Joe Maring / Android Authority
TL;DR A controversy around a preinstalled app on some Samsung devices has erupted again.
According to the claims, AppCloud, powered by an Israeli-founded startup, allegedly allows the installation of spyware on users’ devices.
The service is designed to suggest popular third-party apps on affordable Samsung phones.
However, since AppCloud cannot be uninstalled, it is raising concerns about user privacy.
Samsung has found itself at the center of controversy over an app that’s pre-installed on some of its affordable devices shipped in certain parts of the world. The app, named “AppCloud,” enables recommendations for third-party apps when you set up or update a new Galaxy A, M, or F series device. While it has been considered an inconvenience, the app’s ties to Israel have stirred up a new commotion online.
AppCloud, as I mentioned above, has been perceived as an annoyance, particularly since it makes it difficult for users to completely eliminate these suggestions. This persistent behavior has earned it the label of bloatware, which may be used to generate additional revenue for Samsung, as the company sells certain devices at lean margins while competing with Chinese brands.
However, the app’s developer is an Israeli-founded company named ironSource, leading to claims that the app may be used as a surveillance tool to install spyware on users’ phones without their knowledge, particularly in parts of Africa, the Middle East, and India. Notably, ironSource is now owned by Unity. Although the controversy itself isn’t new — it has been discussed for almost two years, at least, it has been trending on X recently.
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