Recently, a security researcher discovered that Chinese smartphone manufacturer OnePlus was collecting detailed information from its users, prompting widespread concerns about user privacy. Now, the company has responded to concerns, and says that it will scale back its collection efforts.
While many device makers routinely collect some information on how users are using their devices, one security researcher was alarmed at the amount that OnePlus devices were gathering up. He found that the phones collected “IMEI(s), phone numbers, MAC addresses, mobile network(s) names and IMSI prefixes,” as well as wireless network identifying numbers, his phone’s serial number, and data on what apps were being used and when.
In the forum post,...
