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Chinese Malware Found Preinstalled on US Government-Funded Phones:
Budget Android smartphones offered through a US government initiative for low-income Americans come with preinstalled, unremovable Chinese malware, researchers report.
These low-cost smartphones are sold by Assurance Wireless, a federal Lifeline Assistance program under Virgin Mobile. Lifeline, supported by the federal Universal Service Fund, is a government program launched in 1985 to provide discounted phone service to low-income households. The Unimax (UMX) U686CL ($35) is the most inexpensive smartphone it sells.
In October 2019, Malwarebytes began to receive complaints in its support system from users of the UMX U686CL who reported some pre-installed apps on their government-funded phones were malicious. Researchers purchased one of these smartphones to verify customers' claims.
(Score: 5, Informative) by Pslytely Psycho on Monday January 13 2020, @12:29AM (13 children)
You do realize the Lifeline program began under Reagan don't you? And as for any malware, that would be the responsibility of the providers, Assurance and Virgin Mobile, not the President, but hey, propagandize away man....
Alex Jones lawyer inspires new TV series: CSI Moron Division.
(Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 13 2020, @01:01AM (1 child)
Yeah, I got my free gov't issued cellphone when Reagan was president.
(Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 13 2020, @01:08AM
Used it to call your dealer when you needed more crack?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 13 2020, @02:13AM (6 children)
and the implementation, specifically the free cellphone plan, was under Reagan as well? Sure Obama or whichever sitting President aren't the ones that are typically hands-on otherwise they'd need to clone them given the numerous plans that an administration have to execute, but accountability has to go all the way to the top though - otherwise every President/CEO/etc. will just indemnify themselves from the poor chain of responsibility which starts right at the top with them.
Handwaving it away and saying it is "propaganda" is just ignoring the problem
(Score: 5, Touché) by Pslytely Psycho on Monday January 13 2020, @04:47AM (2 children)
"In October 2019, Malwarebytes began to receive complaints in its support system from users of the UMX U686CL who reported some pre-installed apps on their government-funded phones were malicious. Researchers purchased one of these smartphones to verify customers' claims."
Yep, you're absolutely right. Let's see now, who exactly was president in 2019....Yep, shouldn't handwave away the malware laden Trump Phone now should we.
Alex Jones lawyer inspires new TV series: CSI Moron Division.
(Score: 2) by DeathMonkey on Monday January 13 2020, @06:32PM
Don't worry, they'll still find a way to blame Obama!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 13 2020, @07:29PM
Is one of the apps a voting app?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 13 2020, @06:19AM
If you want to be taken seriously, don't start with obama or hillary in 2020.
(Score: 4, Informative) by Thexalon on Monday January 13 2020, @02:15PM (1 child)
The reason that it switched from land lines to cell phones under Obama was that the administration found that giving cell phones rather than land lines was both cheaper for the government and easier to administer. For instance, if the person needing the phone moved, you don't need somebody who was getting paid to notify the phone company and potentially arrange for two work orders, they just take their phone with them. Damn Democrats, trying to cut down on government bloat and waste!
My suspicion is that the stories regarding Obamaphones told in right-wing circles had a lot more to do with perpetuating racist stereotypes than they did with anything resembling reality.
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a compiler is a good guy with a compiler.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 14 2020, @12:56AM
Yeah, well, maybe - but "welfare queen" isn't a race.
(Score: 5, Touché) by driverless on Monday January 13 2020, @02:30AM (2 children)
If it's an Android phone then it comes with even more pre-installed Google malware that puts any Chinese add-ons to shame.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 13 2020, @04:30AM
It is an abusive relationship. Beware.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 14 2020, @04:26AM
Samsung installs unremovable Chinese spyware by default.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by RandomFactor on Monday January 13 2020, @03:30AM
Heh...so it would be just as accurate to call it a Trumpphone?
I vote we give the Gipper his due instead.
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