Motorola Phones Caught Silently Injecting Affiliate Codes Into the Amazon App

How the Hijack Works

The interception is subtle by design. Here is the chain of events:

• When a user taps the Amazon icon from the app drawer (not a home-screen shortcut), the Smart Feed app intercepts the launch intent before Amazon can open normally .
• Smart Feed briefly opens a Chrome browser window to load a URL containing an affiliate tracking parameter. The flash is so fast — a fraction of a second — that most users never notice it .
• The browser then immediately redirects back to the Amazon app .
• Network logs traced the redirect through domains like devicenative.com, a mobile advertising service that publicly lists Motorola as an integration partner . The affiliate tag is attached during this hop.
• From that point, Amazon attributes any purchase made in that session to Motorola's affiliate account, earning the company a kickback on orders it played no role in influencing .

One report from Sina Finance identified the final redirect domain as kira-abboud.com, which mentions a fashion influencer, but the affiliate code (sramz-kff-008-20) did not match the influencer's known accounts, adding to the opacity .

Which Devices and Software Versions Are Affected?

Motorola has not released an official list of impacted devices. However, independent reporting has confirmed the behavior on specific models and pinpointed the likely software trigger.

Confirmed Affected Devices

• Motorola Razr 60 Ultra — The device where the issue was originally reported .
• Motorola Razr Fold — Confirmed by 9to5Google on a unit running Smart Feed v2.03.0070 .

The Software Trigger

9to5Google's testing isolated the update most likely responsible:

• Smart Feed v2.03.0056 — A Razr (2026) running this version did not exhibit the hijacking behavior.
• Smart Feed v2.03.0070 — A Razr Fold running this version did exhibit the redirect .

This strongly suggests the issue was introduced with the v2.03.0070 update, although the same version did not reliably reproduce the problem on a Moto G Stylus 2026 even after manual sideloading, hinting that other factors like device model or carrier provisioning may also be involved .

Important Behavioral Detail

The redirect only occurs when Amazon is launched from the app drawer, not from a home-screen shortcut . This implies the interception is tied to how Smart Feed handles intent resolution specifically for drawer launches.

How to Stop the Interception Right Now

Until Motorola releases an official fix or statement, users have two practical workarounds.

1. Disable Smart Feed (Recommended)

This completely stops the redirect chain by preventing Smart Feed from intercepting app launches.

• Go to Settings > Apps
• Search for or scroll to Smart Feed
• Tap Disable

Disabling Smart Feed will also remove the news-and-feed panel that appears when swiping left on the home screen. It does not affect core phone functionality like calling, texting, or camera use.

2. Launch Amazon From the Home Screen

If you prefer not to disable Smart Feed, you can avoid the hijack by placing a direct Amazon shortcut on your home screen and never using the app drawer icon. Multiple reports confirm the redirect does not trigger from home-screen shortcuts . This is a partial mitigation — the underlying interception code remains active for drawer launches.

The Bigger Question: Trust and Transparency

This incident has drawn comparisons to the Honey browser-extension scandal, where affiliate cookies were similarly overridden without clear user disclosure . The fact that a system-level app — one that cannot be uninstalled through normal means — is silently monetizing user purchases raises serious concerns about the boundaries between OEM software and user autonomy.

As of May 26, 2026, Motorola has not responded to multiple media inquiries. Until an official fix ships, disabling Smart Feed is the safest route for anyone concerned about hidden commission hijacking on their Motorola phone .