Spy Software Found Preinstalled on Lenovo, Huawei, and Xiaomi Smartphones

Infected phones can listen to phone calls and track user locations.

A woman walks past a Xiaomi logo outside a Xiaomi service center in Beijing, China, on Aug. 5, 2015. Greg Baker/AFP/Getty Images

Malware that can listen to calls, track users, and make online purchases was found pre-installed on smartphones from Chinese companies including Lenovo, Huawei, and Xiaomi.

The latest findings, from German cybersecurity company G DATA, add to a growing list of similar spying software found on smartphones from Chinese companies.

“This is happening on a lot of phones,” said Andy Hayter, G DATA’s security evangelist, in a phone interview.

In March, researchers with BlueBox found similar malware on the Xiaomi Mi 4 LTE, which they obtained during a trip to China.

The findings point to the poor security standards for Chinese smartphones.