Researchers at UK-based mobile security firm, Upstream, uncovered malware in the ‘Weather Forecast-World Weather Accurate Radar’ app that comes pre-installed on the Alcatel Pixi 4 and A3 Max smartphones.
According to their report, the malware was harvesting user data and sending them over to China. The data apparently included personally-identifiable information, such as geolocation, email addresses, and IMEI codes. In certain regions, the app also reportedly looked to subscribe unsuspecting users to premium phone numbers, causing significant financial losses.
Said to have been developed by Chinese electronics giant, TCL, which markets Alcatel, BlackBerry and Palm phones, Google has removed the app after being contacted by Upstream researchers.
Screenshot Courtesy: Upstream