Comment by DevKoala
2 months ago
> How is knowing whether I have the Xbox or the Playstation app installed on my phone essential to their Swiggy's core functionality? How will knowing if I have the Naukri or Upstox app help them deliver groceries to my doorstep?
It is for fingerprinting purposes
It also checks for popular remote desktop apps (allow incoming connections to the phone) which could be used to increase scam success rate.
Same with banks apps, if you are a scammer it's really useful to know beforehand what kind of bank the target uses.
There are probably a whole bunch of groups who have a purposes for this kind of info, especially if they can link it to the phone number.
fingerprinting is the best case scenario
What's the worst case, in your opinion?
The US Customs & Border Control apps ("CBP Home" and "Mobile Passport Control") could check for blacklisted apps and flag you to be deported to an El Salvadorean gulag without due process.
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I can imagine knowing the apps someone uses might be a telling thing to someone looking for leverage on someone (who might not want to disclose what apps they use). Apps can expose your orientation, your lifestyle, your income level, your habits, and even where to look to find you (imagine you have an app for a gym, that narrows down the list of gyms to find you at and is better than nothing)
Politicians, law enforcement, high value targets, etc. A list of apps on their phone could totally be used against them and is better than no list of apps.
Targeting and profiling. Reselling the data.
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