In this article, you will find out if it is safe to use FaceApp mobile application. Are there risks associated with using the face modifying app? All explanations about using FaceApp and its safety implications was explicit for you to understand.
FaceApp has been trending for some time now on the social world. It is a mobile application for android phones and tablets that modifies your snapshots to make you look older, younger or turn to opposite sex (gender change). Apart from androids, iPhone can still use FaceApp mobile applications. FaceApp mobile application can also make a cartoon image of you and even more. Although FaceApp has been much around for the past two years or more, it has gone viral this time due to the latest controversy surrounding its user safety and privacy. Since this latest discovery, the question has been how safe is FaceApp mobile application? Having discovered that there are some personal user data, which FaceApp takes from you, we shall examine what they are in this article. By doing so, we shall determine if it is really safe and secure to continue using the FaceApp mobile application.
Latest Discovery on FaceApp
Just recently, a technology website CNET.COM elaborately discussed this trending phenomenon about FaceApp. Some questions such as why people should not use FaceApp and how much of risk it could potentially pose to users were raised. However, a recent analysis from a cyber security expert revealed that there are vital information which FaceApp technology collects from its users through their mobile devices. This information is transmitted unknowingly in the course of using the facial mobile app. According to cnet.com, these vital personal information collected by FaceApp from users include;
- cookie data
- location
- Internet Port (IP) address
- Log files
Why FaceApp Collects User Personal Data
Cyber security experts and software specialists argue that FaceApp requires users cookie data, location, IP address and log files. These data forms enable FaceApp to deliver well-targeted adverts to user real-time. Furthermore, these personal data helps FaceApp know what kind of advertisement could best be served to your mobile device to closely match your desire and needs.
Also, browser cookies enable FaceApp know what activities had been going on on your browser device. This includes the type of sites visited, the nature of your internet searches and queries etc.
In addition, location gives away the fact about what type of advert would best suit your region, people and culture. For instance, knowing that you are from Nigeria enables FaceApp to serve you ads from businesses and products accessible and useful to Nigerians.
How FaceApp uses Device IP Address
Your Internet Port address or IP is unique and personally. To FaceApp, your device IP tells the kind of gadget you are using to surf the internet. Some technologies, which detect IP addresses can as well tell the serial number of your device. These technologies can also track the holder of such device anywhere in the world.
User Device Log File – FaceApp Data
The log file is a kind of registry for all activities, which you have used the device to carry out. Also, the log file registers what you do both offline and online. With your log file information, one could tell what you have been doing with your device for as long as the log file could say. FaceApp therefore, makes a better judgement of users choice and desires. They do so to customize ads served to end users as close as possible. By having access to device log files, the user is potentially at risk of privacy breach. Unfortunately, log files are meant to be encrypted, known only to the device user.
In conclusion, is FaceApp really safe to use or not? This question largely depends on the user privacy terms as given by FaceApp. Ethically, it is expected that FaceApp lets users know what information their software technology collects from people without any reservation. FaceApp ought to also disclose how such personal information is handled. Consequently, it would ensure that whoever finds it alright could accept the terms and proceed with using FaceApp. Sadly enough, most users largely do not bother to check App’s privacy policies and terms of use. Besides, users only want to see how their looks would change in old age or as opposite sex. Certainly, this is really what FaceApp does.
