However, the Adblock Focus and Luna VPN apps use a lot of the same imagery.
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Each of these were the only apps associated with those developers.īoth Apple and Google require that all developers have a website to which an app's listing can link to, and all three of these companies presented bare-bones websites, although some of the websites' names didn't match what was listed in the app stores.īuzzFeed News didn't list any other apps created by Sensor Tower, and we weren't able to tell whether the company had any other apps in either the iOS or Android app stores. (opens in new tab) and Mobile Data and Free and Unlimited VPN by Gibli Mobile (opens in new tab). Luna VPN's developer is listed as Emban Networks (opens in new tab) Adblock Focus by Orbital Software, Inc. None of the apps mention Sensor Tower in their descriptions in the Android or iOS app stores. Response Policy Zone and Adguard Services Nearly all ad blockers.
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Instead, users are apparently tricked into installing the root certificates after installation.īuzzFeed News showed how a pop-up window in the Luna VPN iOS app offered to block ads in YouTube if the user clicked "OK," the app would install the root certificate. and select Run as administrator To review, open the file in an editor that reveals.
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Sensor Tower allegedly got past Apple and Google's app screeners by not putting the root certificate in the versions of the apps that users download from the stores. as we all know how great adguard is, now they offer VPN with their own uniqye protocol which works great in my country and has very fast speed. Installing a root certificate would likely violate both stores' terms of use. This app is very fast and powerful which hides your original IP address and location so you can easily visit any website without showing your real identity. That might not be enough to keep the apps in the Google Play and Apple App stores. Perhaps surprisingly, a Sensor Tower representative confirmed the apps' hidden abilities, but insisted that all user data fed to Sensor Tower's clients was aggregated and anonymized so that individual users might not be identified. An Apple spokesperson told BuzzFeed News that several other apps associated with Sensor Tower had earlier been removed from the App Store, but didn't name them. It blocks all ads and counters and speeds up page loading. It doesnt require root access, and offers a wide range of features including filtering apps, app management, and more. As the old adage goes, if you're not the customer, then you're the product.īuzzFeed News said Sensor Tower had created at least 20 smartphone apps with at least 35 million downloads since 2015. AdGuard is not as intrusive as other ad-blockers. Our general advice is to not use any VPN mobile app that offers totally free, unlimited service, because it's got to make money some other way, and the quickest is by collecting and selling user behavioural patterns. If you have one of these apps installed, you should obviously remove it. Three screens from the Adblock Focus listing in the Google Play app store.