Mobile gaming apps such as Call of Duty Mobile, Candy Crush Saga, and Carrom Pool: Disc Game are among the most data-hungry mobile games in India, according to a report by cybersecurity company Surfshark. The report found that out of the 50 most popular mobile gaming apps in India, 38 of them employ or share user data for third-party advertising purposes. The most common data collected includes contact information, location data, and photos or videos. Games like Ludo King and Subway Surfers use data for third-party advertising. Additionally, three games collect precise user location data that could potentially reveal sensitive information, such as users’ home addresses, workplaces, daily routines, or frequently visited locations. Globally, 8 Ball Pool is listed as the most data-hungry app among the top 10 apps, followed by Subway Surfers and Gardenscapes. Surprisingly, Traffic Rider, Mini Militia-War.io, and Among Us were least invasive to privacy in the analysis, collecting up to seven data points.
Surfshark is a cybersecurity company that provides virtual private network (VPN) services to safeguard online privacy and security. It is considered one of the world’s most trusted VPN services, serving over two million people worldwide.
Gabriele Racaityte-Krasauske is a spokesperson at cybersecurity company Surfshark. They commented on the importance of being mindful of granting permission to share personal data, particularly among mobile gamers who may not be aware of where their data ends up. The use of activity tracking across other companies’ apps and websites could lead to data being transmitted to third parties, potentially including tech companies, data brokers, or advertisers. The collection of user data can be exploited beyond gaming purposes and used for targeted marketing or market research.
