Joe Maring / Android Authority
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**Controversy Erupts Over Preinstalled “AppCloud” on Some Samsung Devices**
Samsung has recently found itself at the center of controversy concerning a preinstalled app on some of its affordable devices available in certain regions. The app, named **AppCloud**, is designed to suggest popular third-party apps during the setup or update process of new Galaxy A, M, or F series devices.
While many users have viewed AppCloud as little more than an annoyance—mainly due to its persistent app suggestions and the difficulty in eliminating them completely—it has recently become the focus of a much larger privacy concern.
### What is AppCloud?
AppCloud is powered by an Israeli-founded startup called **ironSource**, which is now owned by Unity. Its primary function is to recommend third-party apps on affordable Samsung phones, potentially helping Samsung generate additional revenue, as these devices are sold at low margins while competing with Chinese brands.
However, the app cannot be uninstalled through normal means as it holds system app permissions. While technically removable via ADB commands, the average user is unlikely to be proficient in such methods or even aware of them.
### Privacy Concerns and Allegations
The controversy intensified following a widely shared post on X (formerly Twitter) by an account called International Cyber Digest. Garnering over 7.4 million impressions, the post labeled AppCloud as “unremovable Israeli Spyware Found on Samsung Devices.”
The post highlighted an open letter published earlier this year by **SMEX**, a digital rights NGO based in Lebanon. SMEX’s analysis suggests that ironSource uses AppCloud to harvest user data. This is particularly alarming in countries throughout West Asia and North Africa (WANA), where Israel is effectively barred from conducting business.
SMEX’s report warns that the presence of this app on Samsung phones could have “serious legal and ethical implications” for users in these regions.
### Historical Context: ironSource and Potentially Unwanted Programs
Further adding to the unease are ironSource’s prior ventures into bundling apps through a service called “installCore” on platforms like Windows and macOS. These bundled applications allowed developers to monetize their software but often operated without clear user consent, leading many anti-malware tools to classify them as “potentially unwanted programs” (PUP).
Although there is no definitive proof that AppCloud itself is used for spyware or malicious surveillance, its preinstallation and resistance to removal raise understandable concerns among users and privacy advocates alike.
### What Now?
Given the uproar, it is reasonable to expect Samsung might provide an option to either uninstall or at least disable AppCloud, or permanently turn off its app recommendations in future updates. However, as of now, nothing has been officially confirmed.
Android Authority has reached out to Samsung for a statement regarding this matter and will update this article once the company responds.
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https://www.androidauthority.com/samsung-appcloud-spyware-controversy-3616325/