This report states that there were several applications on play store that are storing user data without their consent and asking for user permission that is not required for the app.

Here’s the list of apps that you should delete right now if you have them installed in your android smartphone:

1. Selfie Camera
2. Smart Cooler
3. Emoji Flashlight
4. Total Cleaner
5. RAM Master
6. Omni Cleaner
7. AIO Flashlight
8. Samsung TV Remote Control (via Peel Technologies, Inc.)
9. WaWaYaYa

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These apps are privacy invaders and you should get rids of these apps and never install them in your device. It doesn’t matter if the app has millions of install, if it requires permission that has nothing to do with the app’s functionality and keeps running in the background, don’t install it.

Though Google had terminated these applications from play store it seems very easy for the malicious and fraudulent application to make their way to the Google PlayStore and exploit the users’ privacy.

It’s not easy to recognize a malicious application on your device and its hidden activities, but here are a few recommendations that can prevent your device data to be sent over to a Chinese server.

• Do not install an application with poor user feedback. Before installing an application make sure you check the lower ratings first and find the reason for the low ratings by going through the reviews. Some companies use fake or paid reviews. These appear to be very similar and shady.
• Look out for the number of permissions the application is asking for and if it is really necessary for the functionality. AIO Flashlight application asked for more 31 permissions which is too much for a flashlight application.
• If you are installing an application for an unrecognized developer, do a quick Google search about the application’s review.
• Be alert while downloading an application from third party point of supply.
• Install a trusted antivirus and scan your device periodically.

Google, like almost all the other companies in the United States, has to provide any useful information that is accompanied by a lawful subpoena. The company has a fairly good history of fighting these subpoenas, but in the end, a lot of data gets handed over when requested by the law enforcement agencies. Google’s database of where you’ve been, internally known as Sensorvault, helps the company show you location based interests and ads. A new breed of a warrant, which the NYT aptly calls geofence warrants, takes access of the Sensorvault database in a way that troubles the framers of the fourth amendment.

The various Law Enforcement agencies can ask Google for specific details and data related to the time and spot of crime. But, Google has its own way to anonymize the data and privacy of the users which they promise to secure. Google provides a set of tokens that depict a particular victim. If the agency finds out that the victim is related to the scene of the crime, they ask for more specific information. The relation of the victim to the crime scene is found using secondary physical sources like eyewitnesses, CCTV cameras and much more.

We are not against the use of private data by the Law enforcing agencies because it is surely for the greater good of society. Google, just like other companies, has to provide crime-related data and the fact is, that it can’t do anything because they too abide by the law. In our opinion, such tools and technologies must be appreciated for the welfare of the people and the eradication of crime in the world.

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