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Researchers highlight some specialized tools for tracking users' behaviors
This is a recently published study that reveals the bad habit of several dozen Android apps in the midst of a period of change related to RGPD. Researchers at the Northeastern University of America badembled a panel of more than 17,000 popular apps on the App Store and Play Store to see what data was sent without the user's consent.
Researchers they quickly looked at a tool called AppSee, which provides developers, if it is deployed within an application, incredibly advanced tracking tools. While AppSee is simply presented as a tool for user behavior badysis by the responsible company, the tool allows users to take snapshots of user activity and short video clips, all at the same time. unbeknownst to him. This information is then sent to developers who have deployed AppSee in their applications.
The case of AppSee is not isolated, the study explains that other companies are on the same vein, like Testfairy software, which also allows to send screenshots. This study highlights the notion of consent of users for the sharing of their personal data, a concept that has been particularly debated since the entry into force of the GDPR.
According to a Google spokesperson, these tools contradict the rules of the Play Store, and the firm would be working with the developers to encourage them to provide more explanation as to the exploitation of users' personal data by third-party programs embedded within the applications.
The study also made it possible to verify that the applications did not use the smartphone microphone without the users' knowledge, especially for targeted advertising. The researchers are clear, of the 17,000 applications, none sent audio data or used the microphone of the device outside the uses provided by the application.
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