While there are already a bunch of legitimate apps and services that can let you know where family members or friends are, there are also a few sinister variations that allow abusers to spy on partners, among others.
Antivirus company Avast revealed on Wednesday that its researchers recently discovered seven so-called “stalkerware” apps on the Google Play Store, all of which have now been removed by the web giant.
Together, the apps have been downloaded 130,000 times, suggesting that a lot of people are still using them. Spy Tracker and SMS Tracker were the most popular, reaching a total of 50,000 downloads.
In a blog post describing his findings, Avast’s Jeff Elder wrote that the apps are most likely being used by people who want to stalk partners, family members or employees without them knowing.
To use such an application, the sniffer must first gain access to the target device in order to install the spyware.
The software can operate without the knowledge of the phone user, as there is no app icon or any other indication that the device is being tracked on the handset. That’s because the initial download — to the target device — directs the sniffer elsewhere to install the real stalkerware. Once the download is complete, the sniffer is prompted to delete the initial installation, which includes an app icon.
And it’s not just the phone’s location that snooping can track. The apps also give access to the handset’s contact list, as well as its SMS and call history.
Commenting on the findings, Nikolaos Chrysaidos, Avast’s head of mobile threat intelligence and security, said: “These apps are highly unethical and problematic for people’s privacy and should not be on the Google Play store,” adding: “They promote criminal behavior, and they can be abused by employers, stalkers or abusive partners to spy on their victims.”
Google has a team dedicated to preventing malicious apps in the Play Store. Earlier this year, Google Play product manager Andrew Ahn said the company is working to improve its exploit detection technologies and machine learning systems, and is also expanding its team of product managers, engineers, policy experts and operations managers tasked with guarding against suspicious apps. from your Android store.
But endless loading of such software can sometimes be a challenging job. In 2017, Google revealed that it had deleted a staggering 700,000 malicious apps from its online store, and 100,000 developers were banned from submitting new software in the future.
We’ve reached out to Google to learn more about its latest efforts to clean the Play Store of stalkerware apps, and we’ll update if we hear back.
If you’re concerned about the safety of apps you download from the Play Store, we suggest you stick to well-known brands or search the web for reviews of the app you’re interested in to confirm its validity.
For some new ideas on Android apps for your smartphone, you might also want to check out Digital Trends’ carefully curated list.
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Source: newstars.edu.vn