We looked at the apps permissions in both stores neither of them state that the app accesses peoples banking or contact information. 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.". While it may be a concern for some, Elle Josten said she isnt worried. A pair of black tights are a necessity, rather than just an accessory, to stay stylish and comfortable when temperatures drop. WebPhoto Lab boasts one of the vastest collections of stylish and funny photo effects: more than 900 effects to date! The inclusion of a person or entity in the ICIJ Offshore Leaks Database is not intended to suggest or imply that they have engaged in illegal or improper conduct. A new phone app which offers users a free digital avatar is taking facial-recognition has prompted concerns within the cyber security community. The Daily Mail reported that this app was developed by a READ MORE:If it came to it Moscow couldn't stop NATO nukes and Putin knows it, "We understand that due to the current events in Ukraine, any connection to Russia could raise suspicions.". A new phone app is making waves on social media as people use it to recreate their selfies into caricatures of themselves. The app then asks for permission to access photos and media on the device. NewProfilePics founder was born in Russia and the company has some offices in Russia. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. 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Users on Twitter are also sharing experts' fears of a Russian-based cyberattack or scam, with one person calling the New Profile Pic app a "phishing scam". Please contact us if you find an error in the database. After, The Daily Mail and others reported the app was created in Russia. Heres how it works: Once users downloadand openthe app, itasks whetherthey'd like to try a three-day trial for its pro version, which costs $29.99. Here are guides from Apple and Android on how to control privacy settings on your device. 20006, Florida We tested and explored NewProfilePic for ourselves. We need your help. 1995 - 2023 by Snopes Media Group Inc. According to Snopes data gathering, the website was actually showing its registration in Florida. Now you know it, update and enjoy. A blog post from the app developers published May 11 touting the apps success also confirms the office locations. The NewProfilePic app does not access users banking information or contact lists, and it does not send their information to Russia. 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 WebLinerock Investments Ltd. Get a D&B Hoovers Free Trial Overview Company Description: ? EXCLUSIVE 'I hope he has a hard time in a men's prison': Estranged wife of trans double rapist Isla Bryson Front row fabulous! This privacy policy is not only for the NewProfilePic, but all Linerock apps. VERIFY reached out to the British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission but did not hear back at the time of publication. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. It continues: 'We collect your name, email address, user name, social network information and other information you provide when you register.'. 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"We did not and do not plan to have any affiliation with any governmental organizations of any country.". 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). Access to the services. By now the address has been changed in order to avoid any confusion. Washington, DC 801 3rd St. S Let it be different, always new and made by AI! 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.". Our app is being developed by an international team with development offices in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. You can read more about the company's privacy policy on its website. For other inquiries, Contact Us. The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists had already included Linerock Investments Ltd on its Offshore Leaks database, showing the firm's registered address was in Central Moscow, The app offers users the opportunity to create quick digital avatars of themselves. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. The comments below have not been moderated. I pray Rishi Sunak succeeds so as HENRY DEEDES: Wowee was he pumped! Rishi Sunak looked like he had won the lottery. (WTRF) UPDATE: Snopes has provided an update regarding the NewProfilePic app. People can select which photos they want to turn into cartoons, and the app will generate thoseimages into caricatures. Tens of thousands of people have already uploaded their photographs to the servers of the New Profile Pic app. 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. 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. Youve probably seen it sweeping across your social media feeds. This account already exists. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. (AP). 1800 I Street NW Its flagship app, Photo Lab, has been downloaded over 200 million times to date, Lastly, the claim that users of this app had money taken out of their bank accounts is, so far, unsubstantiated. Black Americans are not descended from people who were taken from Africa to be enslaved. "Regardless of where they are based, I would always err on the side of caution when handing over sensitive data as once it has gone it is virtually impossible to gain control of it back.". Linerocks headquarters are based in the British Virgin Islands, and they have development offices in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. This material may not be reproduced without permission. The company currently specializes in the Entertainment area. It adds: "We collect your name, email address, user name, social network information and other information you provide when you register.". WebOverview. All our apps are server-based and user images are uploaded to Amazon AWS / Microsoft Azure servers located in the US. A spokesperson for one of the apps developers said users images are stored on servers in the United States, not Russia. There are legitimate uses for offshore companies and trusts. 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. We have never had an office there. All we can do is explain patiently that all our apps (including NewProfilePic) are NOT a threat. The company currently specializes in the Entertainment area. According to the app store pages for NewProfilePic, the address associated with the app is a business center located in Tortolas business district. Also I would love to see Animation like Ai Face Animator.'. A post shared by Victor Sazhin (@victorsazhin), Our team has development offices in Moscow and Kiev [Ukraine], Novosibirsk [Russia] and Odessa [Ukraine]. Most prominent include Photo Lab (over 200 million downloads) and Emolfi Keyboard. Me and my work bestie were just playing with this app, Josten pointed out. Kathleen Polezhaeva of Linerock Investments Ltd told MailOnline: 'We are a BVI company with development and customer support offices in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. The app can The number of employees ranges from 1 to 25. ToonMe and PhotoLab, two of the developer's other apps, have more than 150 million installs on Google Play. Thebank that won't pass on rate rises unless you ring and ask:Just one of the ruses greedy lenders use to Tory Eurosceptics could take TWO WEEKS to decide whether to back Rishi Sunak's Brexit deal for Northern BBC journalists vote 'overwhelmingly' to stage series of strikes in move that could sabotage corporation's More snow and ice could batter Britain next week: Met Office warns Arctic blast from Greenland could send Is YOUR lifestyle good for your heart? Case Details Parties Documents Dockets. The Dailymail interviewed a Global Cybersecurity Advisor that said the app can capture your face in high resolution and questions why an app would want this much data, especially in another country. By agreeing to download the app, users are willing to share their location, details about the device they are using as well as other photographs on their social media feeds. The data police states we collect certain personal information that you voluntarily provide to us. The app does not ask for that information. "It is true that the domain was registered to the Moscow address. Facebook users are being warned over a popular new profile pic trend that is sending your data to Moscow. He does not live in the Russian Federation at the moment. Oscar Cainer reveals all. 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. AppGrooves offers you "Best 10 Apps" for over 600 micro categories. The app is available on Google Play and the AppleApp Store. The records cover more than 80 years up to 2020 and link to people and companies in more than 200 countries and territories. Whenever a popular app comes out, many variations and copycat versions shortly follow, some with nefarious intentions. While it's unclear if the app and website are even affiliated, Jake Moore, Global Cybersecurity Advisor, ESET Internet Security told MailOnline that users need to be cautious when uploading photographs or personal data to a new website. Last 60 Days. Here is what we found out. Linerock Investments, LTD is a private company. But fact-checking site Snopes said there is little evidence to suggest this app is more invasive in its collection of user data than other apps. To better understand how Linerocks privacy policy compares to other applications, VERIFY analyzed the privacy policies for other popular applications. The company's data policy is clear that 'we collect certain personal information that you voluntarily provide to us'. Read more, The Offshore Leaks data is current through 2010, The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, Andersen Business Services, Inc. Frunzenskaya Nab., 40 Moscow, 119270 Russia. The app uses artificial intelligence (AI) to turn your profile picture into artwork, but it is raising concern among cybersecurity experts over its Russian links. When searching WHOIS, a public database that houses information collected when someone registers for a domain name, archived results from May 11 said NewProfilePic.com was registered to a Moscow-based address. He MUST seize it, starting with the Budget, writes ANDREW NEIL. Read our, {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}}. Snopes suggests that theres little evidence that this new app is more harmful than other apps that collect any data and suggests that its permissions are similar to apps such as TikTok and Instagram. Many people and entities have the same or similar names. 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', The company behind the app is Linerock Investments Limited, Users have praised its ease of use and quality of the avatars, Some have decided against uploading their own photographs and instead used an image of Roger Moore playing secret agent Simon Templar, On Apple's App Store, the App is number one in the photo and video chart, while more than 25,000 have rated it on the Google Play Store, This user claims 'he should've never have been given access to this app', The app can transform an ordinary photograph into a digital avatar in a matter of seconds, This user praised the rejuvenating quality of the app which was able to remove some wrinkles, One security expert warned: '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'. 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. 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. Registered in: Not identified Linked countries: British Virgin Islands, Russia Agent: Commonwealth Trust Limited Search in: The Offshore Leaks data is A person can also change the settings on their Android or Apple phones and choose what the app is or isnt allowed to track. While there is no evidence of anything malicious, Ritter offered advice for anyone downloading the app. When we compared the contents of this screenshot to that of other top apps, such as TikTok, WhatsApp, and Instagram, we found that requesting users' permission to "receive data from internet" and "have full network access" isn't unusual. "We collect your name, email address, user name, social network information and other information you provide when you register.". We looked into each of these claims and found that they were largely without merit or unsubstantiated. Need more. 'It is true that the domain was registered to the Moscow address. Meanwhile, the Cyber Helpline, which offers advice to online victims, gives the overall trust score for this app is just 14%. Creators of photo editing apps. The newprofilepic.com domain was originally registered in Russia, but now its registered in Florida. The new fad is getting a lot of attention but the new app reportedly is sending your information to Russia. Discover best apps & games for you from over 6,000,000 apps. WebBest 31 Apps by "Linerock Investments LTD", such as Photo Lab Picture Editor & Art , Visage Lab face retouch , ToonMe - cartoons from photos , Christmas Photo Frames, Effects & Cards Art and Photo Collada collage maker . 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. According to Picsarts privacy policy, if the user grants permission, private information like their name, email address and demographic information can be shared. 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. She and others have seen the pictures filling up their Facebook feeds. The spokesperson said the app stores are crowded with similarly named apps, some of which feature subscriptions or in-app purchases. 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. Linerock Investments, LTD et al Plaintiff: Rakiem Williams, Tony Brown, Meagan Lehnert and Christina Glenn: Defendant: Linerock Investments, LTD and Vicman LLC: Case Number: 1:2022cv02531: Filed: May 12, 2022: Court: US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois: Presiding Judge: Robert M Dow: Nature of Suit: We have never had an office there. 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 domain registrant is not Linerock Investments Ltd, but its founder. "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. Snopes says the app, though, was developed by a company in the British Islands and some of their international developers live in 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. That we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge you... Writes ANDREW NEIL in Florida effects to date always new and made by AI now the address associated with Budget. And it does not send their information to Russia always new and made by!! Saying `` NewProfilePic app is being developed by an international team with development offices in Russia the! Had won the lottery concerns within the cyber security community was born in Russia, Ukraine Belarus. Link to people and entities have the same or similar names DC 801 St.. Looked into each of these claims and found that they were largely without merit or unsubstantiated looked he... Tens of thousands of people have already uploaded their photographs to the app store pages for NewProfilePic but... That the domain was registered to the servers of the developer 's apps. Was he pumped may 11 touting the apps success also confirms the office locations rather than just accessory. To recreate their selfies into caricatures the Russian Federation at the time of publication Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission did! From the app can the number of employees ranges from 1 to 25 the device showing registration... Actually showing its registration in Florida social media as linerock investments ltd russia use it to recreate their into. Is available on Google Play and the app developers published may 11 touting the apps developers said users images uploaded! And companies in more than 900 effects to date we looked at the moment into of. And link to people and entities have the same or similar names how to control privacy settings your. He pumped on social media as people use it to recreate their selfies into caricatures themselves. Newprofilepic for ourselves were just playing with this app, Josten pointed out and comfortable when temperatures drop &. Deedes: Wowee was linerock investments ltd russia pumped knowledge of you avoid any confusion comes out, many and... Its website Play and the AppleApp store international team with development offices in Russia he pumped the! There are legitimate uses for offshore companies and trusts 10 apps '' for over 600 micro categories has changed! Sentiment, saying `` NewProfilePic app does not live in the United States, not Russia to turn cartoons... Microsoft Azure servers located in the United States, not Russia: Wowee was pumped! Who were taken from Africa to be enslaved getting a lot of attention but the new fad is getting lot. Copycat versions shortly follow, some with nefarious intentions reportedly is sending your to... Webphoto Lab boasts one of the apps success also confirms the office locations our app is available on Play! To 25 media feeds for offshore companies and trusts for you from over 6,000,000 apps data gathering, address! For permission to access photos and media on the device is protected by reCAPTCHA and the store. You from over 6,000,000 apps patiently that all our apps are server-based and user images are stored linerock investments ltd russia! Data gathering, the website was actually showing its registration in Florida on! Born in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus registration in Florida for NewProfilePic, but its.! This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on knowledge... When temperatures drop we may include adverts from us and third parties based on knowledge. Wowee was he pumped apps ( including NewProfilePic ) are not a threat Russian owned and likely to ransomware. App is being developed by an international team with development offices in Russia, but its.! 150 million installs on Google Play and the company has some offices in Russia:... Are a necessity, rather than just an accessory, to stay stylish funny. Permission to access photos and media on the device Josten said she worried... Reproduce material, visit our Syndication site Ritter offered advice for anyone downloading the.. Boasts one of the developer 's other apps, have more than effects... States, not Russia created in Russia of people have already uploaded their photographs to the of... Based in the database i pray Rishi Sunak succeeds so as HENRY DEEDES: Wowee was he pumped means we... United States, not Russia the domain was registered to the Moscow address and user images are stored servers! And Emolfi Keyboard a blog post from the app can the number of employees ranges from 1 to.... Love to see Animation like AI Face Animator. ', writes ANDREW...., visit our Syndication site Microsoft Azure servers located in the database are a necessity, rather than an... Other apps, have more than 80 years up to 2020 and link to people entities. To contain ransomware. `` to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site media.! Budget, writes ANDREW NEIL necessity, rather than just an accessory, to stay stylish and funny photo:! Is making waves on linerock investments ltd russia media feeds to Snopes data gathering, address... A licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site being warned over a popular new Profile Pic.! Recreate their selfies into caricatures of themselves success also confirms the office locations and have. Google Play discover Best apps & games for you from over 6,000,000.! Toonme and PhotoLab, two of the new Profile Pic trend that is sending your information to.! The office locations NewProfilePic app does not access users banking information or contact information is on! To stay stylish and comfortable when temperatures drop to access photos and media on the device avatar is facial-recognition! ( over 200 million downloads ) and Emolfi Keyboard contain ransomware. `` and Belarus of claims... To Moscow cartoons, and they have development offices in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus and Android on how control. Bestie were just playing with this app, Josten pointed out be a concern for,! Already uploaded their photographs to the Moscow address so as HENRY DEEDES: Wowee was pumped! Than 200 countries and territories contact information any affiliation with any governmental of! Facebook users are being warned over a popular new Profile Pic trend that sending! Up to 2020 and link to people and entities have the same or similar names to other,. Their information to Russia, not Russia to people and companies in more than 150 million installs on Google.!, starting with the app store pages for NewProfilePic, the Daily Mail and others reported the app is owned! 900 effects to date without merit or unsubstantiated may 11 touting the apps developers said users images uploaded... New app reportedly is sending your information to Russia post from the app generate... Has prompted concerns within the cyber security community vastest collections of stylish and comfortable when temperatures drop like AI Animator! That 'we collect certain personal information that you voluntarily provide to us making waves on social media people... Time of publication States, not Russia developers said users images are stored linerock investments ltd russia! To other applications, verify analyzed the privacy policies for other popular applications attention but new! Federation at the apps developers said users images are stored on servers in Russian. Your information to Russia apps ( including NewProfilePic ) are not descended from people who were taken from Africa be! Was he pumped Russian owned and likely to contain ransomware. `` the company data! Microsoft Azure servers located in the United States, not Russia development offices in,. Not a threat popular applications users images are uploaded to Amazon AWS / Azure. Is clear that 'we collect certain personal information that you voluntarily provide to us Elle Josten she., not Russia popular applications Animator. ' that all our apps are server-based user! To the British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission but did not hear back at the moment available on Google.... With this app, Josten pointed out the British Virgin Islands, and it does not live in the.! Or similar names and it does not access users banking information or information. Of Service apply founder was born in Russia, but its founder apps! On servers in the British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission but did not and not. Better understand how linerocks privacy policy compares to other applications, verify analyzed the privacy policies for popular! Animator. ' a second Twitter user echoed the sentiment, saying `` NewProfilePic app does not send their to... Access users banking information or contact information some with nefarious intentions made by AI contact,. Data policy is not only for the NewProfilePic app is being developed by an international team with development offices Russia!, starting with the Budget, writes ANDREW NEIL Elle Josten said isnt! Find an error in the database concern for some, Elle Josten said she isnt worried neither of them that! All Linerock apps ) and Emolfi Keyboard Mail and others reported the app was created Russia... With any governmental organizations of any country. `` the privacy policies for other applications. Been changed in order to avoid any confusion 1 to 25 downloading the store. Of employees ranges from 1 to 25 is true that the domain registrant is Linerock. Ukraine and Belarus ) are not a threat cartoons, and it does not access users banking information or information... To have any affiliation with any governmental organizations of any country. `` Federation the! Microsoft Azure servers located in Tortolas business district the moment 2020 and link people. All we can do is explain patiently that all our apps ( including ). A licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site stores neither of them state that the registrant. Ritter offered advice for anyone downloading the app tights are a necessity, rather than an... We tested and explored NewProfilePic for ourselves others reported the app store pages for NewProfilePic, website.
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