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Is CamScanner safe to use?

Is CamScanner safe? There is no public evidence that today’s app is malicious. In August 2019, Kaspersky found a malicious module inside an advertising library in one Android version, Google pulled it, and the app returned after an update. Separately, India has blocked CamScanner since June 2020. The bigger question for most people is privacy: synced scans go to CamScanner’s servers, so for IDs and bank papers a scanner that works on the device, like RealScaner, is the cautious choice.

This post separates the history from the current status. Everything below comes from the security researchers, the Government of India, and CamScanner’s own policy and store listings, each linked in the sources at the end. Facts are current as of October 21, 2026.

What happened with CamScanner in 2019

On August 27, 2019, Kaspersky researchers Igor Golovin and Anton Kivva published “An advertising dropper in Google Play” on Securelist. They looked at the Android app, which Google Play then listed at more than 100 million installs, and found “an advertising library in it that contains a malicious dropper component.” Kaspersky detected it as Trojan-Dropper.AndroidOS.Necro.n.

A dropper is a small piece of code whose job is to fetch more code. Kaspersky said this one decrypted a file from the app’s resources and then downloaded further modules from remote servers. Kaspersky described what such modules could be used for, from intrusive ads to charging paid subscriptions to the victim’s mobile account. It reported the findings to Google, and the app “was promptly removed from Google Play.”

Two points matter for fairness. First, the problem sat in a third-party advertising library, not in the scanning features. Kaspersky suggested the code arrived through a partnership with an unscrupulous advertiser. Second, it was fixed. Kaspersky’s consumer blog post on the same day said, “It looks like app developers got rid of the malicious code with the latest update of CamScanner,” and a closing note says “Google Play has restored the app.” Kaspersky also warned that versions varied by device, so the advice then was to update or remove older copies.

Is CamScanner safe today?

We found no current report from Kaspersky, Google, or Apple that says the present app contains malware. The 2019 finding is history, and it should not be read as a claim about the version in the stores in 2026. The app is live on the US App Store and on Google Play, where Google lists more than 500 million downloads.

“Safe” has two parts, though. One is malware, and on that point there is no fresh evidence. The other is what happens to your documents and data. That part depends on how you use the app, and the privacy policy answers it.

Is CamScanner secure? What the privacy policy says

CamScanner’s privacy policy was last updated July 20, 2026, with an effective date of August 19, 2026. It names INTSIG Information Co., Ltd. as the provider. Here is what it says about your files.

The App Store privacy label, which the developer fills in and Apple does not verify, lists Identifiers and Usage Data under “Data Used to Track You.” Google Play’s Data safety section says device IDs are shared with third parties, data is encrypted in transit, and you can request deletion.

None of this is unusual for a free, ad-supported app. It does mean that a synced scan of your passport or pay stub lives on a company server until you remove it. If you would rather not make that trade, keep reading.

Who owns CamScanner?

CamScanner is made by INTSIG Information Co., Ltd., which is the seller on the App Store listing. INTSIG’s investor relations page says the company was founded in 2006 and lists offices on Wanrong Road in Jing’an District, Shanghai. It calls CamScanner “the world’s largest AI tool for image-based text processing.” The Google Play listing names INTSIG PTE as the developer.

Is CamScanner banned in India?

Yes. On June 29, 2020, the Press Information Bureau published “Government Bans 59 mobile apps which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order.” The Ministry of Electronics and IT used Section 69A of the Information Technology Act to block the apps. “Cam Scanner” is on the list, alongside apps such as TikTok and Shareit. The release cited complaints about apps sending user data to servers outside India.

The order did not name a specific finding against CamScanner, and it was not a malware verdict. It still applies: we found no government notice lifting it as of October 2026. A November 2024 Rest of World report found that Indian government agencies kept issuing documents bearing the “Scanned with CamScanner” mark years after the ban, which shows how hard app blocks are to enforce, not that the app is allowed.

Is CamScanner free, or no longer free?

The app is still free to download. Both store listings show in-app purchases. On the US App Store on October 21, 2026, premium options range from $4.99 to $69.99, including $9.99 for one month and $59.99 for one year. The listing says a subscription gives “unlimited access to all features.” Google Play marks the app “Contains ads,” and a developer reply on the listing says users can “upgrade to premium to remove all ads.”

The main listings do not spell out every free-tier limit, so check inside the app before you rely on a feature. If a renewal caught you off guard, see how to cancel a PDF scanner subscription. Deleting the app does not stop the charge.

The CamScanner watermark

Many people first notice CamScanner because of the small “Scanned with CamScanner” line on a PDF they received. CamScanner’s own App Store listing for its separate paid app, CamScanner+, lists “Export PDFs without watermark ‘Scanned by CamScanner’” as a paid feature. That is the clearest statement from the company that the free tier stamps exports. Do not try to crop it out of a document someone else needs to trust. Rescan the page with a tool that does not add a mark.

A safer way to scan IDs, medical forms, and bank papers

The cautious rule for sensitive paper is simple: process it on your own device, and skip the account. No sync means no server copy, no retention clock, and no deletion request later. Three free options meet that bar or come close.

RealScaner in the browser

RealScaner runs in Safari, Chrome, or Edge. The page reads your photo locally, squares it, and builds the PDF in the browser with no upload step for processing. There is no account and no sign-in. Exports carry no RealScaner watermark. Optional analytics and ads stay off until you accept them in the consent banner. For how browser tools differ from upload sites, read what stays on your device with browser document tools.

  1. Open realscaner.com on your phone or computer.
  2. Take a photo of the page or import one you already have.
  3. Drag the four corners onto the paper edges.
  4. Add more pages if the packet has more than one sheet.
  5. Choose PDF, PNG, JPEG, WebP, or SVG, then download.

If the file is too big for a portal, shrink it with Compress PDF. Reorder or drop pages in Organize PDF. To stamp a copy “For rental application only,” use Watermark PDF, which adds your own text, not a brand mark.

iPhone Notes and Files

Apple’s support page shows the built-in scanner in Notes (Attachment button, then Scan Documents) and in Files (More, then Scan Documents). Files asks where to save, so you can pick a folder on the device. Notes scans live inside the note and follow your Notes sync setting. Our iPhone document scanner guide has more detail.

Google Drive on Android

Google Drive’s Android app has a camera button that scans to PDF or JPG. Google’s help page says scans are saved to your Google Drive, so this route uses your Google account and its cloud. That is fine if you already keep records there. For the browser route on Android, see how to scan a document on Android.

What you get with RealScaner

Sources

Key takeaways

Common questions

Is CamScanner safe to use?

There is no public evidence that the current app is malicious. In August 2019 Kaspersky found a malicious dropper inside an advertising library in an Android version, Google pulled the app, and Kaspersky later said the developers removed the code and Google Play restored the app.

Is CamScanner secure enough for IDs, medical records, and bank statements?

CamScanner’s privacy policy says synced files are copied to its servers and kept until you delete them or your account, and that it shares advertising identifiers with partners including Google. For sensitive paper, a scanner that works on the device with no account keeps the file in your hands.

Who owns CamScanner?

CamScanner is made by INTSIG Information Co., Ltd., a company founded in 2006 with offices on Wanrong Road in Shanghai’s Jing’an District. INTSIG is the seller on the App Store listing and the provider named in the CamScanner privacy policy.

Is CamScanner banned in India?

Yes. On June 29, 2020, India’s Ministry of Electronics and IT blocked 59 apps, including CamScanner, under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act. We found no government notice lifting that order as of October 2026.

Is CamScanner no longer free?

CamScanner is still free to download, but its Google Play listing says it contains ads and in-app purchases, and its paid plans unlock “unlimited access to all features.” CamScanner’s own App Store listing for CamScanner+ names exports without the “Scanned by CamScanner” watermark as a paid benefit.

What is a free CamScanner alternative without a watermark?

RealScaner runs in the browser, needs no account, and exports PDF, PNG, JPEG, WebP, or SVG without adding its own watermark. iPhone Notes and Files have a built-in scanner, and Google Drive has one on Android that saves to your Drive.

Published October 21, 2026. Updated October 21, 2026.

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