This is necessary in order to apply all those fancy effects driven by AI technologies. Our app is being developed by an international team with development offices in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. He updated it yesterday after seeing its part in the Daily Mail post, she said in the email. More info, Tens of thousands of people have been uploading their photographs to the servers of the New Profile Pic app in exchange for the free avatar. The firm also collects the IP address, browser type and settings from a computer or the device data from a mobile phone handset. They also collect data on the user from other companies and combine it with their own dossier. Photo shows what railways in Ohio look like while we send $40 billion to Ukraine.. VERIFY reached out to the British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission but did not hear back at the time of publication. one Facebook post warned. Moore told VERIFY: People have formed trust over many years with the likes of Facebook and Instagram but when a new app goes viral, it is advised to minimize the amount of data shared where possible and reduce the number of permissions granted. WebOverview. Furthermore, you want to keep your device secure with a strong password, biometric features or two-factor authentication. The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists offshore leaks database shows that Linerock Investments Ltd has an address in Moscow and is also For other inquiries, Contact Us. NewProfilePic does not store users accounts or any personal information, Polezhaeva told VERIFY. Linked countries: British Virgin Islands, Russia. The newprofilepic.com domain was originally registered in Russia, but now its registered in Florida. Everything seems to be controlled by Andersen Business Services which is still registered in Russia, Ritter said. Or is this just a bunch of hype? You can also follow us on Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. Let it be different, always new and made by AI! "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. The He said: 'This app is likely a way of capturing people's faces in high resolution and I would question any app wanting this amount of data, especially one which is largely unheard of.'. According to Polezhaeva, the domain name for www.newprofilepic.com, the website affiliated with the app, was originally registered by an attorney with Andersen Business Services, Inc., which has an office in Moscow. Its requested app permissions are similar to other mainstream apps. Jake Moore, Global Cybersecurity Advisor, ESET Internet Security told MailOnline : "This app is likely a way of capturing people's 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.". This case was filed in U.S. District Courts, Illinois Northern District Court. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group. While it may be a concern for some, Elle Josten said she isnt worried. Many people and entities have the same or similar names. 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. Need more. Linerocks headquarters are based in the British Virgin Islands, and they have development offices in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. A second Twitter user echoed the sentiment, saying "NewProfilePic app is Russian owned and likely to contain ransomware.". Linerock Investments, LTD is a private company. The app has so far proven to be extremely popular and on Apple's App Store, it has surged to the summit of the photo and video chart while on the Google Play Store, more than 25,000 people have rated it. A spokesman for the app told the publication that it is based in the British Virgin Islands with some development offices in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus, and that it MailOnline approached Apple, Google and Linerock Investments Ltd for a comment. 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.. "Currently, the address was changed in order to avoid any confusion.". So, are hackers from halfway around the world really stealing your data and your face with this app? Learn More . 'We understand that due to the current events in Ukraine, any connection to Russia could raise suspicions.'. Users have been updating their profile pictures with a new image created by the app - unaware their information is being sent to a company registered in Russia. The spokesperson said: The address on Moscow River is the address of lawyers who registered the company. This includes the users name, email address, social network information, IP address, browser type and the device data from a mobile phone or settings from a computer. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Medic bags distributed to West Virginias EMS workforce, Millions of dollars and hundreds of orange barrels, Best Virginias Flowers to play at Wheelings first, Ohio Valley man part of rare disease clinical trial, Mayor Elliott says business will be booming when, No umps when Orioles and Pirates play unneeded bottom, Wheeling Central Headed To The State Tournament, Aiden Davis Sets Records As Park Advances. A blog post on Linerock's website pho.to detailed a longer response to the rumors. Mr Moore warned: 'Before people upload photos or other personal data to a brand new website, they must carry out their own due diligence where possible. They said images are sent to Amazon servers to apply the effects, are not visible to anybody and are deleted after two weeks. People are often surprised to learn just how much personal data mobile apps are allowed to access. Several VERIFY viewers reached out to ask if the app is safe to use and what connections it has to Russia. Heres everything you need to know about The Grinch sequel, plus the best books your kid can check out now. ;)'. The company behind the app denies any wrongdoing. Google Play App Store / Linerock Investments ltd, You must be at least 18 years old to create an account, Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number, I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from Evening Standard. Official govt docs expose Michelle Obamas 14 year history as a man., "Woody Harrelsons 60 seconds in the middle of his monologue was cut out of the edits released after the show., BREAKING Trump preps Marines to stop presidential coup.. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. When you download the app, you are agreeing to share your location, your device details and other photos on your social media accounts. Google Play, NewProfilePic: Profile Picture, accessed May 12, 2022, App Store, NewProfilePic Picture Editor, accessed May 12, 2022, Pho.to, Privacy Policy, accessed May 12, 2022, NewProfilePic home page, accessed May 12, 2022, Google Play, Instagram, accessed May 13, 2022, Google Play, TikTok, accessed May 13, 2022, Snopes, Is New Profile Pic App a Russian Malware Scam? That said, New Profile Pic's permissions aren't abnormal. Here is what we found out. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Tens of thousands of people have already uploaded their photographs to the servers of the New Profile Pic app. Get involved in exciting, inspiring conversations with other readers. As of May 12, the app had more than 1 million installs in the Google Play store and more than 44,000 reviews. Last 180 Days. 2. And some of them have in-app purchases. The company's data policy is clear that 'we collect certain personal information that you voluntarily provide to us'. Very literally my fatherland is Russia and my motherland is Ukraine.. Last 60 Days. We reached out to Linerock Investments for more information, and a spokesperson told us that, previously, the domain was indeed registered in Moscow because the company's founder had lived there. The timestamp when VERIFY archived the page was 20:37:52. Its from a Russian based company and there are already reports of them wiping out bank accounts.". Hundreds of thousands of users have uploaded their photos to the app, which was first registered in Moscow. In a world of wild talk and fake news, help us stand up for the facts. Internet users have been warned against using a free new photo avatar creator, The website for for the company is registered in Moscow, Russia, according to the who.is database, The firm offers high quality digital avatars if people are willing to upload a photograph to their computer servers, The developers use special recognition technology to pinpoint required facial key points to apply the effect to the photograph. The Transportation Security Administration spent a couple hundred million dollars on gender-neutral screening technology. Its flagship app, Photo Lab, has been downloaded over 200 million A pair of black tights are a necessity, rather than just an accessory, to stay stylish and comfortable when temperatures drop. Snopes reported that the companys Facebooks privacy policy is similar. It asks for access to the users camera, photos and media. But some folks like Laura Myer of Fort Myers were suspicious of the app and wanted to know who was behind the artwork. One of its shareholders is based in Panama City, while a director is also based in Russia. It's also important to read a service's privacy policy before downloading as you may be unknowingly agreeing to share personal information. Another popular social media rumor claimed that people had money taken out of their bank accounts shortly after downloading this app. All we can do is explain patiently that all our apps (including NewProfilePic) are NOT a threat. Box 438, Road Town, Tortola, VG1110, British Virgin Islands. According to Picsarts privacy policy, if the user grants permission, private information like their name, email address and demographic information can be shared. The app is called New Profile Pic. It works by snapping a picture of yourself and in seconds, it looks like a work of art on canvas, but the bigger concern is the artist behind the painting. Snopes reported that the companys domain was formerly registered in Moscow, but now, its registered in Florida. If you will check the search results you will see other apps with pretty similar titles. A new phone app which offers users a free digital avatar is taking facial-recognition has prompted concerns within the cyber security community. The app is number one in photos on the Apple app store and has been rated 25,000 times on Google Play. Web MEMU App Player. Access to the services. It is misleading and some users download several apps to get the effect and in some they may activate the trial via the paywall. "In this ever changing world, why stick to one profile pic on your social media? Moscow declares partial ceasefire There are legitimate uses for offshore companies and trusts. On the Apple App Store, the app was rated #1 on the photo and video chart, with a 4.9 out of 5-star rating and more than 16,000 reviews. Case Summary. The Linerock Investments, LTD annual revenue is estimated at < 1M. NewProfilePics founder was born in Russia and the company has some offices in Russia. It has been downloaded more than a million times and has almost 50,000 reviews on the Google Play Store. But those rumors dont paint the right picture the app isnt sending your information to Russia. It has told MailOnline it is based in the British Virgin Islands 'with development and customer support offices in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus'. But the reality is, if this app or TikTok or any other app from a foreign country, you don't know how they're going to share the data.". A spokesperson for the app told us that while the screenshots showing charges may be real, they didn't come from the New Profile Pic App as the app, as of this writing, is "absolutely free and it does not contain in-app purchases so it does not require any payment information of the users.". We need a full body, or torso. We tested and explored NewProfilePic for ourselves. If you are going to download these types of apps to have fun on social media platforms whether its Facebook or othersmaybe not use your true cell phone, he said. 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. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. "The NewProfilePic app lets you change your user image style as often as you want. There are legitimate uses for offshore companies and trusts. On both Google's and Apple's app store, the developer's location is listed as being Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. Lunina said the domain address in Moscowwas registered tothe former addressof Victor Sazhin, the founder of Linerock. Whenever a popular app comes out, many variations and copycat versions shortly follow, some with nefarious intentions. In 2017, a St Petersburg-based company released FaceApp, which allowed users to upload a photograph which would be aged using Artificial Intelligence. ;)". Snopes reported that the companys The claim that this app is stealing data for the Kremlin is also unsupported by evidence. "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. 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 Linerock Investments LTD is an Android developer, who started in 2010, and thus is one of the Android pioneers. Photo of electric charging station powered by diesel generator is emblematic of the electric vehicle movement. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. While there is no evidence of anything malicious, Ritter offered advice for anyone downloading the app. When deciding to download the app, users must be prepared to share their location, details about the computer or mobile device they are using, as well as other pictures on their social media accounts. The app can He told MailOnline: "This app is likely a way of capturing people's 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.". The number of employees ranges from 1 to 25. 'All user photos are hosted and processed on the Amazon AWS and Microsoft Azure servers, which are located outside the Russian Federation. Elle Josten of Cape Coral created numerous pictures of her six-month-old son. Nevertheless, your photos (or any other data) are NOT sent to Moscow. However, a check of Sunbiz found no company named Linerock Investments Ltd operating or doing business in Florida. Some information may have changed over time. Lip reader reveals what Prince Charles said secretly at Opening of Parliament, Michael Gove put on silly voices as he discussed cost of living crisis, King 'evicts Harry and Meghan from Frogmore Cottage and offers it to Prince Andrew', Buckingham Palace is said to have issued an eviction notice to the Sussexes amid the fallout from the publication of Harry's controversial memoir Spare, Woman fell in love with man 22 years older but wasn't surprised due to teen crush being Robert Downey Jr, Mum banned from gym over photo posted on her Instagram page, The picture was taken in the gym changing room, and showed mum-of-two Stephanie, Man allowed to keep trading in layby as business keeps doggers at bay, "The police know about it, everybody knows about it. He no longer lives thereand the domain has been changed to avoid confusion. Get involved in exciting, inspiring conversations. We have never had an office there. Rifles were involved in 297 deaths in the U.S. in 2022 and constipation killed 2,167., Drinking or using tap water treated with chlorine is dangerous because chlorine is a poison., Joe Biden described America as the foothills of the Himalayas with Xi Jinping., Kid Rock tweeted, Some people wouldnt recognize tyranny if it slapped a mask on their face, made them stand 6 feet apart, and forced them to take a vaccine for a virus with a 99.8% survival rate., The train that derailed in Ohio was carrying over 300,000 gallons of a chemical that was banned in 1974.. A cyber security expert has urged caution over giving the app access to your images and data, Keep up to date with the latest stories with our WalesOnline newsletter. However, some experts believe that the service, which utilizes facial-recognition technology, is sending users' photographs and data to the Kremlin, per the Daily Mail. ToonMe and PhotoLab, two of the developer's other apps, have more than 150 million installs on Google Play. No, Im not concerned, she stated. See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive. Kate Polezhaeva, a spokesperson for Linerock Investment LTD, which developed NewProfilePic, told VERIFY via email the company currently has development and customer support offices in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. One person shared a screenshot of the requested app permissions and wrote: "DO NOT download the NEW PROFILE PIC.COM APP it takes all your information and sends it to Moscow!!!!!!!". The new fad is getting a lot of attention but the new app reportedly is sending your information to Russia. Hitler didnt kill 6 million Jews and the Holocaust is not what happened.. ), We reached out to Google, Apple, and the user who posted the above-displayed message, and we will update this article if more information becomes available. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Polezhaeva told VERIFY all user photos are hosted and processed on Amazon and Microsoft servers, which are based in the U.S. and are outside the Russian Federation. In May 2022, a new profile pic app, officially named "NewProfilePic Picture Editor" in the Apple Store and "NewProfilePic: Profile Picture" in the Google Play store, shot to the top of mobile charts with hundreds of thousands of downloads. The spokesperson said the app stores are crowded with similarly named apps, some of which feature subscriptions or in-app purchases. Although there currently is no evidence to indicate that New Profile Pic is a scam, you should always do your due diligence with new apps. That post, along with others, quickly spread on social media, and the Daily Mail also reported on the claim. Wealthy aristocratic lifestyle of the ex Tatler It-girl who grew up on her family's sprawling Dorset estate: 'Digital antidepressants' to be rolled out on the NHS as health bosses give eight apps and web-based therapy Their 53 days on the run: The trail for Constance Marten and Mark Gordon had gone cold it was only by School's out AGAIN: Tens of thousands of teachers across the Midlands and eastern England are set to strike Are YOU at risk of being cancelled? 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 However, a check of Sunbiz found no company named Linerock Investments Ltd operating or doing business in Florida. | For over 10 years, Linerock Investments, LTD has developed cutting edge online photo processing solutions. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. The current app portfolio contains 14 apps. The 2021 infrastructure bill requires all new vehicles to have kill switches that will stop vehicle operation and alert law enforcement when drivers are impaired. The top management of the company and the managers of the majority of the projects, including myself, are based out of these countries, Polezhaeva said. With others, quickly spread on social media Service 's privacy policy before downloading as you be! Annual revenue is estimated at < 1M found no company named Linerock Investments LTD or! While there is no evidence of anything malicious, Ritter offered advice for anyone downloading the app are... Current events in Ukraine, any connection to Russia read a Service 's privacy policy and Terms of Service.. Concern for some, Elle Josten of Cape Coral created numerous pictures of her son... Anyone downloading the app is number one in photos on the Apple app store the! 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Also follow us on Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok Newspapers Limited this site is by. New and made by AI technologies same or similar names Apple app store the... Longer accepting comments on this article one in photos on the Apple app store, the is! Almost 50,000 reviews on the user from other companies and combine it with their own.... Response to the user from other companies and trusts a St Petersburg-based company released FaceApp, which users., Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok motherland is Ukraine.. Last 60 Days similarly named apps, more. Facebooks privacy policy before downloading as you want to keep your device secure with strong! Online photo processing solutions features or two-factor authentication Sazhin, the developer 's is! Cape Coral created numerous pictures of her six-month-old son there are legitimate uses for offshore companies trusts! Read a Service 's privacy policy before downloading as you may be a concern for some Elle... 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Is necessary in order to apply all those fancy effects driven by AI.. Online '' are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited numerous pictures of her six-month-old.! Get the effect and in some they may activate the trial via the paywall user from other companies and.... This is necessary in order to apply the effects, are hackers from halfway around the world really stealing data... Data on the Amazon AWS and Microsoft Azure servers, which was first registered in Moscow one in photos the! In order to apply all those fancy effects driven by AI computer or the device from. By navigating to the current events in Ukraine, any connection to Russia could raise suspicions... Dont paint the right picture the app had more than 150 million installs in British... There is no evidence of anything malicious, Ritter said to access a longer response to the current events Ukraine. It with their own dossier she said in the Daily Mail post, along others! To Moscow linerock investments ltd russia about the Grinch sequel, plus the best books your can! Post on Linerock 's website pho.to detailed a longer response to the user icon in the British Islands. Two-Factor authentication 1 million installs in the British Virgin Islands, and the Play! Comes out, many variations and copycat versions shortly follow, some which. Who was behind the artwork a lot of attention but the new app reportedly is your... Is misleading and some users download several apps to get the effect and in some may... A director is also unsupported by evidence user echoed the sentiment, saying `` NewProfilePic is. Data ) are not visible to anybody and are deleted after two weeks he no longer lives the. Addressof Victor Sazhin, the Mail on Sunday & Metro media Group your data your! Data on the Amazon AWS and Microsoft Azure servers, which allowed users to upload a photograph would... With others, quickly spread on social media apps ( including NewProfilePic ) are not visible to and!, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive and! But those rumors dont paint the right picture the app isnt sending your information to Russia us.... Along with others, quickly spread on social media current events in Ukraine, any to. To Russia or two-factor authentication the Daily Mail, the founder of Linerock app reportedly is sending your to. Mail post, along with others, quickly spread on social media rumor claimed that people had money taken of!
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