You may/may not find this disturbing..read it!

[QuickDraw]

This is just an article by the WSJ that I thought may interest some of you. It is certainly a little disturbing to me and has made me think twice before installing ANYTHING on my EVO.



IPhone and Android Apps Breach Privacy - WSJ.com


Just a little tooooo personal I think.

 

[s_special]

it's well known that free apps have to make money it one way or another. i'm always looking closely at free apps before i download them.

 

[QuickDraw]

it's well known that free apps have to make money it one way or another. i'm always looking closely at free apps before i download them.

I knew that this type of thing went on, but had no idea about the extent. So you read that whole article and it doesn't bother you at all? Some of the information that is shared is not your normal everyday variety...your phones personal ID# which allows companies to track exactly where you go...companies that are given this information BY the applications you've installed.


It is also interesting to note that even if you decided to uninstall all of the paid/free apps, there are still the stock ones that are Google sanctioned ones that are probably doing the exact same thing. I say this because in that article it brings out the both Apple AND Google are heavily vested in advertising/adds. Oh and if you/or anyone else, thinks that it is happening only with the FREE apps, you're mistaken.

 

[EarlyMon]

Yet another reason that rooting is your friend.

Once there, install AdFree and DroidWall, both free in the Market.

 

[mcl1981]

The internet on your computer does the same thing. Look, we're all still alive. If someone at google knows I just went to the grocery store and bought a case of beer, I don't really care. It is all for targeted advertising, none of which i pay attention to in the first place.

 

[rkkeller]

I was a little surprised that it happens more with Apple than Android. I always thought that was the reason Apple has to approve all apps.

I was thinking about putting a checkbook app on my EVO but might not. :>

 

[EarlyMon]

Apple approves apps more on business than security decisions.

Makes you wonder about negative Android press from the iPhone camp, doesn't it?

I keep financial off all portables, fwiw. I worry more about a lost or stolen device having that info, but that's a personal choice.

 

[ovrrdrive]

This doesn't worry me in the least...

What's the worst that can happen? I get local ads that I might actually buy from?

I think people blow stuff like this way out of proportion. When you registered for Pandora didn't it ask you for your age? Didn't you wonder why?

You have to be smart in your actions no matter what the medium. I never give out anything I'm worried about. If I do worry, I either fake the info or move on.

 

[Frisco]

I do not like people knowing things about me. I've decided to take action.

- uninstalled all Market apps

- threw away my phone and canceled my contract

- stopped my newspaper deliver and canceled my contract

- tore up my debit and credit cards, withdrew all my money from my banks

- sold my cars

- canceled my cable service

- canceled my electric service

- canceled my gas service

- ran my driver's license through the shredder and called the DMV to sign a waver declaring my license "invalid"

- cashed in my life insurance policies

- changed my name

- grew a beard

- packed some supplies and am headed to secret location away from all humans

- last post here or anywhere, burning my laptops and PCs

So long, suckers!

 

[dougrb]

A bit of paranoia never killed anybo... wait, it probably has. I say, be wary but don't get all nuts over it unless you absolutely plan on changing your habits and lifestyle in a BIG way.

In a way, I think you're making mountains out of mole hills, but I also see the point in being upset. So let's see what we can do. Write to local congressmen, FCC, share holder board members yada yada... without making a commitment in order to try and make a difference, all you can do is comfort yourself with the fact that this type of thing is par for the course in today's world.

If I'm not mistaken, I saw a report on NY1 the other day about just this type of thing, where hopefully in the very near future, protocols such as those seen in these apps and online (such as Facebook etc) will not be able to simply run their existence by you with a friendly "hi, I'm here, sign off on me if you want to run me", but instead will be met with an option to:

A) Introduce themselves/let themselves be known
B) AND give the end user the option to opt out of the usual information sharing stages WHILE being able to run the app anyway.

And B is really where we should be, at this point in the game, but since not enough people do the right thing (such as contact those authorities I already mentioned) we just sit back and take it, much like everything else such as wrongly elected presidents, over taxation yada yada and yada...

I guess people are SO lazy, they'd rather simply opt out of using technology all together, than take steps to protect their constitutional rights. Strength in numbers always works better, but not many people are willing to fight for a cause these days. My self included unless I've got company to do so. Sucks to feel helpless, and I'm sure that's the general feeling most get with such issues.

Doug

 

[dougrb]

I do not like people knowing things about me. I've decided to take action.

- uninstalled all Market apps

- threw away my phone and canceled my contract

- stopped my newspaper deliver and canceled my contract

- tore up my debit and credit cards, withdrew all my money from my banks

- sold my cars

- canceled my cable service

- canceled my electric service

- canceled my gas service

- ran my driver's license through the shredder and called the DMV to sign a waver declaring my license "invalid"

- cashed in my life insurance policies

- changed my name

- grew a beard

- packed some supplies and am headed to secret location away from all humans

- last post here or anywhere, burning my laptops and PCs

So long, suckers!

Haha... You and Randy Quaid should live a long and fruitful life together !

 

[pastafarian]

I do not like people knowing things about me. I've decided to take action.

- uninstalled all Market apps

- threw away my phone and canceled my contract

- stopped my newspaper deliver and canceled my contract

- tore up my debit and credit cards, withdrew all my money from my banks

- sold my cars

- canceled my cable service

- canceled my electric service

- canceled my gas service

- ran my driver's license through the shredder and called the DMV to sign a waver declaring my license "invalid"

- cashed in my life insurance policies

- changed my name

- grew a beard

- packed some supplies and am headed to secret location away from all humans

- last post here or anywhere, burning my laptops and PCs

So long, suckers!

Finally!

.

 

[EarlyMon]

An informed electorate is an empowed one.

I advocate consumer protection.

If you want to know what they're up to and how to reach who, you want Congress, free in Market. Yeah - that sentence is funny, but it's a must-have app, really.

 

[Frisco]

Haha... You and Randy Quaid should live a long and fruitful life together !

I don't want this "randy quaid" to know about me either.

I don't want anybody to know about me!

I'm sorry I was ever born! As soon as I was born people knew about me and had an agenda about what to provide me with based on my gender, age, where I was, my likes and dislikes and my education, etc.

Help help.

 

[EarlyMon]

The article might be over the top, but identity theft, safe browsing and device security is always a concern.

Rogue apps happen. Users find it hard to often know what app should have which permissions.

This thread raises awareness of these issues as well as educates about Apple, and the media sensationalizing news.

On-topic please.

 

[QuickDraw]

Yet another reason that rooting is your friend.

Once there, install AdFree and DroidWall, both free in the Market.

That's a very good idea. How about a link or something like that to explain exactly how to do it and hopefully something indicating which type of ROOT would be best. Thanks for the reminder/tip.

 

[QuickDraw]

The internet on your computer does the same thing. Look, we're all still alive. If someone at google knows I just went to the grocery store and bought a case of beer, I don't really care. It is all for targeted advertising, none of which i pay attention to in the first place.

If you truly look close and read that article, you'll see that it is compared to the computer world and it says that it is NOT the same. At home on your computer you have the ability to stop it by deleting cookies...etc., however that personal ID# of your phone is compared to a SUPER COOKIE that you cannot control or get rid of no matter what the hell you do. In my opinion, that is taking it tooooooo damn far.

 

[EarlyMon]

That's a very good idea. How about a link or something like that to explain exactly how to do it and hopefully something indicating which type of ROOT would be best.

Gladly - EVO 4G - All Things Root - Android Forums

The 3 sticky threads at the top of the list really help.

I recommend you use the stock rom, only rooted, that you have now to get started, then consider alternatives once you're there.

I like Sense, so I stuck with stock, personally.

PS to non-Evo users: The first sticky in the Evo root subforum is great and helps define terms and concepts. To see how to root YOUR phone, look in your phone's All Things Root subforum, or check here for a shortcut - http://androidforums.com/all-things-root/

 

[QuickDraw]

This doesn't worry me in the least...

What's the worst that can happen? I get local ads that I might actually buy from?

I think people blow stuff like this way out of proportion. When you registered for Pandora didn't it ask you for your age? Didn't you wonder why?

You have to be smart in your actions no matter what the medium. I never give out anything I'm worried about. If I do worry, I either fake the info or move on.

The whole point that I got out of that article is that you can do things as safely as you want, but they are still going to get information from your phone, possibly information that you don't want them to have...just from that personal phone ID#. Thing about it is, this information is being passed on to God knows who, a whole lot of it very personal, and who knows who else will get it. On top of that, are they able to even keep it secure? Do these companies even care about security?

This bothers me, and should bother everyone else as well. That is if you care at all about your CREDIT standing.....etc.

 

[EarlyMon]

Always read and understand privacy policies.

 

[Frisco]

The article might be over the top, but identity theft, safe browsing and device security is always a concern.

Rogue apps happen. Users find it hard to often know what app should have which permissions.

This thread raises awareness of these issues as well as educates about Apple, and the media sensationalizing news.

On-topic please.

None of my posts in this thread are off-topic, my friend.

(btw, I did a search in that linked article for "identity" and for "theft." Neither are included.)

I'm trying to point out that it's never been possible to be anonymous, on any level. The minute one is born, personal information about you is known in the community, and beyond.

If you think about it, this has been true since the dawn of civilization, not since the advent of the computer age.

 

[QuickDraw]

Hey, it's just an article I thought some would want to know about. After all, I didn't post it for myself. I don't know about anybody else, but I work awefully damn hard keeping my credit in good standing. I, personally, do not have an abundance of CASH to perform all of my purchases with, and without good credit, you won't be able to buy anything on credit, not even an EVO.

I'm not trying to blow this out of proportion, it may sound that way, but I'm not. However it looks as though some of you guys need to take it more seriously. I would hate to see things go bad for ya. Try living "The American Dream" without good credit.

 

[EarlyMon]

None of my posts in this thread are off-topic, my friend.

(btw, I did a search in that linked article for "identity" and for "theft." Neither are included.)

I'm trying to point out that it's never been possible to be anonymous, on any level. The minute one is born, personal information about you is known in the community, and beyond.

If you think about it, this has been true since the dawn of civilization, not since the advent of the computer age.

I understand and value your points.

Even though the article didn't raise the other issues explicitly, we ought not let go that security is multi-dimensional.

We have a right to expect some respect of a closed door - you can't be completely private online, but you needn't be naked either.

And I've already deleted an off-topic post here.

 

[Frisco]

And I've already deleted an off-topic post here.

Yeah, but I saw it before you deleted it: it was your own post.

lol, j/k.

I'm with you on the i.d. theft thing, it's going on, but as I read the article it began to creep over me that it was a bit of scare-mongering.

However, I do not dismiss it as totally that, because I do like full disclosure on these matters. Heaven help us if we can't at least get that from the press and have to rely on a Wikileaks to get us the info.

 

[Frisco]

Hey, it's just an article I thought some would want to know about. After all, I didn't post it for myself. I don't know about anybody else, but I work awefully damn hard keeping my credit in good standing. I, personally, do not have an abundance of CASH to perform all of my purchases with, and without good credit, you won't be able to buy anything on credit, not even an EVO.

I'm not trying to blow this out of proportion, it may sound that way, but I'm not. However it looks as though some of you guys need to take it more seriously. I would hate to see things go bad for ya. Try living "The American Dream" without good credit.

Good on ya for starting this thread with that article, QuickDraw.

Debate is good.