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.worksOP
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    18 hours 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.

    • null@lemmy.nullspace.lol
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      5 hours 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.

      • mmmac@lemmy.zip
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        4 hours ago

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