PermissionResearch
PermissionResearch Review
PermissionResearch is a market research community created by TMRG (a ComScore company). They use a range of methods to collect data from research participants, including data tracking apps. In this review, we’ll go through the pros and cons of giving a company access to how you surf on the web, and what you can expect in terms of rewards.
What’s the concept?
Comscore is a digital analytics company that provides audience measurement and advertising metrics to publishers, advertisers, and agencies. One of the ways that Comscore tracks cross-device online behaviour is through its PermissionResearch app.
The PermissionResearch app is an opt-in program that users can install on their devices, including desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Once installed, the app collects data on the user’s online behaviour, such as the websites they visit, the apps they use, and the searches they conduct. The app uses various methods to track this behaviour, including cookies, web beacons, and device IDs.
Comscore aggregates the data collected from the PermissionResearch app across multiple devices to create a comprehensive picture of a user’s online behaviour. This allows Comscore to track cross-device behaviour, such as when a user starts a search on their smartphone and finishes it on their laptop. Comscore can also track the same user across multiple apps and websites, providing insights into their behaviour across different platforms.
It’s important to remember that participation in PermissionResearch’s community involves installing software which monitors online activity. While in the world of market research, this might seem like a perfectly normal thing, it does raise concerns about data privacy and control over how sensitive personal data is shared. Note that PermissionResearch does not gather any information such as credit card numbers or social security numbers.
Is PermissionResearch legit?
In our opinion, PermissionResearch cannot be considered entirely legitimate if possible malware has been detected by multiple anti-virus scanners. While the presence of possible malware does not necessarily mean that the app is malicious or harmful, it does raise concerns about the safety and security of the app.
Legitimate apps are expected to be free from any malware or potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) that could compromise the user’s privacy, security, or overall user experience.
Malwarebytes automatically blocks PermissionResearch.com
What type of data will I be sharing?
PermissionResearch collects a range of computer and device information, which includes online identifiers (e.g., cookie ID, device ID, etc.), IP address, and geolocation inferred from the IP address. Types of data collected may include:
- Browser behaviour (including cookies, device id, IP address and geolocation)
- Software information
- Operating system information
- Speed of the computer processor
- Memory capacity
- Internet connection speed
- Device type and configuration
- Type of devices connected to the computer or network (such as the type of printer or router in use).
Multiple anti-virus scanners have detected possible malware in the software from TMRG/Comscore, including avast!, Bitdefender, Malwarebytes, Sophos, Norman and AVG.
In addition, the company gathers information regarding web browsing activities and app usage on the device. This may include data on the Internet or other network activity, keystrokes and clicks, the duration spent on a specific website, the type of content accessed on websites and apps, as well as the context and location of specific content on individual web pages.
The company may also collect any information that is accessible through these websites or applications, such as search queries or information submitted. Furthermore, select email header information from web-based emails, data on software downloads or usage, and details about the utilization of video streaming services may also be gathered.
The list is very extensive, and it’s important that you’re fully aware of the implications of sharing so much data before deciding to sign up.
Multiple anti-virus scanners have detected possible malware
PermissionResearch is part of a group of communities managed by the Comscore subsidiary TMRG that also includes:
- OpinionSquare
- VoiceFive
- RelevantKnowledge
Signing up for a site such as PermissionResearch may offer some benefits, such as additional security features and the chance to contribute to research. However, users should be aware of the potential risks, including the bundling of PUPs and the detection of possible malware, as well as the privacy implications of sharing their online behaviour with third-party companies.
Files flagged by anti-virus scanners include:
- rlvknlg.exe
- rlservice.exe
- rlvknlg64.exe
- prservice.exe
- prmrsr.exe
- opnsqr.exe
How much can you make on PermissionResearch?
You will be disappointed if you expect to earn money from this site regularly. However, the special surveys they send out sometimes offer cash or gift cards as a “thank you” for participating. They don’t detail how the rewards for these special surveys work.
Summary
- The program is often bundled with other potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) that can negatively impact the performance of the user’s device and compromise their privacy.
- Multiple anti-virus scanners have detected possible malware in the software from TMRG/Comscore, which raises concerns about the safety and security of the program.
- Users who install the program may be exposing their online behaviour to third-party companies, which may compromise their privacy and lead to targeted advertising.
- The survey at the end of the setup process may contain personal questions that users may not feel comfortable answering or may not want to share with third-party companies.
Featured Passive Data Sharing Apps
- Surveys match well
- Short surveys
- A broad selection of topics
- Sporadic survey invitations
- Well functioning app
- Intuitive user interface
- Not quite living up to its ambitious marketing messages
- Decent Pay
- Does not drain the battery or impact your device
- Completely passive
- No PayPal cash
- Privacy concerns around data sharing
- Passive income once the apps are installed
- Good compensation compared to taking surveys
- You'll be sharing a massive amount of data about your online behaviour
- Some technical glitches in terms of VPN and Apps slowing down your devices
- The reward level of £10 per month has been the same for more than 5 years.
- No cash option
- Frequent survey opportunities
- More rewards than "just" surveys are available
- A legit company with a long history in the survey industry
- Low payout threshold
- Several payout options
- Both mobile app and browser support
- Lots of screenout questions
- Low incentives
- Below-average survey experience
- Low payout threshold
- Cash payments
- Varied earning opportunities
- Mobile app
- Fast payment process
- Lots of personal data tracked and shared
- No website version (app only)
- Quick to block accounts
- Technical glitches
