http://www.androidpolice.com/2016/11...old-in-the-us/

Ive been tempted by some of those high spec cheap price Chinese Phones but maybe this is why they are cheap.

I don't find it all surprising, the issue has been around for years.

Wasn't the first Chinese phone discovered with this sort of issue an S4 clone by Star?

Anyone who owns an android phone cannot seriously be interested in protecting their personal data. It's how google make their money.

I guess it depends on what type of data they are receiving?

Myself I do not mind them tracking my location, what apps I have installed or what I view on the Internet.

I am worried a little about these Chinese phones though as I would be worried about passwords, texts and banking details.

Using the cheaper Chinese phone brands opens you up to the possibility of a lot more than data mining by Google...

What and you think this doesn't happen if you use iOS?

Or any OS for that matter!

All smartphones whether iPhone, Android or Windows spy on you, they receive daily telemetrics on everything you do on your phone unless you opt out. See Google is clever, they tie being able to use services like google maps by being allowed to access your data.

Its only enterprise that get beefier privacy because they pay for it. If you are getting something for nowt, you will usually be giving up some part of you in return......how else would they pay for it?

If you're not paying for the software you're using and it's not freeware that the company makes no profit on then you are the product being sold to some other company.

The problem is these Chinese phones are taking more than just the usual data mined by Google, Apple, Microsoft.

The possibility of compromised banking logins or password details is a big step from what has become the norm from the likes of Google et al.

Yes, it's not only ET who phones home:

Got a cheap-and-cheerful Android phone from BLU, Infinix, Doogee, Leagoo, IKU, Beeline or Xolo? It might be harbouring some badware in the firmware. The issue affects phones that use an over-the-air update mechanism from Chinese company according to BitSight researcher Dan Dahlberg and Anubis Networks' João Gouveia and Tiago Pereira.

Security researchers have uncovered a secret backdoor in Android phones that sends almost all personally identifiable information to servers based in China...Adups says that the firmware provides companies with data for customer support, but an analysis by Kryptowire revealed that the software sends the full bodies of text messages, contact lists, call history with full telephone numbers, and unique device identifiers including the International Mobile Subscriber Identity and the International Mobile Station Equipment Identity.

It is all quite disturbing and it would seem to make sense to be discerning about which phone brand to buy.

Had a Cubot phone of some description for over 4 years now, never had any issues with spyware whatsoever. Experience which is based on ownership, not internet fodder.

Aren't Chinese companies already connecting the majority of our Broadband and 4G internet infrastructure already. E.G Huawei?.

Then a year or so ago it was Samsung Smart TV's spying on you and listening in on your conversations.

https://www.cnet.com/uk/news/samsung...-room-chatter/

...that you were aware of.

How would you know if you had spyware? Surely most of them try and keep themselves as hidden as possible as the name indicated? This appears to be serious research conducted by a serious firm & respected firm with a detailed statement here http://www.kryptowire.com/adups_security_analysis.html, hardly internet fodder....