China cheats Africans: In-built malware that signs users up to subscription services without their permission has been found in thousands of mobiles sold in America.
China sells phones with in-built malware to Africa
China Cheats Africans: An anti-fraud firm upstream found malicious code on 53,000 Tecno handsets, which were sold in Ethiopia, Cameroon, Egypt, Ghana, and South Africa. The malware is signing users up to subscription services without their permission.
Manufacturer Transsion says that it was installed in the supply chain without its knowledge. Upstream said it was taking advantage of the “most vulnerable”. Geoffrey cleaves, head of Upstream’s Secure-D platform stated: “The fact that the malware arrives pre-installed on handsets that are bought in their millions by typically low-income households tells you everything you need to know about what the industry is currently up against.”
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How It Works?
The Triada malware found by the firm on the android smartphones installs a malicious code known as xHelper, which then would find subscription services and submit fraudulent requests on behalf of the users, doing so invisibly and without the user’s knowledge. If the request is successful, it will consume pre-paid airtime, the only way to pay for digital services in many developing countries.
In total, Upstream found on more than 200,000 Tecno smartphones what it described as ‘suspicious activity”. According to research, Transsion holdings are one of China’s leading phone manufacturers and in Africa, it is the top-selling mobile manufacturer. Tecno Mobile replied back that the issue was “ an old and solved security issue globally” to which it issued a fix in March 2018.
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The firm also told BBC in a statement “ For current W2 consumers that are potentially facing Triada issues now, they are highly recommended to download the over-the-air fix through their phone for installation or contact Tecno’s after-sales service support for assistance in any questions,”
It added that it is attached “great importance to consumers’ data security and product safety”. “Every single software installed on each device runs through a series of rigorous security checks, such as our own security scan platform,” it added.
