Google removed dozens of apps used by millions of Android users after discovering that they were covertly collecting data. The researchers identified weather apps, highway radar apps, QR scanners, even prayer apps that contained codes to collect users’ precise location, email, phone numbers, and more.
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The code was discovered by researchers Serge Egelman of UC Berkeley and Joel Reardon of the University of Calgary., who disclosed their findings to federal regulators and Google. It can “certainly be described as malware,” Egelman told the Wall Street Journal.
How the Android spy apps that Google removed were created
Apparently, behind spy apps there is a common denominator: Measurement Systems, a cyber intelligence company in VirginiaUnited States, but the company has denied the allegations.
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Measurement Systems reportedly paid developers to add their software development kits (SDKs) to apps. Developers would not only get paid but also get detailed information about their user base.
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The SDK was present in apps downloaded on at least 60 million mobile devices.
Although Google removed the apps from the Play Store, researchers say spy apps are still on millions of devices. But for now, the SDK stopped collecting user data after its findings were revealed.
Removed spy apps could return to the Google PlayStore
After the researchers informed Google of their findings, apps running the software were removed from the Google Play Store on March 25. But, a Google spokesperson noted that the apps could return to the store if the spyware is removed. Here the list of apps removed by Google.
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- Speed Camera Radar
- AI Moazin Lite
- Wi-Fi Mouse
- QR & Barcode Scanner
- Qibla Compass
- Simple weather & cock widget
- Handcent Netx SMS-Text
- SmartKit 360
- AI Quran Mp3
- Full Quarum Mp3
- Languages & Translation Audio
- Audiosdroid Audio Studio DAW