At present, there is an app for possibly everything you want to do. Thus, it won't be wrong to assume that there are a plethora of smartphone applications on the internet. Furthermore, all the apps have their own unique set of features. However, many of them are original ideas, while others are just imitations. You can check out some top free and most popular apps by tapping here. Therefore, users download and install the applications to access the function as advertised or described.  We know the excitement of opening your favorite gaming app or other apps of your interest. Many application these days ask for permission to access the storage and settings. But do you know that some programs are collecting more data than necessary? Well, certain apps are tracing a little too much extra information, which is a breach of privacy. Furthermore, this exposes your personal information to crooks resulting in fraud email and malware attacks. Many applications have already invaded the sanctity of trust and have taken users' personal data. However, Google took action upon this threat and removed many such apps from Play Store and other app stores. Although, you can read more about it in the following paragraphs.

Backdrop Of This Happening –

Nowadays, it is common for mobile applications to demand specific information in order to function properly. Let's take the example of Google Maps; to use the application, you have to enable location tracking. Also, you give the app permission to access your location to know exactly where you are. However, the important thing is that you allow the app permission to access your location. Security researchers discovered some apps in the Google Play Store that collect more data than they claim. Furthermore, a defense contractor paid several developers to inculcate data harvesting technology into the apps.  As per the Wall Street Journal, apps like weather, prayer, highway radar apps, and QR scanners, were targeted by Measurement Systems. The apps were withdrawn from the Play Store after being revealed to Google and federal law enforcement. According to the research, the offending apps are:

• Speed Camera Radar
• Al-Moazin Lite (Prayer Times)
• WiFi Mouse(remote control PC)
• Audiosdroid Audio Studio DAW
• Qibla Compass – Ramadan 2022
• Simple weather & clock widget
• Handcent Next SMS-Text w/ MMS
• Smart Kit 360
• QR & Barcode Scanner

Such embedded software can be regarded as malware. Also, in a statement to WSJ, Measurement Systems said that all the allegations "regarding the company's activities are incorrect."

How Can You Respond To This –

Safeguard your data such as your location, email address, phone number, and Wi-Fi network you're connected to. Furthermore, remove all the text from your clipboard because that is the easy target of such software. Again, just because the applications are no longer available in the store doesn't mean they've vanished from your phone.  Here's how to see if the apps are on your smartphone and, if so, how to get rid of them:

• Open the Settings app on your phone.
• Please scroll down to Apps & Notifications and touch it.
• To see a complete list of applications on your phone, tap the See all apps option.
• Lastly, to preserve your privacy, uninstall any of the apps on this list.