The article creepy: These 10 apps collect the most data from you first appeared at the online magazine Basic Thinking. You can start the day well every morning via our newsletter update.
It is no secret that applications installed on smartphones and computers are happy to save and pass on our data. The list of apps that spy the most hardworking includes some surprises.
Data octopus is the common term for apps and programs that tackle information from the users in order to use them or even pass them on for their own purposes. This starts when sending a message on the smartphone, goes through the use of social media and extends to streaming films and series. A new study now shows which applications and programs collect a particularly large number of data.
These apps are the largest data octopuses
The figures and facts are based on a current study by the data protection company Incogni. The most frequently installed apps for Android, which were not developed in the EU between August 2024 and 2025, were examined between August 2024 and 2025. Of course, the focus is on applications from China and the USA. Tikok is currently the most popular Android app in Germany. In Austria it is Disney Plus, Prime Video in Switzerland.
Chinese apps usually get away particularly badly when it comes to reporting. The same applies to the watchful eye of data protection organizations. However, the present study shows that Meta’s services and platforms penetrate deeply into the privacy of its users. WhatsApp is in eleventh place and just did not make it into the top ten. This is followed by Skyshowtime, Netflix, Tubi, Chatgpt, Pluto TV, Disney Plus and Telegram.
Information is obtained from very different areas: locations, contacts, calendar activities, app uses, photos, videos, finance and health data. Some applications record more than 30 different data types. A large part of this data not only ends up with the respective operators, but is also forwarded to external servers abroad or even to third -party providers. You can see in our ranking which apps are particularly bad in this regard.
10th place: HBO Max
A streaming service opens the top ten. Many popular films and series from the USA like Game of Thrones or Breaking Bad run on HBO Max. In the glowing, however, the app also collects data in 14 different categories – including personal information such as the location. Individual interests and user behavior are probably primarily used for recommendations and advertising.
The article creepy: These 10 apps collect the most data from you first appeared on Basic Thinking. Follow us too Google News and Flipboard Or subscribe to our update newsletter.
As a tech industry expert, I find it concerning that there are apps out there that are collecting an excessive amount of data from users. While data collection is a common practice in the tech industry, it is important for users to be aware of what information is being collected and how it is being used.
Apps that collect large amounts of data without clear consent from users can be seen as invasive and potentially creepy. It is crucial for app developers to be transparent about their data collection practices and give users the option to opt out if they are uncomfortable with the level of data being collected.
It is also important for users to be vigilant about the apps they are using and to regularly review their privacy settings to ensure that their data is being handled responsibly. Overall, it is essential for both app developers and users to prioritize privacy and data security in order to maintain trust in the tech industry.
Credits