A study conducted by the International Computer Science Institute found about 17,000 Android apps gather identifying information to create a record of users’ activity on their devices, CNET reports. The researchers found the apps link a user’s Advertising ID with other identifiers found on a smartphone, such as a Mac address and Android ID. Google announced it has looked into the report and has taken action on a number of app developers. "We take these issues very seriously," a Google spokesperson said in a statement. "Combining Ad ID with device identifiers for the purpose of ads personalization is strictly forbidden. We're constantly reviewing apps — including those listed in the researcher's report — and will take action when they do not comply with our policies."
Full Story