Smart Sheriff
{{Short description|South Korean mobile app}}
Smart Sheriff ({{langx|ko|스마트보안관}}) is a South Korean parental monitoring mobile app, introduced in 2015.{{Cite news|title = South Korea provokes teenage smartphone privacy row - BBC News|work = BBC News|date = 15 June 2015|url = https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-33091990|accessdate = 2015-06-16}} It was developed by Korean app maker MOIBA,{{Cite web|title = South Korean minors to be monitored via smartphone spying apps - Help Net Security|url = http://www.net-security.org/secworld.php?id=18402|website = www.net-security.org|accessdate = 2015-08-08}} and is distributed free, sponsored by the South Korean government, which supported its development.{{Cite web|title = South Korea mandates spyware on teens' phones|url = https://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2015/05/20/south-korea-mandates-spyware-on-teens-phones/|website = Naked Security|accessdate = 2015-06-16|first = Lisa|last = Vaas|date = 20 May 2015}}{{Cite web|title = Spyware for teenagers|work=Korea Times|date=21 May 2015|url = https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/tech/2015/05/133_179345.html|accessdate = 2015-06-17}} The Korean government required its installation on the smart phones of all users who are under 19 years old, and the app allows the children's parents or guardians to monitor their online activity and block access to various websites. The regulation, passed by the Korea Communications Commission, required compliance from both telecom companies and the public.{{Cite web|title = South Korea mandates spyware installation on teenagers' smartphones|url = https://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/05/19/korean_law_mandates_spyware_installed_on_teenagers_smartphones_and_it_aint_north_korean/|accessdate = 2015-06-16|date = 19 May 2015|last = Martin|first = Alexander J |work=The Register}} There was no opt-out provision, the telecom operators have to ensure its installation on all new phones sold to those under 19 years of age{{Cite web|title = South Korea Mandates Obsessive Kid-Tracking Spyware|url = http://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/slackspace/s-korea-mandates-obsessive/|website = Infosecurity Magazine|accessdate = 2015-06-17}} and failure to install the app rendered the phone unable to operate.{{Cite news|title = South Korea provokes teenage smartphone privacy row |work=BBC News|date=15 June 2015|url = https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-33091990|accessdate = 2015-06-16}}
While the government maintained the app is intended to protect minors from harmful content, the app has been criticized for its invasion of privacy. It has a built-in key logger that will alert parents when children use words from a blacklist, such as rape, kill, pregnancy, suicide, or bully. It also monitors the user's location, usage time, what apps they use (giving the parents remote ability to uninstall them or power down the phone) and what websites they visit.{{Cite web|title = South Korea orders all teenagers should install "Smart Sheriff" App for surveillance|date = 22 May 2015|url = http://www.techworm.net/2015/05/south-korea-orders-all-teenagers-should-install-smart-sheriff-app-for-surveillance.html|accessdate = 2015-06-17}} The app has been called spyware by The Register and "a general-purpose spyware juggernaut" by Infosecurity Magazine. Further, critics have pointed out that the app is only available for Android devices, leaving a loophole for users of other platforms, such as Apple iOS. The app also does not work with older Android phones.
An activist organization, Open Net Korea, has called the app the equivalent of installing surveillance cameras in teenagers's phones, without public consultation, and is challenging the regulation in court. There are concerns that introduction of the app for teenagers is only the first step, preparing the ground for introduction of a similar app for adults.
By June 2015 the app had been downloaded about 500,000 times.
It is the first parental control app that has been made a legally required, obligatory install in any country.{{Cite web|title = South Korea will legalize spying on teenagers|url = https://www.tcinet.ru/en/press-centre/technology-news/2274/|website = www.tcinet.ru|accessdate = 2015-06-17}}
In early November 2015, reports of serious security holes caused the Korean government to withdraw its support for the app and instead suggest using alternative services.{{Cite web|title = S. Korea pulls plug on child monitoring app – The Korea Times|url = http://www.koreatimesus.com/s-korea-pulls-plug-on-child-monitoring-app/|website = www.koreatimesus.com|accessdate = 2015-11-04}}{{Cite news|title = South Korea ditching Smart Sheriff child monitoring app over 'catastrophic' security woes|url = http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/11/02/asia-pacific/south-korea-ditching-smart-sheriff-child-monitoring-app-catastrophic-security-woes/|newspaper = The Japan Times Online|date = 2015-11-02|access-date = 2015-11-04|issn = 0447-5763}}