Security researchers have discovered spying activities in numerous iOS and Android apps

App developers repeatedly manage to bring dubious programs into the official app stores. This is despite strict security precautions and controls when publishing new apps. Now a case has been uncovered in which 30 apps are spying on their users. The apps in question have been installed almost 1.4 billion times on iPhones and Android smartphones.

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Unauthorized transmission of sensitive data in the background

Over half of the apps in question here come from developers in China. When you download these apps, you expect to receive various filters for photos or to be able to optimize selfies. Cybernews, the operators of the apps collect data without permission, even sell it, forward it to phishing websites or spy on users.

Several apps come from just one provider, which is also revealed by the app titles, some of which sound very similar.
Some of the applications have already been removed from the app stores, but they are still installed on many smartphones.

These apps should be uninstalled

  • BeautyPlus – Easy Photo Editor & Selfie Camera
  • BeautyCam
  • Beauty Camera – Selfie Camera
  • Beauty Camera Plus – Sweet Camera Makeup Photo
  • Beauty Camera – Selfie Camera & Photo Editor
  • Beauty Camera – Selfie Camera with Photo Editor
  • Beauty Camera – Best Selfie Camera & Photo Editor
  • Beauty Makeup, Selfie Camera Effects, Photo Editor
  • Beauty Camera
  • Bestie – Camera360 Beauty Cam
  • Beauty Camera Makeup Face Selfie, Photo Editor
  • Beauty Selfie Plus – Sweet Camera Wonder HD Camera
  • B612 – Beauty & Filter Camera
  • Face Makeup Camera & Beauty Photo Makeup Editor
  • Sweet Selfie – Selfie Camera & Makeup Photo Editor
  • Selfie camera – Beauty camera & Makeup camera
  • Selfie Camera – Beauty Camera
  • HD Camera Selfie Beauty Camera
  • Candy Camera – selfie, beauty camera, photo editor
  • Makeup Camera-Selfie Beauty Filter Photo Editor
  • Selfie Camera – Beauty Camera & AR Stickers
  • Pretty Makeup, Beauty Photo Editor & Selfie Camera
  • Photo Editor – Beauty Camera
  • Selfie cam – bestie makeup beauty camera & filters
  • Selfie Camera – Beauty Camera & Photo Editor
  • Sweet Snap – Beauty Selfie Camera & Face Filter
  • Sweet Selfie Snap – Sweet Camera, Beauty Cam Snap
  • YouCam Perfect – Best Selfie Camera & Photo Editor
  • YouCam Perfect – Best Photo Editor & Selfie Camera
  • Z Beauty Camera

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You should definitely avoid these camera apps or use well-known camera and filter apps such as Snapchat, Messenger or Instagram instead.

Related to the topic : Remove connected third-party apps from Microsoft, Twitter, Facebook and Google!

Source: Cybernews
Article image: Shutterstock / By Dean Drobot


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