Endless pop-up ads siphon off data paid for with federal subsidies in the Lifeline program, researchers found.
Over the years, numerous readers have told us that their free government cell phones were hacked from the moment they turned them on. Now it turns out that researchers are saying it’s true. Phones from some Lifeline companies came with malware that causes an endless series of pop-up ads, eating up data even when the phone isn’t being used.
Nathan Collier, a researcher at Malwarebytes, investigated. Here’s how cnet.com details what he found:
The phone’s settings and update apps contained code that allowed them to load malicious apps known as adware. The adware displayed ads that covered users’ screens, no matter what they were doing on their phones.
…Because the phones and their service plans were subsidized by a US program, taxpayers were funding the data that was used to display the promotional campaigns. On top of that, the adware prevented the phones doing their intended job: keeping low-income people connected to vital services via phone and internet.
Evidence suggests pre-installed malware plagues inexpensive phones around the world. Earlier this year, Collier found pre-installed malware, a broad range of disruptive or dangerous apps, on a phone made by Unimax and distributed by the Lifeline program. Collier says he frequently sees similar malware on cheap phones outside the Lifeline program.
Unimax, the manufacturer of the phones, didn’t particularly care for Collier’s characterization of the problem as “malware.” It called the problem “a vulnerability in its settings app.” In other words, it is taking the position that this was just a wee bit of a problem, an accidental oversight, so to speak, and that they jumped right in and solved that pesky little issue.
But it’s not just an insignificant problem. If your cell phone begins displaying one pop-up ad after another ad infinitum, it renders the device unusable and, therefore, worthless. Low-income Americans have come to depend on their free government cell phones for contacting doctors, for finding jobs, and for everyday survival.
Assurance Wireless, one of the largest Lifeline companies, disputes Collier’s findings. CNET.com notes:
In response to a request for comment, Anwar’s carrier, Assurance Wireless, referred CNET to phone maker Unimax’s statement in January. It also supplied a letter it sent to US Sens. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Ron Wyden in response to questions the senators asked them about the Malwarebytes findings. In the letter, the company repeated Unimax’s assertion that code in the apps amounted to a “security vulnerability” and was not malware.
“It appears that Malwarebytes was incorrectly identifying legitimate functions as malware,” the company said in its letter.
The Federal Communications Commission, the agency that oversees the Lifeline program, issued one of its typical wishywashy statements.
“It is federal law that Lifeline funds are prohibited from supporting the cost of the handset or any other end-user device or software,” an FCC spokesperson gravely intoned. “The security of Americans’ cell phones is critical, and the FCC urges Lifeline providers to protect consumers from adware and malware.”
And then the FCC decided that discretion is the better part of valor, or that cowardice is the better part of keeping your government job, and clammed up when asked if it’s investigating the Malwarebytes findings on either phone model.
This really is an outrageous situation. Why bother spending billions of dollars on the Lifeline free government cell phone program if those cell phones are rendered useless?
The government spends incalculable hours and dollars investigating fraud in the Lifeline program and enforcing rules designed to root out fraud, waste and abuse. Why bother with any of it when this sort of fraud is so much more damaging?
Rachael says
I had a phone from Assurance Wireless and it was HORRIBLY infected with malware. I couldn’t use the phone at all because of the CONSTANT popups. It was unlike anything I’ve seen before. What a waste! I got cut off from the program for not making a phone call every 30 days, but it was near impossible to do so. I’d rather try Safelink I think. I didn’t know this was a “thing”. Apparently it’s happening a lot.
Jeff Wissner says
I am also having a dreadful time dealing with this same issue like OMG like I just read how the be careful but THE APPS AND OR THE ADS are drawing massive GB’s from my phone as of yesterday it was reading in the range of 30+ GB’s used in just a matter of a short time of have it, about 1 month. Thanks Racheal. p.s. I really am not a tech genus but you don’t really have to be when it comes to this.
Carr says
No it’s that you or some other people on this site must know which of these cell phone providers are legitimate without infected maleware.
Rachael says
I’m in Nj and had Assurance Wireless- it was nothing but pop ups! My friend has Safelink and doesn’t seem to have ANY problems. And he received a MUCH nicer smartphone than I did.
Carr says
Your answer wasn’t helpful in choosing a free cell phone provider that isn’t infected with malware and there too many companies to chose from so I really don’t know which one is a good valid company.
Free Government Cell Phones says
Some questions, it appears, just cannot be answered to the satisfaction of the questioner.
Carr says
I had been using their free cell phone service since 2013,and in early 2020 the second non smartphone that they had sent me broke, so at first they claimed I wasn’t eligible to get a new phone,and then they said it could just be the battery that needs to be replaced. At first they said they weren’t going to even send me a battery so I had to order one and then I had to return it because after they claimed they would now send me a replacement phone of the same model, and told me I wasn’t eligible for a smartphone, then they mailed me a brand new decent smartphone.
Well after having this smartphone for a year and a half,it broke and was totally dead,and I asked them if the Safelink customer service could please send me a replacement for it, and I said I don’t care if it’s the same model or even just a basic cell phone because it’s very important to have a cell phone for emergencies, both the customer service agent and then the supervisor I asked to speak to both claimed I’m not eligible to get another phone, they are full of garbage and I said I am still eligible for the same reasons I have been for years using their service.
So what free cell phone service should I choose if they are infected with this malware? I never had this on the Alcatel 1 smartphone I had for over a year from Safelink.
Free Government Cell Phones says
Here’s an article that tells you exactly how to switch from one company to another:
https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/faq/how-do-i-switch-lifeline-providers
And here’s where you can find all the providers and plans available in your state:
https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/states
We are unable to make any recommendations for you, but you might want to narrow it down to a couple finalist companies, then spend a few minutes checking out our readers comments for those companies to see if they register any complaints about that subject.
J.Williams says
my unimax phone has become useless! it constantly every hour is downloading adware/malware. at this point I no longer have use of my account. I have contacted SAFELINK starting in Sept 2021 and have spent hours days and now weeks trying to resolve issue. SAFELINK refuses to provide new phone or sim card so i am left with no working phone!!! I will leave e-mail but i think it is also locked up. 🙁
david ronketty says
My fiance has been saying for years that her phone was being hacked. because of my narrow-mindedness, I would disregard her comments as nonsense, because in my mind why would she individually be targeted. Little to my knowledge it wasn’t so much her as it was all gov lifeline phones were unattacked, I just thought they were crappy phones that why they didn’t work correctly
Phyllis says
why is the government giving us elderly ” free government cell phone ” that is FORBIDDEN on military bases ? why is the government giving us elderly a ” free government cell phone ” that comes from china ?
Free Government Cell Phones says
In regard to the first question, we have never heard anything about free government cell phones being forbidden on military bases. Why would they be? And how would anyone know the difference between any regular cell phone and a free government cell phone?
In regard to the second question, we agree with you. But the sad fact of the matter is that the Lifeline companies are looking for the most inexpensive cell phones possible and that often/generally/usually leads directly to a Chinese manufacturer.
Charles says
I applied twice but nothing is happening. I am 82 and in a wheelchair, and I did have a phone but had to quit to save money. I live in an assisted living establishment, and have Medicare, SS and a small retirement, $336. I have to wear hearing aids to hear anything. I still have my phone but not the service so 602-799-**** is disconnected I have wi-fi here at Rose Court and a I-pod for a Abbot Pain Stimulator installed in my back. but the phone part is disabled.
Free Government Cell Phones says
You can find all the plans available in your state at this link, Charles:
https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/states
We don’t know why nothing is happening, but try enrolling with a different company is you are not getting any response from the one you attempted to enroll with. You can enroll online, but may need to get one of your caretakers to help you out with the application. You can also enroll by phone.
Best of luck, Charles.
D Reed says
Your jacket will have your email accounts and any other accounts and your }assswords. So getting a phone from a different service didn’t do a bit of good.
Free Government Cell Phones says
Huh?
D Reed says
Your hacker will have all of your accounts