According to the latest reports, the recent discovery revealed that several Mac App Store applications were collecting user data which specially put the focus on the Trend Micro because it was one of the companies that was doing so.
BEWARE! Trend Micro Apps Leak User Data
The recent discovery revealed that several Mac App Store applications were collecting user data which specially put the focus on the Trend Micro because it was one of the companies that was doing so.
The first analyzes pointed out that everything would be contained only in macOS, but now it has been revealed that all the same behavior happens in the tech giant Microsoft’s desktop operating system Windows as well.
Among the various software companies that were discovered to collect user data on the tech giant Apple’s well-known desktop operating system, of course, MacOS, Trend Micro was the most software company that had identified and was best known to users.
A problem that also affects Windows apps
Without the knowledge or notifying the users, their browsing history data was collected and sent to a server in China. However, after this incident the apps were removed from the Mac App Store, thinking that the problem would be solved.
The truth is that the investigations continued and focused on the company’s other products in the various operating systems where it is present. The conclusions could not and show that the behavior is identical.
Trend Micro’s @MicrosoftStore app talks to the same domains that their macOS app uses for stealing browser history.
The Windows version also sends params like ‘mac_os_version’ and ‘mac_identifier_model’.
Wonder what other features they’re bringing to #Windows10?
cc @9to5mac pic.twitter.com/TEHs69Z7uU
— Ben Fox (@ductionist) September 10, 2018
It was the Twitter user, Ben Fox, who revealed the behavior of these Windows apps, confirming it through images and various data. In a post made by Trend Micro, the company began by indicating that Windows was not affected, which proved to be false.
Trend Micro’s attempt to defend itself
After this scandal, Trend Micro sought to defend itself and explain the situation, not having been able to do it in the best way and in the end to leave even more doubts to the users about its behavior.
The publication posted on its blog, indicating that Windows was not affected, detailing the behavior and explained that it was to be accepted by users through its EULA.
It was also reported that the data would not be shipped to China, but rather to a server in the US, hosted on Amazon and controlled by Trend Micro.
In addition to these facts, Trend Micro also reported that the data collected was only a week and that they were sent only once after installing their apps. The intent of the collection was to evaluate whether users had been exposed or not.
The truth is that, just like in macOS, Windows users are also having their data collected without them being aware of it, a clear violation of their privacy.
So, what do you think about this? Simply share all your views and thoughts in the comment section below.
