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- The FBI has issued a warning about data security risks from some foreign-developed mobile apps.
The Internet Crime Complaint Center published the public service announcement on 31 March 2026. The advisory states that many top-downloaded and top-grossing apps in the United States come from foreign firms.
It notes that some of these apps, especially those linked to Chinese companies, collect extensive personal data. The notice says data collection can go beyond the app itself once users grant permissions.
It can include contact information such as names, phone numbers, email addresses, user IDs, and physical addresses from a user’s address book.
This affects both users and non-users whose details are stored on the device. The advisory adds that some app privacy policies allow personal information, including system prompts, to be stored on servers in China for as long as developers decide. It states that some apps require users to consent to data sharing before they can use the service.
The FBI also highlights malware risks in some apps. These may include malicious code, backdoors, and extra downloaded packages that expand access to a victim’s device and data.The notice says apps from unfamiliar websites or third-party stores carry higher risk.
Official app stores lower but do not remove that risk.
The FBI advises users to disable unnecessary data sharing. It recommends downloading apps only from official stores. Users should keep device software up to date.
They should read the terms of service or end-user license agreements before installing any app.
The bureau suggests reporting suspected issues with foreign-developed apps through IC3. Reports should include the app name, device type, permissions granted, and any unusual behaviour after installation.
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