Considering security and avoid leaking of sensitive data, the Indian Army asks personnel to remove 89 apps from their mobile phones before July 15.
The earlier Indian government banned 59 Chinese made Apps including some of the most famous Chinese applications TikTok, UC Browser, Shareit, Virus Cleaner, UC News, ES File Explorer, and more.
Also, the army personnel is asked to delete their Instagram and Facebook accounts, as there is an increase in military personnel targeted online.
An Indian army source told TOI that ” the step was taken because of an exponential increase in the number of military personnel being targetted online by intelligence agencies of Pakistan and China.”
The list also includes some of the Chinese apps that were blocked before, the list includes apps across all the domains.
Here is the list of 89 apps along with it’s the category;
- Messaging Apps – (We Chat, Helo, Share Chat, Viber, IMO, Hike and others)
- Video hosting (Tik Tok, Likee, Samosa, Kwali, and others)
- Contents sharing (ShareIt, Xender, Zapya, and others)
- Web browsers (UC Browser and UC Browser Mini)
- Video and live streaming (Zoom, LiveMe, Vmate, Uplive, and others)
- Utility apps (CamScanner, Beauty Plus, and True Caller)
- Gaming apps (PUBG, Clash of Kings and others)
- E-Commerce apps (Club Factory, AliExpress, Chinabrands, and others)
- Dating apps (Tinder, OkCupid, Badoo, Bumble, Happn, Couch Surfing, and others)
- News apps (News Dog and Daily Hunt), lifestyle apps (POPXO)
- Music apps (Hungama and Songs.pk)
- Blogging/microblogging apps (Tumblr, Reddit, and others).
Regarding the ban, Truecaller said that “We would like to reiterate that Truecaller remains safe to use, both for our citizens and for our esteemed armed forces personnel. We see no reason for Truecaller to be on this list and will investigate the matter further.”
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