While password managers do not really need tracking elements, it seems LastPass works differently. Recently, a researcher found at least seven different trackers in the LastPass Android app. Ironically, the vendors seem to have no idea what these trackers do.
7 Different Trackers Exist In LastPass Android App
After stirring up the media by announcing changes with their free version, LastPass once again makes it to the news. A German security researcher Mike Kuketz has found the password manager LastPass’s app exhibiting a weird behavior. Specifically, LastPass Android app bears at least 7 different trackers.
Elaborating more on this in his blog post, he found these trackers via Exodus report. Exodus is a non-profit organization focused on “Android application tracking issues”.
According to Exodus, LastPass Android app include the following trackers.
- Google Analytics
- Google CrashLytics
- AppsFlyer
- Google Firebase Analytics
- Google Tag Manager
- Mixpanel
- Segment
Following their report, Kuketz started a manual analysis of the app to check if the trackers work actively.
Consequently, what he found was that the LastPass app contacts six of the seven trackers (excluding Segment) immediately after it starts. This requires no user interaction.
And this interaction isn’t useless. Rather the app genuinely transfers users’ information to the respective third parties.
For instance, in case of Mixpanel, the app transmitted details including device manufacturer and model, android version, screen resolution, app version, users’ account type (such as free), whether the device has WiFi, Bluetooth, and phone number available, biometric protection status, and much more.
Likewise, it transfers similar information, including the device Advertiser ID, to AppsFlyer.
Besides this data, the app also transmits user information to the trackers (including Segment) when a new user signs-up.
Also, these trackers continue to follow the user across all platforms where the user makes use of LastPass. This even includes following the users during their online banking activities.
On top of everything, the researcher could find no option to ‘opt-out’ of such tracking. Every LastPass Android app user should necessarily has to agree to this tracking.
LastPass Doesn’t ‘Report To Any Tracker’
Following Kuketz’s research, a reader reached out to LastPass support to seek details of the matter. However, as Kuketz shared in a subsequent post, their support emphasized on sharing no user data with third-parties.
Whereas, LastPass provided the following statement to TheRegister,
No sensitive personally identifiable user data or vault activity could be passed through these trackers. These trackers collect limited aggregated statistical data about how you use LastPass which is used to help us improve and optimize the product.
All LastPass users, regardless of browser or device, are given the option to opt-out of these analytics in their LastPass Privacy Settings, located in their account here: Account Settings > Show Advanced Settings > Privacy. We are continuously reviewing our existing processes and working to make them better to comply, and exceed, the requirements of current applicable data protection standards.
Certainly, this presence of trackers with LastPass app is quite weird, especially, given the app’s sensitive nature. Also, most of the popular password managers have no such trackers. Exodus shows no trackers with KeePass, 1Password, and RememBear, and minimal trackers with Bitwarden, Keeper, and Sticky Password.
Thus, if users aren’t comfortable with LastPass app’s tracking, they may consider switching to more secure password managers.