Some Android apps in Google Play Store pretend to be your friend, but they harm you. In the description, it is written that they’ll help you in your task or entertain you, but in reality, they harm you by taking your private data. For filtering unsafe content less than robust approach, Google Play Store has received criticism frequently. You might be tracked, hacked, or conned if you’re not careful.
In today’s article, we, Techvaio, will provide you with some information about Android Apps that you shouldn’t install on your Smartphone. So, go through the given details to know further about the apps’ name and the reason behind it to be called harmful. Let’s start without taking your ore time.
List of Android apps which you shouldn’t install
QuickPic Gallery
QuickPic is a photo gallery with a friendly and easy-to-use interface. Although it was never flashy, the features of clear communications and frequent updates steadily increase its user size base.
The reason not to install: In 2015, it was bought by Cheetah Mobile – the infamous Chinese firm. It became a harmful app for Android as the company has started to upload user’s data on their servers. One Google Plus user evidence the raft of new DNS requests which are attributing to the App. QuickPic Gallery was removed from the Play Store for this inconvenience and fraud in late-2018. But it returned in 2019, and at that time, Cheetah Mobile told that QuickPic Gallery was removed not for advertising click fraud but the company didn’t want to maintain the App further. Today, it’s really hard to find the original one. One easy-to-follow rule and don’t installing these apps will keep you safe.
Alternative Apps of Quickpic gallery: There are many gallery apps available in the Play Store for Android devices. One of the best QuickPic alternatives is the in-built Gallery app of the Smartphone. You can also install a photo editor, a file manager, and multiple themes for your device.
ES File Explorer
This App was the most popular file explorer app at a time for an easy user interface. Because it is really good in use from last five years.
The reason not to install: The free version of ES File Explorer was packed with full bloatware and ad-ware that shows endless downloading of additional apps in the notification bar. These pop-ups can’t be disabled. Once a situation came in April 2019, the popular file explorer app was thrown off the Google Play Store because of committing fraud ads clicking. Fraud ads clicking refers to the automatic clicking and running of the ads in the background on your devices without giving any notification – we’re explaining clicking fraud ads for those who don’t know about it. Nowadays, you can download either the ES File Explorer APK or download dozens of file explorer apps from the Play Store. But, it would be best if you avoided all these file explorer apps.
Alternative Apps of ES file explorer: Although there are lots of apps present in the Google Play Store, concerning easy use, you can try Files by Google. Otherwise, you can use the normal file manager provided by the Smartphone. Also, you can try Total Commander only for Customization.
UC Browser
It was the most popular Android web browser in India and China. It claims to provide fast access to the sites with the data saving mode.
The reason not to install:
It tracked the users’ search queries and sent them without encryption to Google and Yahoo India. It sent the IMSI number, IMEI number, Android ID, and Wi-Fi MAC address of a user to Umeng – an Alibaba analytics tool, without any encryption. It also transmits the geolocation data and the longitude, latitude, and street name of a user to AMAP – an Alibaba mapping tool, without any encryption.
Alternative Apps of UC Browser:
Chrome and Firefox are the best choices for using a fast Android browser. But, users can go with DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser – a solid all-rounder Browser, worrying about privacy issues.
CLEANit
CLEANit is a junk file cleaner. It’s been installed more than 10 million times with 85 percent four to five-star reviews. It is used to clean your storage junk files and pre-installed in most smartphones.
The reason not to install:
With lots of advertisements, it is detrimental to your Smartphone. Clearing the cache files will slow your Smartphone down, ultimately while it needs to be rebuilt. By removing the background, apps lead to clear the RAM and save more battery usage. But, it doesn’t save the battery of the Smartphone as claimed.
Alternative Apps of Cleanit:
As an alternative app, Greenify is much better for reducing battery drainage, and SD Maid is more useful to clear the junk files and logs, etc.
Hago
Hago is a multi-tasking app where you can play games, hang out with friends, and do real-time chat. All you can do in one App. It was a very popular app, and the popularity has grown in lesser time. It was suggested in almost every ad.
The reason not to install:
There is no evidence of severe malpractice, so we can say Hago is safe in the traditional sense. Although the App helps you to earn real money via playing games, it rings immediate alarm bells. Adding to it, you can earn more money by side-loading the App instead of installing Google Play, which could be brewing.
Alternative Apps of Hago:
There is no shortage of free games in Android to play online against strangers. Apps like “WhatsApp” will sufficient for talking to friends and “Kik” for talking to strangers.
DU Battery Saver & Fast Charge
DU Battery Saver & Fast Charge is a battery-saving app. A huge number of Android users install this App on their smartphones. With an insane number of downloads, DU Battery Saver & Fast Charge had an unbelievable 7.6 million five-star reviews. Indian Government has banned his App due to some security issues.
The reason not to install:
DU Battery Saver & Fast Charge doesn’t change the speed of charging your Smartphone. As a king of adverts, DU Battery Saver & Fast Charge sponsors almost every ad of other App. It also manifests its ads on the lock screen of your Smartphone and the notifications bar. All those cool animations and fancy speed graphs are fake. This App was thrown out of the Google Play Store due to a fraud scandal in April 2019. But you can still download the APK on your Smartphone from APK download sites.
Alternative Apps of DU Battery Saver:
If you’re interested to see the battery stats of your Smartphone, download GSM Battery Monitor. You can also try Greenify for proper battery saving.
Dolphin Web Browser
Dolphin Web Browser is an ad-free and HTML 5 video-enabled browser that also supports Flash. It’s been downloaded over 50 million and going on.
The reason not to install:
Same as UC Browser, it also tracks nightmare. Besides that, it saves all the data of visited websites from the incognito mode of the browser. Although you are using a VPN, this browser reveals the ISP-assigned address of your device.
Alternative Apps of Dolphin Web Browser:
You can use Chrome, Firefox, and DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser as an alternative to this browser.
Fildo
Fildo is illegal music downloading App. It used a backdoor API trick for downloading any song from Netease’s servers that you want. It is disguised as a music player.
The reason not to install:
As fildo was working with the Chinese online entertainment company Netease for a long time, many long time users have abandoned ship due to the closed loophole of Netease. Now, Fildo makes itself a branded music management app. But Fildo has a knave background, and the user shouldn’t trust it in terms of data collection on the grounds and other privacy-busting practices.
Alternative Apps of Fildo:
For listening to music, you can use a Smartphone’s default music player. Also, you can use the Spotify music app. For music management, use Cloud Player, file manager.
Clean Master
Clean Master is another popular app for speed booster, phone optimizer, and battery saver. Before removing it from Play Store in 2019, it had 600 million users with 26 million five-star reviews. Although the Clean Master is banned, the APK is still used widely.
The reason not to install:
It is made by Cheetah Mobile – the company renowned for packing ads, nag screens, and bloatware into their apps. Besides that, it doesn’t do anything. It would be best if you had RAM-saving apps once upon a time, but it’s useless nowadays. Android has an optimization system that handles the assigned RAM and uses it most optimally. In many cases, it keeps the RAM loaded by design to help performance.
Alternative Apps of Clean master:
Honestly, you do not need any alternative app for Clean Master. As an alternative, you can use SD Maid.
Avoid the Dangerous Apps on the Play Store
There are very few apps on the Play Store, which are completely safe. Almost all companies are collecting at least some data. But some apps are harmful apps on the Play Store. Even downloading side-loaded APKs are at a greater risk. If you are using the company’s apps by booting out from the app store, don’t download side-load as these are even more dangerous.
Guide: How to remove unwanted apps from your android
So, this is all. We, Techvaio, make sure that you have gained knowledge about the 9 Android Apps that You Shouldn’t Install in your Smartphone by this comprehensive information. Finally, if you like the article, share it among your groups and help them know about 9 Android Apps that You Shouldn’t Install in your Smartphone. And you can also suggest some other harmful apps in the comments as we, Techvaio, are always looking forward to doing something new.