Global Apps Exploited to Harvest Sensitive Location Data

 

Rogue actors within the advertising industry are reportedly exploiting major global apps to collect sensitive user location data on a massive scale. This data is then funneled to a location data firm whose subsidiary has previously sold global tracking information to U.S. law enforcement agencies. 
 
Hacked files from the location data company Gravy Analytics reveal that numerous popular apps are involved in this data collection. These apps span across categories, including games like Candy Crush, dating platforms such as Tinder, pregnancy tracking tools, and religious prayer apps available on both Android and iOS. Since this data gathering occurs through the advertising ecosystem rather than direct app development, users — and even app developers — are likely unaware of these invasive practices. 

How the Data Collection Works 
This article has been indexed from CySecurity News – Latest Information Security and Hacking Incidents

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Global Apps Exploited to Harvest Sensitive Location Data