The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has blacklisted 32 apps, deeming them malicious or a security threat to users, the ministry said yesterday.
They included five third-party apps from Baidu, one from Xiaomi and one from consumer electronics company Meizu.
Most of the apps were that allegedly bundled unrelated software that users did not ask to download, according to a notice posted on the ministry’s website.
“I’m surprised,” said Lin Yun, a smartphone user in Beijing. “I had faith in the big names, especially Baidu and Xiaomi. They have many security experts and promise only ‘green apps’ in their stores. I am too young, too naive,” she said.
Baidu, Xiaomi and Meizu could not be reached for comment.
Most of the blacklisted software ran on the Android smartphone platform.