Paytm out for Root access

Paytm founder and CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma, has declared that in Paytm's latest update it would ask for root access of the user's device.

Credits, Wikimedia Commons, Flickr

Paytm, a popular payment platform has revised their app to ask root access to their devices. This was thus popularized in social media, on Twitter and other platforms, along with screenshots of this prompts made by this particular app. This was made aware to the CEO of Paytm, by one of the users. The UPI was introduced by National Payments Cooperation of India (NPCI), with a motive that the user can only with one interface finish their payments, instead of multiple channels for their payments. It can be done using Smartphone by only one verification mode of a user or single identifier (mobile number, Aadhar number, etc).

A root user can access anything anywhere in the system, without any hindrance and power to set things and command the system. You are adding a Linux file called Switch User when rooting your Android, which changes your access to that of a Superuser.They would be able to see the photos you save, messages you sent and the mail you receive.

The CEO of Paytm has replied to their queries saying that, this prompt was mainly for activating the Unified payment interface (UPI). If any paying platform like this is grated as a root user, it will have complete access to your phone and also the control. It will have access to all owners' personal data, and also the power to share and exploit it. Root is the administrator. When a new user tries to sign in, they are restricted to do a certain thing, due to Superuser specifications. The Superuser sets the Linux and system permissions. Other guests and minor users are required to follow what the Superuser has specified.

Paytm has asked for such permission. However, it might be a minor problem because the company has said the information would not be shared or misused. But however the promise is made by the company; it does raise a security concern, because this access is a goldmine for every hacker in the world, as it can be a loophole they are waiting for. Lately after an update, Paytm seems to have halted the prompts for root access for UPI transactions.

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Citations: Seen: 16-3-2018

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/7295873/how-do-i-request-root-access-in-android

http://www.financialexpress.com/industry/technology/what-is-root-access-and-why-you-should-know-if-an-app-has-it/1096921/

https://www.gadgetsnow.com/tech-news/heres-what-paytm-ceo-said-on-android-app-asking-for-root-permission-of-the-device/articleshow/63267424.cms

https://inc42.com/buzz/paytm-app-asking-root-access-android-phones-raises-concerns/