A threat has been discovered in the keyboard apps of smartphones from brands such as Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo. These apps were found to be monitoring keystrokes, posing a risk to user data. Let’s explore how to stay safe.
Many people now rely on smartphone keyboard apps, but a concerning issue has recently emerged. It has come to light that certain popular phone brands are facing security vulnerabilities related to their keyboard apps. Specifically, brands like Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo have been identified, whose keyboard apps may compromise user data by monitoring keystrokes. For instance, when using these apps for activities like booking cabs or online banking, sensitive information such as passwords and PINs could be at risk as keystrokes are recorded but not stored securely. This poses a significant security risk.
The latest security concern was brought to light this week by Citizen Lab, which identified issues with keyboard apps used by major brands like Samsung and Huawei as well.
The problematic keyboard apps include:
- Tencent QQ Pinyin
- Baidu IME
- iFlytek IME
- Samsung keyboard
- Xiaomi phones with Baidu or iFlytek
- Sogou keyboard
- Oppo with Baidu and Sogou
- Vivo with Sogou IME
- Honor with Baidu IME
While most of these affected keyboard apps are primarily used in China, it’s important to note that millions of Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo users around the world could also be at risk.
To mitigate these risks, it’s recommended that users of these phones promptly update their keyboard apps. Additionally, users should opt for keyboard apps that store keystroke data securely on the device to minimize the risk of data breaches. Stay vigilant and keep your devices updated for enhanced security.