Technoglitch
Core Member
Apps being used for purposes that are less than noble is a common occurrence. However, the use of technology for peace time espionage hit a new low as Google has forcibly removed SmeshApp, from the Play Store. The app was reportedly being used by Pakistani intelligence agencies to spy upon Indian Army personnel.
As per reports coming in from various sources, the spyware was removed by Google, after it was discovered that the app was being used to collect crucial information from the devices being used by army personnel. The app continues to highlight a crucial drawback to softwares being overly open-sourced — illegal content coming up without any curation.
If you aren’t aware, apps which you see on Google’s Android Play Store aren’t really curated in any form whatsoever (except for that initial rating, given by developers themselves). This makes its a cakewalk for anyone wishing to publish almost all sorts of app on the store. On the contrary, Apple forces apps through intense scrutiny and an approval process, making it much more difficult for developers to publish apps.
As far as this ‘Smesh App’ is concerned, data was apparantly siphoned off via this app may have been responsible for a data leak that occurred right after the Pathankot terror attack as well.
So how could this happen and why did it took so long for the application to be recognized for what it was? More importantly, how could veterans of the army be unwittingly lured into parting with secrets they would never willingly reveal?
Controversial Application Used To Steal Personal Data From Indian Army Personnel Removed From Play Store - The Tech Portal
As per reports coming in from various sources, the spyware was removed by Google, after it was discovered that the app was being used to collect crucial information from the devices being used by army personnel. The app continues to highlight a crucial drawback to softwares being overly open-sourced — illegal content coming up without any curation.
If you aren’t aware, apps which you see on Google’s Android Play Store aren’t really curated in any form whatsoever (except for that initial rating, given by developers themselves). This makes its a cakewalk for anyone wishing to publish almost all sorts of app on the store. On the contrary, Apple forces apps through intense scrutiny and an approval process, making it much more difficult for developers to publish apps.
As far as this ‘Smesh App’ is concerned, data was apparantly siphoned off via this app may have been responsible for a data leak that occurred right after the Pathankot terror attack as well.
So how could this happen and why did it took so long for the application to be recognized for what it was? More importantly, how could veterans of the army be unwittingly lured into parting with secrets they would never willingly reveal?
Controversial Application Used To Steal Personal Data From Indian Army Personnel Removed From Play Store - The Tech Portal
