Security News Motorola Phones Preinstalled App Found Hijacking Amazon App to Inject Affiliate Codes

[Parkinsond]

Content source

https://cybersecuritynews.com/motorola-phones-hijacking-amazon-app/

A hidden system application bundled with Motorola smartphones has been caught intercepting user-initiated Amazon app launches and silently redirecting them through affiliate tracking URLs, raising serious concerns about supply chain integrity, user consent, and undisclosed revenue practices on premium Android devices.

The behavior was first reported by a Motorola Razr 60 Ultra user on Reddit, who noticed that tapping the Amazon app icon no longer opened the app directly. Instead, the device launched a browser session pointing to an unfamiliar URL, which subsequently redirected to Amazon.com with an embedded affiliate code.

Network traffic analysis revealed that a preinstalled, hidden system app called Smart Feed was the culprit. The app makes outbound requests to devicenative[.]com an external server that appears to supply target app configurations and affiliate codes.

When a user taps a shopping app icon in the launcher, Smart Feed intercepts the intent and substitutes it with a browser redirect carrying the monetization payload.

Motorola Phones Preinstalled App Found Hijacking Amazon App to Inject Affiliate Codes

A hidden system application bundled with Motorola smartphones has been caught intercepting user-initiated Amazon app launches and silently redirecting them through affiliate tracking URLs, raising serious concerns about supply chain integrity, user consent, and undisclosed revenue practices on...

cybersecuritynews.com

 

[oldschool]

More reason to buy a Pixel and install GrapheneOS. Many of these "convenience" apps like Amazon are trackers themselves and users can be access the same site via a web browser.

 

[Wrecker4923]

They announced a partnership with GrapheneOS; they should release the product already. On the premium () phones too.

 

[oldschool]

They announced a partnership with GrapheneOS; they should release the product already. On the premium () phones too.

Coming 2027 maybe. No info as to price or models. I wouldn't hold my breath.

 

[Parkinsond]

I would not be surprised if my Xiaomi phones have similar apps.

 

[Zero Knowledge]

I would not be surprised if my Xiaomi phones have similar apps.

Yeah phones just say no. They are world leaders in manufacturing yet software/security they are a step behind.

Is Motorola releasing a GrapheeneOS phone? Never heard of that before. BTW I rate Motorola as the best CN phone, great burners. It's made by Lenovo?

 

[Wrecker4923]

Yeah phones ...They are world leaders in manufacturing yet ...security they are a step behind.

I always wonder if this is intentional to facilitate maximum surveillance.

Is Motorola releasing a GrapheeneOS phone? Never heard of that before. BTW I rate Motorola as the best CN phone, great burners. It's made by Lenovo?

• Motorola partnership announcement - GrapheneOS Discussion Forum
• Motorola News | Motorola's new partnership with GrapheneOS
• Motorola Mobility - Wikipedia
• If Motorola won't fix its poor Android updates now, when will it?

Motorola Mobility, a US‑based company owned by Lenovo, is typically poor with Android updates (around 3 years for flagship products).

 

[Zero Knowledge]

I always wonder if this is intentional to facilitate maximum surveillance.

 

[stonjean633]

HELLO MOTO!
Well done or not

One of my phones is a Moto Edge.
It's been a habit of mine to debloat things before 1st time use.

 

[Parkinsond]

HELLO MOTO!
Well done or not

One of my phones is a Moto Edge.
It's been a habit of mine to debloat things before 1st time use.

I do it as much as I can with Xiaomi phones, but unfortunately, some apps could not be uninstalled.

 

[stonjean633]

Yes. I use all in one toolbox and others might need CLI /ADB to remove bloats.