articles

Home / DeveloperSection / Articles / Android apps collecting user’s data secretly by listening to inaudible sound!!!

Android apps collecting user’s data secretly by listening to inaudible sound!!!

Anonymous User1640 25-May-2017


      Android apps collecting user’s data secretly by listening to inaudible sound!!!


Android Users should be selective in downloading about the apps they want to  download

Researchers say this technique can even be used to de-anonymize Tor users.          

Let’s see what this technique is about:

An increasing number of Android applications are attempting to track users without their knowledge, according to a new report. 

Many app development Companies have now started hiding “beacons”, beacons--that are ultrasonic audio signals not audible to humans,-- in their adverts, in order to track devices and learn more about their owners from some past recent years. 

Electronic devices equipped with microphones can register these sounds, allowing advertisers to uncover their location and work out what kind of ads their owners watch on TV and which other devices they own. 

The technique can even be used to de-anonymize Tor users.

A report from researchers at Technische Universität Braunschweig in Germany, stated “Throughout our empirical study, we confirm that audio beacons can be embedded in sound, such that mobile devices spot them with high accuracy while humans do not perceive consciously the ultrasonic signals” 

They found that, while six apps were known to be using ultrasound cross-device tracking technology in April 2015, this number grew to 39 by December 2015, and has now increased to 234. 

The study hasn’t named any specific programs, but says that several have millions of downloads and “are part of reputable companies”, including McDonald’s and Krispy Kreme. 

“They embed these beacons in the ultrasonic frequency range between 18 and 20 kHz of audio content and detect them with regular mobile applications using the device’s microphone,” the research adds. 

Since consumers need to have the apps open in order for advertisers to use them for tracking purposes, the privacy threat isn’t quite as worrying as it could be.  

READ MORE:Google announces new programme for developers

However, the researchers believe it could grow into a serious issue "in the near future”. 

As ever, users should be selective about the apps they download. 

You should be able to analyze, why an app is asking for any particular permissions, such as access to your camera or microphone, think twice about installing it.

 

Also read:Google’s Digital Marketing Learning Initiative for SMBs

 


Updated 07-Sep-2019
I am a content writter !

Leave Comment

Comments

Liked By