Smartphones Littered with Pre-Installed Apps that Harvest User Data

New smartphones are coming preloaded with numerous apps from manufacturers and third-party partners. These include manufacturer utilities, social media, music streaming services, and more. According to Surfshark's research, many of these apps may not be used but remain active in the background, increasing data harvesting and potentially collecting personal information without users' consent.

The study focused on top mobile brands Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, and Google. It found that each brand has its own set of preloaded apps with varying levels of data collection practices. For instance, Apple's built-in apps can be deleted in some regions but not others, while Samsung and Xiaomi have a mix of removable and non-removable apps.

The research also revealed the extent of data collection by these apps. On average, 8 to 16 data types are collected per app across all brands. Some apps, like Facebook and Google Gemini on Google's platform, gather up to 29 out of 38 possible data types. The study emphasizes that users can reduce their privacy risks by removing unnecessary apps and switching to third-party alternatives.

Interestingly, the research highlights a significant difference in data collection practices between Apple and Android devices. While some apps on both platforms claim not to collect user data, others are more aggressive in harvesting information. For example, Facebook's Instagram app collects 37 out of 38 possible data types on Google Play.