Xiaomi: Difference between revisions
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===Advertisements in system apps=== | ===Advertisements in system apps=== | ||
[[File:Mi Video | [[File:Xiaomi device Mi Video scareware ad.jpg|thumb|268x268px|A "scareware" advert is shown in Mi Video when media playback is paused.]] | ||
Xiaomi devices come with several pre-installed first-party apps that contain advertisements, including full-screen deceptive {{Wplink|scareware}} ads urging users to install malware. Workarounds exist to disable ads in some apps, including Mi File Explorer, Mi Browser, MIUI Downloads, MIUI Security, Mi Music, Mi Video and MIUI Themes.<ref>{{Cite web |author=jihad.ptk1 | Xiaomi devices come with several pre-installed first-party apps that contain advertisements, including full-screen deceptive {{Wplink|scareware}} ads urging users to install malware. Workarounds exist to disable ads in some apps, including Mi File Explorer, Mi Browser, MIUI Downloads, MIUI Security, Mi Music, Mi Video and MIUI Themes.<ref>{{Cite web |author=jihad.ptk1 | ||
|title=Turn off ads on Xiaomi smartphones & MIUI using simple settings |url=https://c.mi.com/bd/post/10086 |website=Xiaomi |date=1 Mar 2021 |access-date=12 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708193043/https://c.mi.com/bd/post/10086 |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref> In many of their phones such as the cheaper Poco phones, a system app that can't be searched through normal means called "MSA" should also be revoked or uninstalled via [[wikipedia:Android_Debug_Bridge|ADB]] as it introduces ads most of the time a user opens up the phone.<ref>{{Cite web |author=maricthehedgehog |title=Revoking "msa" is the best decision in my phone |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/miui/comments/15jadut/revoking_msa_is_the_best_decision_in_my_phone/ |website=[[Reddit]] |date=5 Aug 2023 |access-date=12 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250212160509/https://old.reddit.com/r/miui/comments/15jadut/revoking_msa_is_the_best_decision_in_my_phone/ |archive-date=12 Feb 2025}}</ref> | |title=Turn off ads on Xiaomi smartphones & MIUI using simple settings |url=https://c.mi.com/bd/post/10086 |website=Xiaomi |date=1 Mar 2021 |access-date=12 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708193043/https://c.mi.com/bd/post/10086 |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref> In many of their phones such as the cheaper Poco phones, a system app that can't be searched through normal means called "MSA" should also be revoked or uninstalled via [[wikipedia:Android_Debug_Bridge|ADB]] as it introduces ads most of the time a user opens up the phone.<ref>{{Cite web |author=maricthehedgehog |title=Revoking "msa" is the best decision in my phone |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/miui/comments/15jadut/revoking_msa_is_the_best_decision_in_my_phone/ |website=[[Reddit]] |date=5 Aug 2023 |access-date=12 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250212160509/https://old.reddit.com/r/miui/comments/15jadut/revoking_msa_is_the_best_decision_in_my_phone/ |archive-date=12 Feb 2025}}</ref> | ||
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Most of the data is sent to servers in Singapore which belong to Chinese tech giant [[Alibaba]] Cloud. Users can verify themselves which connections are made by using the connection log feature in an app such as No Root Firewall, [https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard NetGuard] or [https://f-droid.org/packages/net.kollnig.missioncontrol.fdroid/ Tracker Control]. This shows the phones sometimes suddenly becoming very "chatty", even in the middle of the night. | Most of the data is sent to servers in Singapore which belong to Chinese tech giant [[Alibaba]] Cloud. Users can verify themselves which connections are made by using the connection log feature in an app such as No Root Firewall, [https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard NetGuard] or [https://f-droid.org/packages/net.kollnig.missioncontrol.fdroid/ Tracker Control]. This shows the phones sometimes suddenly becoming very "chatty", even in the middle of the night. | ||
The only way to mitigate this is to [[ | The only way to mitigate this is to use a [[wikipedia:List_of_custom_Android_distributions|custom "ROM"]] such as [https://www.e.foundation /e/] or [[wikipedia:LineageOS|LineageOS]]. Users who do not have the technical skill to do this should use an app like [https://f-droid.org/packages/net.kollnig.missioncontrol.fdroid/ Tracker Control] from the F-Droid store to limit connections and use an alternate browser such as [[Firefox]] (Google Play Store) or [https://f-droid.org/de/packages/org.mozilla.fennec_fdroid/ Fennec] (F-Droid store). Built-in applications should be avoided as much as possible. | ||
===Links to the Chinese government=== | ===Links to the Chinese government=== | ||
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===Distribution of fake news through notifications=== | ===Distribution of fake news through notifications=== | ||
In March 2026, German consumer organization Stiftung Warentest reported that Xiaomi phones had distributed system notifications posing as news from [[wikipedia:Tagesschau_(German_TV_programme)|Tagesschau]], Germany's highly regarded public broadcast news programme, which also has a popular app which has the ability to send notifications for | In March 2026, German consumer organization Stiftung Warentest reported that Xiaomi phones had distributed system notifications posing as news from [[wikipedia:Tagesschau_(German_TV_programme)|Tagesschau]], Germany's highly regarded public broadcast news programme, which also has a popular app which has the ability to send notifications for breaking news. | ||
The notifications in question was emitted by Xiaomi's system Browser app and led users to a replica of the original Tagesschau website, which contained an investment scam. | The notifications in question was emitted by Xiaomi's system Browser app and led users to a replica of the original Tagesschau website, which contained an investment scam. | ||
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The incident raises concerns about Chinese state actors having the ability to distribute fake news or propaganda in other countries via phone notifications. However, there is currently no evidence of this actually being exploited in practice. | The incident raises concerns about Chinese state actors having the ability to distribute fake news or propaganda in other countries via phone notifications. However, there is currently no evidence of this actually being exploited in practice. | ||
Users can only reasonably protect themselves by moving to an open source operating system ( | Users can only reasonably protect themselves by moving to an open source operating system (custom ROM), provided that their device allows for [[bootloader unlocking]] and is supported by the respective operating system. | ||
===Xiaomi Home=== | ===Xiaomi Home=== | ||