Over 1,000 Android apps are looking at your data, whether you like it or not

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You know, I’m really starting to become Team Jared. In a new report, it has been discovered that over 1,000 Android apps found on the Google Play Store have been looking at your data, even if you denied it through the app’s permissions.

The best(worst) part? The issues will not be addressed until the release of Android Q later this year.

Researchers looked at 88,000 Android apps and found 1,325 that were collecting data without permission

Sadly, the full list of affected apps will not be released until August, when researchers will present their findings at the Usenix Security Conference. The issue was first discovered in September of 2018 and reported to Google and the FTC.

While the full list might not be available until August, we do have some additional information thanks to CNET.

• Shutterfly, even after being denied permission, has been tracking GPS data on photos and sending it to their servers
• Baidu’s Hong Kong Disneyland park app would piggyback on other apps’ permissions and harvest data that way
• Many apps on the service have the above capabilities, including Samsung’s Health and Wellness app
• Some apps went straight for your Wi-Fi and your router’s MAC address

Honestly, considering how many issues the Play Store has had in recent months, this news doesn’t even surprise me. I’m not mad Google, just disappointed.

What do you think? Surprised by the Android news or does this all seem pretty standard at this point? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

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• The hacker who crippled gaming services is being sentenced to 27 months in the slammer

Josiah Motley

Former KnowTechie editor.