On this episode of Techwise, Brad Huddleston talks about the safety of some mobile apps and protecting personal information. He is warning users to remove certain apps from their devices because they are linked to malware, which has infected over 340,000 devices.
A cybersecurity company called McAfee has found these troublesome apps, which include 3D Skin Editor, Pocket Edition Minecraft, Logo Maker Pro, One Line Connector, Count Easy, Calorie Calculator, Auto Click Repeater, Sound Volume Extender, and Essential Horoscope for Android. For Christian users, Brad advises against using horoscope apps as they do not align with Christian beliefs.
‘Do your homework before installing any apps,’ says Brad. ‘Because it’s anyone’s guess what they are using this data for.’
Protecting personal information
Brad also raises concerns about TikTok, an app owned by a Chinese company. This app has received a lot of criticism for how much data it collects from users. There are worries about what happens to this data after it is collected, making experts and users uneasy. Brad advises people to delete TikTok to better protect their personal information.
Brad also mentions that even popular games like Angry Birds collect data from players. Reports from organisations like the US National Security Agency and Britain’s Government Communications Headquarters have shown that Angry Birds gathers personal information about its users. This highlights how common privacy invasions are across many apps.
‘Something as seemingly harmless as Angry Birds is collecting and transmitting personal data about the games,’ says Brad. ‘Users trying to keep up with all the harmful apps is like playing mega whack-a-mole.’
Designed for those seeking a deeper understanding of the impact technology has on our lives, Techwise is available anytime on Vision’s website and app. Listen to Brad’s full message below, and don’t forget to join us for the next episode of Techwise!
