Desktop apps like TeamViewer and Zoom are flagged as threat by Paytm

If any smartphone has remote desktop apps like TeamViewer, AnyDesk and Zoom installed then the user will not be able to use the online payment app: Paytm.

Paytm has been flagging these apps and a few more as a security threat through a pop-up alert, asking users to uninstall those to be able to use its app.

If users choose not to uninstall the red-flagged apps, they would not be able to perform any transaction on Paytm.

An online news publication portal used the Paytm app while some remote desktop apps were installed and were immediately fired with the pop-up alert. Several Paytm users found the security alert pop-up on the Paytm app a bit odd and raised their concerns.

Many Paytm users took to the micro-blogging site Twitter to express similar concerns. While the SoftBank-backed firm has been asking users to uninstall the aforementioned apps on the pretext of security threats, its own mobile application is notorious for collecting all kinds of “confidential data” from its users.

This is not the first time that Paytm has taken such a step. Paytm Payments Bank now claims to work with the RBI, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), banks and telcos to ensure that customers do not get duped by fraudsters.

Recently, Paytm had also filed cases against online fraudsters. According to Noida police’s cyber wing, the company last month filed an FIR against 3,500 numbers which, it believes, are behind such frauds.

Paytm Payments Bank’s spokesperson said, “Android permits many apps on its platform that can be used for remote access. This is a security risk as often such apps are used to steal confidential financial information from users. Therefore, once our users permit, we scan the device for any such remote access or screen sharing apps. These scans happen on the device itself and no data is shared or stored at the backend. We would welcome if the Operating System itself includes a security feature where apps can choose not to be recorded in any way. Users’ privacy & security is of utmost importance to us and would like our users to use all apps in a safe & secure manner”.