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posted by
martyb
on Friday January 05 2018, @03:50PM
from the the-play's-the-thing-where-I'll-capture... dept.
from the the-play's-the-thing-where-I'll-capture... dept.
TrendMicro has discovered 36 apps in Google Play that execute unwanted behavior:
These apps posed as useful security tools under the names Security Defender, Security Keeper, Smart Security, Advanced Boost, and more. They also advertised a variety of capabilities: scanning, cleaning junk, saving battery, cooling the CPU, locking apps, as well as message security, WiFi security, and so on.
The apps were actually able to perform these simple tasks, but they also secretly harvested user data, tracked user location, and aggressively pushed advertisements.
The apps in question have been removed from Google Play.
Related: Google Pauses Crackdown on Apps That Use Accessibility Features
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Apps on Google Play Disguised as Security Tools Instead Serve Ads and Track Users' Location
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"The subspace _W inherits the other 8 properties of _V. And there aren't
even any property taxes."
-- J. MacKay, Mathematics 134b
(Score: 1) by anubi on Saturday January 06 2018, @06:24AM
We are way worse off today.
By means of the internet connection.
Applications - even if they have nothing to do with the internet - can demand access to the internet ( and claim its for "checking for updates" ), and get it... or it will refuse to work.
You WILL comply and give it what it demands.
Or forfeit your whole investment in the thing.
They've got you by the nuts.
There is not enough of us that won't play by those rules to make a difference, so the people creating this kind of crap get away with it.
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]