Amidst Numerous Data Theft Allegations, Google Blocks 2 Apps

The Ministry of Communication and Informatics stated that Google has blocked two out of eleven smartphone applications suspected of stealing users' personal data. Some of these applications are reportedly prayer time and Qibla direction apps.

"The two applications that have had their access terminated by Google are Simple Weather & Clock Widget and Full Quran MP3-50+," said Dedy, as quoted by Kompas.com on Monday (25/4/2022).

According to information from the Instagram account @sibermetropoldametrojaya, the Simple Weather & Clock Widget and Full Quran MP3 - 50+ Languages & Translation Audio applications have each been downloaded up to one million times. Meanwhile, out of the eleven applications suspected of stealing personal data, three have been downloaded 10 million times.

According to Dedy, the process of stealing personal data can occur through several features in these dozen applications. Potentially stolen data includes phone numbers, email addresses, IMEI numbers, GPS data, and others.

Dedy stated that the Ministry of Communication and Informatics is continuing the investigation process with the Police and Google Indonesia regarding the other nine applications suspected of stealing personal data.

The following is a list of 11 applications on the Play Store suspected of stealing users' personal data:

1. Speed Camera Radar – 10 million downloads
2. Al-Moazin Lite (Prayer Times) – 10 million downloads
3. WiFi Mouse (remote control PC) – 10 million downloads
4. QR & Barcode Scanner – 5 million downloads
5. Qibla Compass – Ramadan 2022 – 5 million downloads
6. Simple Weather & Clock Widget – 1 million downloads
7. Handcent Next SMS-Text w/MMS – 1 million downloads
8. Smart Kit 360 – 1 million downloads
9. Al Quran MP3 – 50 Reciters & Translation Audio – 1 million downloads
10. Full Quran MP3 50+ Language & Translation Audio – 1 million downloads
11. Audiosdroid Audio Studio DAW – 1 million users.