Android mascots (Photo : Reuters)
You may not be aware but most of the free Android apps you are downloading from Google Play Store are connecting to ad and user tracking sites, Tech Times reported.
French researchers tested a group of about 2,000 free apps from the Google Play Store and discovered that they connect to 250,000 sites from 2,000 domains.
Furthermore, the team found that an app called Music Volume Eq connects to about 2,000 different URLs. The app Music Volume Eq is designed to control volume which does not require a connection to any external urls.
Security researchers also found that 10 percent of the sample group connect to about 500 different sites. The app Eurosport Player was found to be the worst offender, connecting to 810 different user tracking sites.
The research team from Eurecam said that they have developed an app called NoSuchApp or NSA that will help users determine if any of their favorite apps are connecting to tracking sites.
Luigi Vigneri, head of the research team, said that with this application, their aim is to provide a mechanism for users to be aware of the network activity of the installed Android apps. He further said that the app will be available in the Play Store pretty soon.
According to PC World, if users stick to the major apps from the Google Play Store, they are unlikely to experience malware. Moreover, the software giant Google has tightened its rules and review apps before they go live in the Google Play Store.
