The Indian Government has been hard at work to push Sanchar Saathi to help curb cybercrime and mobile theft. Sanchar Saathi has become a central tool for users to lodge spam/scam-related complaints, register lost phone complaints and check if other SIM cards are registered on their number. But with any government-backed app comes the inevitable question: Is Sanchar Saathi safe to download and use?
Sanchar Saathi app: Is it safe to use?
The answer is yes, it is safe, provided you use it correctly. However, like any digital utility that deals with personal data, it's important to understand what it does, what permission it needs and how to use it without giving much away.
So what is Sanchar Saathi? Well, it is a citizen-centric, citizen-driven app/portal launched by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). Think of it as a digital shield designed to empower mobile phone users and strengthen security against fraud. It serves as a unified portal, hosting several features and services.
These services include CEIR, TAFCOP, Chakshu and KYM. CEIR helps block and track lost or stolen phones, while TAFCOP helps check if someone is using a SIM card in your name.
Chakshu could come in handy to report fraud calls, SMS or WhatsApp messages, whereas KYM helps verify if a second-hand phone is genuine or stolen before you buy it.
What permissions does the Sanchar Saathi app require?
To function effectively, the Sanchar Saathi app requires certain permissions on your phone, which is usually where the main concern regarding the app lies. Though permissions are generally justified by the app's features. For instance, access to the device camera, which is required to scan QR codes or capture images of fraudulent messages.
Similarly, the permission to access files and media in the internal storage is required to upload existing evidence when reporting fraud. Location is required to tag the geolocation of a reported incident or lost device.
Although the government has retracted pre-installation of Sanchar Saathi on phones, it's only normal to still be suspicious about it. However, there's no evidence to suggest the app acts as a surveillance tool on the public.
With the app no longer mandated, there's a pro tip. You don't really need to install Sanchar Saathi to track your phone. Instead, you can head to the official Sanchar Saathi website to block/report your lost smartphone.
Similarly, you can also check registered SIMs and verify a phone's IMEI via the website. We'd recommend this because using the website requires no installation and no permanent permissions, making it the most privacy-friendly way to access these services.
The bottom line is, Sanchar Saathi is a safe and recommended app/portal for every Indian user. It provides essential services that can save you from identity theft and financial loss. However, it's okay to still be sceptical based on the government's past actions to mandate the app, and therefore, we'd recommend you use the web portal until you're convinced.
