Researchers find Android third-party keyboard app Go Keyboard spying on users

Photo by Tony Lam Hoang on Unsplash

We can’t stress enough how careful you need to be about the things you download or use. A new finding by Adguard researchers reinforces that idea. They have found that two variants of keyboard app Go Keyboard have been sending personal information to remote servers while also executing unauthorized code on devices. The apps in question, which are developed by Chinese GOMO Dev Team, are the Go Keyboard – Emoji keyboard, Swipe input, GIFS and Go Keyboard – Emoticon keyboard, Free Theme, GIF apps. These apps have been downloaded between 100k and 500k times and are rated 4.5 and 4.4 stars, respectively.

Some of the information the apps are collecting include Google Play Store account, screen size, network type, and Android version and build number. Plus, it communicates with tracking networks and executes codes and downloads plugins that are marked as adware by various anti-virus programs. What the researchers are really worried about is the possibility of the app tracking everything you type, which it can do if the developers want to. The app is already in violation of Google Play Store’s policies. Adguard has passed on their findings to Google.

Source: Android Authority

You can now use face filters with Instagram Live

If you’re the type to obsessively use the face filters on Instagram, you can now carry over that obsession to your Instagram live videos. The app will now let you use these filters while you live stream. Just like when you record your regular stories, you just need to tap on the face icon on the bottom right corner and choose your filter. There’s a new sunglasses face filter that’ll be an Instagram Live exclusive for the next week. You can change the scenery reflected on the glasses by tapping on the screen. You may or may not see this new feature yet as Instagram is rolling it out globally over the next few weeks.

Source: Instagram

BlackBerry KEYOne Black Edition is coming to Canada by next week

A meaner looking, more powerful version of the BlackBerry KEYOne is going to land in the country in the coming week and should be out at carriers and some retailers at the end of the month. The KEYOne Black Edition gets a spec bump in terms of RAM and internal storage at 4GB and 64GB, respectively. As its name suggests, it gets an all-black matte finish. Everything else about the design and internals are identical to the original model. This edition will be priced at CA$799 and should be coming to retailers like Amazon, Staples, and Walmart.

Source: GSMArena

BlackBerry Krypton leak shows carbon fiber-patterned back

A new BlackBerry smartphone has been rumoured for a few months already. And now we get a sneak peek of what’s being dubbed as the BlackBerry Krypton. The latest leak shows a carbon fiber-patterned rear with a camera sensor and single LED flash (unlike the KEYone which had a dual LED flash, as you see in the picture above). It’ll supposedly be the successor to the DTEK50/60 with its 16:9 1,920 x 1,080 resolution full screen display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 or 626 processor, 4GB of RAM, and a sizeable 4,000mAh battery. As a nod to its name, it’ll supposedly have an IP67 rating.

A fingerprint reader is integrated into the home button and it’ll supposedly house all its buttons (including the Convenience Key on the same side). Its speaker, USB Type-C port, and 3.5mm audio jack will supposedly all be placed at the bottom. The BlackBerry Krypton is rumoured to be coming out next month for US$499 (around CA$615).

Source: Android Police