Over 100 million downloads
Delete it immediately: The popular app tracks your every move
Today 29 April 2024 | 22:21
There is a 3D simulator that monitors users using twenty tracking devices. It seems that it is advisable to delete the application.
Flight Pilot Simulator 3D has been downloaded over 100 million times in the Google Play Store alone. There are also countless downloads in the Apple App Store. However, removing the app again seems to make sense. Because experts showed in a quick test how harmful the game is.
Delete the app now: 20 tracking devices in flight simulator
The Mobilsicher platform, funded by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV), checked role-playing with its AppChecker. The result suggests that users should delete the app if they value privacy.
A total of 20 trackers were detected in the app. However, this does not necessarily include all embedded copies, as stated on the site: “In the application installation file, we found references to embedded software modules from one or more third-party providers. This analysis only allows for an approximate evaluation of the application. Applications usually connect to other service providers within the company.
Multiple access without consent
Flight Simulator version 2.11.16 checked as of October 2, 2023. These trackers have been identified primarily for advertising purposes, including those intended for usage analysis or so-called identity providers or data merchants. Well-known companies and data octopuses such as Facebook, Amazon and Google are also represented.
It is not recommended to delete the application just because of the large number of trackers. In addition, the application also allows seven accesses, which are possible without user consent. These seem to be mostly limited to the actual features and options of the game, but have a certain flavor due to the automatic approval in the background.
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Access without user permission:
- Access to all networks
- Google Play Billing Service (in-app purchases)
- Get network connections
- Disable hibernation
- Vibration alarm control
- Run the front-end service
- Recover WiFi connections
App Store information shows little privacy
Since app developers have long been required to indicate what information they process in accordance with current data protection regulations, Google and Apple also provide corresponding information on this matter. For example, a list in the app store showing the data collected links to the actual user base.
Connect data and users on:
- He buys
- location
- contact information
- User Content
- identifiers
- Usage data
- He snorted
According to Google Play, personal data such as email addresses and user IDs, as well as approximate and precise location as well as device IDs and in-app messaging, are also collected. The game is still appreciated by users. They currently give it 4.2 out of five stars in the Google Play Store and 4.7 out of five stars in the App Store.
Sources: AppChecker (Mobile Safe), App Store, Play Store
Written by Dana Newman
Lifelong foodaholic. Professional twitter expert. Organizer. Award-winning internet geek. Coffee advocate.