Permission Scanner: An Open-Source Android App to Understand App Permissions and Privacy Risks

Ameer Hamza Saifi — Sun, 08 Nov 2026 18:01:24 +0000

Android apps request permissions for many reasons. Some permissions are necessary for an app to work, while others may deserve closer attention.

But how easily can users understand what their installed apps are accessing?

That is the problem Permission Scanner, an open-source Android application developed by AHS Mobile Labs, aims to solve.

Instead of displaying a confusing list of Android permissions, Permission Scanner provides a readable privacy and security overview of installed applications and APK files.

What Is Permission Scanner?

Permission Scanner is an Android privacy companion built with Flutter and native Android integration.

It scans installed applications, examines declared permissions, identifies potentially risky behavior patterns, and presents the results through a privacy-focused dashboard.

The project is designed around transparency, with local analysis and an inspectable open-source codebase.

Key Features

1. Installed App Scanner

Inspect installed applications and view information such as:

Requested and dangerous permissions.
App installation source.
System application status.
SDK information.
Trackers, services and receivers.
Application metadata.

2. Privacy Risk Scoring

Permission Scanner calculates a privacy score from 0 to 100 using permission exposure and other risk signals.

It classifies applications into four risk levels:

Safe
Medium
Dangerous
Critical

This helps users identify applications that may deserve additional attention.

3. APK Scanner Before Installation

One useful feature is the ability to inspect APK files before installing them.

The scanner checks for signals including:

Dangerous permissions.
Trackers.
Overlay usage.
Accessibility service usage.
Background behavior indicators.
Packer and spyware-related indicators.

These signals are intended to help users make more informed installation decisions. They are not a guarantee that an APK is safe or malicious.

4. Compare Applications

Compare two installed applications side by side.

The comparison includes permission counts, dangerous permissions, trackers, background services, auto-start behavior, internet-related risk signals, and open-source status.

5. Security Dashboard

The dashboard provides an overview of device privacy exposure, including:

Overall privacy score.
Permission exposure.
Potentially risky applications.
Recent permission changes.

6. Privacy Tools

Additional tools include a permission library, privacy timeline, exportable reports, and optional local alerts for high-risk permission patterns.

Built with Flutter and Native Android

Permission Scanner uses Flutter for its application interface and native Android APIs for package inspection.

Its technology stack includes:

Component	Technology
Framework	Flutter
Language	Dart
State Management	Riverpod
Local Storage	Hive
Notifications	flutter_local_notifications
Permissions	permission_handler
Native Integration	Android MethodChannel
UI Architecture	Modular screens and reusable widgets

The application uses native Android integration through MethodChannel('permission_scanner') to retrieve application and APK metadata.

Permission analysis and risk scoring are performed locally. Hive caching helps avoid unnecessary rescans when the installed application set has not changed.

Privacy and Transparency

Permission Scanner is built around local analysis rather than sending device scan results to a remote analysis service.

Users control when they export reports or share summaries.

The project also provides an accessible privacy policy and open-source implementation for people interested in understanding how it works.

Open Source Project

Permission Scanner is available under the MIT License.

Developers can inspect the implementation, explore the permission analysis logic, report bugs, suggest improvements, and contribute to the project.

GitHub Repository:

https://github.com/AHS-Mobile-Labs/Permission_Scanner

Download Permission Scanner

Android users can download the application through Google Play or obtain the standalone APK from the GitHub Releases section.

Google Play:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ahsmobilelabs.permissionScanner.opensoucre

GitHub Releases:

https://github.com/AHS-Mobile-Labs/Permission_Scanner/releases

About AHS Mobile Labs

AHS Mobile Labs is an independent software development studio focused on building practical mobile applications and open-source software.

Our goal is to create useful tools with transparent development practices and user-focused experiences.

Official Website:

https://ahsmobilelabs.website/

Explore More Projects:

https://github.com/AHS-Mobile-Labs

Final Thoughts

Android privacy starts with understanding what applications can access.

Permission Scanner brings installed-app inspection, APK analysis, permission explanations, privacy scoring, and application comparison together in one place.

The project is open source, and developers and Android enthusiasts are welcome to explore the codebase and contribute.

Explore Permission Scanner:

https://github.com/AHS-Mobile-Labs/Permission_Scanner

Building OpenLib: An Open-Source Software Discovery Platform Inspired by IMDb and GitHub

Ameer Hamza Saifi — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 11:16:01 +0000

Over the past few months, I've been building OpenLib, a platform designed to help people discover, review, and track open-source software.

Website: https://www.openlib.online

GitHub: https://github.com/AHS-Mobile-Labs/OpenLib

Why I Started OpenLib

One thing I've always noticed about open-source software is how difficult discovery can be.

Many amazing projects remain hidden inside GitHub repositories, blog posts, Reddit threads, and random recommendations. Unless someone actively follows the ecosystem, finding useful software often feels like an accident.

I wanted to create something that treated open-source projects more like movies on IMDb or games on Steam—a place where people could discover applications, leave reviews, track releases, and contribute information.

That idea became OpenLib.

What OpenLib Does

OpenLib aims to be a community-driven software discovery platform with features such as:

Open-source software directory
Application pages
Ratings and reviews
Repository links
Release tracking
Version history
Community submissions
Search and discovery tools

The long-term goal is to make it easier for users to find quality open-source software while helping developers gain visibility for their projects.

Building as a Solo Developer

I want to be transparent about the development process.

I use AI tools to accelerate development, especially for UI work and prototyping. AI helps me move faster, but it does not run the project for me.

I still spend most of my time:

Designing features
Building backend functionality
Maintaining infrastructure
Debugging issues
Reviewing generated code
Making architectural decisions
Managing deployments

Like many solo developers, I use every tool available to make progress.

Current Challenges

The biggest challenge isn't writing code.

It's:

Maintaining the platform
Keeping software listings updated
Improving user experience
Finding contributors
Growing a community around the project

Building something useful is only half the battle. Getting feedback and community participation is often much harder.

How You Can Help

If you're interested in open-source software, I'd appreciate your feedback.

You can help by:

Exploring the platform
Submitting open-source applications
Reporting bugs
Suggesting features
Contributing code
Sharing the project with others

Issue tracker:
https://github.com/AHS-Mobile-Labs/OpenLib/issues

Every bug report, feature request, and contribution helps move the project forward.

Feedback Welcome

I'm still actively improving OpenLib and would love to hear thoughts from developers, Linux users, and open-source enthusiasts.

What features would make a platform like this useful for you?
What would encourage you to contribute or use it regularly?

Thanks for reading.

DEV Community: Ameer Hamza Saifi