FBI warns Americans about data risks in foreign-developed mobile apps

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has issued a warning to Americans regarding the potential privacy and data security risks associated with foreign-developed mobile applications, particularly those originating from China. The advisory, released through the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), highlights concerns that apps subject to foreign national security laws could allow governments to access user data. This warning comes as many popular apps in the U.S. are developed by companies based in China, as reported by Bleeping Computer.

The FBI's public service announcement details how certain mobile apps may continuously collect user data, even when permissions are granted only for active use. These applications can gather extensive information by default, including contacts' names, phone numbers, email addresses, and physical addresses. Privacy policies often indicate that collected data is stored on servers in China for extended periods, and some apps require data sharing consent for operation.

The FBI advises users to disable unnecessary data sharing, keep device software updated, and download apps exclusively from official stores.

Source: Bleeping Computer