US has been Found Spying on Muslims Again through Prayer Apps on Android (English)

The Clear Evidence

The Clear Evidence

A data collection code has been found in several Muslim Prayer Apps on the Google Play Store, which was used to spy on Millions of ordinary Muslims around the world. These apps included Al-Moazin Lite (Prayer Times) and Qibla Compass – Ramadan 2022 with over 15 Million downloads.

The apps were collecting rich data including precise location information, email and phone numbers and passwords when users used a “cut and paste” feature. The SDK could also view hashed data from WhatsApp image folders and even pull data about nearby computers and mobile devices, potentially mapping out who people meet with on a regular basis.

The code was added by a Panamanian company Measurement Systems, which is linked to a Virginia defense contractor, that does cyberintelligence work network-defense and intelligence-intercept work for US agencies. Measurement Systems paid developers around the world to incorporate its code. Measurement Systems claimed developers could earn anywhere from $100 to $10,000 per month as long as they delivered enough users with apps accessing location data.

The two researchers who found this code, considered the code to be the most privacy-invasive SDK they have seen in the six years they have been examining mobile apps. They said that without a doubt it should be described as malware.

After this finding, Google removed these apps from the Google Play Store on 25th March 2022. But the apps will be allowed back on the store when the spying code is removed. This means, there won’t be any legal actions against any of the involved parties and similar apps can potentially use similar techniques in the future, amid no fear.

This is not the first time the US has been found spying on ordinary Muslims around the globe. Back in November 2020, the US was found purchasing location data of Muslims from the Muslim Pro app, with over 98 Million users. It is among the most famous apps used by ordinary Muslims.

Although the US government makes a huge hue and cry against China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, etc., but again and again they have been found using similar techniques to spy on ordinary people and intrude on user privacy to ensure modern slavery.

It’s a reminder to all Muslims to be careful as they are being monitored 24/7 by even so called democratic governments.

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