Privacy groups are urging Google to stop vendors from permanently placing preinstalled apps on Android phones, saying they are a potential security risk for consumers, PCMag reports. “People shouldn’t have to trade their privacy and security for access to a smartphone,” Privacy International wrote in a statement, joining the American Civil Liberties Union, DuckDuckGo and others in calling for Google to give consumers the option to delete “bloatware” on Android phones. Custom permissions on these apps can allow increased access to a phone’s operating system, including the microphone, camera and location, and the user is often unable to opt out of potential data tracking or the ability to delete the app. 
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