Temu class-action lawsuit: Is the cheap shopping app worth downloading? (No!)
I saw this coming. I’ve been warning about the shopping app Temu since April when its sister app, Pinduoduo, was caught planting malware. It was spying on other apps, reading notifications and messages, and even changing settings.
The U.S. government accused Temu of data risks … and now the lawsuits are here. A class-action filed in Illinois says the Chinese app collects more info than it needs and than it discloses.
Why in the world are people still using it? The deals, of course!
On a slow boat from China
An HD Wi-Fi security cam for $6.98. An Android fitness watch for $8.38. A $7.99 wedding dress feels like bad vibes, with even the cake in tiers.
You might get lucky and find a gem that matches the description, but I wouldn’t bet on it. Shipping is slow, too, since they’re coming from China.
In exchange for those cheap goods and prices, Temu makes money with your data. The app requests 24 permissions on your device, including access to your Wi-Fi network info, Bluetooth, photos and videos, contact info and payment details. Yikes.
What about the website?
If the app is off-limits, is the website safe to use? Sorry, but no. You’re still handing over (at a minimum) your full name, address, phone number, email and payment details. To make matters worse, Temu does not support two-factor authentication (2FA). That makes your account so much easier for thieves to breach. No Bueno!
The more permissions an app requests
… the more you should consider whether it’s worth having on your smartphone. Don’t see the big deal? Think about all you do on your phone: Have private conversations with friends, log into your bank app, type in passwords, enter your credit card info and more.
Keep these security smarts in mind before you hit “install” on Temu:
Chinese apps you should remove from your phone
Security is something you should never take for granted. You may be exposing yourself to hackers and scammers without even realizing it. Here are 10 things you do daily that put you in danger.
You’ve heard it many times from us: Get rid of TikTok and Temu. Now we’re adding even more to the list.
Get Temu, the popular shopping app, off your phone now
Seemingly overnight, everyone’s talking about Temu, an online shopping app full of deals that seem too good to be true. You’ll find $17 wireless earbuds, $1 “gold” necklaces and $23 wedding dresses.
No wonder Temu is the most popular shopping app in the U.S., behind only Amazon. But most of us know little about the app’s origins. Like these apps, it’s tied to China.
Get this Chinese app out of your smartphone right now
It’s no secret: TikTok gathers a ton of data on its users and sends the information straight back to the Chinese government. The app is a threat to your privacy and security even if you don’t have it installed. Here’s how to avoid TikTok’s clutches.
These Chinese-owned apps are dangerous — Get them off your phone
TikTok has been facing significant backlash worldwide for collecting data on its users. It’s already been banned from government and military devices in the U.S., and there’s been a push for its Chinese owners to sell their shares in the company. Here’s what’s happening so far.