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There’s no doubt that smartphones have made life easier — from how we communicate and maintain our schedules, to how we check our bank accounts and transfer money.
In fact, smartphones are loaded with so many features these days that it’s difficult to keep track — if you even know they’re there.
Read more: Hidden threats on your smartphone you can’t afford to ignore
According to a report by the New York Times, some Android phones come with a hidden feature that users don’t know about: a backdoor that sends all of your text messages and other data to China every 72 hours.
According to security experts, this secret software monitors where you go, who you talk to and what you write in text messages. According to the report, people who have disposable, prepaid or cheaper phones are likely to be most affected. Although it’s still unclear whether the problem is limited to these users.
The Chinese company that created the software, Shanghai Adups Technology Company, says it runs on more than 700 million phones, cars and other devices. One American manufacturer, BLU Products, discovered that 120,000 of its phones had been affected by the hidden feature, but the company updated its software to eliminate it.
According to the New York Times report, the security company that discovered the vulnerability said that the software transmits ‘the full contents of text messages, contact lists, call logs, location information and other data to a Chinese server.’
The software comes pre-installed on the phone and users have no idea that the surveillance feature is even there.
And while smartphone vulnerabilities are discovered somewhat frequently, this one wasn’t a bug or by accident — the Chinese company actually designed it to monitor user behavior for ‘customer service’ purposes and says the software wasn’t ‘intended’ for American phones.
A lawyer based in Palo Alto, California, who reps the Chinese company, told the New York Times that this was simply a mistake — and that the company has destroyed any data received by affected phones.
Get more details from the NYT report here.
Read more: Beware of fake shopping apps that will steal your info!
Since there is no full list of potentially-affected devices available yet, we don’t know how many people could be impacted by this hidden software.
And while the company says this happened by mistake, it’s a good reminder that it’s crucial for consumers to be aware of the hidden dangers of smartphones.
Whether you’re a pro or just figuring out how to use your smartphone, criminals are finding new ways to infiltrate our daily activities and the ways we use our phones on a regular basis. So it’s important that you are always cautious about sites you access and data you send and receive on your phone.
Here’s a look at a few common smartphone scams and how to avoid them!
Text message and email scams typically have the same intention — to gain enough information from you in order to steal your identity or other personal data like your banking information.
And since many people don’t associate their smartphones with the risk of fraud, criminals are catching them off guard.
So to help you protect yourself, here are some tips to avoid these scams:
Read more: This typo can give hackers access to your computer
Just like scammers call your home phone (if you have one), they’re also trying to get to you via smartphone. So before you call back an unknown number, or even someone claiming to be from a company you do business with, there are a few things you need to know.
Common phone scams to avoid on your smartphone:
Turns out the area codes are in the Caribbean. That call will cost you between $15 and $30! And to add insult to injury, the criminals behind these calls will sign you up (through your cell provider) for bogus services that will be crammed on your phone bill if you return their call. See more on this scam and the area codes to look out for here.
This post was last modified on March 22, 2017 4:36 pm
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