You should probably uninstall ES File Manager right now
One of the most popular apps for Android, ES File Manager, has been removed from the Play Store. This application, possibly the most downloaded file manager in recent years, is suspected of advertising fraud. And it's not the only one...
It all started a few days ago with a publication on BuzzFeed News, where it was claimed that some apps from DO Global had been running processes in the background in order to get clicks on advertising banners. By doing this, the Chinese developer used its applications to click on ads, obviously without the user's permission and without the user knowing this was happening at the time. This happened even if the app was not active.
After this scandal became known, Google removed some apps from its Play Store such as Total Cleaner, Smart Cooler and RAM Master, all owned by DO Global. ES File Manager was exempt from the sanction for a few more days, since its developer is ES Global (owned by DU Global, a subsidiary of DO Global). It's a mess of developers that hasn't stopped Google from pulling the plug on it.
While its popularity has declined in recent years, partly because the default file managers of smartphones have improved greatly but also because of the growing number of ads third-party apps incorporate, ES File Manager accumulated more than 100 million downloads with an average rating of 4.6 stars. If you still have this app installed on your smartphone, we recommend that you delete it immediately, as well as all other ES Global applications.
Still using ES File Manager? Why?
Source: Buzz Feed News
Thanks for your sharing.
ES File Explorer went down the crapper a long time ago. Unfortunately, I've still yet to find something that can cover every use case of this app. So I'm still keeping around an old APK of it from years ago, before it switched developers and got all the ads and bloat and malware.
I have been doing the same, but now I think I need to downgrade it a bit more versions. So, can you please tell me which version of ES File Explorer are you using?
es file explorer did a lot more then listed here. it set up wifi transfers, has a neat cache cleaner. seemlessly worked with your LAN among others. I use UPTODOWN store to load/reload it.
ES file Explorer is the method most tutorials recommend for sideloading apps to android tv's and Nvidia Shield. It is quite easy to transfer apks this way. I've not seen any suitable substitutes recommended since Google removed it from the Play Store.
Too bad nothing is as good as es file explore, guess I'll just deal with whatever consequences happen for using it, so sad to see it get the dirt though
Does this affect the Pro version? I would guess not since there are no ads...but it does really make me question the ethical nature of this company...and most other Chinese developers...sad.
I have been using X-plore since the rise of Symbian phones.
I run the last version they released BEFORE being bought out a long while back and going to crap. It's the pro ver. 1.1.4.1 if u can find it...cheers
...I also HIGHLY recommend running AdClear...from the pros at XDA. It's totally free (unless u wanna donate) and is better than AdGuard...both use VPN to detect ads, only AdClear also stops encrypted ads as well...and much more! Luv XDA...
i read in AdClear the following:When you use the App, you choose to route some or all of your device's data traffic through, or to, the App. The App processes this information on your device in order to provide ad-blocking services.
Hell no my Communications goes trough some app_server from people I do not know!!!
Just because its on XDA does not mean its all okay and your privacy won't be violated! Like I read this statement someone who can have access to the info they store about you can do serious harm.
I don't say its a bad app, but I would think 3x before I would install such an app.
I'd better install an app that would block the ads.
Thanks for including a link to alternatives. I uninstalled ES File Manager this afternoon and have forwarded a link to the article to a friend to whom I had one recommended it.
I use X-Plore and FX pro and Solid explorer Pro
I don’t plan to uninstall ES File Manager yet. I have it on my Mi Box S devices (Android TV), while on my regular Android devices I have the Pro edition.