Invasive Israeli-founded bloatware is harvesting data from Samsung users in WANA
8 hours ago
- #Bloatware
- #Digital Surveillance
- #Data Privacy
- AppCloud is a pre-installed bloatware on Samsung’s A and M series smartphones in WANA, linked to Israeli firm ironSource (now owned by Unity).
- The app cannot be easily uninstalled without root access, lacks a visible privacy policy, and raises legal/ethical concerns in WANA due to Israeli ties.
- ironSource has a controversial history, including lawsuits for predatory adware practices and bypassing user consent with programs like Install Core.
- Samsung’s partnership with ironSource led to AppCloud’s default installation on devices in WANA, with no opt-out option or clear data collection transparency.
- AppCloud collects sensitive data (e.g., biometrics, IP addresses) without explicit consent, violating regional data privacy laws in countries like Egypt and UAE.
- Users can disable AppCloud via settings, but it may reappear after updates; full removal requires rooting the device, voiding the warranty.
- SMEX highlights Samsung’s 28% market share in WANA, making AppCloud’s invasive practices a widespread issue for consumers.
- Calls for Samsung to stop pre-installing AppCloud, improve transparency, and provide accessible opt-out mechanisms to comply with regional laws.