A number of apps were recently removed from the Google Play Store after security experts discovered that the apps contained data-harvesting code obtained by Panama-based Measurement Systems. In addition, experts discovered that this firm cooperates with US security agencies and that its subsidiary Packet Forensics LLC is active in sharing data with the US government.
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Security researchers Serge Egelman and Joel Reardon, who reported their findings to US federal privacy authorities, Google and The Wall Street Journal, said developers Android apps allegedly received payment from Measurement Systems in exchange for implementing its Software Development Kit (SDK) code into their apps. Upon closer examination, it became clear that the application containing this code they can collect different informace, including email addresses, phone numbers, folders with images from the WhatsApp communication platform or location data.
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The researchers' report did not specify the names of the apps in question, but they were said to be "apps" for reading QR codes, highway speed detectors and apps for Muslim prayers. The developers who inserted the mentioned code into them could allegedly earn between 100 and 10 dollars per month (approx. 000 to 2 CZK). Google will reportedly allow some apps to return to its store if they delete the code from Measurement Systems.
