News Topic: Cellphones
With the widespread popularity of smartphones, more and more users are keen on flashing their phones to expand functionality, and flashing has gradually become a fashionable trend. Currently, repair points in major communication markets offer flashing services, with prices varying according to the phone model and system. Industry insiders say that the average profit from a phone is 50 yuan, while flashing a phone, including the flashing fee and the promotion fee charged to app developers, can yield profits up to hundreds of yuan.
On the other hand, flashing carries hidden risks: after flashing, software may be altered, leading to security vulnerabilities, making the phone susceptible to viruses, and potentially resulting in users' information being stolen; counterfeit phones, after flashing, may come pre-installed with a lot of junk software, some of which secretly consume data... In short, flashing carries risks, and users need to be cautious.
Flashing Market Extremely Popular
So-called flashing refers to upgrading phone software or installing software such as games, generally by rewriting the phone's software programs via a data cable or infrared. The main purpose of flashing is to solve problems in older versions of software, such as slow response, low volume, or crashes; some aim to enhance the original phone's functions without changing the hardware, such as adding digital zoom, frame types, or image editing capabilities.
It is understood that currently, the main flashing channels are platforms that gather third-party ROMs, commonly including Shuaji Elf, Xiaomi, MoKee, LeWa, Dianzxin, and 91 Assistant, with Shuaji Elf and 91 Assistant being the most well-known and popular among "enthusiasts."
Nowadays, operating systems such as Windows Mobile, Symbian, Android, and iOS are widely used in various brands of smartphones, but many users feel dizzy just seeing the names of these systems, let alone understanding or researching flashing issues. Therefore, when facing software upgrades, phone viruses, original system incompatibility with instant messaging software, WeChat, games, or when wanting a personalized phone interface, theme, or operation mode, smartphone users generally opt to flash. Due to personal technical limitations or to avoid risks, users usually choose to have their phones flashed at after-sales points or repair shops.
The large-scale popularization of smartphones has fueled the flashing business, especially the continuously growing market for counterfeit phones, making the "flashing" business more and more booming.Since gray-market phones are originally intended for overseas users, once they enter the domestic market, they inevitably need to be 'Sinicized' via software, which led to the saying 'nine out of ten get flashed.'
Surveys have found that the current shipment share of gray-market smartphones in the domestic smartphone market is about 40%–60%; some industry insiders even provide more precise figures, indicating that the average monthly shipment of gray-market smartphones is about 1.8 million units. The large influx of gray-market smartphones has also brought substantial profits to the flashing business. "Conservatively estimating, this year the sales volume of gray-market phones will be close to 20 million units. If the cost for flashing and software promotion is charged at 50 yuan per unit, this industry chain will reach at least the billion-yuan level this year," said Yu Weiru, Vice President of Shengsi Network.
Hidden Risks in Flashing
While smartphone flashing services are popular, many users are unaware of the hidden risks involved.
First is the virus issue. "Many consumers think flashing is just changing the phone to a Chinese system, like reinstalling a computer system, but that is not the case," said Mr. Zhang, who develops mobile antivirus software. Basically, all smartphones that have been flashed have undergone software modifications, and most devices have security vulnerabilities. Once a smartphone is infected with a virus, the user's personal information can be stolen, and even if the user flashes the phone again, it is difficult to guarantee that the virus can be completely removed.
Secondly, flashing reduces the phone's lifespan. Experts say that the flashing process requires unlocking the phone's original system first. Nowadays, dealers often use a 'white card' to unlock; phones unlocked with a 'white card' will have altered settings, which affects the phone's lifespan. On one hand, the battery's standby time significantly decreases, and the phone generates noticeably more heat during use. On the other hand, repair technicians cannot guarantee that all phones will flash successfully; some systems become unstable after upgrading, and they can only try another system. Some phones, instead of successfully upgrading, are flashed to an even lower version than before or cannot be restored to the original version. "Flashing has risks. Even our own phones were flashed multiple times before succeeding. We downloaded our systems from the internet, and these softwares inevitably have vulnerabilities," said a repair technician.Especially with gray-market phones, in pursuit of profit, manufacturers at all levels inevitably keep adding layers and various applications. By the time the device reaches the user, it has often been flashed multiple times and comes pre-installed with a large amount of junk software; some may even secretly consume the user's data. Users need to be cautious of the risks of flashing. It is clear that flashing carries risks, and users should be wary of having junk software, even malicious software or fee-charging software, installed on their smartphones after flashing. Consumers should try to buy legitimate branded smartphones from official stores. Nowadays, with the popular sale of smartphones and increasing mobile internet users, smartphone viruses are rampant and show trends of diversification and stratification. If this is the case for legitimate phones, it is even more so for gray-market phones. Some customers buy gray-market phones that have been flashed for free by manufacturers, and these phones may often carry malicious code and viruses. Although they are cheap to purchase, the 'usage costs' caused by malicious code can be very high, ultimately not worth the price. In addition, relevant authorities should strengthen the crackdown on mobile viruses and malicious software and properly regulate the phone flashing market. Chen Jiachun, Deputy Director of the Communications Development Department of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, stated that since mobile internet terminals and services are closely related to personal user interests, the impact and harm of malicious activities like unauthorized fees, information theft, and fraud are more prominent. Relevant departments are currently drafting the Mobile Smart Terminal Management Measures to protect consumer rights. It is believed that once this management measure is implemented, the rampant in-device fee-charging software will be severely hit.
