Unsafe popup ad in stunthanger?

[Brian Hampton]

For some time now I've been annoyed by a popup add for Temu that comes up whenever I click on Mark Read, usually after reading through Open Forum because it's first on the list of topics, but I've also found it pops up when closing any other topic I might read first. I just did a search for Temu and the results were a little concerning. It seems it's based in China and can collect way too much personal information if you want to buy anything from them. So, can this Temu popup be deleted from Stunthanger?

[Howard Rush]

I've been buying stuff from them.  I hope Sparky gets a cut.

[Mike Griffin]

Over 50 million Americans have downloaded Temu since it launched state-side in September 2022, after it gained traction with expensive Super Bowl ads promising to let you “shop like a billionaire.”
Today, Temu is the most popular shopping app in the U.S. behind Amazon. But most of us don’t know much about the app’s true origins. Reader Daniel Mayer asked an important question, “Is [Temu] something we should be concerned about?”
So, I did some digging. And as it turns out, yes, you absolutely should be. Here’s what I found:
Where did Temu come from?
This isn’t some fly-by-night operation. Temu is based in Boston, Massachusetts, by PDD Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: PDD). PDD is headquartered in Shanghai, China.
PDD also owns the e-commerce platform Pinduoduo headquartered in — you guessed it — China. So, Temu is a Communist China-based app and site.
What you need to know before using Temu
First, you’re buying goods directly from manufacturers in China and other parts of the world. That’s why shipping times are often 12 days or longer. The prices are low because the goods are cheap. The pictures of what you see advertised may not be what you actually get.
Temu’s BBB rating is 2.21/5. Reviews at TrustPilot are interesting, with 38% 5-star reviews and 41% 1-star reviews.
But that’s not the worst of it.
Temu is downright dangerous.
The app is a clever, pervasive digital stalker. As you shop, Temu monitors your activity on other apps, tracks your notifications and location and changes settings.
🛑 It gets worse. Temu gains full access to all your contacts, calendars and photo albums, plus all your social media accounts, chats and texts. In other words, literally everything on your phone.
No shopping app needs this much control, especially one tied to Communist China. If you’re using Temu, delete the app from your phone ASAP.
On iPhone, Long-press an app, then tap Remove App > Delete App. Tap Delete to confirm.
On Android, touch and hold an app, then tap Remove App > Delete App > Delete.
Pro tip: If you downloaded Temu, to be safe from Chinese spies, you really need to do a full factory reset.
But wait, there’s more! Temu’s sister app was removed from Google Play because of malware. Not sure if it's true and if not I don't want to be affiliated
Do not buy from this company, or use their app!

I copied and pasted this in.   Just FYI

[RC Storick]

Here is what I do. I don't click on it. I have no control of what Google serves up.

[Dave_Trible]

I've gotten a few decent things from them-just ordered a couple new pair of sunglasses to fly with-best I have.  Also $4.67 a pair instead of $20+.  No middle man cut X2 or 3.  About 70 % of everything you buy at any store other than groceries comes from China anyway.  As far as getting my personal info-doubt there is anything there they'd be interested in enough to concern themselves-besides it's already out there somewhere if given to do just about anything these days.  In the old days most of it was in the good old telephone book which everyone had.  In most cases you'd have to grant permission or allow access to each application on your device to them or anyone else intentionally or they get filtered out.  Also things like Norton, PC Matic, Discover theft protection (I have all three) pretty much stop the rats.  So I'll just Temu on......Amazon as well. Like paying the bills on-line.  I started that several years ago and it was the best thing I ever did, no problems.  The only issue I've ever had, twice, was someone getting my debit card info at gas stations on the road (traveling to the Nats) and making some charges which the bank took care of immediately.   Unless you want to carry that much cash around you will just have to take that chance.  Many of us are of an age that we didn't grow up with this technology and don't really understand it so we are naturally intimidated and skeptical of it.  I was too until it became necessary to use everyday on the job to earn a living.  Yes bad stuff CAN happen but it's very rare and always correctable.  An old girlfriend had her check book stolen from the front seat of her car years ago.  That caused her more nightmares than what might happen today.

Dave

[Rusty]

Mike: Thank you for the information.  I, like Sparky, have not clicked on it.

I think other countries and entities have our information from one way or another.   I have had several companies based in the USA that have been hacked and my personal data stolen.  These are doctor's offices, business websites and financial companies.  At one point in my career with the State of Florida the state outsourced personnel department work.  And, guess where the company was!  Yep, China.  The legislators made the state void the contract, but the damage was done.  That is SS#, addresses, family members info, etc. 

I try to avoid willingly giving my info to them.  One example is that I refused to give Ebay my SS# or access to my checking account because their banking company is not in America. 

The world is getting worse.  It's hard to believe the EVIL that is taking place.  What I don't like is them using computer generated videos of a person saying things that are FAKE.  They do that to politicians.   People have no way of knowing it is fake when they see the person talking. 

I am not really worried, right now, that an AI bot will create a fake build log of Mike Griffin building a R/C plane.   

Rusty

[Dick Pacini]

I have never used Mar Read but just did to see what happened.  Nothing.  No ad.  I use Adblock Plus  which shows me right now that it blocked 3 unsafe popups on this site.

[Steve Helmick]

Not sure what I'm doing wrong, but I don't get any pop-up ads on Stunt Hanger. I don't buy much online and don't pay my bills or do any banking online. Maybe that's what is causing the issue?  Steve

[john e. holliday]

Yes they are dangerous and don't follow through.  An item I paid for was sent to Texas according to the tracking number..  Tried to notify them of what happened and was told they didn't exist.  Had to get my bank to stop payment to no avail.  Wound up getting a whole new bank account and the bank marked them as unreliable.  Now I don't even look at these super value sales any more.   Don't know how much Sparky gets from these ads but it must not be much when he keeps askin for donations to keep the site going.   Well one of these days I won't be worrying about it.

[PerttiMe]

Nowadays, I always get a popup ad when I click "Show unread posts since last visit". There's different ones.