Google's new update could be a security and privacy nightmare for users.
Remember the alarming adage about “good intentions.”, “code found in the Google Personal Safety app suggests a new 'Device info’ option will allow users to view their IMEI number from the Emergency screen without unlocking the phone.
”Every smartphone has a unique IMEI number. It’s an industry standard serial number that enables networks to identify the physical devices which are connected, and to block those that are reported lost or stolen, or which are not approved. You can dial *#06# on your phone to show your IMEI. You may also see your phone’s SIM identifier or eSIM identifier . The combination of your phone’s physical identifier and SIM identifier is its digital fingerprint. The IMSI or EID changes if you switch carriers or SIMs, but the IMEI stays the same.The update would add this code to the Device Info accessed from Android’s lock screen, without any need to unlock the phone. The rationale, as proposed in anin February, is to enable law enforcement to identify a device without having to unlock it or hard rest it, returning it to its factory state. This was rejected as “Won’t Fix .” Google’s reasoning was simple: “Having IMEI accessible in locked state will expose our users’ privacy at risk as it is a sensitive PII that may include tracking targeted user/devices, malicious actor getting hold of locked phone nearby to access IMEI and being able to report it as stolen etc.”, which “hackers can exploit in several ways, leading to legal, financial, and reputational risks.” But keeping your own record of your IMEI number, and ensuring it’s accessible if you don’t have your phone, is a good idea. It makes it simple to report the device as As and when this feature goes live, it may have an optional on/off toggle. My advice is to disable it. If you have a cloud backup of your phone, you’re better restoring a recovered, factory reset device than leaking personally identifiable information. It’s also another data point a scammer can turn against you, or to use in a SIM swapping scam.
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