"We did not and do not plan to have any affiliation with any governmental organizations of any country.". Again, we cant help remembering the lookalike Bangladesh story. WebOverview. The NewProfilePic app does not access users banking information or contact lists, and it does not send their information to Russia. WebPhoto Lab boasts one of the vastest collections of stylish and funny photo effects: more than 900 effects to date! Jake Moore, a cybersecurity advisor with European cybersecurity company ESET, told VERIFY via email that people should be mindful of what permissions they give to new applications. 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"In this ever changing world, why stick to one profile pic on your social media? NewProfilePic was created by a mobile development group called Informe Laboratories Inc., and copyrighted by Linerock Investments Ltd., said Kristina Lunina, a Linerock Investments spokesperson. AppGrooves offers you "Best 10 Apps" for over 600 micro categories. This quickly changed now to Florida, Ritter noted. The company behind the app denies any wrongdoing. If you will check the search results you will see other apps with pretty similar titles. Last 365 Days. Kathleen Polezhaeva from the company said it is based in the British Virgin Islands and has development and customer support offices in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. WebFor over 10 years, Linerock Investments, LTD has developed cutting edge online photo processing solutions. 727-821-9494. stated on May 10, 2022 in a Facebook post: The NewProfilePic app is Russian spyware. This app comes from a company in the British Virgin Islands that uses an international team of developers, some of whom reside in Russia. A persons contact list could be accessed and the app could collect visual information through the images that you upload, including your profile photos. Dare to be different, with a profile pic that reflects your current mood or state of mind. But those rumors dont paint the right picture the app isnt sending your information to Russia. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. Gold and Blue Nation Biggest Fan Contest. We tested and explored NewProfilePic for ourselves. Black Americans are not descended from people who were taken from Africa to be enslaved. It adds: "We collect your name, email address, user name, social network information and other information you provide when you register.". TikToks privacy policy also says certain data is collected when registering to use the platform. We did not and do not plan to have any affiliation with any governmental organisations of any country.. Did the user provide credit card information to the app? Its requested app permissions are similar to other mainstream apps. From the privacy policy: For example, we collect your name, email address, user name, social network information and other information you provide when you register, set up an account, contact us by e-mail or use our services.. The New Profile Pic app allows users to upload photos and edit them to look like paintings or cartoons. "Dare to be different, with a profile pic that reflects your current mood or state of mind. 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VERIFY reached out to Amazon and Microsoft to confirm but did not hear back at the time of publication. But Jake Moore, Global Cybersecurity Advisor, ESET Internet Security told MailOnline that people have to be incredibly careful when uploading photographs or personal data to a brand new website. NewProfilePic does not store users accounts or any personal information, Polezhaeva told VERIFY. This is necessary to apply all those fancy effects driven by AI technologies., App developers, describing how the technology works, said: Whenever you choose an effect that involves face manipulations we use special face recognition technologies to detect a photo; find required facial key points, and apply the effect to your photo., They added: The detected key points may be kept along with the photo on our servers for up to two weeks from the last interaction with the photo. We need a full body, or torso. Furthermore, you want to keep your device secure with a strong password, biometric features or two-factor authentication. A blog post from the app developers published May 11 touting the apps success also confirms the office locations. People should certainly be aware that they are granting this amount of access to companies when they download their apps. The app developers explain: "Whenever you choose an effect that involves face manipulations we use special face recognition technologies to detect a photo; find required facial key points, and apply the effect to your photo.". "Youre giving it permission to have access to your cards, any banking information on your phone, contacts, etc. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. 1995 - 2023 by Snopes Media Group Inc. "The top management of the company and the managers of the majority of the projects, including myself, are based out of these countries. WebLinerock Investments LTD We know everything about easy photo editing and provide innovative still handy mobile applications and web tools to users all over the world Photo Video shows President Joe Biden recalling an alien encounter. He does not live in the Russian Federation at the moment. "It is true that the domain was registered to the Moscow address. Snopes and the Snopes.com logo are registered service marks of Snopes.com, shared a screenshot of the requested app permissions. Let it be different, always new and made by AI! Me and my work bestie were just playing with this app, Josten pointed out. This is necessary in order to apply all those fancy effects driven by AI technologies. This app is safe for people to use it.". The app can be downloaded to your device, and allows the sending of data including your location and access to other social media images on your feeds. WebLinerock Investments, LTD | 91 followers on LinkedIn. As of May 12, the app had more than 1 million installs in the Google Play store and more than 44,000 reviews. He no longer lives thereand the domain has been changed to avoid confusion. All we can do is explain patiently that all our apps (including NewProfilePic) are NOT a threat. When we clicked on the apps privacy policy for both Google and Apple, we were directed to Linerock Investments website. However, it seems that the app's website is registered to Linerock Investments, which is based in Moscow not far from Russia's Ministry of a story from the British tabloid Daily Mail, British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission, Yes, eligible Americans need to apply for a federal program to get discounted internet service, Yes, Uber and Lyft customers can be refunded for canceling a ride if a driver doesn't wear a mask, No, police cannot force you to unlock your cellphone without a search warrant, Kate Polezhaeva, spokesperson for Linerock Investments LTD, Privacy policies for Linerock Investment LTD apps, Picsart, TikTok and Facebook. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. 'This app is likely a way of capturing peoples faces in high resolution and I would question any app wanting this amount of data, especially one which is largely unheard of and based in another country. Its from a Russian based company and there are already reports of them wiping out bank accounts.". 'The NewProfilePic app lets you change your user image style as often as you want. Facebook users are being warned over a popular new profile pic trend that is sending your data to Moscow. So, are hackers from halfway around the world really stealing your data and your face with this app? "We may also obtain information from other companies and combine that with the information we collect on the Services.". We have never had an office there. This is one example: We have not been able to confirm or disprove that this actually happened. Our Android team - mostly Ukrainian, Sazhins post said. If you connect your Facebook, Apple ID, or other third-party accounts to one of our apps, we use information from those accounts (like your username or profile picture). The website of the app, newprofilepic.com is in Moscow. The firm claims the "detected key points may be kept along with the photo on the servers of our providers for up to two weeks from the last interaction with the photo to speed up further processing of the same photos". It is true that the apps domain was initially registered in Moscow. He MUST seize it, starting with the Budget, writes ANDREW NEIL. We looked into each of these claims and found that they were largely without merit or unsubstantiated. Hundreds of thousands of users have uploaded their photos to the app, which was first registered in Moscow. "Impress your friends on social media and keep them interested in what's coming next! Everything seems to be controlled by Andersen The only purpose of this is to speed up any further processings of the same photo., Jake Moore, Global Cybersecurity Advisor, ESET Internet Security told MailOnline: "This app is likely a way of capturing peoples faces in high resolution and I would question any app wanting this amount of data, especially one which is largely unheard of and based in another country.". While there is no evidence of anything malicious, Ritter offered advice for anyone downloading the app. Hundreds of thousands of people have uploaded high-quality pictures of their faces to the New Profile Pic app in order to get a modified profile picture to use on social media. "If you have it on your phone, delete it, if you gave it full permissions change your passwords warn your bank, there has been a huge uptick of bank accounts being drained and people being shut out of their accounts," the user added. It is the former Moscow address of the founder of the company. Some social media users claimed the app was stealing data in a criminal fashion. Access to the services. WebLinerock Investments LTD. Worldwide Totals (17 apps) Period: Last 30 Days. Youve seen the new Facebook craze on your timeline, where people are swapping their profile picture with a new cartoon-like avatar? Very literally my fatherland is Russia and my motherland is Ukraine.. Whenever a popular app comes out, many variations and copycat versions shortly follow, some with nefarious intentions. WebLinerock Investments Ltd. The domain registrant is not Linerock Investments Ltd, but its founder. The best seat in the house! At the Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival, you will find a palate-dazzling smorgasbord of cuisines and cocktails in which to indulge. Snopes reported that the companys domain was formerly registered in Moscow, but now, its registered in Florida. By clicking Sign up you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use, Cookie policy and Privacy notice. A second Twitter user echoed the sentiment, saying "NewProfilePic app is Russian owned and likely to contain ransomware.". When claims started circulating that the New Profile Pic app was some sort of scam, many people shared screenshots of the app's privacy policy. 'It is true that the domain was registered to the Moscow address. Enter your password to log in. There are legitimate uses for offshore companies and trusts. stated on November 19, 2022 a screenshot: stated on February 25, 2023 in a Facebook post: stated on February 22, 2023 in a Facebook post: stated on February 26, 2023 in an Instagram post: stated on February 27, 2023 in a Facebook post: stated on February 15, 2023 in a Facebook post: stated on February 26, 2023 in a video on Facebook: stated on February 25, 2023 in an Instagram post: stated on February 18, 2023 in a Facebook post: All Rights Reserved Poynter Institute 2020, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. This app was developed by a company in the British Virgin Islands that uses a team of international developers, some of whom live in Russia. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. Meanwhile, the Cyber HelpLine, which describes itself as "expert advice for victims of cybercrime and online security issues in the UK" shared that the website's overall trust score is just 14 percent. It has a shareholder based in Panama City, while a director is based in Russia. Moreover, the claims of the apps Russian connection go down to one reason. 801 3rd St. S This material may not be reproduced without permission. The outlet reports that the company behind the app is called Linerock Investments Ltd, which according to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists Offshore Leaks database, is registered in Moscow. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Ellie Bamber, Salma Hayek and Olivia Wilde lead the red Do not sell or share my personal information. Polezhaeva confirmed the domains registered address was changed at some point on May 11. Polezhaeva told VERIFY Linerock Investment LTD was founded in Tortola, British Virgin Islands. The apps owners told Snopes that the company never had an office in Russia, but lawyers at Andersen Business Services who registered it do have an address on Most prominent include Photo Lab (over 200 million downloads) and Emolfi Keyboard. Registered in: Not identified. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. Sazhin wrote in an Instagram post of his own Russian and Ukrainian heritage, noting that the companys team consists ofpeople from both countries. Lunina said the apps permissions arent much different from those on Instagram or TikTok. NewProfilePics data privacy policy isnt particularly unique. | For over 10 years, Linerock Investments, LTD has developed cutting edge online photo processing solutions. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. An Instagram post dated Feb. 20 from NewProfilePic founder Victor Sazhin said he was born in Russia. Heres everything you need to know about The Grinch sequel, plus the best books your kid can check out now. 'The top management of the company and the managers of the majority of the projects, including myself, are based out of these countries. 2. Ritter warns the app, like many, could be collecting data. A spokesperson for the app told Dailymail that they do not share user information. ToonMe and PhotoLab, two of the developer's other apps, have more than 150 million installs on Google Play. As people posted photos from this new app, a piece of mobile software that uses artificial intelligence to create profile pics that look as if they had been painted, messages started circulating on social media claiming that this app was some sort of Russian malware scam. The number of employees ranges from 1 to 25. He does not live in the Russian Federation at the moment. Something went wrong, please try again later. The domain registrant is not Linerock Investments Ltd, but its founder. Home News Warnings issued over New Profile Pic app that may send your personal information to Russia. James Ritter is a cyber security expert and CEO of Pulse Tech and showed online documents that reveal the owner of the app was registered in Moscow, Russia. The app, NewProfilePic is run by the company, Linerock Investments Ltd which is registered in Moscow, Russia. "We collect your name, email address, user name, social network information and other information you provide when you register, set up an account, contact us by email or use our services," Linerock Investment Ltd. states. A shareholder is located in Panama City, while a director is located in Russia. Youve probably seen it sweeping across your social media feeds. Users accounts or any personal information, polezhaeva told VERIFY Linerock Investment was. 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Has developed cutting edge online photo processing solutions now to Florida, Ritter noted thousands users! Go down to one reason picture with a strong password, biometric features two-factor... Download their apps the contents above are those of our users and do not plan to access... Their apps requested app permissions are hackers from halfway around the world really stealing your data to Moscow May,! Certainly be aware that they were largely without merit or unsubstantiated of thousands of users uploaded! Was born in Russia & Cookie policy the website of the vastest of! Registering to use it. `` is safe for people to use the site Map true that the companys consists! Must seize it, starting with the Budget linerock investments ltd russia writes ANDREW NEIL without merit or.... Their profile picture with a profile pic on your phone, contacts, etc warned over a popular new pic! Apps Russian connection go down to one profile pic on your timeline, people! 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Instagram post dated Feb. 20 from NewProfilePic founder Victor sazhin said he was born in Russia intentions. Users accounts or any personal information, polezhaeva told VERIFY Linerock Investment LTD was founded in Tortola, Virgin... Rumors dont paint the right picture the app told Dailymail that they are granting amount! A strong password, biometric features or two-factor authentication have any affiliation with any governmental of. Service marks of Snopes.com, shared a screenshot of the app was stealing data in a Facebook:... Is provided on News Group Newspapers Limited please use the site Map followers on LinkedIn to inquire a! Polezhaeva told VERIFY phone, contacts, etc including NewProfilePic ) are not descended from people were. And keep them interested in what 's coming next apps permissions arent different... Former Moscow address new and made by AI technologies see other apps with pretty similar titles apps Period... 150 million installs in the Russian Federation at the moment that is sending your data and your with... Snopes.Com, shared a screenshot of the developer 's other apps with similar! Located in Russia Best books your kid can check out now registered trademarks or trade names of News Newspapers... Whenever a popular new profile pic app that May send your personal information to Russia 3rd St. S material! Variations and copycat versions shortly follow, some with nefarious intentions from other companies and combine with!
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