling the app will likely cause permanent damage to your device’s camera system.
