Why You Should Delete Temu App From Your Phone Right Now

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You are using Temu ? You will have to think about stopping. The Swiss National Testing Institute for Cybersecurity (NTC) has just sounded the alarm after an in-depth analysis of the application. With nearly 93 million monthly users in the European Union, including 12 million in France, Temu has impressive sales scores thanks in particular to its extremely attractive prices. But behind these prices that would make the best negotiators pale, hides a company with very shady practices.

Imagine an application capable of modifying itself, without your consent and without going through the official updates of the App Store. This is exactly what Temu does. The application uses a “dynamic code loading”which allows it to change its features discreetly. In short, while you're bargain hunting, the app can potentially access your personal data, your browsing history, and even your private messages.

Even more worryingly, Temu employs additional layers of encryption that, under the guise of protecting your data, could actually be used to hide unwanted information transfers. Using Temu is like handing over the keys to your house to a stranger who would install his own locks without telling you what he does behind the doors.

Security Threat and Shady Business Practices

Owned by Chinese giant PDD Holdings Inc., Temu transfers all your data to Chinese authorities. Chinese law requires companies to share their data with national intelligence services, an obligation that makes Western cybersecurity experts shudder. In the United States, the attorney general of Arkansas has even called Temu “dangerous malware”.

According to a study by Grizzly Research, the app even has the ability to “hack users' phones and bypass privacy settings”. And this isn't the first time PDD Holdings has made headlines: its other app, Pinduoduo, was already banned from the Google Play Store in 2023 over similar security concerns.

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Beyond security issues, Temu doesn't shine with its ethics. Last March, the platform offered new users the chance to sell their personal data for a prize pool of 100 euros. A practice that speaks volumes about the value the company places on your privacy.

The data collected can be used for increasingly sophisticated phishing operations. “With data leaks on the rise, malicious emails now contain very specific information such as the recipient's date of birth or IBAN”, cybersecurity expert Benjamin Barrier explains to Figaro. Which makes scams much more credible and dangerous.

How to protect yourself without giving up on good deals

The good news is that there is a simple solution to continue enjoying Temu's low prices while protecting your data (if you want to). You can start by using the website instead of the app. Experts agree that the website collects much less information and poses fewer risks to your privacy. If you absolutely must use the app, limit the permissions granted as much as possible. Disable access to your location, contacts, and files. And above all, avoid saving your credit card details on it.

These recommendations are obviously to be taken into consideration if and only if they are in line with your values ​​in terms of consumption. Temu, Shein and others have been repeatedly singled out for their highly questionable practices in terms of human rights and compliance with environmental standards. So much so that the European authorities have gotten involved: an investigation has been opened to determine whether Temu can continue to exist in Europe.

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• The Temu app can be modified without your consent and access your personal data
• As a Chinese company, Temu is legally required to share your data with the Chinese government
• Temu is widely criticized around the world and is even under investigation by European authorities

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