It seems like overnight everyone is talking about Temu. Temu is an online shopping app full of incredible deals. There are $17 wireless earbuds, a $1 “gold” necklace, and a $23 wedding dress.
No wonder Temu is the most popular shopping app in the US, second only to Amazon. But most of us know very little about the origin of apps. like these appsit is tied to China.
I’m trying to find out if it’s safe to use. Here is what i found.
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Where did Tim come from?
This app is not an overnight operation. Temu (pronounced “Temu”) is based in Boston, Massachusetts. PDD Holdings Co., Ltd. PDD is headquartered in Shanghai, China. PDD, as you might guess, also owns China-based e-commerce platform Pinduoduo. (Read more about Pinduoduo and its shady apps below.)
Is This China-Based Shopping App Spying On You?
Over 50 million Americans have downloaded Temu since it launched stateside in September 2022. You may remember the expensive Super Bowl ad that promised you could “shop like a millionaire.”
This shopping app is under investigation, as are other China-based apps. (Statista)
After Americans found out how cheap the prices were, searches for terms like “is tem legal?” skyrocketed. Naturally, you get what you pay for.
Things to know before using Temu
First, we buy directly from manufacturers in China and other parts of the world. As such, shipping often takes longer than sites like Amazon. The item may arrive in a week, but it may take up to 12 days.
Most of the time, the prices are low because the goods are cheap. Pictures of what is advertised may differ from what you actually get.
Online reviewers seem to agree. Cheap is good, but not if the quality is too rough to use. Tem’s BBB Rating is 2.21/5. Review on TrustPilot 38% of the reviews were five stars and 41% were one star.
But it’s not the worst. While shopping, Temu collects a lot of information.
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becomes terrible
Of course, not all the information you want from your phone is exclusive to Temu. Most apps out there want as much as you give up.
Temu specifically collects:
- Information you provide, such as your name, address, and phone number.
- Details you enter, such as your birthday, photo, and social media profile.
- Mobile phone or computer operating system and version, IP address, GPS location (if allowed), and browsing data.
We also collect information about you from third-party sources such as Temu sellers, public records, social media, data brokers, credit bureaus and marketing partners.
Americans using Temu are actually selling out their country with a worthless bargain. Say delete. Method is as follows.
![Red flags fly in front of the Great Hall of the People on March 4, 2022, ahead of the biannual conference in Beijing, China. The fifth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) opened on March 4.](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2022/07/640/320/Untitled-design-399.png?ve=1&tl=1)
Red flags fly in front of the Great Hall of the People on March 4, 2022, ahead of the biannual conference in Beijing, China. The fifth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) opened on March 4. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images)
On iPhone, press and hold the app, then tap Delete App > Delete App. Tap erase to confirm.
On Android, long press the app, then tap Delete App > Delete App > Delete.
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in bad company
Temu collects a lot, but nothing compared to Pinduoduo. Remember they are owned by the same company.
Cybersecurity researchers have discovered that it does more than just track device information and activity. Malicious code could bypass the phone’s security settings to spy on other apps, read notifications and messages, and even change settings.
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Temu has full access to all your contacts, calendars and photo albums, as well as all your social media accounts, chats and texts. In other words, Literally everything on your phone.
![China-based shopping app Temu is becoming increasingly popular, but it also raises concerns.](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2023/04/640/320/2-TEMU.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
China-based shopping app Temu is becoming increasingly popular, but it also raises concerns. (Cyber Guy.com)
why?An insider said CNN A way to spy on users and competitors to increase sales.
No shopping app requires so much management. Especially those related to the Chinese Communist Party. If you use Pinduoduo, remove the app from your phone as soon as possible. And even after doing so, it’s reportedly difficult to remove everything.
Pro tip: If you downloaded Pinduoduo, you really should. full factory reset Erase leftover codes and tracking on your smartphone.
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Additionally, I would advise anyone who needs an Android version of the Apple AirTag. Meanwhile, national parks are booming and one company is making big profits. Feeling lost in a sea of people? Don’t worry. Google Maps is supported.
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