10 potentially risky apps on your smartphone

"Pseudo" cryptocurrency and financial apps are the latest trick of scammers. Here are potentially high-risk apps, you should remove them from your phone immediately!

1. Puzzle apps and games

Most people don't think much when downloading free puzzle apps and games. However, it is a place where many malicious software or malicious code hides.

Apps that distribute malware want to reach as many people as possible, so it's not uncommon to see ads for games pop up on social media. Some of the standout games are Rugby Pass, Flying Skateboard, and Plant Monster.

Not only contains malware, it also collects more information than you think, including purchase data, contact, location, contacts, web browsing history .

2. CamScanner on iPhone/Android

With its precise scanning and automatic lighting adjustment, CamScanner quickly gained popularity. This app has an ID scan pattern, so user information can be easily leaked.

In 2019, cybersecurity researchers found malicious code in a PDF on Android that came from a third-party ad library. The app was updated, removed the offending SDK, and then returned to the Google Play Store. However, to be on the safe side, you should not download it.

What can you use instead? For iPhone users, the pre-installed Note app can do everything you need when it comes to scanning.

For Android, try the Google Drive app. Click the plus icon in the corner, then tap Scan.

3. Sketchy astrology apps

Check Point Research said that Astro Guru: Astrologgy, Horoscope & Palmistry astrology app, which has over 10 million downloads, failed to properly lock user data, causing username, date of birth, gender, location, Email address and payment details leaked.

4. iFax

This is another finding from research firm Check Point Research. iFax is a popular application that allows you to send faxes directly from your phone.

Researchers have found exposed cloud storage access keys, allowing bad guys to hack into the faxed documents of more than 500,000 users.

FaxZero is free if you send no more than five faxes per day and only three pages at a time. To submit up to 25 pages per day without ads, you have to pay 1.99 USD/page.

If you need to receive faxes, eFax is a good choice. You can use it for free and pay for it if you want to use the advanced option.

5. Logo Maker - Free Graphic Design & Logo Templates

Check Point Research discovered Logo Maker - Free Graphic Design & Logo Templates application to leak user information despite many downloads and high ratings. Free app that exposes email addresses, passwords, names and user IDs.

If you leave the password of Logo Maker and bank account the same, this is really dangerous. Once criminals get your password, they easily get to other accounts using the same credentials.

6. Screen Recorder

Screen Recorder has more than 10 million downloads, showing screen recording videos. Check Point said that the application stores screen recording videos on a cloud service. That's convenient, but according to the researchers, "there could be serious implications if developers embed the secret and access keys into the same service that hosts those videos."

The Check Point team recovered the keys that would have allowed access to each stored video.

You do not need to install a separate application to record the screen. This function is built right into the phone.

7. Facebook

Think how valuable your data is to Big Tech companies. Why would they give you free access to so many services? Facebook is a prime example. Here's just a bit of what the app tracks:

1. Contacts, call logs and text messages
2. Location
3. Internal memory
4. Camera and microphone

Facebook then uses that data to recommend ads that match your needs.

8. QR Code Scanner

When you download a third-party scanning app, you are making your phone more dangerous. However, many people are still attracted to apps like these. So instead of falling prey to attackers, use the built-in app on your phone.

On Android, open your Camera, scroll to the QR code and hold for a few seconds. If a notification appears, tap it. If you don't get the notification, go to Settings and enable QR code scanning.

To scan a QR code on your iPhone, open Camera and scroll to the code. iPhone will automatically redirect to the code's link.

9. TikTok

TikTok is famous as a video platform that attracts a large number of users. However, many children have imitated the videos on TikTok and affected their lives. According to AP, a 10-year-old Italian girl hanged herself during a "blackout challenge" on TikTok.

Therefore, parents should know and be alert to the dangers of TikTok. It is best to remove the app from the phone.

10. Flashlight

When smartphones first launched, the flashlight app was a must-have. However, this is no longer the case because nowadays the flashlight is built into the phone.

Many app designers have added a flashlight feature to engage users and keep track of all the data. For example, the iTorch Flashlight app for iPhone. It tracks the user's location and many other information.

Isabella Humphrey

Update 30 June 2021