F-Secure released a report alleging that the new Cloud Messaging feature in Xiaomi smartphones' MIUI interface has several security and privacy vulnerabilities. The MIUI Cloud Messaging app allows Xiaomi smartphone owners to send free SMS messages over their data connection . F-Secure claims that this app tends to store a significant amount of private user information, such as IMEI numbers, phone numbers, contacts, and messages, on a server based in China.
Hugo Barra, former Google employee and now global vice president at Xiaomi, has been speaking out, saying: " We believe our top priority is protecting user data and privacy, and we've decided to make MIUI Cloud Messaging an optional feature, eliminating the possibility of automatic activation. We will implement this change on August 10th ."
Users will need to perform a factory reset to activate the service. This can be done from Settings > My Cloud > Cloud Messaging on the home screen or from Settings > Cloud Messaging within the app. Cloud Messaging can also be deactivated from this same location.
A wise and swift decision was made to successfully deflect accusations that the Chinese government could potentially access the servers where all the aforementioned information is stored. It's also worth noting that Xiaomi is one of the fastest-growing Android companies in recent years, and 2014 has been a particularly strong year for sales, which is why they are under intense scrutiny from certain companies looking for ways to diminish their popularity.
We are right in the month in which the new flagship Mi4 is being launched , which if it follows in the footsteps of its predecessor could be one of the most important terminals in the history of Android and this very year.
