Accessibility permissions are Android privileges designed for assistive technology. When an app is granted this access, it can observe what is on the screen, react to interface changes, and perform actions such as taps, swipes, and text entry on the user’s behalf. This is meant to help people who need voice control, screen readers, or other accessibility tools.
In cyber security, these permissions matter because they give an app broad visibility and control over the interface. Malware can abuse them to read login prompts, capture one-time codes, approve dialogs, or automate actions inside banking and messaging apps. Attackers often ask for Accessibility access through social engineering, presenting the request as required for a harmless feature. Defenders should treat unexpected requests as suspicious, review which apps have this permission, and remove access from apps that do not clearly need assistive functions.