Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

This is a very long review. If you’re like me, when you’re on the verge of buying a product on Amazon, the final step you take it is to read some of the lowest reviews. If you’d like this review’s quick takeaway, it’s this: THE BLU LIFE ONE X2 SHIPS WITH SPYWARE BUILT INTO ITS SYSTEM THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO UNINSTALL OR REMOVE VIA FACTORY RESET. The spyware steals text and call information. This was a deal breaker for me, and I returned the two handsets I ordered in April 2017. Please continue reading for more information. A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON MY SITUATION: I can’t stomach the idea of purchasing an $800 phone or being locked into a 2-year contract, so I look for inexpensive unlocked phones to use on my no-contract $45 per-month plan. I don’t expect the very latest technology, but I also don’t want to struggle with my phone since I use it so frequently. I’m willing to take some level of risk if the price point is good enough. I’m tech savvy and able to use Google to troubleshoot tech issues that perhaps might deter folks who want their electronics to “just work.” THE PROS: The BLU Life One X2 is a phone I wanted to love. It’s incredibly cheap and its feature set is amazing for the price: all-day-plus battery, fingerprint sensor, Quick Charge, dual SIM slots, microSD slot, minimal bloatware, fast and responsive, and a very decent form factor and weight. The bang for the buck on this phone is incredible. For me, the BLU Life One X2 met nearly almost all of my phone requirements at a rock-bottom price. THE CONS: Unfortunately, the phone ships with built-in spyware. I use Lookout and Malwarebytes for cyber security on my phone. Both apps picked up that the phone has spyware in a system app named Wireless Update (IMAGE #1). My phone shipped with version 5.3.0.1.003. This spyware sends information from one’s texts and calls to servers in China. This is a documented issue that BLU has acknowledged with previous handsets (see BLU’s comments on other negative spyware reviews). One can update the Wireless Update to a later version without spyware (IMAGE #2). The issue is that this update introduces malware in the form of Android/PUP.Adware.YeMobi.a (IMAGE #3). These issues are impossible to uninstall or clean. They are built into the phone at a system level, so a factory reset will not remove the spyware or malware. I ordered a second BLU Life One X2 to confirm that this was an issue with the phone and not something I mistakenly introduced in some way. I started the new phone and installed only Lookout and Malwarebytes, ran scans, and discovered the same issues. The two phones I ordered have build dates of 2/2017 and 3/2017. One of the major reasons I was high on the BLU Life One X2 is that my wife has happily been using one since October 2016. Hers has a build date of 9/2016 and has no malware or spyware issues (IMAGE #4). I’ve spoken with BLU’s customer support several times, and the representatives seemed unwilling or incapable of assisting with the spyware. I’ve received conflicting advice and extremely poor advice. One representative suggested I uninstall Lookout and Malwarebytes and that this would solve my spyware detection issues, as there would be nothing to flag the spyware. I sincerely hope this was a “lost in translation” issue. The representative read a form letter that stated that the spyware detected is not actually spyware. I’d rather trust a third party who specializes in cyber security. Another representative told me that there isn’t a single supervisor who could help me or make outgoing calls to return my call. This seems to be an increasingly common customer support issue at call centers lacking in resources. I’m not crazy enough to suggest a budget electronics company should have excellent and extensive customer support—but Chinese spyware in BLU’s phones is a huge issue. They should take it much more seriously. Unfortunately, many customers do not use apps such as Lookout or Malwarebytes, so they may be unaware that there is spyware on their phones. I am planning on shipping the two Life One X2 phones and the BLU Life One X2 Mini that I also had issues with back to Amazon for refunds (IMAGE #5). I hope my review was helpful. I want to save other customers the headaches I’ve experienced. I’ll try to answer any questions in the comments below.