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US researchers have studied whether smartphone apps secretly listen to users via the microphone. It appeared that some applications were recording the content of the screen used and sending it to the developers.
Researchers at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, tested a total of 17,260 of the most popular Android apps in 2017. In fact, to find out if they make unwanted audio recordings and send them secretly to strangers. Among the applications were more than 8,000 who transferred their data to Facebook. About 9,000 apps wanted permission to use the smartphone's camera and microphone.
But the researchers discovered applications that saved the contents of a user's screen while using the application and sent those images to other servers.
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An example is also called "GoPuff", the application of a delivery service. It contains the analysis software "Appsee". This secretly sends the contents of the screen to the company's servers. These contain personal information, such as the postal code of the user. However, other data such as logins, passwords, or credit card information may also be logged.
Application developers may exclude certain areas of their application from being saved. At the same time, these developers must inform their users that recordings are taking place. "GoPuff" does not take advantage of this opportunity and does not alert users.
Google verifies the process
This is only when the researchers contacted the developers that the analysis software was removed from their application. It is unclear how many other applications still use this software.
Now, Google wants to take a closer look at this process. A spokesperson told Giga.de that they work with developers to make sure users are properly informed. According to the rules of the Google Play Store, developers must tell their users how their data is saved.
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