Why does Elements Mobile Protection ask for permissions during first startup?

Issue:

When Elements Mobile Protection is installed and opened for the first time, it shows the prompts:

• Permissions needed "File access – antivirus needs files access to scan for harmful items on this device"
• Notifications – Needed to keep protection running and to notify about important security events
• Diagnostic file – We need the following permission to be able to collect the diagnostic file remotely from your device. You can change this setting later in the app settings.
• Receive SMS – We need the following permission to be able analyze SMS as soon as it arrives.
• Connection request – WithSecure Elements Mobile Protection (com.fsecure.mp.ucf) want to set up a VPN connection that allows it to monitor network traffic. Only accept if you trust the source. 

Why does the application ask the user to allow the permissions and not automatically give itself these rights? 

Resolution:

This is a part of Android's privacy security. Applications which can access personal files on your device need to specifically ask user permission to do so. Since Elements Mobile Protection includes a file scanner for malicious files, permissions are needed to access the user's personal files on the device. 

This is explained in the following article: https://www.androidauthority.com/app-permissions-886758/

You can also read Google's instructions for developers: https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/permissions/overview