invasive apps Archives

AppWizard

September 13, 2025

Instagram Joins Facebook, Meta, Messenger, Nordstorm, Pinterest, Threads in Becomes Most Invasive Applications for Southeast Asian Travellers – Travel And Tour World

Instagram is considered one of the most invasive apps for Southeast Asian travelers, collecting extensive personal data, including location, preferences, and browsing habits. It shares the top position with Facebook, both collecting 32 types of data, with 25 types directly linked to users. Both platforms track seven types of data across various services. Grab ranks third, collecting 27 types of data, with eight linked to users and 15 tracked across services. Threads, another Meta app, collects 32 types of data, all linked directly to users, without tracking data externally. Messenger also collects 32 types of data linked directly to users. Meta Business Suite collects the same amount of data as Messenger and Threads, all linked to users, without external tracking. Nordstrom Rack collects 22 types of data, with four linked to users and 18 tracked across services. Pinterest collects 29 types of data, with only two linked directly to users and six tracked across services. The AE + Aerie app collects 21 types of data, with three linked to users and 16 tracked across platforms. The extensive data collection by these apps raises significant privacy concerns, particularly regarding how the data is used for commercial gain and targeted advertising.

AppWizard

September 9, 2025

75% Of Top Free Apps Are Spying On You — With Messenger, Pinterest And Lyft Leading 2025’s Most Invasive List

Approximately 75% of the top 100 free mobile apps are tracking user data without explicit consent, as revealed by a study from Tenscope. The most invasive app is Facebook Messenger, scoring 100 out of 100 for invasiveness, collecting over 20 times the data compared to more privacy-conscious apps. Lyft ranks third in terms of data privacy concerns. The study also identified common deceptive design patterns that pressure users into granting excessive permissions, such as 'All or Nothing' consent and complex privacy settings. The 10 most private apps include TeaOnHer, ParentSquare, and Microsoft Edge, which demonstrate that robust functionality can be achieved with minimal data collection.

AppWizard

August 9, 2025

Messenger, Pinterest, Lyft, Duolingo, Google Maps, Expedia Become Most Invasive Apps of 2025, Here is a New Update

The 2025 App Privacy Index reveals that Messenger is the most invasive app with a privacy risk score of 100/100, followed by Pinterest (72/100), Lyft (69/100), and Amazon Shopping (68/100). DoorDash ranks 5th (66/100) with its consumer app and 9th (58/100) with its driver app. Duolingo, Google Maps, WhatsApp, and Expedia complete the top ten most invasive apps. Instagram has a privacy score of 57/100 and recently faced criticism over its new Maps feature, which raises concerns about real-time location tracking. Meta's data collection practices are widespread across its platforms, including Messenger, WhatsApp, and Facebook. Some apps, like TeaOnHer (0/100) and ParentSquare (4/100), prioritize user privacy, contrasting with the other invasive apps. Users are advised to review app permissions and consider privacy-friendly alternatives. The public backlash against Instagram's Maps feature indicates a growing demand for transparency regarding data collection practices. As data protection regulations tighten, there is potential for companies in the travel sector to adopt better privacy practices.