This Android loophole could have let your apps spy on your web browsing (Updated: Statement)
New research reveals Android users may have been exposed to covert tracking by popular Meta and Yandex apps.
Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
- New research suggests that Meta and Yandex used a loophole in Android to link web browsing data to app identities.
- The method bypassed incognito mode, cookie clearing, and other privacy protections.
- Researchers say the only sure fix for now is uninstalling the affected apps.
Update: June 03, 2025 (4:30 PM ET): Since the publication of the story below, Yandex has contacted us and clarified its official position in the following statement:
Yandex strictly complies with data protection standards and does not de-anonymize user data. The feature in question does not collect any sensitive information and is solely intended to improve personalization within our apps. Having reviewed the concerns, we have decided to discontinue its use and are in the process of removing the feature from our applications. We are also in communication with Google to ensure full compliance with their app store policies.
