The company behind the app denies any wrongdoing. When searching WHOIS, a public database that houses information collected when someone registers for a domain name, archived results from May 11 said NewProfilePic.com was registered to a Moscow-based address. Creators of photo editing apps. The Dailymail interviewed a Global Cybersecurity Advisor that said the app can capture your face in high resolution and questions why an app would want this much data, especially in another country. Linerock Investments Ltd, the company that owns the photo editing app, was first registered in Moscow, according to the International Consortium of Investigative The app then asks for permission to access photos and media on the device. 33701 We depend on the generous support of readers like you to help us expose corruption and hold the powerful to account. "Although most people will not question the possibilities of anything untoward occurring from simply uploading a photo, the amount of data taken under the radar can often be far more than the user intended on sharing which can cause security and privacy problems. "GUYS! Users on Twitter are also sharing experts' fears of a Russian-based cyberattack or scam, with one person calling the New Profile Pic app a "phishing scam". Moreover, the claims of the apps Russian connection go down to one reason. Its from a Russian based company and there are already reports of them wiping out bank accounts.". Meanwhile, the Cyber HelpLine, which describes itself as "expert advice for victims of cybercrime and online security issues in the UK" shared that the website's overall trust score is just 14 percent. The data police states we collect certain personal information that you voluntarily provide to us. Your membership is the foundation of our sustainability and resilience. The ICIJ Offshore Leaks Database is licensed under the Open Database License and contents under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, LINEROCK INVESTMENTS may offer to provide the Services, as described more fully on the Site and in Mobile, which are selected by you, solely for your own use, and not for the use or benefit of any third party. 727-821-9494. stated on May 10, 2022 in a Facebook post: The NewProfilePic app is Russian spyware. District of Columbia Nothing gets sent to Russia. According to Snopes data gathering, the website was actually showing its registration in Florida. The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists offshore leaks database shows that Linerock Investments Ltd has an address in Moscow and is also VERIFY reached out to the British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission but did not hear back at the time of publication. You can read more about the company's privacy policy on its website. Here is what we found out. This app was developed by a company in the British Virgin Islands that uses a team of international developers, some of whom live in Russia. The number of employees ranges from 1 to 25. 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Contrary to the claim, it doesnt include banking information or contacts. If you will check the search results you will see other apps with pretty similar titles. Our Android team - mostly Ukrainian, Sazhins post said. Here are guides from Apple and Android on how to control privacy settings on your device. The app developers explain: "Whenever you choose an effect that involves face manipulations we use special face recognition technologies to detect a photo; find required facial key points, and apply the effect to your photo.". The Standard has reached out to Google Play and Linerock Investments ltd for comment. By clicking Sign up you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use, Cookie policy and Privacy notice. Last 60 Days. 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ESET Internet Security Global Cybersecurity Advisor Jake Moore has questioned why the popular new app would want such a high level of data from its users, especially when the company is based abroad. Lastly, the claim that users of this app had money taken out of their bank accounts is, so far, unsubstantiated. A new phone app is making waves on social media as people use it to recreate their selfies into caricatures of themselves. Furthermore, you want to keep your device secure with a strong password, biometric features or two-factor authentication. In a word, no. People should certainly be aware that they are granting this amount of access to companies when they download their apps. She and others have seen the pictures filling up their Facebook feeds. The apps domain was formerly registered in Moscow because the founder once lived there. A blog post from the app developers published May 11 touting the apps success also confirms the office locations. "If you have it on your phone, delete it, if you gave it full permissions change your passwords warn your bank, there has been a huge uptick of bank accounts being drained and people being shut out of their accounts," the user added. Official govt docs expose Michelle Obamas 14 year history as a man., "Woody Harrelsons 60 seconds in the middle of his monologue was cut out of the edits released after the show., BREAKING Trump preps Marines to stop presidential coup.. The app is proving incredibly popular online, offering the chance to turn a photograph of users into attractive, highly-stylised cartoon-style images. When deciding to download the app, users must be prepared to share their location, details about the computer or mobile device they are using, as well as other pictures on their social media accounts. 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Sign up for exclusive newsletters, comment on stories, enter competitions and attend events. 'It is true that the domain was registered to the Moscow address. WebPhoto Lab boasts one of the vastest collections of stylish and funny photo effects: more than 900 effects to date! I saw a lot of my friends from high school and family posting photos of themselves in this portrait, sort of like painting mode, said Maria Combe. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. Dare to be different, with a profile pic that reflects your current mood or state of mind. The apps developers do have some ties to Russia, but not as extensive as some have claimed. The servers that host users images are based in the U.S., not Russia. The firm also collects the IP address, browser type and settings from a computer or the device data from a mobile phone handset. 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In response to a one-star negative review about privacy concerns on the app the company, insisted users photos are not sent to Moscow. Let it be different, always new and made by AI! Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. a story from the British tabloid Daily Mail, British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission, Yes, eligible Americans need to apply for a federal program to get discounted internet service, Yes, Uber and Lyft customers can be refunded for canceling a ride if a driver doesn't wear a mask, No, police cannot force you to unlock your cellphone without a search warrant, Kate Polezhaeva, spokesperson for Linerock Investments LTD, Privacy policies for Linerock Investment LTD apps, Picsart, TikTok and Facebook. The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists had already included Linerock Investments Ltd on its Offshore Leaks database, showing the firm's registered address was in Central Moscow, The app offers users the opportunity to create quick digital avatars of themselves. He updated it yesterday after seeing its part in the Daily Mail post, she said in the email. READ MORE:If it came to it Moscow couldn't stop NATO nukes and Putin knows it, "We understand that due to the current events in Ukraine, any connection to Russia could raise suspicions.". If you are going to download these types of apps to have fun on social media platforms whether its Facebook or othersmaybe not use your true cell phone, he said. Users images are based in the Daily Mail post, she said in the Mail... The IP address, browser type and settings from a Russian based company and there already. 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