Samsung Accused of Preinstalling Israeli Spyware on Smartphones
Samsung is facing sharp criticism after digital rights researchers claimed that certain Galaxy devices ship with a preinstalled application that behaves like Israeli-origin surveillance software. The controversy centers around AppCloud — an app found on select A-series, M-series, and F-series devices distributed across emerging markets.
What AppCloud Collects
According to privacy analysts, AppCloud harvests a broad set of user information, including IP addresses, device identifiers, geolocation data when enabled, and detailed app-usage patterns. Some versions of the privacy policy reference the potential collection of biometric information — a claim that has raised further concern among watchdog groups.Where the App Appears
The app reportedly appears most frequently on Samsung devices sold in the Middle East, North Africa, India, and other developing regions. Researchers argue that these markets often lack strong consumer-protection frameworks, making them more vulnerable to intrusive software embedded at the system level.Concerns Over Foreign Surveillance Links
Digital rights organizations allege that AppCloud maintains ties to companies involved in Israeli surveillance technology. While Samsung has not confirmed the origin of the software, critics argue that its behavior resembles telemetry tools used in state-sponsored monitoring operations.Samsung’s Position
Samsung has not issued a detailed public response to the accusations. Industry analysts expect the company to clarify whether AppCloud is part of its official software ecosystem or a third-party distribution bundled by regional partners.Growing Scrutiny of Preinstalled Apps
The controversy highlights a broader industry-wide issue: preinstalled apps that cannot be removed and operate with elevated system permissions. Privacy advocates warn that such software presents a significant attack surface and can enable silent data extraction without user consent.Editorial Team — CoinBotLab