According to this article there are several cheap android phones coming out of China preinstalled with malware in their firmware. However, it is not exactly listing which phones. But gives a guess as to which ones may be safe.
https://www.theregister.com/2023/05/…nt=top-article
Some more info
https://gridinsoft.com/blogs/malware…re-of-android/
We have the most amazing tech at our fingertips, a device that can access the "World brain" on a whim.
Then somebody comes along and destroys it.
What's wrong with Telegram? Not that I use it. Only heard about it.
but yes, apart from "paranoia" of sharing data to just improve the services in anonymous way to the East/Asia companies, all governments are implanting spyware on any kind of systems just to hope it gets into the hands of their targets, if you're just an expat Joe enjoying your fondue up in the Alps, nobody would care about your data, at least not these guys
That’s pretty bad. Use Threema myself. Only problem is getting others to use it. Only problem is getting others to use it.
Depends on how wealthy you are and if you do mobile banking, keep passwords, etc., etc.. Can also have your identity stolen and misused. But hey! What's so important about that?
But well the entire western world will get a sharp wakeup call if we truly do fall out with China. They've had more than a decade to install unfriendly chips in all manner of equipment leaving plenty of scope to cash in their chips.
It took a pandemic for the western governments of the world to realise China was manufacturing everything; and only now are they starting to look into the risks.
Anything you own that is electronic and made in China is a potential disrupter. I say made, it could be just assembled there too.
The Boston bombers had hijacked a car and were using it to try to escape, this was in 2013, some ten years ago. The owner was initially with them, but managed to make a run for it at a petrol station and had alerted the police, who contacted Mercedes who turned on tracking remotely.
With said tracking running the police where able to watch exactly where the vehicle was heading; although what happened next caught everyone by surprise, watch the documentary.
Now take a moment to consider that Elon Musk, a man who has publicly suggested Taiwan is part of China has setup a factory in mainland China to build Tesla cars. Do they contain tracking tech, who do you think has the blue prints for what is installed where? And a car is full of all the equipment you need for this. A microphone, a constantly recharging battery, speakers should you need them. Tech that is install on executive vehicles by default, cars driven by well paid people, important people, people with power; but more often than not no tech sense.
I am sure everyone here has read the story about the large group of Russian soldiers killed in the near year, their location evident from their mobile phones, tracking technology.
You may have read the story about the Terrorist leader killed on his balcony by a drone, tracking technology.
And what of those Apple tags in the news that are being used to stalk women mostly, tracking technology.
It's ironic that all of those senators questioning the TikTok man at that US inquisition would have been driving cars with tracking technology installed within them. How difficult would it be for China to identify who was driving what where at what time... sure TikTok is am issue, but its the tip of the iceberg.
Apple’s software alerts anyone being tracked. But very useful devices for tracking suitcases and cars
Any tool can be misused but there are steps people can do to protect themselves. For example Apple’s Location Services is turned off by default and allows it to be on only when using the app concerned.
Two more examples, my daughter knows who looks at her instagram account; tracking tech. And I get notified on a daily basis who has looked at my LinkedIn account, more tracking tech. Sure it isn't giving my location or is it, photos frequently contain geo-location data.
Instagram, facebook, etc = evil. I don’t use them. I’m protecting myself.
No, they need to come up with a plausible explanation for every success they execute using statistics and old school counter espionage to explain how they found out their targeting information.
COVID19 may have been the wake up call for the US army to realise too much stuff was being sourced from China; but the war in Ukraine has shown it the real danger here. If you can track your enemies movements, then you can target them. It's been one of the reasons the HIMARS attacks have been so successful, and the reason why the UK supplying STORM SHADOWS, long range missiles has got our Russians on the run, literally.
my Mazda has SOS button for help if something happens, it should call directly to Mazda center.
and let's not forget the watches too. my sister had an accident with her bicycle. my brother-in-law got the message that something happened at the exact point where she is.
if someone thinks that our every step is not known today, they are IMHO naive. unfortunately, I know a couple of that types of people.