Is AppCloud dangerous spyware or just bloatware handled incorrectly by Samsung?
The only way to have the app fully removed from your Galaxy A or Galaxy M budget mid-ranger is to take action that can void the warranty. There are steps that you can take to mitigate the risk of having your Samsung Galaxy A or Galaxy M model attacked by this app. Since “AppCloud” can “covertly install other unvetted software,” using app whitelisting can prevent this from taking place.
Information about AppCloud was posted in a tweet. | Image credit-X
It is also suggested that businesses audit all Samsung devices and look for covert downloads from AppCloud, other hidden downloads, and unauthorized reinstalls. Even if your Galaxy A or Galaxy M phone is self-owned and was not purchased as part of a fleet of phones for a business, it is probably a good idea to check for app installations that were unauthorized.
Digital Rights organization SMEX has some ideas
On its website, the organization wrote, “Despite the serious privacy and security risks, Samsung has offered no transparency on how “AppCloud” functions, what data it collects, or why users cannot opt out. This open letter, addressed to Samsung, calls for immediate transparency, accountability, and dialogue. Users deserve to know what is installed on their devices and how their data is being used, especially amid Israel’s espionage campaigns in the region.”
In the open letter, SMEX made some suggestions for Samsung:
- Disclose the full privacy policy and data handling practices of AppCloud, making this information easily accessible to all users.
- Offer a straightforward and effective method for users to opt out of AppCloud and remove it from their devices without compromising device functionality or warranty.
- Provide a clear explanation for the decision to pre-install AppCloud on all A and M series devices in the WANA region.
- Reconsider the continued pre-installation of AppCloud on future devices, in line with the right to privacy as established by Article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
- We also request a meeting with the relevant Samsung teams to discuss these issues in detail and to better understand the company’s approach to user privacy and data protection in the WANA region.
