Warning: Stiftung Warentest has discovered enormous security gaps in a digital product that is in almost every home. Hackers and stalkers have an easy job.
- Stiftung Warentest * discovers significant digital security vulnerabilities among providers of photo books
- In the test , only four out of twelve providers do well
- Many companies rated poorly
Kassel - For weddings, as a birthday present or as a souvenir: Photo books are suitable for many occasions and are currently popular with many consumers. Photo books can be made almost anywhere these days. Both retailers such as Aldi, Lidl, dm and Rossmann, as well as online providers such as Cewe, Fujifilm, Pixum or Saal offer the services. The experts from Stiftung Warentest have now put the providers under the microscope in a test .
The photo books tested cost between 15 and 40 euros. Stiftung Warentest has test examines both standard and premium photo books. The premium products are three to ten euros more expensive, but they are often of higher quality. However, one of the inexpensive providers is one of the test winners.
Stiftung Warentest discovers security vulnerabilities in the test (symbol image).
© Andrea Warnecke / dpa
In the test: Stiftung Warentest checks photo books
Total cut in the test of Stiftung Warentest , only four out of twelve companies performed well. Eight, on the other hand, are rated unsatisfactory because they endanger user data due to security gaps . Stiftung Warentest contacted the providers concerned in advance so that they can fix the defects and better protect their users.
The photo book comparison examined image quality, automatic image optimization, processing and delivery. Other criteria in the test were the diversity of the offer, as well as data protection and data security.
Test of photo books - the winners in the test
The quality of the images was assessed by three experienced photography experts. These are the winners in the test at Stiftung Warentest :
| Manufacturer | grade | Price (standard) | Price (Premium) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lidl | good (2.0) | 14.90 euros | 19.90 euros |
| Aldi | good (2.1) | 14.95 euros | 19.95 euros |
| Digital photo service room | good (2.1) | - | 34.99 euros |
| Rossmann | good (2.3) | 17.99 | 21.99 euros |
In the test: Stiftung Warentest discovers a security gap
Stiftung Warentest reports that eight providers have security gaps that make hackers and stalkers' craft easier. Cewe, dm, FotoInsight, Myposter, Pixum, PosterXXL and Tchibo therefore received the grade insufficient. Fujifilm and Myposter also made a mistake.
Both companies sent photos of foreign customers to the consumer organization. According to Stiftung Warentest, it was an oversight. "But one that must not happen and that we therefore rated as defective," says the test report . With a research it might have been possible to determine personal information of the customers.
In the test by Stiftung Warentest: Processes optimized
However, Fujifilm says it has optimized shipping processes that now run automatically instead of manually. This would avoid human error. The other providers also responded positively and promised to fix the security gaps .
Open like a (photo) book
During a test of photo book providers, Stiftung Warentest discovered that seven of them allowed passwords that were far too short.
To report from Handelsblatt about security deficiencies at photo book providers: https://t.co/n6dHfccNiQ
Another security gap in companies is too short passwords and the lack of protection against frequent login attempts. This makes it easy for hackers to try out thousands of possible passwords automatically. With some providers it was even possible to assign passwords with just one character. The standard is currently eight characters.
Stiftung Warentest takes a close look at photo books - the losers in the test
According to Stiftung Warentest, companies could protect their customers by delaying further entries after five incorrect passwords or by sending an email to the user. These providers score poorly:
- dm
- Pixum
- Cewe
- FotoInsight
- PosterXXL
- Tchibo photo
- ip.Labs
- Myposter
In the test by Stiftung Warentest: Image quality is convincing
In the test by Stiftung Warentest , almost all providers were able to convince in terms of image quality. Stripes and color casts were only seen more often in the photo books at Myposter and PosterXXL. Cewe, FotoInsight and Pixum had the best variety of offers.
Just recently, Stiftung Warentest examined food for dogs and cats. The consumer organization warns of the appalling result. Under no circumstances should the four-legged friends eat this food.
Cancer from mold: Stiftung Warentest * gives tips on protection. Mold can produce one of the strongest poisons in nature. (Karolin Schaefer) * hna.de are part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editorial network.
List of rubric lists: © Andrea Warnecke / dpa