It is believed it was using its users’ data to feed its ad networks’ algorithms. From the spoils of its app business, Cheetah Mobile acquired three ad networks. It was also one of the only Chinese companies to break out of China, save for TikTok more recently. It added that it “does not” track data or breach its users’ privacy, although Cirlig’s analysis and Google’s findings paint a very different picture.Ĭheetah Mobile, at the time, was one of the most successful application publishers on Google Play, behind only Facebook and Google itself. Cheetah Mobile Was Third Biggest Google Play Publisher Behind Facebook and Google Itself…Ĭheetah Mobile responded to the claims, stating that it only collected data to make sure the sites being visited by the user were safe. I personally think that they cross the line,” said Gabi Cirlig, a cybersecurity researcher at White Ops. It’s just that they are playing ball in a gray area and it’s up to researchers like us to stand up and call foul whenever they think that they cross the line. I can’t know for sure what they’re infringing upon. “Technically speaking, they have a privacy policy that covers kind of everything and gives them a blank check to exfiltrate everything. And the scary part of all this is that Clean Master was installed on over half a BILLION Android phones. Details gleaned by Clean Master included search queries, which websites they visited, accessing data from private web browsing sessions, WiFi access point names, and search patterns. It was then using this data to feed its ad network’s algorithm, a totally uncool move, and something that completely goes against Google’s guidelines. Need help speeding your phone up? Check this guide on clearing cache on Android.Ĭlean Master was apparently collecting private web browsing data from its users. Clean Master was one of these apps and has now been removed from the Play Store. All of the 600 applications violated Google’s terms and conditions in some way. How did this happen? What did Cheetah Mobile do? All will be revealed, so read on… Clean Master App Banned From Google Playīack in March 2020, Google systematically removed 600 applications from its Google Play Store. That’d suck, right? Well, t hat’s EXACTLY what happened with Clean Master for Android, following some seriously dodgy activity by its parent company Cheetah Mobile, a Beijing-based tech company. Then, imagine getting greedy, deciding to do some dodgy stuff, and then getting your application banned from the Google Play Store.

Imagine all the money you’d make? It’d be a nice pile. Imagine having an application with over half a billion downloads and largely positive ratings.

Clean master android virus