One of China’s most popular apps has the ability to spy on its users, say experts | CNN Business

The article discusses the discovery of malware in Pinduoduo's shopping app, which allowed it to access users' personal data without their consent. The malware was discovered by Chinese cybersecurity firms and researchers, who found that it contained a large number of invasive permissions, including "set wallpaper" and "download without notification".

The Pinduoduo team that developed the malware was disbanded after the discovery, and many of its members were reassigned to work on other projects. However, some experts have raised concerns about the fact that regulators in China did not take action against Pinduoduo despite their apparent knowledge of the malware.

The article suggests that this is an oversight failure by the Chinese government's regulatory body, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, which failed to detect the malware or take action against it. This has been described as "embarrassing" for the regulator, according to tech policy expert Kendra Schaefer.

The discovery of the malware has raised concerns about the protection of personal data in China's digital economy. It also highlights the challenges faced by regulators in detecting and responding to emerging threats in the tech sector.

Some key points from the article include:

* Pinduoduo's shopping app contained a large number of invasive permissions, including "set wallpaper" and "download without notification".
* The malware allowed Pinduoduo to access users' personal data without their consent.
* The Pinduoduo team that developed the malware was disbanded after its discovery.
* Regulators in China did not take action against Pinduoduo despite their apparent knowledge of the malware.
* This is an oversight failure by the Chinese government's regulatory body, which failed to detect the malware or take action against it.

Overall, the article highlights the importance of protecting personal data in the digital economy and the challenges faced by regulators in detecting and responding to emerging threats.
 
"Experience is rarely a reliable guide to future success." 🤔 The discovery of malware in Pinduoduo's shopping app is a stark reminder that even with the best intentions, things can go wrong. It's not just about the tech itself, but also how it's regulated and enforced. We need to be vigilant and proactive in protecting personal data, especially as our digital lives become more intertwined with our daily routines.
 
Ugh, another major security breach on a popular platform 😡. I mean, come on Pinduoduo! How hard is it to get your act together when it comes to user safety? 🤦‍♂️ And now regulators in China are basically saying "oh well" about it too...like that's exactly what we want to see 🙄. It just goes to show that sometimes even the most seemingly robust security measures can fall short, and it's up to us as users to be vigilant (and also to expect more from our favorite platforms, duh 😒).
 
omg i was using pinduoduo's app last month and i thought i was just browsing shopping lists but now idk what kinda info is being shared 🤯 like isnt that malware super suspicious? 🤔 anyway guess its a good thing the ppl who made it got canned 😂 my friend told me she saw some weird ads on her phone recently after using pinduoduo too 🤑 think its pretty sketchy how they were able to access our personal data without asking lol and yeah china's regulators should be embarrassed not taking action sooner 🙄 what a nightmare for online security in china
 
this is just another example of how tech companies are exploiting loopholes in regulations to get away with bad behavior 🤦‍♂️. I mean, come on, who allows a shopping app to access users' personal data without consent? 🙄 it's not like Pinduoduo was the first company to do this... but what's even more concerning is that regulators in China were apparently aware of the issue and did nothing about it 😒. I guess that's what happens when you have a regulatory body that's more interested in promoting economic growth than protecting consumers' rights 💸. we need more transparency and accountability from these companies, especially when it comes to data protection 📊.
 
omg this is crazy 🤯 i mean who wants their personal info just lying around on an app? 🙅‍♂️ i know pinduoduo should've been more careful with how they were handling user data. i'm not even gonna speculate about the govt's role here, but it does seem like they could've done better to keep an eye on things 👀 what really worries me is that this kinda thing could happen to anyone, anywhere. we need to be way more vigilant about our online security 🚨💻
 
🚨 Pinduoduo's got a major problem! They knew about this malware & didn't do squat 🙅‍♂️. It's like they thought 'oops, we'll fix it later' 😴. Regulators need to step up their game 🔄. Can't have apps just accessing our personal data willy-nilly 🤯. Time for some serious reform 🔒.
 
🤦‍♂️ I mean, come on. Malware in Pinduoduo's shopping app? That's like having a "help yourself" sign for cyber attackers. I guess it's not surprising that Chinese regulators didn't catch it sooner, but still... 🙄 If they knew about it and didn't do anything, that's some major egg-on-face going on there. 😂
 
🚨 I'm so frustrated with this! 🤯 China needs to step up their game when it comes to regulating tech companies. This Pinduoduo thing is just embarrassing for them, you know? 😳 I mean, come on, a shopping app can't even get malware detection right? It's like they're not even trying anymore. 💸 And now we have experts saying that regulators knew about this and did nothing? 🙅‍♂️ That's just wrong. We need better oversight in China, stat! ⏰
 
This just shows us how China's tech sector can be so opaque 🤔... I mean, come on! You gotta wonder what other skeletons are hiding behind closed doors. This is exactly why we need more transparency in our tech industries, not less 😬. And it's not like the Chinese government was caught off guard by this - they knew about it and did nothing 🙅‍♂️... that's what worries me. Do we really trust them to protect our online data? I don't think so 🤷‍♀️. It's time for some serious reforms in China's regulatory body, no more excuses or cover-ups 💯. We need experts who are gonna keep a close eye on these companies and make sure they're playing by the rules 🕵️‍♂️.
 
I'm low-key shocked that Pinduoduo got away with this 🤯. Like, I know they're a huge company and all, but come on! You can't just slap some malware together and expect nobody to notice 😒. And it's even more cringeworthy when the regulator is like "oh no, we didn't see that" 🙈. It's not like it was a secret or anything 🤷‍♂️. Anyway, this should be a wake-up call for them to step up their data protection game 💻. I mean, it's not that hard to get it right, guys 🙄.
 
omg u guys like what kinda app can just access ur personal info without ur consent? 🤯 i was at school yesterday and we were learning about cybersecurity in class and this is literally what we would study... it's wild how pinduoduo got away with this for so long. i feel bad for the ppl who got affected by it 😔. our school has these cyber safety workshops which are pretty helpful, but idk if china can just ignore their own problems like that 🤷‍♀️. we need better regulation in place, like, stat! 💪
 
Back
Top