* . *
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
Wednesday, July 23, 2025
Earth-News
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    AP Entertainment SummaryBrief at 1:51 p.m. EDT – Channel 3000

    Entertainment Highlights: Key Updates You Can’t Miss

    ‘Devil Wears Prada 2’ casts Anne Hathaway’s love interest replacing Adrian Grenier’s Nate – Entertainment Weekly

    Devil Wears Prada 2′ Casts New Love Interest for Anne Hathaway, Replacing Adrian Grenier’s Nate

    12 ‘Late Show’ Moments Proving Stephen Colbert Can’t Be Replaced – The Mountaineer

    12 Unforgettable ‘Late Show’ Moments That Prove Stephen Colbert Is Truly One of a Kind

    Canes owner Tom Dundon’s real estate firm eyes entertainment complex near RDU – The Business Journals

    Canes Owner Tom Dundon’s Real Estate Firm Unveils Plans for Thrilling New Entertainment Complex Near RDU

    Inspired Entertainment, Inc.’s (NASDAQ:INSE) Price Is Right But Growth Is Lacking After Shares Rocket 29% – simplywall.st

    Inspired Entertainment Soars 29% but Growth Momentum Falls Short

    Kroger shares summer entertainment tips – Supermarket Perimeter

    Ultimate Summer Entertainment Tips to Make Your Season Unforgettable

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    Morgan Adamski Joins PwC in Newly Created Cyber, Data & Technology Risk Division – HSToday

    Morgan Adamski Leads the Charge in PwC’s Cutting-Edge Cyber, Data & Technology Risk Division

    Transformative technology, support for food entrepreneurs spotlighted – University of Hawaii System

    How Cutting-Edge Technology and Strong Support Are Revolutionizing Food Entrepreneurs’ Success

    Cold Weather Alloy Opens New Possibilities for Space Technology – Universe Today

    Revolutionary Cold Weather Alloy Unlocks New Frontiers in Space Technology

    Defence Holdings PLC Transitions from Esports to Pioneering Defence Technology

    Bull of the Day: Credo Technology Group (CRDO) – Yahoo Finance

    Bull of the Day: Why Credo Technology Group (CRDO) Is Poised for a Breakout

    BlackSky Technology Inc. Stock Analysis and Forecast – Explosive wealth accumulation – Jammu Links News

    BlackSky Technology Inc.: Unlocking Explosive Wealth Potential Through Expert Stock Analysis and Forecast

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    AP Entertainment SummaryBrief at 1:51 p.m. EDT – Channel 3000

    Entertainment Highlights: Key Updates You Can’t Miss

    ‘Devil Wears Prada 2’ casts Anne Hathaway’s love interest replacing Adrian Grenier’s Nate – Entertainment Weekly

    Devil Wears Prada 2′ Casts New Love Interest for Anne Hathaway, Replacing Adrian Grenier’s Nate

    12 ‘Late Show’ Moments Proving Stephen Colbert Can’t Be Replaced – The Mountaineer

    12 Unforgettable ‘Late Show’ Moments That Prove Stephen Colbert Is Truly One of a Kind

    Canes owner Tom Dundon’s real estate firm eyes entertainment complex near RDU – The Business Journals

    Canes Owner Tom Dundon’s Real Estate Firm Unveils Plans for Thrilling New Entertainment Complex Near RDU

    Inspired Entertainment, Inc.’s (NASDAQ:INSE) Price Is Right But Growth Is Lacking After Shares Rocket 29% – simplywall.st

    Inspired Entertainment Soars 29% but Growth Momentum Falls Short

    Kroger shares summer entertainment tips – Supermarket Perimeter

    Ultimate Summer Entertainment Tips to Make Your Season Unforgettable

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    Morgan Adamski Joins PwC in Newly Created Cyber, Data & Technology Risk Division – HSToday

    Morgan Adamski Leads the Charge in PwC’s Cutting-Edge Cyber, Data & Technology Risk Division

    Transformative technology, support for food entrepreneurs spotlighted – University of Hawaii System

    How Cutting-Edge Technology and Strong Support Are Revolutionizing Food Entrepreneurs’ Success

    Cold Weather Alloy Opens New Possibilities for Space Technology – Universe Today

    Revolutionary Cold Weather Alloy Unlocks New Frontiers in Space Technology

    Defence Holdings PLC Transitions from Esports to Pioneering Defence Technology

    Bull of the Day: Credo Technology Group (CRDO) – Yahoo Finance

    Bull of the Day: Why Credo Technology Group (CRDO) Is Poised for a Breakout

    BlackSky Technology Inc. Stock Analysis and Forecast – Explosive wealth accumulation – Jammu Links News

    BlackSky Technology Inc.: Unlocking Explosive Wealth Potential Through Expert Stock Analysis and Forecast

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
Earth-News
No Result
View All Result
Home Technology

Sending Data to China? These Apps With 1.5M Installs on Google Play Are Collecting User Data

July 7, 2023
in Technology
Sending Data to China? These Apps With 1.5M Installs on Google Play Are Collecting User Data
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

   

   

|

Updated: Friday, July 7, 2023, 17:21 [IST]

The world of mobile applications is a vast and diverse ecosystem, offering countless options to enhance our digital lives. However, this vibrant landscape is not without its dangers. Security researchers have recently made a significant discovery on Google Play, uncovering two file management applications that were found to be malicious.

These seemingly innocuous apps, originating from the same publisher, had amassed an astonishing 1.5 million installations. Their true objective was to gather excessive user data, surpassing the requirements for their advertised functionality.

Beware! These Popular Apps Are Sending User Data to China

The Silent Threat

What makes these apps particularly concerning is their ability to operate without any interaction or consent from the user. In other words, they work silently in the background, discreetly extracting sensitive data and transmitting it to servers located in China. Even after being reported to Google, these two malicious apps remained available on Google Play, posing a significant risk to users.

Unveiling the Malicious Apps

The first identified app, called File Recovery and Data Recovery (also known as “com.spot.music.filedate”), had over 1 million installs. The second app, File Manager (identified as “com.file.box.master.gkd”), had amassed at least 500,000 installations. These apps presented themselves as tools for file management and data recovery, luring users with promises of enhanced functionality. However, their true purpose was far from benign.

The Discovery

The discovery of these malicious apps was made by Pradeo, a mobile security solutions company renowned for its expertise in combating mobile threats. Using their behavioral analysis engine, Pradeo uncovered the nefarious activities of these seemingly legitimate apps.

Interestingly, the Google Play entry for these apps claimed that no user data was collected from the device, as stated in their Data Safety section. However, Pradeo found irrefutable evidence to the contrary.

The Theft of Sensitive Data

The malicious apps were found to extract various types of data from the user’s device, including contact lists, pictures, audio, and video files managed or recovered within the applications. In addition, they surreptitiously obtained real-time user location, mobile country code, network provider name, network code of the SIM provider, operating system version number, and device brand and model.

While some of this data might have legitimate purposes related to performance and compatibility, the majority of it was unnecessary for file management or data recovery functions. The most alarming aspect is that all of this data collection occurred without the user’s consent.

Evading Detection and Removal

To compound matters, these two malicious apps took additional measures to evade detection and removal. They concealed their home screen icons, making them harder to locate and eliminate. Furthermore, they exploited the permissions granted by the user during installation to restart the device and run silently in the background. These tactics ensured that the apps remained hidden and continued their malicious activities undetected.

Artificial Inflation of Popularity

Pradeo speculates that the publisher behind these apps might have used emulators or installed farms to artificially inflate their popularity and create an illusion of trustworthiness. This theory is supported by the disproportionately low number of user reviews on the Play Store compared to the reported user base.

Google’s Response

Google, in a statement to BleepingComputer, a cybersecurity-focused news website, officially acknowledged that the mentioned apps have been successfully removed from Google Play.

“These apps have been removed from Google Play. Google Play Protect protects users from apps known to contain this malware on Android devices with Google Play Services, even when those apps come from other sources outside of Play.”

Protecting Yourself

In light of this discovery, it is essential to take proactive steps to mitigate the risks associated with such malicious apps. Always check user reviews before installing any application, as they can provide valuable insights into the app’s reliability and security.

Pay close attention to the permissions requested during the installation process, and consider whether they are necessary for the app’s intended functionality. It is also wise to trust software published by reputable developers only, as they are more likely to prioritize user privacy and security.

Via

Best Mobiles in India

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

1,24,999

Xiaomi 13 Pro

79,999

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

1,39,900

Apple iPhone 14 Plus

89,900

Vivo X90 Pro

84,999

Google Pixel 7 Pro

82,999

Google Pixel 7

59,400

Samsung Galaxy S23

74,999

Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus

94,999

Vivo X80 Pro 5G

79,999

Apple iPhone 13

65,900

Samsung Galaxy M13 5G

13,999

Redmi A1

6,499

Samsung Galaxy A04s

13,499

Realme C35

11,999

Apple iPhone 14 Pro

1,29,900

OPPO A74 5G

17,990

Redmi Note 11 4G

12,999

Redmi 9A

7,332

iQOO Z6 5G

13,999

Honor X50


15,895

Honor Play 40


16,115

Nubia Red Magic 8S Pro Plus


62,405

Infinix Hot 30 5G


14,999

Redmi 12R


13,500

Tecno Pova Neo 3


14,990

Tecno Pova 5


13,999

Nubia Red Magic 8S Pro


45,380

Redmi Note 12R 5G


12,999

Nokia G42 5G


24,260

>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : Gizbot – https://www.gizbot.com/apps/news/sending-data-to-china-these-apps-with-1-5m-installs-on-google-play-are-collecting-user-data-086193.html

Tags: ChinaSendingtechnology
Previous Post

Arsenal fan favourite set for showdown talks with Mikel Arteta over future, as huge u-turn becomes possible: report

Next Post

Samsung Galaxy M34 5G launched in India with Exynos 1280 SoC, 6,000 mAh Battery

Morgan Adamski Joins PwC in Newly Created Cyber, Data & Technology Risk Division – HSToday

Morgan Adamski Leads the Charge in PwC’s Cutting-Edge Cyber, Data & Technology Risk Division

July 23, 2025
Women’s Gymnastics All Sports Schedule 2025 – Mountain West Conference

2025 Women’s Gymnastics Schedule: Can’t-Miss Matchups in the Mountain West Conference

July 23, 2025
Fyodor Konyukhov sets off on an ecological expedition across three oceans – realnoevremya.com

Fyodor Konyukhov sets off on an ecological expedition across three oceans – realnoevremya.com

July 22, 2025
‘A disaster for all of us’: US scientists describe impact of Trump cuts – theguardian.com

A Disaster for All of Us’: How Trump’s Cuts Devastated US Science

July 22, 2025
Lycoming College launches new data science academic program – NorthcentralPA.com

Lycoming College Launches Exciting New Data Science Program

July 22, 2025
Lifestyle startup Escape Plan raises $5 million to launch over 100 offline stores across India – Indian Startup News

Lifestyle Startup Escape Plan Raises $5 Million to Launch Over 100 Offline Stores Across India

July 22, 2025
Kauffman Foundation launches new executive role to lead its Real World Learning team – Startland News

Kauffman Foundation Launches Dynamic New Executive Role to Propel Real-World Learning Initiatives

July 22, 2025
Economic Planning Shouldn’t Be a Swear Word – Jacobin

Why It’s Time to Give Economic Planning Another Shot

July 22, 2025
AP Entertainment SummaryBrief at 1:51 p.m. EDT – Channel 3000

Entertainment Highlights: Key Updates You Can’t Miss

July 22, 2025
Department of Labor changes home health care, migrant farm worker rules – WBUR

Department of Labor changes home health care, migrant farm worker rules – WBUR

July 22, 2025

Categories

Archives

July 2025
MTWTFSS
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031 
« Jun    
Earth-News.info

The Earth News is an independent English-language daily published Website from all around the World News

Browse by Category

  • Business (20,132)
  • Ecology (734)
  • Economy (757)
  • Entertainment (21,641)
  • General (16,047)
  • Health (9,795)
  • Lifestyle (765)
  • News (22,149)
  • People (759)
  • Politics (766)
  • Science (15,974)
  • Sports (21,255)
  • Technology (15,740)
  • World (740)

Recent News

Morgan Adamski Joins PwC in Newly Created Cyber, Data & Technology Risk Division – HSToday

Morgan Adamski Leads the Charge in PwC’s Cutting-Edge Cyber, Data & Technology Risk Division

July 23, 2025
Women’s Gymnastics All Sports Schedule 2025 – Mountain West Conference

2025 Women’s Gymnastics Schedule: Can’t-Miss Matchups in the Mountain West Conference

July 23, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

Go to mobile version