# Don't use newprofilepic for FB **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 11, 2022, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-use-newprofilepic-for-fb/964296 "2022-05-11T19:31:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2022, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-use-newprofilepic-for-fb/964296/1 "2022-05-11T19:31:14Z")
> **[Warning issued over NewProfilePic app which hoovers data](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10802211/NewProfilePic-Warning-issued-viral-app-hoover-data-sends-Moscow.html)** > > Internet users have been warned not to use a New Profile Pic app as it sends the personal data, including facial recognition photographs to a company registered near Red Square in Moscow. _## Russia is after YOUR personal data: Experts warn internet users not to download latest online craze New Profile Pic that hoovers up your details and sends them to Moscow_ ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2022, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-use-newprofilepic-for-fb/964296/2 "2022-05-11T19:33:47Z")
That’s OK, I used Putin’s picture. But I mirrored it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2022, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-use-newprofilepic-for-fb/964296/3 "2022-05-11T19:35:36Z")
The permissions allow them pretty much full access. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2022, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-use-newprofilepic-for-fb/964296/4 "2022-05-11T20:10:47Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > The permissions allow them pretty much full access… I understand. Just joking, What’s the stated reason for the app? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.E](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.e/32/8932_2.png) [@Mr.E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.E)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2022, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-use-newprofilepic-for-fb/964296/5 "2022-05-11T20:14:23Z")
This is a pretty common scheme, I recall there was an App for Twitter that generated a “Twitter family tree” for you while also harvesting as much information from your account as possible. There’s no reason why an app that’s just applying an image filter should require any access to anything. Be mindful of these scams and just avoid these single-use apps that request way too many permissions. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2022, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-use-newprofilepic-for-fb/964296/6 "2022-05-11T20:26:15Z")
Snopes has weighed in: > **[Is 'New Profile Pic' App a Russian Malware Scam?](https://www.snopes.com/news/2022/05/11/new-profile-pic-app/)** > > There's little evidence to suggest that this app is any more invasive in its collection of user data than other apps. In short: the Daily Fail is living up to their nickname. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2022, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-use-newprofilepic-for-fb/964296/7 "2022-05-11T20:42:03Z")
I feel the Snopes article buried the lead there. The fact it isn’t more invasive than other such apps doesn’t mean much, as these types of apps tend to all be quite invasive. They are developed primarily to get your information. The question is whether this particular app is actually cover for Russian intelligence gathering. The important part is that the evidence that it was based in Russia appears to be false. Despite claims to the contrary, neither the domain (website) nor the company are registered in Russia. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2022, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-use-newprofilepic-for-fb/964296/8 "2022-05-11T21:00:11Z")
Thanks. I was just about to ask if there were any other sources for this other than the Daily Mail. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2022, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-use-newprofilepic-for-fb/964296/9 "2022-05-11T21:13:43Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I was just about to ask if there were any other sources for this other than the Daily Mail. AFAICT, almost everything leads back to them. The rest debunk the claim. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2022, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-use-newprofilepic-for-fb/964296/10 "2022-05-11T21:23:57Z")
Well, just continues to affirm my knee-jerk reaction of immediately dismissing anything the Daily Mail writes. Sure, they may be right at times, but, please folks, cite more dependable sources. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2022, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-use-newprofilepic-for-fb/964296/11 "2022-05-11T21:33:27Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > please folks, cite more dependable sources. Like _The Onion_. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2022, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-use-newprofilepic-for-fb/964296/12 "2022-05-11T23:07:34Z")
Okay- so not more invasive that other FB apps. So? And it is true that the domain was registered to the Moscow address. It is the former Moscow address of the founder of the company. He does not live in the Russian Federation at the moment. By now the address has been changed in order to avoid any confusion… This app comes from a company in the British Virgin Islands that uses an international team of developers, some of whom reside in Russia. The spokesperson said: > We are a BVI company. Our app is being developed by an international team with development offices in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. > **[Warnings issued over New Profile Pic app initially registered in Russia](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/new-profile-pic-russia-personal-data-b2076589.html)** > > ‘Address on Moscow River is the address of lawyers who registered the company. We have never had an office there,’ Photo Lab spokesperson says _Experts have warned users to be wary of the New Profile Pic app that collects large amounts of personal data._ _The app, which was initially registered in Russia, allows users to upload an existing photo to create a profile image in the appearance of a painting or a cartoon._ Then this: > **[Scam alert: Beware the dangerous NewProfilePic app that’s spreading on Facebook](https://www.ricksdailytips.com/newprofilepic-app/)** > > If you've been on Facebook recently you've probably seen lots of cool-looking photos that have been altered to look like drawings and other such adaptations. Unfortunately, this is one of those apps that puts your privacy And this [Newprofilepic Com Scam, Find Newprofilepic Com Android App Legitimacy Through Profile Pic Comment!](https://www.esteponapress.com/newprofilepic-com-scam-find-newprofilepic-com-android-app-legitimacy-through-profile-pic-comment/) \*\* The website’s trust score is 14%, which isn’t a good one. The user needs to be careful while using this website.\* \*\* There isn’t much information on the website regarding the application or the creator or anything.\* _Looking at these facts, it is hard to say that the newprofilepic website is a legitimate one. However, let’s find some more information before However, there isn’t much to offer on the website as the main [Newprofilepic.com](http://Newprofilepic.com) is not up to the mark and doesn’t have enough relevant information._ _### **Should people trust the [Newprofilepic.com](http://Newprofilepic.com) website?**_ _We have seen in the above section that the website’s trust score is not good, and the website moves towards the suspicious side…_ ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2022, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-use-newprofilepic-for-fb/964296/13 "2022-05-11T23:20:42Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > _Experts have warned users to be wary of the New Profile Pic app that collects large amounts of personal data._ > > _The app, which was initially registered in Russia, allows users to upload an existing photo to create a profile image in the appearance of a painting or a cartoon._ Scroll down a couple of paragraphs and you’ll see that they’re repeating claims from the Daly Fail. A bit further down is this: > “[T]he address on Moscow River is the address of lawyers who registered the company. We have never had an office there”. > [@DrDeth](#): > > Then this: Blogger. > [@DrDeth](#): > > This app comes from a company in the British Virgin Islands that uses an international team of developers, some of whom reside in Russia. The spokesperson said: > > > We are a BVI company. Our app is being developed by an international team with development offices in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. Nice [fallacy](https://psychology.fandom.com/wiki/Correlation_does_not_imply_causation) you have there. ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2022, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-use-newprofilepic-for-fb/964296/14 "2022-05-11T23:21:56Z")
I think it’s great that the OP is exactly the kind of post I would find on Facebook. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2022, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-use-newprofilepic-for-fb/964296/15 "2022-05-11T23:27:10Z")
Yeah, this definite possibility of a firm maybe could be in a college course: Fearmongering 101. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2022, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-use-newprofilepic-for-fb/964296/16 "2022-05-12T02:14:48Z")
Yeah, it was a Russian company that moved to a notorious shell company > [@Skywatcher](#): > > Nice [fallacy](https://psychology.fandom.com/wiki/Correlation_does_not_imply_causation) you have there. Yeah, it was a Russian company that moved to a notorious shell company haven. > **[British Virgin Islands corruption scandal threatens its dependable tax haven...](https://www.icij.org/investigations/paradise-papers/british-virgin-islands-corruption-scandal-threatens-its-dependable-tax-haven-reputation/)** > > The territory, whose shell companies have repeatedly played a role in notorious global crime schemes, also may be blacklisted by the EU after the Brexit deal. _# British Virgin Islands corruption scandal threatens its dependable tax haven reputation_ _The territory, whose shell companies have repeatedly played a role in notorious global crime schemes, also may be blacklisted by the EU after the Brexit deal._ BVI is one place Russian Oligarchs hide their money. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2022, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-use-newprofilepic-for-fb/964296/17 "2022-05-12T13:54:05Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Yeah, it was a Russian company that moved to a notorious shell company haven. Still assuming facts not in evidence, I see. I don’t know about you but until this stops being unreliable sources repeating suppositions sourced from social media, I’m lumping this in with those [gang](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/wronged-directions/) [initiations](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/deadly-pullover/) and [dirty needles in coin returns.](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/slots-of-fun/) ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2022, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-use-newprofilepic-for-fb/964296/18 "2022-05-12T13:57:58Z")
Please, comrades, let’s all join together and use this fine app. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2022, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-use-newprofilepic-for-fb/964296/19 "2022-05-12T14:03:33Z")
You jest but solid evidence of an actual Russian data collector pushing this app would go a long way toward lowering my skepticism. The app evidently wasn’t released yet when I was dealing with [this Russian scammer,](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-is-the-worst-thinking-about-getting-rid-of-it/962354/58) who was trying to push me into installing some chat app. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2022, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-use-newprofilepic-for-fb/964296/20 "2022-05-12T18:17:06Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Still assuming facts not in evidence, I see. All those facts are right there. It was Russian, it is now BVI. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-use-newprofilepic-for-fb/964296.md?page=2)