Samsung Embeds IronSource Spyware App on Phones Across WANA

Re:Samsung Embeds IronSource Spyware App on Phones Across WANA by the-anarchist on Saturday June 21, 2025 @12:05AM (#44334404)

As this post is trending quicker and more than I would have expected it to, I would like to add to this story:

It appears to be a similar case across the MENA region. While the SMEX post primarily focuses on WANA, it is possible to find other reports (e.g. [1]) from the MENA region that describe similar practices by Samsung. There, however, the stories talk about "Aura", rather than "AppCloud".

[1] https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2025/06/212144/samsung-embe...

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Re:Samsung Embeds IronSource Spyware App on Phones Across WANA by averysmallbird on Saturday June 21, 2025 @12:17AM (#44334453)

Same same. SMEX is based in Lebanon — (S)WANA is an obnoxious term that’s going around for MENA.

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Re:Samsung Embeds IronSource Spyware App on Phones Across WANA by Mistletoe on Saturday June 21, 2025 @12:35AM (#44334541)

We don't know what any of these acronyms mean!

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Re:Samsung Embeds IronSource Spyware App on Phones Across WANA by hmcq6 on Saturday June 21, 2025 @01:56AM (#44334915)

MENA - Middle East & North Africa

WANA - West Asia & North Africa

SMEX - "a non-profit that advocates for and advances human rights in digital spaces across West Asia and North Africa." (from their website)

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Re:Samsung Embeds IronSource Spyware App on Phones Across WANA by more-nitor on Saturday June 21, 2025 @03:15AM (#44335373)

"non-profit" doesn't mean "this guys are morally right and only conveys truths"

it just means that they don't pay taxes

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Re:Samsung Embeds IronSource Spyware App on Phones Across WANA by bapak on Saturday June 21, 2025 @02:07AM (#44334962)

"Arab countries"

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Re:Samsung Embeds IronSource Spyware App on Phones Across WANA by eddythompson80 on Saturday June 21, 2025 @12:08AM (#44334415)

What is the difference between WANA and MENA. Sounds like the same territory

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Re:Samsung Embeds IronSource Spyware App on Phones Across WANA by the-anarchist on Saturday June 21, 2025 @12:17AM (#44334455)

Yes, but, no. It's one of these things where multiple terms mean the same thing but then again come from different times/areas and, upon closer inspection, mean different things. But they're the same. But not really. [1]

A.k.a. I tried to be as politically correct and cite the term used by the respective reporting. The main point I was trying to bring across was that apparently there are two apps involved, not only a single one.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_East_and_North_Africa

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Re:Samsung Embeds IronSource Spyware App on Phones Across WANA by eddythompson80 on Saturday June 21, 2025 @12:48AM (#44334597)

Ah, I see. Trying to find a way to include Pakistani, Afghanistan, Somalia i.e non-Arab or Persian Muslim states in the vicinity.

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Re:Samsung Embeds IronSource Spyware App on Phones Across WANA by ehnto on Saturday June 21, 2025 @02:15AM (#44335007)

Was installed on my device bought in Australia as well.

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Re:Samsung Embeds IronSource Spyware App on Phones Across WANA by nacos on Saturday June 21, 2025 @06:23AM (#44336302)

I used to manage an enterprise fleet of mobile devices.

This AppCloud crap has also been pushed to devices in the Europe Open Market.

I also know that this shouldn't have been installed on enterprise devices (either Android Enterprise managed by MDM or E-FOTA managed - don't remember exactly). We had an akward conversation with some Samsung representatives..

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