Clueful watchdog app removed from Apple’s store in mysterious circumstances

Clueful, an app that told iPhone users whether their other apps were breaching data privacy, has been removed from Apple’s store in mysterious circumstances.

Clueful would say if your other programmes were accessing your address book, tracking your GPS co-ordinates or farming information from social networking accounts.

Neither Apple nor the app’s developers, Romanian-based Bitdefender, have revealed why, after just two months, the program has been pulled.

The app was approved by Apple on May 22, but the company has now reversed its decision, it was reported by Security Week.

In a statement on Wednesday, Bitdefender said: “Apple informed Bitdefender’s product development team of the removal – for reasons we are studying – after it was approved under the same rules. iPhone owners who already use Clueful privacy may continue to do so.”

Apple has been even more tight-lipped and have not responded to requests for an explanation.

Digital commentators have been left speculating that Apple may have been concerned that Clueful was putting users off purchasing apps or perhaps that the tech giant found a technicality that violated its terms of service.

Speaking at the launch of Clueful, Bitdefender’s chief security researcher Catalin Cosoi highlighted the vast amount of data that other apps can harvest.

Catalin Cosoi said: “App developers can ask for, and receive, access to your precise location, your contact list and more information about you when you install their products on your iPhone.

“Your iPhone is probably the most personal device you own, holding vast amounts of information about what you do, who you are and where you go.

“While most app developers use this information for legitimate purposes, others might not.”