topic Unauthorised tracking via Appcloud? in Samsung Lounge

Unauthorised tracking via Appcloud?

huffyyy — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 10:44:02 GMT

Hi. I've just come across a post on insta that says that Samsung phones come with an app called AppCloud which collects data and sends over to israeli intelligence firms. Can someone confirm if this is true, as this is very concerning, and the only reason I switched to Samsung was it was one of the only "ethical" brands.

Re: Unauthorised tracking via Appcloud?

Tourbillon De La Vie — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 11:07:09 GMT

Nope.

Re: Unauthorised tracking via Appcloud?

huffyyy — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 11:35:58 GMT

Thanks both!

Re: Unauthorised tracking via Appcloud?

Piper123 — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 12:28:20 GMT

On Instagram so it must be true 😂😂.

Like believing Facebook

Re: Re: Unauthorised tracking via Appcloud?

huffyyy — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 12:29:22 GMT

Hey, no need to be snarky! I just wanted to confirm this first before jumping to conclusions!

Re: Unauthorised tracking via Appcloud?

Star_girl — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 12:30:33 GMT

How can it be true when Huawei have been banned for being suspected on spying on their customers few years ago? I don't think Apple would dare to do that and face obsolution. Apple is an American brand.

Re: Re: Unauthorised tracking via Appcloud?

JAMES4578 — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 15:54:47 GMT

Certainly not true. Appcloud is preinstalled on some Samsung Devices, this tends to be only Budget and Mid Range Devices though. Appcloud installs certain third party apps. However can be disabled.

You could check the Galaxy Store settings to try and avoid the automatic downloading of apps. Go to Settings - Apps - Galaxy Store - Mobile Data > Allow background data usage: toggle it off.

Now go back one step and select Change system settings - Allow permission- Toggle it off.

In security setttings Select Install unknown apps - Allow from this source- Toggle it off.

Auto Blocker is only available on Devices running One UI6 and above.

Re: Re: Re: Unauthorised tracking via Appcloud?

Star_girl — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 14:28:02 GMT

I read Apple Cloud. I just realised.😅

It's good you are giving the advice on how customers can stay protected from this. I wonder why Samsung is keeping it for midrange and budget devices.

Re: Re: Unauthorised tracking via Appcloud?

S_Burris — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 08:37:21 GMT

I mean, it sounds like you're confirming that Samsung does, indeed, install dangerous spyware on some devices. This is disturbing, and they should stop bundling it with anything.

From what I've seen online, it does appear that it should be possible to uninstall AppCloud without resorting to adb debugging or third party firmwares just by searching it up in Settings- Apps, which is good. Those using M or A devices should check for an AppCloud infection, uninstall AppCloud if it is present, and confirm after any 'upgrades' that it has not reinfected their device.

Re: Unauthorised tracking via Appcloud?

thrashhead — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 00:20:40 GMT

It was develop by an Israeli company that aim to monitise ppls data hence spying on certain regions of the globe

Re: Unauthorised tracking via Appcloud?

Reylob — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 08:01:15 GMT

Hi @huffyyy

It is true that AppCloud is installed on some A, M devices, including tablets. Samsung does NOT give the option to uninstall the app. It can be disabled, but not uninstall. Samsung should give the option to uninstall any app of this sort.

It will be hard to confirm if the app is sending info to Israeli intelligence.

Settings -> Apps -> AppCloud

AppCloudAppCloudDisabled

Re: Re: Unauthorised tracking via Appcloud?

huffyyy — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 07:43:30 GMT

Thanks for that. I knew there must be some truth as I also did a bit of research online and it said some might have it, some not, and the part about sending the info to isreali intelligence might or might not be true. I feel like there is no ethical tech company left on this planet, especially when it comes to mobile phones. I had one plus before which was quite good as well, but only recently bought the s25 as didn’t want to buy apple due to their questionable practices.

Re: Re: Unauthorised tracking via Appcloud?

Reylob — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 07:52:04 GMT

Ethics is one of the first casualties when profit is to be had. That will include huge social media companies.

Re: Unauthorised tracking via Appcloud?

Reylob — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 07:59:46 GMT

The app has nothing to do with Apple the company. However, Apple the company is not better than most multinationals. Google, Apple, Facebook, TikTok, and endless list of companies do collect personal data for economic reasons.

Huawei was banned because they technically could spy and give information to the Chinese government. However, other Chinese brands were not banned which technically could do exactly the same. I would not be surprised if all was done as anti-competition technique. They were very advanced on their wireless technology to the point that many of our (UK and Europe) infrastructure was based on their technology.

Re: Re: Unauthorised tracking via Appcloud?

Star_girl — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 08:03:04 GMT

👍👍

Re: Re: Re: Unauthorised tracking via Appcloud?

Star_girl — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 08:07:40 GMT

With all due respect, but i am sure 'p*******es' breaking into phones would require a different type of hacking, not a pre-installed app. What the PO is saying is a different level.

Re: Unauthorised tracking via Appcloud?

RMN23 — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 10:05:18 GMT

Yes, AppCloud is an Isreali developed appl that cannot be disabled with its main function is data harvesting for Samsung users in WANA. It is developed by an Isreali company called IronSource (now owned by the American company Unity).

Re: Re: Unauthorised tracking via Appcloud?

RMN23 — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 09:52:46 GMT

you just admitted that it is installed on Samsung devices; why did you start the statement with "Certainly not true.."?

Re: Unauthorised tracking via Appcloud?

Bindex — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 11:33:22 GMT

All smartphones brands will collect data, and apps will collect data for advertising purposes and sometimes they will sell your data to *data brokers* which then will sell huge amounts of data to advertising firms for targeted ads.

Some apps & smart phones brands will allow you to block a lot of the data collection and you'll just get worse ads which aren't targeted no more.

But your data isn't getting sold to Israeli intelligent service or spied on by the Israeli intelligent service. However your data could get viewed by home government but only public data and some phrases can trigger more in-depth viewing for safety purposes.

But you aren't actively getting spied on by Israel.

Re: Unauthorised tracking via Appcloud?

RMN23 — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 09:57:40 GMT

How do you know that it is not being sold or spied on by the Israeli intgelligence service? can you provide some evidence to back up this claim?