A prominent American retail player, Walmart, has opted to discontinue the sale of a specific line of children’s tablets on its online platform after uncovering a spyware issue that could compromise user data, particularly that of children. The revelation was reported by a German news agency.
Both Amazon and Google, responsible for the tablet’s e-commerce and operating system, respectively, have acknowledged the situation and are actively looking into the matter.
The incident unfolded when Alexis Hancock, daughter of a cybersecurity expert, received a tablet as a birthday gift in May of the previous year. Given her background in information security research, Hancock immediately raised concerns about a company named “Dragon Touch” manufacturing such tablets, a name unfamiliar to her.
As part of the Electronic Frontier Foundation technology foundation, Hancock naturally subjected the tablet to scrutiny before permitting her daughter’s use. She identified several security and privacy-related issues that could potentially jeopardize the data of not only her daughter but also other children.
Hancock highlighted that the “Dragon Touch KidzPad Y88X” tablet harbored widely recognized spyware and was operating on an Android version released five years ago.
The spyware, categorized as both “piracy software” and “potentially unwanted programs” due to the operating system’s lenient history of software installations, was part of other programs. Additionally, the device featured an advanced app store specifically tailored for children.
Despite reaching out to Dragon Touch to report the issue, Hancock received no response.
Adam Montgomery, spokesperson for Amazon, addressed the matter via email, stating that the company “is investigating these claims and will take appropriate action if necessary,” given that the tablet is available for purchase on Amazon’s platform.
In contrast, Walmart promptly announced the suspension of the tablet’s sale on its online store until a resolution is reached.
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