This Android App Lets You See Other Android App’s Trackers.
While browsers allow you to see trackers on any website, there is little choice in Android apps. It’s the same with the countless permissions that the app asks for. I’m sure that you are unlikely to pay attention when you install an application in the excitement of using it. So, if you’re concerned about apps tracking and collecting data about you. This Android app allows you to view the trackers of other Android apps, so you can be safe.
Read How to Check for Data Leaks in Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox
What is Exodus?
Exodus is an open source application that provides you with information on the permissions required for a specific application. It also provides detailed information about the trackers built into the apps on your device. The app collects reports from the Exodus Privacy database and delivers them in one app. Hence, it does not analyze every application installed on your phone.
3 out of 4 apps installed on your device track your location, device usage, behavior, and even access to your camera without your knowledge.
Before moving on, let’s quickly get to know what trackers and permissions are.
Permissions are the access rights that the application requests from the user. This information can vary. For example, requesting users, geolocation, microphone, contacts, camera access, etc. Some of these permissions may also be denied without affecting the usability of the app, depending on the OS you are using.
A tracker is a piece of software that collects information about a user, such as how the user uses the application, the hardware used, etc. They can be used for the normal operation of the application, as in the case of a GPS application such as Google Maps. However, there is also the possibility that your location, camera, etc. could be used to target ads and are available without your knowledge.
Android application
Download and install the app. Before you can test individual apps, it will take some time to process all the apps on your phone. After that, you can scroll and see an overview of all apps, as well as the tracker count and permissions for each app.
In addition, you click on an app and see a detailed report, and click on a specific tracker or permission to learn more about it. The hazard level is also indicated by a color scheme. For example, a green icon means the application is safe, yellow means relatively less secure, and red means it requires too many permissions.
Download Exodus from (F-Droid | Play Store)
desktop
If you use your computer or you just don’t need an additional app on your phone. You can also quickly check it out on the Exodus website. It works in the same way as an app, but instead of scanning, you need to search for trackers and permissions using the app name or Google Play Store link. For example, you can type WhatsApp or https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.whatsapp and press Enter.
You may also notice a dangerous sign on some permits. This means that from Google’s point of view, the app can be a threat.
You can also view apps filtered by the number of trackers, or view lists of apps that have no trackers at all.
Concluding remarks
While Exodus scans and lists the signatures of the trackers found in the APK, it doesn’t prove or imply that those tracks are active. But there is nothing wrong with being curious and looking for safer options. You can start by uninstalling the app that asks for too many permissions and the ones you don’t need. Also, try the open source F-Droid, which is free and contains many open source privacy-focused apps.
Also check out the basic apps to block program access to the Internet in Windows 10