Newsbytes
  • India
  • Business
  • World
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Science
  • Entertainment
  • Auto
  • Lifestyle
  • Inspirational
  • Career
  • Bengaluru
  • Delhi
  • Mumbai
  • Videos
  • Find Cricket Statistics
Hindi
More
Newsbytes
Hindi
Newsbytes
User Placeholder

Hi,

Logout


India
Business
World
Politics
Sports
Science
Entertainment
Auto
Lifestyle
Inspirational
Career
Bengaluru
Delhi
Mumbai
Videos
Find Cricket Statistics

More Links
  • Videos

Download Android App

Follow us on
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube
 
Home / News / Science News / Chinese government's app caught spying on 100 million Android users
  • Science

    Chinese government's app caught spying on 100 million Android users

    Shubham Sharma
    Written by
    Shubham Sharma
    Twitter
    Last updated on Oct 14, 2019, 07:45 pm
    Chinese government's app caught spying on 100 million Android users
  • A Germany-based cybersecurity firm has claimed that the Chinese Communist party has been spying on people using its own app.

    The folks at the firm inspected the app, dubbed Study the Great Nation, and found that it carries backdoors opening access to confidential data on as many as 100 million Android devices.

    Here's all you need to know about it.

  • In this article
    App backdoor opening access to phone storage Also, there's this scary 'superuser' access A lot of personal data at risk This could ultimately pose a threat to citizens
  • Issue

    App backdoor opening access to phone storage

    App backdoor opening access to phone storage
  • During a recent analysis of Study the Great Nation, Germany's Cure53 discovered that the app has been designed with weak encryption.

    They found poorly secured mail, biometric functions and noted that it stores data in such a way that other apps can access them easily.

    So, if there are other government apps on your phone, they could read the information saved by this one.

  • Superuser access

    Also, there's this scary 'superuser' access

  • Along with the poorly secured features, the researchers also discovered a command-line that can be used to gain 'superuser' access to a device.

    This essentially increases the app's access to the data stored on the phone and can be used by authorities to track the location of a device, record audio on it, or make a call to any number without permission.

  • Data

    A lot of personal data at risk

  • The researchers emphasized that the backdoors in the app can easily be leveraged by the Chinese government to gain access to photos, messages, browsing history, and contacts of phones.

    "The access itself is significant," Adam Lynn, the Director of Open Technology Fund, which commissioned this study, told The Washington Post. "It can take over the entire device, and it could be sending back information."

  • Concern

    This could ultimately pose a threat to citizens

    This could ultimately pose a threat to citizens
  • The level of information that this app reveals can easily be used by the Chinese government to find and capture political dissidents or people who tend to raise their voice against the authoritarian government.

    Also, as the app was specifically designed to push the party's propaganda, there is a good chance that some spying might be happening in the background to track potential dissenters.

  • China News
  • Germany
  • Security
  • Washington Post
  • The Washington Post
  •  
Latest News
  • #HealthBytes: Here's why green almonds are good for you
    #HealthBytes: Here's why green almonds are good for you
    Lifestyle
  • Disney films to run in theaters for less time now?
    Disney films to run in theaters for less time now?
    Entertainment
  • Tamil Nadu: Amit Shah launches BJP's campaign for Kanyakumari by-poll
    Tamil Nadu: Amit Shah launches BJP's campaign for Kanyakumari by-poll
    Politics
  • Here's why you should add coconut oil to your diet
    Here's why you should add coconut oil to your diet
    Lifestyle
  • SA Women outclass India Women in 1st ODI: Records broken
    SA Women outclass India Women in 1st ODI: Records broken
    Sports
Related Timelines
  • NewsBytes Briefing: Snap's revenue grows; Moderna's vaccine won't be cheap
    NewsBytes Briefing: Snap's revenue grows; Moderna's vaccine won't be cheap
    Science
  • This app tells if a product is 'Made in India'
    This app tells if a product is 'Made in India'
    Science
Trending Topics
Samsung OnePlus Mobiles Android TV Smart TV Latest Gadget Launch MediaTek Dimensity 1000+ COVAXIN Latest Tech News Upcoming Mobile Phones
Next News Article
Share
Cancel

Want to share it with your friends too?

Facebook Whatsapp Twitter Linkedin
Copied

Love Science news?

Subscribe to stay updated.

Science Thumbnail
India News Business News World News Politics News Sports News Science News Entertainment News Auto News Lifestyle News Inspirational News
Career News Bengaluru News Delhi News Mumbai News Bharti Airtel Mukesh Ambani Twitter Indian Premier League Samsung Virat Kohli
Rohit Sharma Cricket News YouTube Hollywood News WhatsApp Bollywood News ISRO Yoga Honda Batman
Football News BMW Vaccine Reliance Jio OPPO Food News, Healthy Recipes Royal Challengers Bangalore Toyota Fashion Tips Mercedes
James Anderson Isha Ambani India Vs England Cricket OnePlus Mobiles Android TV Smart TV Marvel Comics Avengers Neha Kakkar Premier League
Big Bang Theory X-Men TATA Royal Enfield
About Us Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Contact Us News Reviews News Archive Topics Archive Find Cricket Statistics
Follow us on
Facebook Twitter Linkedin Youtube
All rights reserved © NewsBytes 2021