Google few removed Applications from Google Play store after discovering what they contain spyware stealing confidential information. According to the Wall Street Journal, the data collection was done by a company it believed was performing cyber-intelligence missions. United States of America.

Spyware presence detected by company Application Countpublished a very detailed report on its blog. How do some apps (harmless at first glance and millions of downloads) Software Development Kit (coelib.c.couluslibrary) collecting large amounts of data devices It is uploaded and transmitted to the server of a company registered in Panama, called Measurement Systems.

what is spyware

A type of spyware malware Trying to stay private while secretly recording information and tracking your online activities both on the computer and online. smart phones.

They can monitor and copy anything you write, upload, download and store. Some types of spyware can also: enable cameras and microphones to see the person and listen without the user noticing.

By definition, spyware is designed to be invisible, and this may be one of its most damaging features: The longer it goes undetected, the more damage it can cause. It’s like a virtual tracker that follows you throughout your use of the device. simultaneous collection of personal data.

Google removes a wide variety of data-collecting apps on Android

One point that caught the researchers’ attention was the discovery of the code responsible for collecting information behind users’ backs. did not work the same in all applications including, even when they use the same SDK version. Here are three examples AppCensus found:

1. a application that uses a smartphone as a computer mouse collects and transmits the MAC address of the router to which the device is connected. this app Over 10 million downloads worldwide.

2. Another app reported by Google to contain spyware widget to see and know the weather with over a million downloads. It has been discovered that this application can “capture” any item copied to the clipboard and send it to the measurement system’s server. Then, if a user copies a password or other sensitive data, would fall into the wrong hands.

3. They also found more extreme situations, such as barcode and QR reader With over 5 million downloads from the Google store. It can collect the number of applications phone Exactly, address emailvia device location GPSthe IMEI of the mobile phone, the public name (SSID) of the WiFi network and the MAC address of the router without connecting.

Logically, only a few cases observed by experts were mentioned. Actually, AppCensus has released the list along with other applications where the Meter SDK has been discovered and its scope is very broad; applications that warn of the presence of speed cameras on the road, messaging platformsaudio tools and prayer guides.

While this information has been made public in the past few hours, the findings are not new. Researchers notified Google of the existence of this spyware in October 2021; since that time, peoples mountain landscape have eliminated these and other applications, where they also detected the presence of malicious code.