New spyware has been found in the code of 30 Android camera apps available on the Play Store. According to a survey by CyberNews researchers, this malware is designed to collect all the data on your smartphone, including your location, without your knowledge.
CyberNews cybersecurity researchers looked at the code and operation of 30 Android apps to improve selfies on the Play Store. “These applications collect and sell your data, invade you with malicious ads and often redirect you to phishing websites” the report warns.
In total, the apps have been downloaded by 1.4 billion smartphones worldwide. Some of the applications are very popular and have more than 300 million installations.
These Android apps can spy on you via your smartphone
According to CyberNews, 16 of the 30 apps have been developed in Hong Kong. The report highlighted the names of several Chinese developers apparently involved in the spread of a dangerous Android Trojan. Meitu, one of the best-known developers on the list, violates most of the rules put in place by Google on the Play Store. Its applications secretly collect data from its users and can activate your smartphone’s microphone or camera without your knowledge.
The report also points the finger at developers like Coocent, KX Camera Team and Dreams Room. These three names would belong to the same group, underlines CyberNews. “Application developers can make a lot of money by selling your data to advertisers” says CyberNews. On average, developers who manage to collect the location of a million users earn up to $ 4,000 per month.
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Here is the list of selfie apps looking to spy on you:
- BeautyPlus – Easy Photo Editor & Selfie Camera
- BeautyCam
- Beauty Camera – Selfie Camera
- Selfie Camera – Beauty Camera & Photo Editor
- Beauty Camera Plus – Sweet Camera ♥ Makeup Photo
- Beauty Camera – Selfie Camera & Photo Editor
- YouCam Perfect – Best Selfie Camera & Photo Editor
- Sweet Snap – Beauty Selfie Camera & Face Filter
- Sweet Selfie Snap – Sweet Camera, Beauty Cam Snap
- Beauty Camera – Selfie Camera with Photo Editor
- Beauty Camera – Best Selfie Camera & Photo Editor
- B612 – Beauty & Filter Camera
- Face Makeup Camera & Beauty Photo Makeup Editor
- Sweet Selfie – Selfie Camera & Makeup Photo Editor
- Selfie camera – Beauty camera & Makeup camera
- YouCam Perfect – Best Photo Editor & Selfie Camera
- Beauty Camera Makeup Face Selfie, Photo Editor
- Selfie Camera – Beauty Camera
- Z Beauty Camera
- HD Camera Selfie Beauty Camera
- Candy Camera – selfie, beauty camera, photo editor
- Makeup Camera-Selfie Beauty Filter Photo Editor
- Beauty Selfie Plus – Sweet Camera Wonder HD Camera
- Selfie Camera – Beauty Camera & AR Stickers
- Pretty Makeup, Beauty Photo Editor & Selfie Camera
- Beauty Camera
- Bestie – Camera360 Beauty Cam
- Photo Editor – Beauty Camera
- Beauty Makeup, Selfie Camera Effects, Photo Editor
- Selfie cam – bestie makeup beauty camera & filters
Most named Beauty or Selfie. Same crooks.
And the Chinese wonder why we dont trust the 5g networks they wanna put in… Talk about hypocritical
Huh? B612? They’re from a well known company though…
All selfie apps… Vanity apps for kids!
“Vanity is my favorite sin.” – Al Pacino as the Devil in The Devil’s Advocate
Yeaah! I immediately uninstall once I read this article.
Thwnkx dude