this post was submitted on 19 Sep 2025
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Samsung Embeds Israeli Surveillance App on Phones Across MENA (www.moroccoworldnews.com)
submitted 1 month ago by floofloof@lemmy.ca to c/technology@lemmy.world
17 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/36145028

A nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing human rights in digital spaces across West Asia and North Africa — is warning that Israeli-linked software secretly embedded in Samsung phones across the MENA region poses a serious surveillance threat.

According to SMEX, Samsung’s A and M series devices either come preloaded with the app “Aura” or install it automatically through system updates, without the user’s consent. The application reportedly collects a wide range of personal and device-specific data, including IP addresses, device fingerprints, hardware details, and network information.

​​In 2022, Samsung MENA partnered with Israeli tech company IronSource, integrating its Aura software into Galaxy A and M series phones across the region. The partnership was publicly marketed as a way to “enhance user experience” with AI-powered apps and content suggestions.

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[–] teft@piefed.social 6 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

I'm not an electrical engineer but I did work with explosives a little in the army. You'd only need a small amount of high explosive to do some serious damage to someone if their phone was in their pocket and that explosive went off. Modern phones have plenty of empty spaces to stuff full of enough explosives to do lots of damage. It'd be a lot easier to detect then just making the Li-ion batteries ignite but who can say what the IDF can smuggle into the supply chain.

[–] IndustryStandard@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (2 children)

They would likely be detected by modern airport security if they put in actual explosives.

All battery powered devices go through the scanner separately.

[–] DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works 7 points 1 month ago (1 children)

The israeli pager/walkie-talkie attack's tampered equipments (filled with explosives) completely bypassed airport security...

[–] IndustryStandard@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

Actually that is true. So you are right they probably could easily rig phones.

[–] teft@piefed.social 2 points 1 month ago

Yes, i mentioned in my comment how they’d be easier to detect.