Google Photos
Google LLC · Build 7.96.0.996044120
Static checks identify review items, not a guarantee of safety.
Overview
1 high or critical finding category to review
Google Photos (com.google.android.apps.photos) scored grade D, 43 out of 100, in a static scan of version 7.96.0.996044120 on 2026-10-11. It has 1 high or critical finding among 8 finding categories across 26 occurrences. 2 tracking SDKs are present in the package, which describes what ships, not what runs or what it sends. This is static analysis of a single build: it does not observe the app running and does not establish that any data is exposed.
Start with these findings
highPrivate key material2 occurrences
Interpretation & review guidance
A complete PEM private-key block is embedded in the app. This is a real finding worth review — but it is often a bundled library test/sample key rather than a production secret, so we flag it high and leave confirmation to you (a bare header alone no longer triggers it).
- Evidence
- 2 recorded occurrences in the analyzed APK. These are distinct stored findings, not a count of every source match.
- Verification
- Static detection; current reachability is not established.
mediumCleartext (HTTP) traffic permitted1 occurrence
Interpretation & review guidance
The manifest permits cleartext (HTTP) traffic. Data sent over plain HTTP can be read or tampered with on the network; modern apps should require HTTPS.
- Evidence
- 1 recorded occurrence in the analyzed APK. These are distinct stored findings, not a count of every source match.
- Verification
- Static detection; current reachability is not established.
mediumExported content provider without permission5 occurrences
Interpretation & review guidance
An exported content provider declares no permission. Other apps on the device may reach it — verify it enforces access control internally; this flags the attack surface, not a confirmed leak.
- Evidence
- 5 recorded occurrences in the analyzed APK. These are distinct stored findings, not a count of every source match.
- Verification
- Static detection; current reachability is not established.
Build & components
0 components recorded. Certificate parsing does not validate APK signature integrity.
Inspect build evidence →Findings
8 categories · 26 occurrences. Severity totals describe categories. Expand a finding for interpretation and review guidance.
highPrivate key material2 occurrences
Interpretation & review guidance
A complete PEM private-key block is embedded in the app. This is a real finding worth review — but it is often a bundled library test/sample key rather than a production secret, so we flag it high and leave confirmation to you (a bare header alone no longer triggers it).
- Evidence
- 2 recorded occurrences in the analyzed APK. These are distinct stored findings, not a count of every source match.
- Verification
- Static detection; current reachability is not established.
Evidence preview
- Evidence type
- Static string match
- Representative location
_split_config.arm64_v8a/lib/arm64-v8a/libnative.so- Recorded match
Pattern recorded; identifying value redacted.- Detector rule
private_key- Recorded file locations
_split_config.arm64_v8a/lib/arm64-v8a/libnative.so
2 recorded findings have inspectable metadata. Duplicate matches may share a representative location.
Review whether this belongs to intended app functionality or a bundled library. A static match does not establish runtime impact.
Preview evidence and Pro toolsSearch recorded evidence and save private review notes with Pro. $99/month plus applicable tax.
mediumCleartext (HTTP) traffic permitted1 occurrence
Interpretation & review guidance
The manifest permits cleartext (HTTP) traffic. Data sent over plain HTTP can be read or tampered with on the network; modern apps should require HTTPS.
- Evidence
- 1 recorded occurrence in the analyzed APK. These are distinct stored findings, not a count of every source match.
- Verification
- Static detection; current reachability is not established.
Evidence preview
- Evidence type
- Parsed app configuration
- Representative location
AndroidManifest.xml- Recorded match
android:usesCleartextTraffic="true"- Detector rule
manifest- Recorded file locations
AndroidManifest.xml
1 recorded findings have inspectable metadata. Duplicate matches may share a representative location.
Review whether this belongs to intended app functionality or a bundled library. A static match does not establish runtime impact.
Preview evidence and Pro toolsSearch recorded evidence and save private review notes with Pro. $99/month plus applicable tax.
mediumExported content provider without permission5 occurrences
Interpretation & review guidance
An exported content provider declares no permission. Other apps on the device may reach it — verify it enforces access control internally; this flags the attack surface, not a confirmed leak.
- Evidence
- 5 recorded occurrences in the analyzed APK. These are distinct stored findings, not a count of every source match.
- Verification
- Static detection; current reachability is not established.
Evidence preview
- Evidence type
- Parsed app configuration
- Representative location
AndroidManifest.xml:up.apiservice.status.BackupStatusContentProvider- Recorded match
BackupStatusContentProvider (exported, no permission)- Detector rule
manifest- Recorded file locations
AndroidManifest.xml:up.apiservice.status.BackupStatusContentProvider
5 recorded findings have inspectable metadata. Duplicate matches may share a representative location.
Review whether this belongs to intended app functionality or a bundled library. A static match does not establish runtime impact.
Preview evidence and Pro toolsSearch recorded evidence and save private review notes with Pro. $99/month plus applicable tax.
mediumShort signing key (RSA 1024-bit)1 occurrence
Interpretation & review guidance
The signing key is shorter than the modern 2048-bit RSA minimum. Short keys are cryptographically weaker; a release should re-key to at least RSA-2048 (or an EC key).
- Evidence
- 1 recorded occurrence in the analyzed APK. These are distinct stored findings, not a count of every source match.
- Verification
- Static detection; current reachability is not established.
Evidence preview
- Evidence type
- Signing metadata
- Representative location
META-INF/signing:key- Recorded match
RSA-1024- Detector rule
signing- Recorded file locations
META-INF/signing:key
1 recorded findings have inspectable metadata. Duplicate matches may share a representative location.
Review whether this belongs to intended app functionality or a bundled library. A static match does not establish runtime impact.
Preview evidence and Pro toolsSearch recorded evidence and save private review notes with Pro. $99/month plus applicable tax.
lowFirebase Realtime Database reference1 occurrence
Interpretation & review guidance
A Firebase Realtime Database URL. Nearly every app that uses Firebase ships one. It's only an exposure if the database rules are world-readable — that's what live verification checks.
- Evidence
- 1 recorded occurrence in the analyzed APK. These are distinct stored findings, not a count of every source match.
- Verification
- Static detection; current reachability is not established.
Evidence preview
- Evidence type
- Static string match
- Representative location
resources.arsc- Recorded match
Pattern recorded; identifying value redacted.- Detector rule
firebase_db- Recorded file locations
resources.arsc
1 recorded findings have inspectable metadata. Duplicate matches may share a representative location.
Review whether this belongs to intended app functionality or a bundled library. A static match does not establish runtime impact.
Preview evidence and Pro toolsSearch recorded evidence and save private review notes with Pro. $99/month plus applicable tax.
lowFirebase Storage bucket reference1 occurrence
Interpretation & review guidance
A Firebase Cloud Storage bucket reference (the default <project>.appspot.com). Storing user files here is normal — it's only an exposure if the Storage security rules allow public read/list, which live verification tests.
- Evidence
- 1 recorded occurrence in the analyzed APK. These are distinct stored findings, not a count of every source match.
- Verification
- Static detection; current reachability is not established.
Evidence preview
- Evidence type
- Static string match
- Representative location
resources.arsc- Recorded match
Pattern recorded; identifying value redacted.- Detector rule
firebase_storage_bucket- Recorded file locations
resources.arsc
1 recorded findings have inspectable metadata. Duplicate matches may share a representative location.
Review whether this belongs to intended app functionality or a bundled library. A static match does not establish runtime impact.
Preview evidence and Pro toolsSearch recorded evidence and save private review notes with Pro. $99/month plus applicable tax.
lowGoogle API key (client-shipped; restriction unverified)14 occurrences
Interpretation & review guidance
Android apps are designed to ship Google API keys in the client; Google restricts them by app signing certificate + enabled API. This is only a problem if the key is left unrestricted — presence alone is expected, not an exposure.
- Evidence
- 14 recorded occurrences in the analyzed APK. These are distinct stored findings, not a count of every source match.
- Verification
- Static detection; current reachability is not established.
Evidence preview
- Evidence type
- Static string match
- Representative location
classes5.dex- Recorded match
AIza•••••••• (21–40 chars, redacted)- Detector rule
google_api_key- Recorded file locations
classes5.dex
14 recorded findings have inspectable metadata. Duplicate matches may share a representative location.
Review whether this belongs to intended app functionality or a bundled library. A static match does not establish runtime impact.
Preview evidence and Pro toolsSearch recorded evidence and save private review notes with Pro. $99/month plus applicable tax.
infoApplication data is backup-enabled1 occurrence
Interpretation & review guidance
The app allows Android backups (android:allowBackup="true"). App data can then be extracted via adb backup on many devices — a concern if the app stores tokens or personal/health/payment data locally. Common and low-severity, but worth disabling for sensitive apps.
- Evidence
- 1 recorded occurrence in the analyzed APK. These are distinct stored findings, not a count of every source match.
- Verification
- Static detection; current reachability is not established.
Evidence preview
- Evidence type
- Parsed app configuration
- Representative location
AndroidManifest.xml- Recorded match
android:allowBackup="true"- Detector rule
manifest- Recorded file locations
AndroidManifest.xml
1 recorded findings have inspectable metadata. Duplicate matches may share a representative location.
Review whether this belongs to intended app functionality or a bundled library. A static match does not establish runtime impact.
Preview evidence and Pro toolsSearch recorded evidence and save private review notes with Pro. $99/month plus applicable tax.
No categories match these filters. Clear the search or choose all severities.
Privacy signals
Capabilities and bundled software do not prove that data was collected or transmitted.
Precise location Approx. location Camera Microphone Contacts Phone state Calendar Accounts Storage Draw over other apps
Requested permission inventory (58)
Data collection & flow (privacy signal, not part of the grade)
- Persistent-identifier APIs referenced in code (Android ID, Device ID / IMEI) with 2 analytics/ad SDK(s) present — the mechanism used for cross-app profiling.
- Calendar, Camera, Contacts, Microphone, Personal info, Phone, Photos & files data requested with third-party analytics/ad SDKs present.
This maps what the app can access (permissions it requests, identifier APIs its code references) to the third parties bundled in it. It reflects capability and SDK presence — not proof that a specific value was transmitted.
Data Safety comparison not recorded.
Trackers & SDKs (2 detected · privacy signal, not part of the grade)
Build & components
Scanned build 7.96.0.996044120. Store metadata may describe a newer release.
6d72c42605c297ffa2df7dc6bbb948b6fd21de6b76e0e1d06204d82344ec54dfSigning certificate (who signed this build — factual, not part of the grade)
3d:7a:12:23:01:9a:a3:9d:9e:a0:e3:43:6a:b7:c0:89:6b:fb:4f:b6:79:f4:de:5f:e7:c2:3f:32:6c:8f:99:4aThe certificate fingerprint identifies the parsed signing certificate. Knowing this public fingerprint does not establish ownership or validate the APK signature.
Component inventory
No bundled components detected by this scan.
Export SBOMAbout this app · store information
About this app
The home for your memories. Relive, share, and organize your photos.
Screenshots
Scan history
Each row is an observed scan. Gaps between scans do not establish how long a finding existed.
| Scanned (UTC) | Build | Score | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-11 01:48 UTC | 7.96.0.996044120 | 43 | D |
| 2026-10-04 01:34 UTC | 7.94.0.990335696 | 43 | D |
| 2026-09-27 01:33 UTC | 7.93.0.982110057 | 35 | D |
| 2026-09-17 22:39 UTC | 7.92.0.980155911 | 35 | D |
| 2026-09-08 09:23 UTC | 7.90.0.971743778 | 53 | D |
Export & share
Exports describe the recorded assessment. Signed evidence proves origin and integrity, not completeness or safety.
Coverage & gap matrix · Verify signed evidence
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