According to cybersecurity experts, Xiaomi, OnePlus, Oppo and Realme are among the devices that are constantly monitored.
According to cybersecurity experts from various universities in the UK and Ireland, Chinese smartphones are a real privacy nightmare, writes Gizmodo. Researchers examined all popular models from well-known Chinese manufacturers, including brands such as Xiaomi, Realme, OnePlus, Oppo, and found that they constantly send information about the owner to China.
According to the research, smartphones made in China send users’ personal data through the operating system as well as pre-installed apps that are nearly impossible to uninstall. Your personal data goes not only to the device manufacturer, but also to service providers such as Baidu. This is more than unfortunate, given the private sector’s close ties to the Chinese government.
Of course, any modern device, one way or another, collects and sends data about its owner for marketing purposes. But it’s one thing for a European or American company to do so by strictly adhering to the law and privacy policies, and it’s another thing entirely for your data to be collected by the government of an authoritarian country like China for incomprehensible purposes. Also, who will guarantee that your personal data will not be leaked to “trusted partners”, namely Russia? Now imagine that personal data of our military using Chinese smartphones at the front and at home could be sent.
Cybersecurity experts conducted a network analysis of many Chinese smartphones and found their owner’s “home” phone numbers and permanent device identifiers, data about their location, and “social ties” (contacts, phone numbers, as well as SMS). They can also send samples of your voice as well as your photo (using Face ID) and fingerprint information. Also, no matter how carefully you set your data, your device’s privacy, and refuse any unauthorized offers to turn on geolocation.
In other words, the Chinese government will have a pretty clear idea of who is using a particular device, where they are doing it, and who they are talking to. Interestingly, Chinese smartphones try to send spy data even if the SIM card is not inserted in the smartphone.
It would seem that modern man has no way out – everything is made in China. It remains only to choose between Apple products and South Korean Samsung. All other brands have long and firmly come under China.
Previously Focus He wrote that a Chinese spy device with a SIM card was found in the car of the British ministers.
Source: Focus
Ashley Fitzgerald is an accomplished journalist in the field of technology. She currently works as a writer at 24 news breaker. With a deep understanding of the latest technology developments, Ashley’s writing provides readers with insightful analysis and unique perspectives on the industry.