DON’T MISS
IamExpat FairIamExpat Job BoardIamExpat Webinars
Newsletters
EXPAT INFO
CAREER
HOUSING
EDUCATION
LIFESTYLE
EXPAT SERVICES
NEWS & ARTICLES
Home
Expat Info
Dutch news & articles
Dutch university students create programme to increase Android security
Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy

Dutch university students create programme to increase Android security

Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy
or
follow us for regular updates:



For expats of all colours, shapes and sizes

Explore
Expat infoCareerHousingEducationLifestyleExpat servicesNews & articles
About us
IamExpat MediaAdvertisePost a jobContact usSitemap
More IamExpat
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingIamExpat FairsWebinarsNewsletters
Privacy
Terms of usePrivacy policyCookiesAvoiding scams

Never miss a thing!Sign up for expat events, news & offers, delivered once a week.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy


© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
Aug 10, 2013
Elzi Lewis
Elzi swapped rainy Manchester for (rainier) Amsterdam a year ago, and has never looked back. Having just finished an MA at the University of Amsterdam, she is both excited and terrified by the prospect of joining the real world. Canals, tulips, Jenever and stroopwafels are easing the transition.Read more

Students at the University of Groningen have designed a piece of software called Anaconda, which lets users check the privacy of their apps.

What is private?

Most Android apps require a certain amount of information in order to operate. This can include access to users' memory card, call lists or social media accounts.

Users are typically informed of this when they go to download an app, courtesy of a pop-up message. But they are rarely told what the app will do with this information.

This is where science students at Groningen stepped in. Anaconda essentially assesses which Android apps "leak" private user information to third parties.

Worrying results

After developing the software, the students immediately put Anaconda to use by testing 14 popular Android apps.

They found that 572 requests were made by apps for private information. Worryingly, a massive 243 of these were followed by a distribution of this information to third parties.

If these results are extrapolated to the larger population of apps and app-users, it could signify a breach of privacy.

Countless app users could be having their information sold on - probably without their knowledge or consent.

If Anaconda becomes widely available, it could allow users to more effectively veto which apps make it onto their phones.

By Elzi Lewis