This viral app paid users to sell their private phone calls to AI firms – now it’s offline after a shocking data breach

Neon, a sketchy app that lured users into recording their phone calls for quick cash to train AI models, has been yanked offline after a laughably simple security screw-up exposed everyone’s private chats. Turns out, anyone with basic tools like Burp Suite could snag phone numbers, call transcripts, and full recordings just by snooping network traffic—no hacking wizardry required, which is a wake-up call for SMBs relying on flimsy apps. The breach, uncovered by TechCrunch, let snoopers access not just their own data but everyone else’s, turning a privacy nightmare into a free-for-all that could’ve been avoided with decent encryption and user consent checks. For MSPs and small-business owners, this fiasco underscores the need to vet third-party tools rigorously and ensure data protections are ironclad before integrating them into your operations, especially when dealing with sensitive comms. With app stores like Google and Apple eyeing the mess, Neon’s comeback looks doubtful, serving as a stark reminder that chasing AI trends without solid security is a recipe for disaster.

Source: https://www.techradar.com/computing/websites-apps/this-viral-app-paid-users-to-sell-their-private-phone-calls-to-ai-firms-now-its-offline-after-a-shocking-data-breach