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By focusing on the question of tracking tools present in smartphones, a team of researchers noticed that some Android applications did not deprive themselves of screenshots.
For over a year, researchers at Northeastern University (USA) have been investigating whether certain tools on mobile devices allow third parties to observe the facts and user gestures. If the team initially tried to prove that some smartphones are listening to us, they found a completely different result. Although they did not find evidence of the microphone's diversion, other points appeared rather surprising. According to the rendering of their study, several Android applications would actually take screenshots without the knowledge of their owner.
Screenshots taken at any time
The researchers looked at the case of the application GoPuff that actually takes screenshots of the phones, but also sends them to the company AppSee. As for the role of the latter, it is responsible for providing powerful tracking tools whose data are then retrieved to perform behavioral badyzes. One of its tools makes it possible to take screenshots and short videos of the screen of an Android smartphone. Pbadwords, identifiers or other confidential information could very well have been recorded in this way. After making this discovery, the researchers contacted GoPuff, who reportedly withdrew the curious API.
Because Google requires apps on the Play Store to show how user data is used, firm is now looking into the case. This is not the first time that its application store is subject to issues related to privacy and data protection of users. A few months ago, the New York Times was looking into the existence of Alphonsohttps: //www.clubic.com/pro/legislation-loi-internet/donnees-personnelles/actualite-841038- android-hundreds-apps-spy-look.html, a spyware that would have found itself in about 200 Android applications, some of which are aimed at children.
Modified on 06/07/2018 at 15h58
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