Recent allegations describe Samsung’s budget Galaxy A and M series smartphones being shipped with pre-installed spyware known as AppCloud. Developed by IronSource, this software has been embedded in devices primarily sold in the MENA region, where privacy advocates express significant concern over its surveillance capabilities. The software reportedly collects sensitive data, including users’ locations and app usage, without ongoing consent following initial setup. Efforts to remove AppCloud are often unsuccessful due to its deep integration into Samsung’s One UI operating system, exacerbating privacy fears.
The persistence of AppCloud raises severe risks, especially in countries like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, where affordable Galaxy models serve as primary access points to Android. Reports from the digital rights group SMEX highlight the implications of unauthorized data harvesting enabled by this software, prompting calls for a global patch and transparency from Samsung regarding data sharing with IronSource. Responses to these claims have been mixed, with Samsung reiterating its commitment to user privacy while denying the rumors regarding international bans on the devices. The escalating controversy underscores the challenges of user privacy in the context of pre-installed software on mobile devices, especially in politically sensitive areas.
👉 Pročitaj original: Cyber Security News
