Get involved in exciting, inspiring conversations with other readers. The spokesperson said the app stores are crowded with similarly named apps, some of which feature subscriptions or in-app purchases. They also collect data on the user from other companies and combine it with their own dossier. The firm claims the "detected key points may be kept along with the photo on the servers of our providers for up to two weeks from the last interaction with the photo to speed up further processing of the same photos". It is the former Moscow address of the founder of the company. 3. Everything seems to be controlled by Andersen Business Services which is still registered in Russia, Ritter said. The website of the app, newprofilepic.com is in Moscow. By now the address has been changed in order to avoid any confusion. The company's data policy is clear that 'we collect certain personal information that you voluntarily provide to us'. The timestamp when VERIFY archived the page was 20:37:52. Whenever a popular app comes out, many variations and copycat versions shortly follow, some with nefarious intentions. If youve downloaded the new app fad going around making your pictures into characters DELETE IT!" The only purpose of this is to speed up any further processings of the same photo., Jake Moore, Global Cybersecurity Advisor, ESET Internet Security told MailOnline: "This app is likely a way of capturing peoples faces in high resolution and I would question any app wanting this amount of data, especially one which is largely unheard of and based in another country.". So currently the charges are not triggered by our apps, but by the competitors. Discover best apps & games for you from over 6,000,000 apps. NewProfilePic does not store users accounts or any personal information, Polezhaeva told VERIFY. Again, we cant help remembering the lookalike Bangladesh story. Please consider subscribing to our daily newsletter, text alerts and our YouTube channel. NewProfilePics data privacy policy isnt particularly unique. And it should be again. Snopes and the Snopes.com logo are registered service marks of Snopes.com, shared a screenshot of the requested app permissions. Impress your friends on social media and keep them interested in what's coming next! Get our newsletter in your inbox five days a week. One of its shareholders is based in Panama City, while a director is also based in Russia. But the reality is, if this app or TikTok or any other app from a foreign country, you don't know how they're going to share the data.". The case status is Pending - Other Pending. Polezhaeva told VERIFY Linerock Investment LTD was founded in Tortola, British Virgin Islands. The firms data policy states it collects certain personal information that you voluntary provide to us. Black Americans are not descended from people who were taken from Africa to be enslaved. The app's promotional material states: "The world around us is fast-paced and always evolving. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. The current app portfolio contains 14 apps. Email us atexclusive@the-sun.comor call212 416 4552. May 11, 2022, Victor Sazhin, Instagram post, Feb. 20, 2022, Kristina Lunina, spokesperson for Linerock Investments Ltd., May 12, 2022. Hitler didnt kill 6 million Jews and the Holocaust is not what happened.. We need a full body, or torso. When VERIFY searched WHOIS later on May 11, the registered address for NewProfilePic.com was changed to Florida. WebPhoto Lab boasts one of the vastest collections of stylish and funny photo effects: more than 900 effects to date! The apps developers do have some ties to Russia, but not as extensive as some have claimed. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. People are often surprised to learn just how much personal data mobile apps are allowed to access. According to the The app does not ask for that information. But according to a rising number of claims, the NewProfilePic app is bad news. They said: We are a BVI company with development offices in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. Washington, DC Nothing gets sent to Russia. Its from a Russian based company and there are already reports of them wiping out bank accounts.". 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. Last 90 Days. They simply remove the app afterwards (which does not stop the subscription) and get charged after the trial is over. Snopes says the app, though, was developed by a company in the British Islands and some of their international developers live in Russia. Lip reader reveals what Prince Charles said secretly at Opening of Parliament, Michael Gove put on silly voices as he discussed cost of living crisis, King 'evicts Harry and Meghan from Frogmore Cottage and offers it to Prince Andrew', Buckingham Palace is said to have issued an eviction notice to the Sussexes amid the fallout from the publication of Harry's controversial memoir Spare, Woman fell in love with man 22 years older but wasn't surprised due to teen crush being Robert Downey Jr, Mum banned from gym over photo posted on her Instagram page, The picture was taken in the gym changing room, and showed mum-of-two Stephanie, Man allowed to keep trading in layby as business keeps doggers at bay, "The police know about it, everybody knows about it. A spokesperson for the app told us: "The NewProfilePic app does not store users' accounts or any personal data. By now the address has been changed in order to avoid any confusion. These are the five different single 'types' on the dating scene - and why knowing your personality is the Theatre issues trigger warning for production which 'involves the handling of a cooked egg'. We depend on the generous support of readers like you to help us expose corruption and hold the powerful to account. A second Twitter user echoed the sentiment, saying "NewProfilePic app is Russian owned and likely to contain ransomware.". Last 365 Days. It has been downloaded more than a million times and has almost 50,000 reviews on the Google Play Store. Contrary to the claim, it doesnt include banking information or contacts. However, a check of Sunbiz found no company named Linerock Investments Ltd operating or doing business in Florida. A cyber security expert has urged caution over giving the app access to your images and data, Keep up to date with the latest stories with our WalesOnline newsletter. All we can do is explain patiently that all our apps (including NewProfilePic) are NOT a threat. Some information may have changed over time. Copyright 2023 Waterman Broadcasting of Florida, LLC, Warnings issued over New Profile Pic app that may send your personal information to Russia, Hurricane Ian insurance checks are coming with a scary warning, New device allows dogs with separation anxiety to video call their owners, City leaders discuss plans with property owners to revitalize Midtown Fort Myers, Car noise pollution regulations may be coming to Collier County, Boat dumped on side of road in Lehigh Acres, Island Coast baseball prepares for new season after making history, winning state title, Cape Coral mother warns others after daughters accidental fentanyl overdose. It said it was only registered in Moscow because that was the former home of the founder of the company, who has now moved. Oscar Cainer reveals all. Linerocks headquarters are based in the British Virgin Islands, and they have development offices in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. A spokesperson for the App told MailOnline: "We are a BVI company with development offices in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus," and said they do not share any user information in a way that is not listed in their privacy policy. Meanwhile, the Cyber Helpline, which offers advice to online victims, gives the overall trust score for this app is just 14%. The domain registrant is not Linerock Investments Ltd, but its founder. Currently, the app is #1 on Apples app store. 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. 1. stated on February 19, 2023 in an Instagram post. We have never had an office there. WebOverview. Snopes reported that the companys Heres everything you need to know about The Grinch sequel, plus the best books your kid can check out now. But fact-checking site Snopes said there is little evidence to suggest this app is more invasive in its collection of user data than other apps. When we clicked on the apps privacy policy for both Google and Apple, we were directed to Linerock Investments website. According to Polezhaeva, the domain name for www.newprofilepic.com, the website affiliated with the app, was originally registered by an attorney with Andersen Business Services, Inc., which has an office in Moscow. 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. "Regardless of where they are based, I would always err on the side of caution when handing over sensitive data as once it has gone it is virtually impossible to gain control of it back.". The Transportation Security Administration spent a couple hundred million dollars on gender-neutral screening technology. More info, Tens of thousands of people have been uploading their photographs to the servers of the New Profile Pic app in exchange for the free avatar. The archive had a timestamp of 08:07:36 that day. 'We understand that due to the current events in Ukraine, any connection to Russia could raise suspicions.'. You can read more about the company's privacy policy on its website. When you download the app, you are agreeing to share your location, your device details and other photos on your social media accounts. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. She and others have seen the pictures filling up their Facebook feeds. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. Tens of thousands of people have already uploaded their photographs to the servers of the New Profile Pic app. 'All user photos are hosted and processed on the Amazon AWS and Microsoft Azure servers, which are located outside the Russian Federation. While this app requests permission to access certain data on your phone, these requests aren't unusual. NewProfilePic was created by a mobile development group called Informe Laboratories Inc., and copyrighted by Linerock Investments Ltd., said Kristina Lunina, a Linerock Investments spokesperson. "This app is likely a way of capturing people's faces in high resolution and I would question any app wanting this amount of data, especially one which is largely unheard of and based in another country," he added. This app is safe for people to use it.". Linerock Investments LTD is an Android developer, who started in 2010, and thus is one of the Android pioneers. There are legitimate uses for offshore companies and trusts. Creators of photo editing apps. Jake Moore, a cybersecurity advisor with European cybersecurity company ESET, told VERIFY via email that people should be mindful of what permissions they give to new applications. Russia Recent changes: We want Photo Lab to be your little secret tool for great photos, that's why we keep improving it 24/7. It is scraping the data from your Facebook account, he stressed. The company currently specializes in the Entertainment area. Magic Johnson tested positive for HIV "because Faucis gain of function study used a contaminated Hepatitis B vaccine. Others claimed it was based in Russia and connected to the Kremlin. ', The company behind the app is Linerock Investments Limited, Users have praised its ease of use and quality of the avatars, Some have decided against uploading their own photographs and instead used an image of Roger Moore playing secret agent Simon Templar, On Apple's App Store, the App is number one in the photo and video chart, while more than 25,000 have rated it on the Google Play Store, This user claims 'he should've never have been given access to this app', The app can transform an ordinary photograph into a digital avatar in a matter of seconds, This user praised the rejuvenating quality of the app which was able to remove some wrinkles, One security expert warned: 'This app is likely a way of capturing peoples faces in high resolution and I would question any app wanting this amount of data, especially one which is largely unheard of and based in another country'. When we clicked on the Google Play store sign-up to provide content in ways you 've consented to and improve. 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