Android became popular among users for the number of apps it offers, unlike the App Store, where you have limited options. However, this is also a huge problem for the platform as it is very easy to get listed on the Play Store. As a result, several apps have found their way to the smartphones of users, but this has compromised their privacy - in short, they are in danger. This has led Google to remove as many as seven apps that it believes hurt your privacy. However, this was after Google was prodded into that direction by some researchers.

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Mobile threat researchers from Avast found out that these apps were helping unscrupulous elements to spy on other users and invade their privacy. The researchers explained that these apps help spies to gain access to the victim's phone after they are installed from Play Store. Once the users install the app, it asks them to provide their email ID as well as password. After this, the spying app is sent to the person's phone.

The researchers added that the app is made in a way that the victim won't be able to detect the spyware. The spy can easily hide the app and remove any suspicion even if the victim doubts. The app provides information like victim's location and other personal information including call history, contacts and SMS.

Here is the full list of apps removed by Google -

1. Track Employees Check Work Phone Online Spy Free

2. Spy Kids Tracker

3. Phone Cell Tracker

4. Mobile Tracking

5. Spy Tracker

6. SMS Tracker

7. Employee Work Spy

Even though Google has removed these apps from Play Store, you might have some of them on your phone. In that case, you need to uninstall them from the device. According to the data provided, these apps have been installed a combined 130,000 times. The most installed apps include Spy Tracker and SMS Tracker, both of which have more than 50,000 installs.