Samsung's smartphones are being controversially plagued by the pre-installation of the untouchable information-gathering app 'AppCloud'
Samsung's mid- to low-cost Galaxy A and M series smartphones are being sold with an Israeli app called AppCloud pre-installed, which continues to collect information without users' permission, sparking outrage from consumers, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
Unremovable Spyware on Samsung Devices Comes Pre-installed on Galaxy Series Devices
Open Letter to Samsung: End Forced Israeli-Founded Bloatware Installations in the WANA Region - SMEX
Invasive Israeli-founded bloatware is harvesting data from Samsung users in WANA - SMEX
https://smex.org/invasive-israeli-software-is-harvesting-data-from-samsung-users-in-wana/
The app in question, AppCloud, was developed by the Israeli company ironSource and tracks users' location, app usage patterns, device information, and more without their ongoing consent.
What's more, AppCloud is deeply embedded in the device's operating system, making it nearly impossible for a regular user to uninstall it without root privileges (administrator privileges). According to SMEX, a Lebanon-based digital rights organization, there have been reports of apps being reinstated after system updates, even after being disabled.
While Samsung mentions various third-party apps in its terms of use, it makes no mention of AppCloud, despite the extensive data access permissions it grants. AppCloud's own privacy policy is also opaque, preventing users from knowing exactly what data is being collected.
The fact that these questionable apps are pre-installed on devices has sparked consumer outrage in countries such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, where affordable smartphones are in high demand.
Furthermore, collecting data without user consent violates local data protection laws, raising significant legal concerns in countries such as Lebanon, where Israeli companies are banned from operating, and SNEX is seeking action from Samsung.
AppCloud was a hot topic for a while as it was pre-installed on devices for the Japanese market.
[Warning] Japanese mobile carriers are including the Israeli adware AppCloud in the devices they sell. It doesn't appear in the app drawer, but pretends to be a system app, tricking users into granting it permission to install various apps. If you purchase it, disable it first. It 's a waste of data and communication capacity.pic.twitter.com/TIipNmUsNL
— Sumahon!! (@sm_hn) July 24, 2025
According to SNEX, since Samsung's West Asia and North Africa (WANA) division and ironSource expanded their partnership in 2022, AppCloud has begun to be pre-installed on devices in the WANA region, and it has become impossible to purchase a new model without it in recent years.
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in Smartphone, Security, Posted by log1p_kr