According to ocworkbench Xiaomi RedMi note is sending SMS’ and photos to server in China. There are already many articles on the net pointing to the same source. So are Xiaomi handsets really sending data to Chinese server?
RedMi handsets though launched are not yet available in India. The Mi3 is already popular in India and selling like hot cakes. I am not sure if the data is being sent to Chinese servers and neither can I trust the source (dated 19th July 2014) as there are several points missing.
Update : Statement from Mi India.
The image attached shows the messaging app that is actually sending the data to IP address in China. Note that is the only app that is doing so. As per the source the activity continued even when miCloud service was turned off, on 3G there just a handshake and on Wi-Fi the data is transmitted in the background.
The messaging app in question has a cloud messaging option that is switched on by default; you can disable it if you want. What this cloud messaging does is it lets you send messages to anyone else using MiUi. It supports both text and MMS. The MiCloud services also has the Cloud messaging option (that takes you to the messaging settings) plus gives you option to take backup of contacts, SMS’s photo, logs etc. Backups are off by default on the Indian Mi3 but Cloud messaging is enabled.
Moreover if you are really concerned about data privacy there is data restrict option and you can block data access to messaging app.
The source does not mention anything about if they tried the data restrict option and if they specially switched off cloud messaging. Also in security there is user experience program that is switched on by default. The source also tried flashing the RedMi note with a new ROM but the data was still being sent, I am not sure how that is possible? unless they flashed it again with the same MiUi ROM.
I downloaded the OS Monitor app and I do see the same IP address 42.62.48.157 used by some app like Music, service framework. I have disabled the same for Messaging app, did not find any for that yet.
I have checked a Micromax handset running on stock android it is also doing the same for settings, OS monitor, System however point to sever in the United states (Google). Even on Samsung handset the same pinging google servers in US. Since Xiaomi is using MiUi based on Android 4.4.2 (it is a Custom ROM) and they are from China it is natural they will use their servers, I think its normal and not a big issue.
Join the Discussion
88 Comments on "Xiaomi handsets sending secret info to Chinese Servers?"
can anyone tell me how to enable background data?? my redmi note does not showing this option….
“Restrict Data Usage by app” only restrict the communication by mobile data connection.
It wont restrict the DATA transfer by Wifi for system app.
So no use of disabling the “Restrict Data Usage by app”, data will be sent when in wifi to cloud.
Hello everyone,
Just got a new miui kxdmibf22.0 update. Download and let us know if everything is fine now 🙂
http://en.miui.com/thread-32236-1-1.html (showing as 618.7 MB!!!)
Gogi I think xiaomi is become more dangerous and bigger threat than Pakistan now days and also created a lot of heat everywhere.
We forget to laugh after xiaomi. ‘china ne aake bhai bhai ko aapas me ladwa diya hai need some peace plz tell samsung to launch some more mobiles like galaxy a** nxt.
Just came across a site that lists the server under Forest Eternal Communication Tech. Co.Ltd. which in turn is hosted by http://www.cnnic.cn the Chinese Government server. Here surprisingly there are 2 servers; one listed as Xiaomi.cn and another one for miui.com i.e the custom interface of Xiaomi . That could explain the continuous ping even after the phone was rooted and loaded with a new ROM.
Check this website and maybe someone could make sense of this.
http://myip.ms/view/ip_owners/181436/Forest_Eternal_Communication_Tech_Co_ltd.html
Bro…thanks for ur regerous exercise…but what should we do ?
Someday might somebody will invent that…
htc ping to taiwan..
Samsung to s korea
nokia to us
asus to taiwan
jholla to finland probably (forget their origin)
oplus to taiwan
lenovo – one – huawei etc etc to china
and coming firefox will also somewhere
Blackbery to canada
really fed up with this discussion
finally what should we do ??
We left only with one option…..sorry 2 options
nokia 106 – for single sim
nokia 107 – for dual sim
Every phone and OS manufacturer will certainly need a port to listen to device and get debug info when needed.
there must be some code which triggers the search into the system logs, events etc and once found it would transmit to the destination server.
So I currently don’t own a Mi-3, but I managed to get one for a close friend thru my FK account on very 1st sale day. But for his security I would certainly do one thing next time he’s around.
Would root the phone, place a BLOCK to the URL and IP mentioned and are suspected.
anyone with root access can easily do so by adding the block for those IP/URL in “hosts” files under
/etc folder. That’s not a big of problem for a root users.
Coming back to the point, I strongly doubt the phone would collect any users private data and pics, they are in business for so long and thats not the first time they sold a phone, except the fact in India this was their first launch, and the phone would have gone some clearance before the were allowed to bring it to India.
Last but not the least, I was quite expecting such allegations for a phone which would make existing players to leave the chair and stand up to see the Big Daddy Of Specification which is bundled in 1/3 of price of they were happily selling here.