Iran launched its COVID-19 detection mobile app named AC19.
A COVID-19 detection mobile app
In an effort to hasten the detection of COVID-19, the government of Iran, in partnership with Smart Land Strategy, developed a COVID-19 detection app via mobile phones called AC19. The mobile application allegedly accumulated almost four million downloads before being taken down by Google Play Store.
Massive information dissemination through text message was initiated by the Iranian government last week, encouraging its citizens to download AC19 from Google Play Store for early detection of COVID-19.
Iran launched the mobile app to limit people from clogging hospitals to be tested for the COVID-19 strain. However, several users doubt the effectiveness of the app and assume that it is one way of the government to spy on its citizens by invading private data.
Software isn’t malicious
Google wasn’t clear as to why AC19 was removed from Play Store, but rest assured that the app is not malicious software. There are speculations that the app is misleading since there is little knowledge in detecting the virus.
Lukas Stefanko, a malware expert from ESET, confirmed that AC19 is not considered spyware or Trojan.
AC19 is like any other mobile application that requests access to several personal data of the user such as location, contacts, etc.
The government of Iran got the services of Smart Land to develop the AC19 app. The speculations of a possible malicious software in AC19 is out of the two other programs that Smart Land produced. Gold Telegram and HotGram are clone programs of the Telegram app that tested positive for malicious behavior.
Despite the COVID-19 detection app coming up clean on the radars of software security, many users still believe that it is just a scheme of the government. With almost four million total downloads, there is a possibility that there is an underlying reason for the launch of this mobile app, knowing that it is nearly impossible to accurately assess individuals that might test positive for the COVID-19 strain.
