Cartoon photo apps are a 'trap for theft,' warns security expert

A cybersecurity expert has issued a stark warning regarding the proliferation of social media applications that transform photos into cartoon characters or caricatures. Ashraf Salah El-Din, a digital transformation consultant and information security expert, explained that these third-party apps, similar to those predicting future appearances or celebrity look-alikes, often carry hidden dangers.

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The applications that spread on social media to convert images into cartoon or caricature characters are mostly third-party applications.

Salah El-Din highlighted the critical risk associated with these applications requesting login credentials through platforms like Facebook or Gmail. This access grants the apps permission to users' personal data and their stored photo libraries. He further elaborated that these applications collect biometric data, such as facial features and digital fingerprints from images. This data, which can include information about the photo's location and the device used, is vulnerable to misuse or sale for illicit purposes.

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These applications collect biometric data such as facial features and the digital fingerprint of the image, which includes information about the location of the shooting and the device used, and can be reused or sold for illicit purposes.

Concerns are escalating as some Instagram accounts have recently fallen victim to phishing attacks exploiting the desire to participate in viral trends for quick engagement. Salah El-Din stressed that user-initiated security measures are the first line of defense. He strongly recommended activating two-factor authentication, linking accounts to phone numbers, employing robust passwords, and thoroughly reviewing an app's data protection policy before installation.

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Protection begins with the user himself by activating two-factor authentication, linking the account to a phone number, using strong passwords, and verifying the application's data protection policy before using it.

He urged users to resist the temptation of entertainment apps without considering the implications of data collection. Once users upload photos and agree to the terms of service, those images effectively become the property of the developing company. This underscores the importance of vigilance and informed decision-making in navigating the digital landscape.

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Do not be swept away by entertainment applications without thinking about the purpose of data collection, because the uploaded photos become the property of the developing company once the terms of use are agreed upon.