Motorola Phones Hijack Amazon App for Affiliate Revenue

A preinstalled app on Motorola smartphones has been found to hijack the Amazon Shopping app, redirecting user traffic through affiliate links without consent. This behavior was first reported by a user of the Motorola Razr 60 Ultra. The Smart Feed app was responsible for intercepting app launches and injecting referral codes, raising concerns about user privacy and trust in the device's software integrity. Following public backlash, Motorola has disabled the app's hijacking functionality. The incident highlights issues related to bloatware and undisclosed revenue practices on premium Android devices. Users of affected Motorola models are at risk of having their app usage manipulated for profit without their knowledge. The situation has prompted scrutiny from cybersecurity researchers and the tech community.

Key Points: • Motorola's Smart Feed app hijacked Amazon app launches to inject affiliate codes. • The behavior was reported by users and has now been disabled after backlash. • Concerns include user consent, supply chain integrity, and bloatware on devices.