A latest report by BuzzFeed News alleges that some cheap Chinese phones from Tecno contain malware that can steal users’ money.
The Chinese brand is owned by Transsion Holdings. It has two more brands called Itel and Infinix under which it sells entry-level budget smartphones.
As per the report, the cheap phones from this company contain malware, which without the user’s permission, is stealing personal data. Not only this but some users are subscribed to paid services without their knowledge.
Apparently, this piece of information came to light because of an investigation by Secure-D, a mobile security service, and BuzzFeed. The phone that raised this alarm was the Tecno W2.
Besides, as per the report, two malware xHelper and Triada came pre-installed on the device. These malware tried to subscribe a user to paid service. Even constantly showed pop-ups interrupting the calls and chats of the user.
The user also alleged that the mobile data was consumed without his knowledge on the phone. And the Chinese malware tried to steal the user’s money without consent.
Transsion spokesperson confirmed the presence of hidden Triada and xHelper malware in Tecno W2
Well, Chinese brands are more popular in Asia, including countries like India and Africa. Since they come at an affordable price range, people also do not care about what they are getting into.
But this investigation really puts a clear picture in front of us about such Chinese brands. Moreover, Secure-D’s system reportedly blocked 844,000 unsolicited transactions related to pre-installed malware on Transsion phones, i.e. Tecno, Infinix, and Itel, between March and December 2019.
In fact, as per the source, a spokesperson from Transsion confirmed the presence of hidden malware Triada and xHelper in Tecno W2.
Surprisingly, the blame game was shifted over to an unidentified vendor in the supply chain process. Furthermore, the company says that they perform rigorous security checks on each software installed on its brand’s phones.
Notably, the spokesperson also added that even apps like Google Play Protect, GMS BTS, and VirusTotal test are not spared from security checks. But the actual scenario is far from what is claimed by the spokesperson.
The company also claimed that they do not profit from the malware. Plus, it refrained from giving out a number on how many smartphones are infected with malware.
In the past, Secure-D has also unveiled malware found in TCL Communication’s Alcatel smartphones. Users in Brazil and Myanmar were affected because of malware.