'Data harvesting' is the process of extracting large amount of data for analytics by 'consent' of the user, sometimes even by tricking them, Jain said. Several apps on mobile phones and Facebook use data harvesting techniques and take users' consent in terms and conditions to access their data, including name, age, 'likes', friends and messages, posing a threat to privacy, cautioned Jain.

Indians also downloaded 6.2 billion apps in 2016, up from 3.6 billion in 2015, as they led the field in the 'most time spent' on Android devices by clocking 145 billion hours, it added, indicating the massive spread of mobile phone applications and games in the country. India's 'most active' smartphone users spend four hours a day on mobile apps, according to an article on the website of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the UN's specialised agency for information and communication technologies. If you think the product is free, sorry, then you are the product!' leading cyber security expert Jiten Jain told PTI. Some people click on 'free' apps like 'How would you look 30 years from now' and all that stuff. 'There are a lot users who play games like Candy Crush, Chess, Ludo, or other war games like Mini Militia. The warning comes as debates on data privacy intensify following social media giant Facebook's reported data breach by UK-based analytics firm Cambridge Analytica to influence elections and market campaigns. ALSO READ Facebook loses Belgian privacy case, faces fine up to $125 million Multi-level campaigns must for awareness on data, user security: Nasscom Now, control your Instagram's Direct feature with more privacy options Facebook says sorry for data breach scandal in British newspaper ads How websites are watching your every move and ignoring privacy settingsįree mobile and Facebook apps as well as games such as Candy Crush, Ludo and Chess can be potential tools for data harvesting, say cyber security experts, warning internet users in India against the seemingly innocuous everyday pastimes.

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