SMEX is warning that Israeli-linked software secretly embedded in Samsung phones across the MENA poses a serious surveillance threat.

Rabat_ Social Media Exchange (SMEX)—a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing human rights in digital spaces across MENA [Middle East and North Africa] — is warning that Israeli-linked software secretly embedded in Samsung phones across the Middle East and North Africa region poses a serious surveillance threat.

According to SMEX, Samsung’s A and M series devices either come preloaded with the app “Aura” or install it automatically through system updates, without the user’s consent. The application reportedly collects a wide range of personal and device-specific data, including IP addresses, device fingerprints, hardware details, and network information.

  • spaghettiwestern@sh.itjust.worksOPEnglish
    17·
    2 days ago

    I just bought a Pixel 10 from Spectrum with the repeated assurance that the phone would be fully unlocked after it was paid off and had several months of service. I intended to load Graphene OS, but apparently I was fucking lied to yet again by another business that will say anything to make a sale.

    I can’t do anything about that now, but I can move to another carrier and make damn sure they don’t ever make another dime off my mobile account.

    • youmaynotknow@lemmy.zipEnglish
      1·
      14 hours ago

      I believe GrapheneOS is not available for the 10 series yet. I’ve been keeping on top of that since I want to change my phone in December, but so far, the last version of Pixel that is known to work with GrapheneOS is the 9 series.

    • null@lemmy.nullspace.lolEnglish
      14·
      2 days ago

      They thought you meant carrier-unlocked. That’s what most people care about, being able to switch providers.

      I doubt they even knew what a bootloader is.

      • spaghettiwestern@sh.itjust.worksOPEnglish
        1·
        8 hours ago

        They thought you meant carrier-unlocked.

        Nope. I clearly told them I was going to install Graphene OS and I would not be changing carriers.

        They didn’t know the real answer so they just made something up.

      • mmmac@lemmy.zipEnglish
        21·
        2 days ago

        Once it’s carrier unlocked you should be able to unlock the bootloader though right?

        • youmaynotknow@lemmy.zipEnglish
          1·
          14 hours ago

          Those are 2 entirely different things. There are phones that are carrier locked that can have the bootloader unlocked, also the other way around.

          I would look at the model number, and then search if it’s bootloader unlock able in XDA developers or something like that.

          • mmmac@lemmy.zipEnglish
            1·
            13 hours ago

            Huh, guess I got lucky with my pixel 9 from mint mobile last year lol