How GetContact is dangerous:

What is GetContact?

It is the users' directory assistant. It has extensive features such as blocking calls from unknown numbers and spam calls.

How to use GetContact?

You may use the GetContact application through smart phones on iOS and Android platforms.
1.Download the GetContact application from the Application Store and run it.
2.Enter your telephone number to complete your membership sign up.
3.Enter your profile information.
4.You can query numbers registered on the GetContact database through the Query section on the application page.
5.You may find your previous queries under Query History.
6.You can protect yourself from unwanted calls by activating the spam section.
7.You may receive contact suggestions for people you may know through the Discover section.

How GetContact is dangerous:

The most popular mobile application in late February and early March was GetContact. However, cyber security experts warn that using GetContact can result in unpleasant consequences.

"The developers of the GetContact application can access any personal information from the smartphone and freely sell these data to third-party companies. Also they can independently include you in spam-mailing. To form your portrait in more detail, they can access the email, notes on your smartphone, find out the location of work on geolocation and other personal information, "the expert said.

Initially, GetContact was conceived as a means to block spam and unwanted calls. In the description of the application it is said that it will only miss those callers with whom you want to communicate, and calls from scammers, robots or sellers will be blocked. Even if the subscriber is not in your contact list, the application will help to determine it, because he has access to a huge database. There are analogues of the application - Numbuster and Truecaller. However, GetContact has become more popular than "doubles".

The instant interest of the users caused the opportunity to find out under what name they are written in the phone books of colleagues, relatives, friends and acquaintances. Many users shared in the network with screenshots of phone books, in which their name is funny or insulting warped.

As explained by the technical director of Check Point Software Technologies Nikita Durov , after installation, the application requests permission to process personal data and accesses the user's contact list. After that, the information falls into a huge database, where now there are almost 3 billion records. This allows you to find out how the phone number is recorded in other people's phone books.

Experts agree that the rightholders of the application can take advantage of the wave of software popularity, collect a huge database of user contacts, and then sell it to interested parties.

"The damage from this can be enormous. Potential customers include advertisers for whom the information bank GetContact is very attractive. Do not forget that GetContact is attractive for hackers who are able to develop fake mirror applications or think over other options for stealing data, "Nikita Durov" believes.



 

What Information GetContact we collect?

GetContact receives or collects information when we operate and provide our Services, including when you install, access, or use our Services. On installation of our application you provide personal information, such as your mobile phone number to create an account.

You also provide us the phone numbers and contact names in your mobile address, including those of both the users of our Services and your other contacts. You confirm you are authorised to provide us such contacts.

You may also customise additional information to your account, such as a profile name, profile picture and email address. You may also provide us with information related to your use of our Services, including how to contact you so we can provide you customer support.

We may collect service-related, diagnostic, and performance information. This includes information about how you use our Services, diagnostic and performance logs and reports. We collect device-specific information when you install, access, or use our Services.

This may include information such as hardware, operating system information, browser information, mobile network information including phone number, and device identifiers. We may use cookies to operate and provide our Services, in order to improve our users experience, understand how GetContact is being used and to mitigate any violations to the integrity of our Services.

If you pay for any of our premium Services, we may receive information and confirmations, such as payment receipts, including from app stores or other third parties processing your payment.

We receive information other people provide us, which could include information about you. For example, when other users you know use our Services, they may provide your phone number and contact description from their mobile address book if authorised to do so, in the same way you may provide theirs.

We allow you to use our Services in connection with third-party services. If you use our Services with such third-party services, we may receive information about you from them. Please note that when you use third-party services, their own terms and privacy policies will govern your use of those services.

We may use various third parties to help provide the highest quality of Services to you as possible. The following sets out the type of relationships with potential third parties as they relate to your information:

·      Service Providers

·      App Analytics

·      Social Networks and Email Platforms

·      Ad Servers

 

 

how to protect personal data:

1. Unlist

If you don't want your number to be searchable in the GetContact app, first choose your country then enter your phone number below, and press ‘Unlist' button. (example: +12371234444).

If you are a GetContact user and have verified your number you must first Remove your account by going to the Settings menu in the app. Select the Settings tab > About GetContact > Account Settings > Remove account. Please note that it can take up to 24 hours before the number gets removed.
Please note that when you start using the GetContact application again with the same number, it will be relisted.

2. Delete your profile in the application, and then the program itself

The developers promise to remove contact within a day, however, there is no guarantee that the promised will come true. Before deleting the number from the application site, the specialist recommended that you delete your profile in the application, and then the program itself.

3. Read the user agreement and the developer's privacy policy

When downloading any mobile applications, cyber security experts recommend that you carefully study all information about the developer. The fact is that even in such popular stores as the App Store and Google Play, there are fake applications that lure users of confidential data. To do this, they masquerade as games, instant messengers and mobile banking. Also, when downloading the application, you should carefully read the user agreement and the developer's privacy policy. This will help you understand who and what information you transmit.