Recently, Malaysians have shared thousands of photos of themselves to an app called FaceApp. This trend, however, has met with controversy regarding its users’ privacy.
Privacy and data protection have always been a concern when it comes to going online. Thus, the Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) today warned the public about seven mobile apps that are known to spy on their users.
Source: Irish Times
The apps can track a user’s location, collect their contacts, SMS’s and also call history. These apps are no longer available on the Google Play Store — after an exposé by anti-virus, Avast — but as of 17 July, they have been downloaded 130,000 times.
The names of the applications are listed below:
- Track Employees Check Work Phone Online Spy Free
- Spy Kids Tracker
- Phone Cell Tracker
- Mobile Tracking
- Spy Tracker
- SMS Tracker
- Employee Work Spy
Some of them are designed to spy on children, spouses, and employees specifically, with one called ‘Employee Work Spy’ for bosses to know whether staff are productive during working hours.
Once the app is installed on the victims’ phone, it is hidden from view. The spy can then receive sensitive data without the victim’s knowledge. For an example of usage, imagine an employer installing the app on a company phone before handing it over to their staff.
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The public has been urged to uninstall or delete these apps if they have downloaded them to ensure personal data is secured. Our privacy is critical, and any personal details that can be obtained by irresponsible individuals can be used for heinous activities.
Also read: This Jobless Man Has Been Hacking a Phone Booth for Free Movies & Games for Over 2 Years
