Seemingly in a single day, everybody’s speaking about Temu, an internet procuring app stuffed with offers that appear too good to be true. You’ll discover $17 wi-fi earbuds, $1 “gold” necklaces and $23 marriage ceremony attire.
No surprise Temu is the preferred procuring app within the U.S., behind solely Amazon. However most of us know little in regards to the app’s origins. Like these apps, it’s tied to China.
I did some digging into whether or not it’s secure to make use of. Right here’s what I discovered.
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The place did Temu come from?
This app isn’t some fly-by-night operation. Temu (pronounced “tee-moo”) is predicated in Boston, Massachusetts, by PDD Holdings Inc. PDD is headquartered in Shanghai, China. PDD additionally owns the e-commerce platform Pinduoduo headquartered in — you guessed it — China. (Extra on Pinduoduo and its shady app under.)
Over 50 million Individuals have downloaded Temu because it launched state-side in September 2022. You would possibly bear in mind its costly Tremendous Bowl adverts promising to allow you to “store like a billionaire.”
Searches for phrases like “Is Temu legit” surged as soon as Individuals noticed simply how low the costs are. Not surprisingly, you get what you pay for.
What it is advisable know earlier than utilizing Temu
First, you’re shopping for items straight from producers in China and different components of the world. That’s why delivery occasions are sometimes for much longer than on websites like Amazon. You would possibly get your stuff in per week, but it surely might be extra like 12 days.
For probably the most half, the costs are low as a result of the products are low cost. The photographs of what you see marketed will not be what you really get.
On-line reviewers appear to agree: Low-cost is sweet, however not when the standard is just too shoddy to make use of. Temu’s BBB score is 2.21/5. Evaluations at TrustPilot are attention-grabbing, with 38% 5-star evaluations and 41% 1-star evaluations.
However that’s not the worst of it. As you store, Temu collects a lot of info.
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It will get worse
Temu isn’t distinctive in all the information it desires to seize out of your telephone. Most apps on the market need as a lot as you’ll hand over. However contemplating its ties to Communist China, the permissions appear much more scary to me.
Temu collects, amongst different issues:
- The information you present, like your identify, tackle, and telephone quantity.
- Particulars you enter, like your birthday, picture, and social media profiles.
- Your telephone or pc’s working system and model, IP tackle, GPS location (should you allowed it), and looking information.
Additionally they collect extra about you from third social gathering sources, together with Temu sellers, public data, social media, information brokers, credit score bureaus, and advertising companions.
Individuals utilizing Temu are promoting the nation out for bargains that actually aren’t price it. I say you delete it. Right here’s how:
On iPhone, long-press an app, then faucet Take away App > Delete App. Faucet Delete to verify.
On Android, contact and maintain an app, then faucet Take away App > Delete App > Delete.
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In dangerous firm
Whereas Temu collects so much, it’s nothing in comparison with Pinduoduo. Bear in mind, they’re owned by the identical firm.
Cybersecurity researchers discovered it wasn’t simply monitoring system data and exercise — malicious code allowed it to bypass cellphone safety settings to spy on different apps, learn notifications and messages, and even change settings.
Temu good points full entry to all of your contacts, calendars, and picture albums, plus all of your social media accounts, chats, and texts. In different phrases, actually the whole lot in your telephone.
Why? Firm insiders advised CNN that it’s a strategy to spy on customers and opponents to spice up gross sales.
No procuring app wants this a lot management, particularly one tied to Communist China. In case you’re utilizing Pinduoduo, delete the app out of your telephone ASAP. It’s additionally reportedly onerous to take away the whole lot, even after you delete it.
Professional tip: In case you downloaded Pinduoduo, you actually need to do a full manufacturing facility reset in your smartphone to wipe out any remaining code or monitoring.
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Plus, I give my recommendation to a man that wants an Android model of an Apple AirTag. In the meantime, Nationwide Parks are booming, and one firm is cashing in massive time. Feeling misplaced in a sea of individuals? Don’t fear — Google Maps has you coated.
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