Warning issued to anyone who uses an Amazon Fire stick due to app ‘spying on them’

Amazon Fire Stick users have been urged to be cautious after an alleged spyware app disguised as a health tool was discovered on the Amazon Appstore. The app, named BMI Calculation Vsn, was suspected to be stealing users’ personal data, including sensitive information like passwords, payment details and messages.

The app was uncovered by McAfee Labs researchers, who alerted Amazon. The app has since been removed from the Appstore but users who have already downloaded it are advised to manually uninstall it and run a full device scan to ensure their data remains secure.

The BMI Calculation Vsn app, which promised to help users calculate their body mass index, requests permission to “start recording or casting”. That, The Sun reported, gave users a warning that it could access everything visible on their screen.

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Initially released on October 8, the app was updated later in the month with new features, including the ability to access SMS messages, including things like one-time banking passwords sent to users. The app was published by PT Visionet Data Internasional and sold as a legitimate tool for calculating BMI.

The Amazon Appstore, a third-party store available on Amazon Fire devices, provides an alternative to Google Play. This discovery follows growing concerns about the security of Amazon Fire Stick devices and experts have repeatedly warned that users of illegal streaming services could be at risk of being hacked by cybercriminals who use spyware to steal personal data.

Image Credits and Reference: https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/warning-issued-anyone-who-uses-30641881

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