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Security Researchers Warn that Third-Party GO Keyboard App is Spying on Millions of Android Users (betanews.com)

An anonymous reader shares a report: Security researchers from Adguard have issued a warning that the popular GO Keyboard app is spying on users. Produced by Chinese developers GOMO Dev Team, GO Keyboard was found to be transmitting personal information about users back to remote servers, as well as "using a prohibited technique to download dangerous executable code." Adguard made the discovery while conducting research into the traffic consumption and unwanted behavior of various Android keyboards. The AdGuard for Android app makes it possible to see exactly what traffic an app is generating, and it showed that GO Keyboard was making worrying connections, making use of trackers, and sharing personal information. Adguard notes that there are two versions of the keyboard in Google Play which it claims have more than 200 million users in total.

4 of 65 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Ok...why do you need multiple keyboards? by fisted · · Score: 3, Informative

    I need a different keyboard because the default keyboard doesn't have a ton of standard keys.

  2. Re: Ok...why do you need multiple keyboards? by gnick · · Score: 3, Informative

    I don't even understand how that is "emoji free"

    GO Keyboard: Emoji free. Other keyboard: Emoji cost extra. gnick understand.

    --
    He's getting rather old, but he's a good mouse.
  3. Re:Ok...why do you need multiple keyboards? by AuMatar · · Score: 4, Informative

    Swyping functionality used to be a big one.

    Language support that the default phone doesn't include.

    Handwriting mode, if you're into that.

    Better autocorrect libraries

    Alternative layouts, if you like dvorak

    New features, such as syncing personal word lists to the cloud.

    That's what comes off the top of my head, if I thought about it I could come up with dozens more.

    (Bias note: I worked at Swype, the first popular 3rd party keyboard).

    --
    I still have more fans than freaks. WTF is wrong with you people?
  4. Re:Ok...why do you need multiple keyboards? by R4D4R · · Score: 3, Informative

    I use Hacker keyboard for Tab (autocomplete) in BASH, plus the arrow keys, plus Ctrl/Alt.