'Pinduoduo' Used by 750 Million Monthly on Average
Malware Installation Makes Deletion Difficult
China's major e-commerce company 'Pinduoduo' (PDD Holdings) has been found to have an Android app embedded with malicious software that can access consumers' personal information.
On the 2nd (local time), CNN reported that after commissioning experts from the US, Europe, and Asia, malicious software was discovered in the Chinese shopping app Pinduoduo, which is used by 750 million people monthly on average.
The malicious software is analyzed to have functions that easily breach the security of users' mobile phones and monitor all activities through other apps, including various notifications, private messages, and even setting changes.
There are also assessments that Pinduoduo has committed an unprecedented level of personal information infringement. One expert pointed out, "Many apps collect extensive user information without explicit consent, but Pinduoduo is very unusual and fatal in that it surpasses the existing level to an unprecedented degree."
Once the malicious software is installed, it is difficult to delete
The bigger problem is that once Pinduoduo's malicious software is installed, it is not easy to remove. Current and former insiders explained that such spyware was used to check competitors and promote sales.
Especially as discussions about banning China's video-sharing service TikTok due to user information security vulnerabilities have heated up, the revelation of this fact may lead to controversy over the reliability of apps based in China in general.
Earlier, Google suspended the download service of the Pinduoduo app last month due to the discovery of malicious code. Google made no particular comment on the company's US shopping app 'Temu,' which is currently available.
Temu is currently maintaining a top position in downloads in the US, rapidly expanding its influence, and gaining popularity in other Western countries as well.
Although there is no evidence that Pinduoduo handed over user information to the Chinese government, CNN pointed out that in the US political circles, considering the enormous influence the Chinese government has on companies, concerns are raised that it is difficult to rule out the possibility that all companies are forced to cooperate with extensive security activities.
Founded in 2015, Pinduoduo is reported to have secured about three-quarters of China's online market users, with a total transaction volume three times that of eBay.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
