Samsung Under Fire for ‘Unremovable Israeli Spyware’ on Galaxy Phones

Samsung is facing mounting global scrutiny after allegations that many of its affordable Galaxy phones ship with “unremovable Israeli spyware.” The spyware in question is a pre-installed app named AppCloud, which appears on several Galaxy A, M, and F models and cannot be uninstalled by regular users. While that is already a privacy concern, the app originated from Israel, fueling geopolitical tension in sensitive regions.

Samsung phones have a controversial “spyware” app with ties to Israel

AppCloud is a pre-installed app on budget Galaxy phones. It recommends third-party apps during device setup and through periodic notifications later, generating post-sales ad revenue for Samsung. The app has been around for years, and users have long regarded it as yet another piece of bloatware. However, recent reports claim it behaves more like spyware, and users cannot remove it through normal means.

The alarm intensified when it became widely known that AppCloud was developed by ironSource, a company originally founded in Israel and now owned by US-based Unity. This connection raises the stakes for users in regions with strict bans, political sensitivities, or distrust of Israeli-linked technologies.

The app allegedly collects user data such as IP addresses, device identifiers, usage habits, and general location without clear, informed consent. Moreover, AppCloud’s privacy policy is either inaccessible or extremely difficult to find, leaving its data practices opaque. If disabled or forcefully removed, the app reinstalls itself after system updates, sparking serious privacy concerns.

On top of this, ironSource has a history of operating a platform accused of distributing adware and unwanted software (InstallCore). This further fueled distrust about AppCloud’s behavior, leading to a wave of social media outrage, petitions, and calls for regulatory intervention.

Samsung needs to address the concerns

The controversy has intensified in regions where the use of Israeli-linked technology is restricted or closely monitored. Against the backdrop of the ongoing Israel–Palestine conflict, activists worry that pre-installed apps with opaque data pipelines could pose national security risks.

For millions of Samsung users in these regions, the idea of an unremovable data-collecting service embedded inside their phones has triggered widespread alarm. While there’s no hard evidence confirming that AppCloud is facilitating malicious surveillance, questions remain. Whether AppCloud is a misunderstood recommendation service or a genuine privacy risk, Samsung must answer.

Samsung needs to address the lack of transparency, the inability to remove the app, and unclear data-sharing practices. It should provide a full public disclosure of AppCloud’s data collection and offer users a simple opt-out or uninstall mechanism. We will let you know if we hear from the company.