Know how safe is Truecaller and users' data in the mobile app

In India, the rate at which the spammers are operating is reportedly at an all-time high, presenting real threats on a day-to-day basis. This has not only put the safety of users' personal information at risk, but also presents an ongoing challenge to private and governmental institutions alike. 

To avoid such scammers, there are caller identification applications in the market like Truecaller. However, is the app safe?

Truecaller claims that it helps combat these fraudulent activities, allowing users to avoid falling victim to deceptive offers. 

It further claims that the app offers advanced data protection and provide a higher level of security to its users, thereby helping them stay safe from scammers.

Here are some of the ways how, as claimed by Truecaller, it mitigates fraudulent activities while ensuring the protection of user data: 

Strong Data Security:

Truecaller’s database is reportedly created and maintained by its users, who contribute to the database by suggesting names, identifying spam and adding comments for spam marked numbers. 

Truecaller has a policy that protects user rights, and is subject to over 150 data regulation regimes. 

The app practices ‘data minimization’, taking only the data required for the service to work, and nothing else. In addition, all Indian users’ data is stored in Indian data servers, with the highest levels of protection with none of the information ever leaving the country.

Digitally Current:

Truecaller app is updated regularly with the latest cybersecurity developments and incorporates cutting-edge technologies such as AI, multi-factor authentication, and threat intelligence to ensure that users stay safe from spammers.

The app recently released a host of new features, including the launch of a Live Caller ID experience on iPhone by integrating with the iPhone virtual assistant, Siri. Also new is an AI-powered SMS fraud protection tool that combines user feedback with proprietary machine learning intelligence to effectively combat fraudulent messages and senders.

What actually users fear about the app?

As reported in a Forbes article, an independent researcher from India made a discovery regarding Truecaller's practices. The said researcher found that Truecaller had inadvertently exposed user data, including sensitive system and location information.

Data Privacy: 

Users are wary about how Truecaller handles and safeguards their personal data. It is claimed that they express concerns over the potential for unauthorised access, data breaches, or the misuse of their information.

As highlighted in a May 2019 article published by the Economic Times India, a staggering number of around 300 million Truecaller subscribers in India reportedly experienced a concerning incident of data being sold. This revelation sent shockwaves through the user community, raising serious questions about the app's data handling practices and the security of personal information.

It is alleged that users question the reliability and accuracy of Truecaller's caller ID feature. They raise doubts about whether the displayed information, such as the names and details of incoming callers, can be entirely trusted.