Security alert: 9 apps caught stealing personal data
Smartphones are so intertwined into our daily lives that if you misplace yours or it gets stolen, it will be more than just an inconvenience. Tap or click here to find your phone when it’s lost (even if the battery is dead).
Possibly thousands of photos, contacts and messages will be lost in the blink of an eye. The concerning aspect is that criminals don’t need to steal your physical phone. Malware has been used for years to swipe personal information, but that is only the tip of the iceberg.
A batch of spyware apps found in an official app store has vulnerabilities in their code that can expose personal data. Read on to see the list of bad apps so you can delete them ASAP.
Here’s the backstory
Spyware apps can be used to track children and make sure they are where they’re supposed to be at all times to help keep them safe. Of course, spyware apps can also be used maliciously to stalk people. It’s known as stalkerware in those situations.
Some use stalkerware to keep tabs on their spouse or ex. The stalker will download spyware onto the person’s phone they want to track, normally without their knowledge.
Beyond the expected risks of using spyware is a new threat discovered in a collection of Android apps found on the Google Play Store.
Over several months, TechCrunch investigated spyware apps and found a dangerous flaw in nine of them. The problem is the apps don’t adequately authenticate or authorize API requests. That means an unauthenticated, remote attacker can access personal information from any device with one of the spyware apps installed.
The apps have been downloaded more than 400,000 times in eight countries, including the U.S. All the apps in question appear to come from a company called 1Byte located in Vietnam.
Delete these data-exposing apps now
The investigation turned up nine almost identical apps from 1Byte that have the data-exposing flaw.
Here is a list of the flawed apps:
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A stealthy hacker can snatch all of your private information without leaving a trace. Like an investigator, they can root out your last name, address, job and even your Social Security number. Then, they milk you like a cash cow, selling that information to private buyers online.
This messaging app with 500K+ downloads is hiding malware that steals your money
Malware has evolved over the years to make detection incredibly difficult. Part of the problem is that many malicious apps behave like legitimate ones – stealing your data while hiding in plain sight.
When these apps are detected by security researchers or mobile phone developers, they’re typically removed quickly from the respective stores. Tap or click here to see if your phone could be harboring some of these apps.
Before you download one more app, you must check this list first
What are the five most-used apps on your phone? For me, it’s Messages, Mail, Redfin, Instagram and Podcasts.
There are also those forgotten apps I downloaded and only used once or twice. I know you have them too. Before you hit “uninstall,” there’s a crucial step you need to take. Tap or click for the right way to delete apps.
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For many of us, video meetings are an occasional novelty we indulge in with friends and family. That was the case until the pandemic made these visual chats a part of our social, educational and professional lives.
Thanks to advancing smart device tech, remote meetings are convenient and easy to do. All you need is a phone, and you’re good to go. As people look for work, in-person interviews have been replaced with video. This may take some getting used to, but we’re here to help. Tap or click here for tips on acing a remote job interview.
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The Android operating system is very popular, which is why it’s a huge target for cybercriminals. Tap or click here to see how this smart TV remote is really malware.
Due to how the OS is coded, it is easy to create apps and malware that impact millions. Couple that with the prevalence of banking apps in the Android ecosystem, and you have a disaster waiting to happen. Unfortunately, a new group of malicious apps has been discovered.
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Your apps are watching everywhere you go unless you change this setting
We used to download apps, enable permissions and share data without giving it a second thought. These days, most people want more control over their info.
That starts with protecting yourself from endless data breaches, leaks and hacks. When was the last time you checked to make sure your info isn’t floating around the web for anyone to find? Tap or click to check your email address against a database of major hacks.
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The changing of seasons usually brings with it a beautiful display of colors. Going from winter to spring or summer to fall, the myriad of hues can transform the landscape overnight.
But few seasonal changes are as dramatic as when it shifts from summer into the bright yellows, oranges and reds of fall. It can be a spectacle to behold, and many people travel around the country to see it up close. Tap or click here for seven travel hacks to save you time and money on your next trip.