Check its presence on your phone .. “Google” stops dozens of “Android” applications due to spying
Google has cracked down on dozens of popular Android apps believed to contain code that secretly collects sensitive data from users.
Security experts claimed that millions of Android users inadvertently downloaded apps from Google Play Store apps, which included a third-party code designed to collect sensitive information, such as email addresses, phone numbers, GPA-accurate location information, and more.
The affected program will include weather apps, QR scanners and road traffic - with some of these Android apps downloaded by more than 10 million people from the Google Play Store.
The offending code was found in developer software development kits (SDKs) added to applications after payment.
The SDK was allegedly the work of Measurement Systems, a company the Wall Street Journal said was linked to a Virginia defense contractor that does cyber intelligence work for US national security agencies.
Measurement has denied the allegations.
Researchers who came across all of this included Serge Eagleman of the University of California, Berkeley, and Joel Reardon of the University of Calgary.
The results were reported to Google, with federal regulators.
Eagleman told the Wall Street Journal that the code "without a doubt" could "qualify as malware".
While on the AppCensus blog post, Reardon said, "The database that identifies a person's actual email and phone number for an accurate GPS location history is particularly intimidating, as it can easily be used to run a service to look up a person's location history just by knowing the phone number or E-mail".
When the results were published, the affected apps were removed from the Play Store, but the software is still present on millions of devices.
At the time of revealing their findings, the researchers said, the SDK had stopped collecting data from the apps it was already on.
Reardon's post on the AppCensus blog explained how the SDK was put in place for developers, telling app makers that it will help them monetize their software without the need for ads.
While the Play Store scanned apps containing the SDK, it could have been listed again if the offending code had been removed.
Speaking to the Wall Street Journal about the allegations, Measurement Systems said: "The claims you make about the company's activities are false. Furthermore, we are not aware of any links between our company and US defense contractors."
Below is a list of the most popular software included with the SDK according to the AppCensus Blog.
And if you have any of these apps, which are now available on the Play Store, check if there are any updates available and if you want to continue using the software, make sure you download the latest version.
Speed Camera Radar.
- Al-Moazin Lite (Prayer Times).
- WiFi Mouse(remote control PC).
- QR & Barcode Scanner.
- Qibla Compass - Ramadan 2022.
- Simple weather & clock widget.
- Handcent Next SMS-Text w/ MMS.
Smart Kit 360.
- Al Quran Mp3 - 50 Reciters & Translation Audio.
- Full Quran MP3 - 50+ Languages & Translation Audio.
- Audiosdroid Audio Studio DAW – Apps on Google Play.