Most of these Fintech mobile apps gain access your contacts and other personal data on your device as soon as you download the apps especially the loan apps. It appears as if you have sold out your privacy once you decide to use these apps. But these still ways you can protect your personal data and maintain some level of privacy while using these apps. Fortunately, PalmPay as one of the trusted Fintech companies in Nigeria grants it’s customers the right to decide which of their personal data should be accessed by it, but then, while you have the right to grant permission to which of your data should be accessible, it may limit the features you can have access to on PalmPay as some of these features and services require some certain data to function.
Importance of Protecting Your Privacy
According to PalmPay, it prioritizes the security and protection of user data and takes necessary measures to protect, user's personal information. However, users are advised to to further proactive measures to protect their privacy and from time to time review app permissions.
Protecting your personal data including contacts on mobile apps such as PalmPay is very important because it protect sensitive information including your contacts from privacy invasion. Without proper protection, you risk identity theft, fraud, invasion of privacy, unwanted targeted ads. You’re your family, friends and business associates may be contacted in respect to your personal financial transactions on the app. This can be very, embarrassing, and annoying.
Accessing your contacts and call log, allows the mobile apps to read and copy your contacts, read call log history. Permission to access contacts, call log and messages should be granted only to the apps used for making calls and sending messages.
About PalmPay
The users’ funds are as well covered by Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC. So your funds are safe.
Its operations are also governed by Fintech Regulatory Laws in Nigeria
PalmPay Services
As a mobile money operator, you can use PalmPay wallet to send and receive money, pay bills such as TV subscription, PHCN; buy internet data, mobile phone airtime etc, in naira within Nigeria.
PalmPay offers Point of Sales, POS services. It has many mobile money agents in different locations in Nigeria especially areas not covered by the conventional banks. This helps to drive financial inclusion of the unbanked Nigerians. Businesses and merchants also use PalmPay POS for in-store purchase payments.
How to Stop PalmPay from Accessing Your Contacts
It’s very easy to block PalmPay from accessing your contacts, and the steps are straightforward. To protect your privacy on PalmPay and to stop PalmPay from accessing your contacts, follow these simple steps below. This method is for Android device and it’s similar for iOS devices too.
- Go to Settings on your mobile phone.
- Locate “Apps” or “Applications” as the case may be on your device.
- A pool of apps that are installed on your device will appear. Locate and select PalmPay
- Tap on “Permissions” or “App Permissions”
- Look for Contacts or Address Book. Turn of permission for Contact or Address Book by toggling off the radio button or unchecking the box, as the case may be.
You have finally blocked PalmPay from accessing your contacts.
Why Does PalmPay Need Access to Your Contacts?
For you to access some features on PalmPay such sending money to directly to your contacts in your address book, and joining PalmPay affiliate/ referral program by inviting friends and family in your contacts to sign up for PalmPay, PalmPay may request you the app access to your phone book.
Disadvantages of Blocking PalmPay from Accessing Your Contacts
You may not be able to send money directly to your contacts.
You make not be able to send request to your friends and family to join PalmPay, and you will not get PalmPay referral commissions.
How to Block Loan Apps from Calling and Sending Messages to Your Contacts
It’s annoying when loan apps call and message your contacts informing them that you took a loan have defaulted in repayment. This is embarrassing and it ruins relationships and one’s integrity.
The steps to stopping loan apps from contacting your contacts are similar to that of blocking PalmPay from accessing your contacts.
To do this, simple review your privacy settings.
Go to Settings on your device, select Apps & Notifications, Choose the loan app from the list of apps, tap on Permission, Turn off permission related to contacts or Address Book. Always be sure if the disablement will not affect functionality of the app. Some loan apps are developed in such a way that the contacts permission must be abled for the apps to function normally.