INDIA
42 "dangerous" Chinese smartphone apps you should delete right now
20 Mar 2018 |
WhatsApp is among the most loved apps in India, but the Indian Army has issued an advisory, warning that Chinese Army is now using WhatsApp as a "hacking tool".
Defense Ministry and Indian intelligence agencies, too, earlier released a list of smartphone apps from Chinese developers, labeling them "malware and spyware".
Here's a list of such 42 apps, including TrueCaller, Xiaomi apps, and CleanMaster.
In context: 42 Chinese apps listed as spyware, malware
20 Mar 2018
42 "dangerous" Chinese smartphone apps you should delete right now
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WhatsApp, a new hacking tool for Chinese army: Indian Army
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What did the Defense Ministry say?
"A number of Android/iOS apps developed by Chinese developers...are reportedly either spyware or other malicious ware. Use of these apps by our force personnel can be detrimental to data security having implications on the force and national security," read a previous Defense Ministry order.
Browsers, Launchers
UC Browser, CM Browser are among dangerous apps
Several popular mobile web browsers and launcher apps that allow users to customize home screen looks/backgrounds/themes, launch apps, and perform other activities are reportedly dangerous according to the government.
Such apps include UC Browser, CM Browser, DU Browser, and QQ Launcher.
UC Browser and CM Browser are quite popular with over 500 million and 50 million downloads (on Play Store), respectively.
Cleaner, Booster apps
These Chinese apps offering security, device-boosting tools are "malicious"
Eight mobile apps offering tools for device optimization/boosting, battery saving, app locking, junk cleaning, device cleaning, game boosting, security, and storage space management are also on the list of dangerous apps, including the most famous Clean Master (Cheetah Mobile) app.
Others include Virus Cleaner (Hi Security Lab), DU Battery Saver, CacheClear DU apps studio, DU Cleaner, DU Privacy, 360 Security, and QQ Security Centre.
Photo, Video Editors
What about selfie camera apps and photo editing apps?
Many smartphone owners use third-party apps to enhance/beautify pictures, edit them, add filters/effects, remove imperfections, etc. Several Chinese developers offer such "selfie camera" apps, and six of them are also on the list released by the government.
They include YouCam Makeup, BeautyPlus, Perfect Corp, Wonder Camera, Photo Wonder, and SelfieCity.
Video/photo app VivaVideo (QU Video Inc) and DU Recorder are also reportedly malicious.
Social Media, File Managers
WeChat and SHAREit, too, are not safe apps
Popular Chinese microblogging and instant messaging apps like Weibo (Twitter-like app) and WeChat are used by millions, but the government says they spread spyware and malware.
Apps for sharing, managing, and hiding the files on one's device, including the most popular SHAREit, Vault-Hide, WeSync, and ES File Explorer are on the list too. Parallel Space app (creates multiple app accounts) is also dangerous.
Details
These official apps from Xiaomi and TrueCaller are malicious, too
Shockingly, Chinese smartphone company Xiaomi's official apps Mi Community, Mi Store, and Mi Video Call were also labeled "dangerous" by the government.
However, Xiaomi issued a statement at the time saying that it takes "security and privacy" of its users serious, adding it was investigating the government's advisory.
TrueCaller also found itself on the list following which the company claimed it isn't a malware.
Apps providing news and other popular apps
Popular mobile news aggregator and content providing apps like UC News, NewsDog, and QQ NewsFeed are also reportedly spreading spyware and malware. Other apps on the list include Baidu Translate, Baidu Map, QQ International, QQ Music, QQ Mail, QQ Player, and Mail Master.
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