Is my privacy compromised??

[omnius]

To make a long story short, I posted some info about an app, along with a Play Store link to that app in a post over at Android Central. Within 24 hours, the developer of that app commented in my thread, and his last post in that forum WAS A YEAR AGO.

Can someone please explain how this happened?

 

[dustwun77]

I didn't read the whole thing but here is some info for you about that.

Google Play Flaw Gives App Developers Purchaser's Information | Techdirt

 

[omnius]

I didn't read the whole thing but here is some info for you about that.

Google Play Flaw Gives App Developers Purchaser's Information | Techdirt

I'm aware of that news story already, but this was different. This was me posting a link to an app from a forum just like this one, and the dev of that app answering the thread within 1 day even though his last activity on that forum was a year ago.

 

[dustwun77]

That raises all sorts of questions. All I could do is theorize.

One thing I have noticed, it appears Devs are pretty interested in the reviews their apps get. He may have just seen the name of his app pop up and want to address any comments you made. In other words, he may be tracking references to his app rather than you.

Edit: If you are really concerned about it, you might just email the dev directly and ask. I have been amazed at the response I have gotten the times I have done that. It might put your mind at ease.

 

[omnius]

That raises all sorts of questions. All I could do is theorize.

One thing I have noticed, it appears Devs are pretty interested in the reviews their apps get. He may have just seen the name of his app pop up and want to address any comments you made. In other words, he may be tracking references to his app rather than you.

That's what I'm wondering, does Google give developers the ability to track the exact URL that contains a link to their app?

 

[dustwun77]

Probably if you did a search for it on google it would show up in the search results too. With a link to the page it was mentioned on.

Edit: And, you already said he was a member of the forum already, as well.

 

[omnius]

Probably if you did a search for it on google it would show up in the search results too. With a link to the page it was mentioned on.

Edit: And, you already said he was a member of the forum already, as well.

I understand that but you're skipping the main point - the guy has not been anywhere around there for almost a year. But within 24 hours of his app being mentioned he immediately replied. The odds of that being a coincidence are about the same as earth being struck by a comet...

I checked on Google and it's not in the results, not that particular page. He must have some method of tracking links to his Play Store app. The ramifications for this are disturbing. What if you had chosen to say something really negative or derogatory? Now this developer has your Play Store credentials as well as knowing your identity on another website's forum.

 

[lunatic59]

To make a long story short, I posted some info about an app, along with a Play Store link to that app in a post over at Android Central. Within 24 hours, the developer of that app commented in my thread, and his last post in that forum WAS A YEAR AGO.

Can someone please explain how this happened?

Google provides backlinks in webmaster tools, but I don't know if it provides them to developers from the play store, although I wouldn't be surprised.

 

[dustwun77]

I understand that but you're skipping the main point - the guy has not been anywhere around there for almost a year. But within 24 hours of his app being mentioned he immediately replied. The odds of that being a coincidence are about the same as earth being struck by a comet...

I checked on Google and it's not in the results, not that particular page. He must have some method of tracking links to his Play Store app. The ramifications for this are disturbing. What if you had chosen to say something really negative or derogatory? Now this developer has your Play Store credentials as well as knowing your identity on another website's forum.

I can hear that this is a deep concern to you. There is still the option for you to contact dev, as i mentioned, and ask him directly.

 

[chanchan05]

The developer could have had subscribed to the thread you know, he's getting email alerts for any posts there.

 

[psionandy]

To make a long story short, I posted some info about an app, along with a Play Store link to that app in a post over at Android Central. Within 24 hours, the developer of that app commented in my thread, and his last post in that forum WAS A YEAR AGO.

Can someone please explain how this happened?

He probably was subscribed to that forum, and it gave him an email alert when someone posted there...

No mystery, no spooky stuff... its just how forums work.

 

[mysticspiral]

The developer could have had subscribed to the thread you know, he's getting email alerts for any posts there.

I was gonna say the same thing.

 

[omnius]

The developer could have had subscribed to the thread you know, he's getting email alerts for any posts there.

He probably was subscribed to that forum, and it gave him an email alert when someone posted there...

No mystery, no spooky stuff... its just how forums work.

I was gonna say the same thing.

Guys, guys...

He hasn't posted since 2012. It was a forum specific to one phone brand. That's not what happened.
He also couldn't have subscribed to the thread... I had just created it.

Sent from my (fill in the blank) phone using (fill in the blank software)

 

[chanchan05]

A Mod may have PM'd him and he'd get PM's in emails. That's a normal forum feature. Sometimes Mods do PM the accounts of devs who are members of their forums.

 

[zuben el genub]

The developer could just scan the forums every day.

I have paid astronomy apps. The developers of the best of these apps belong to one of the top forums. If they see a question about the app, they will answer but they don't post every day. If I have a question about the app, I will ask in these forums rather than go through Play to find the website or email.

Since I've used another forum not allied to Google, there is really no way for Google to know.

I'm glad these developers keep an eye on their products and handle questions, etc. in a prompt manner.

Another program has its own group on Yahoo.

 

[LeoRexus]

Guys, guys...

He hasn't posted since 2012.

Maybe he just pops in often to read and see if his app is mentioned. I wouldn't immediately jump to some nefarious invasion of privacy.

The simplest explanation is usually correct.

 

[omnius]

A Mod may have PM'd him and he'd get PM's in emails. That's a normal forum feature. Sometimes Mods do PM the accounts of devs who are members of their forums.

The developer could just scan the forums every day.

I have paid astronomy apps. The developers of the best of these apps belong to one of the top forums. If they see a question about the app, they will answer but they don't post every day. If I have a question about the app, I will ask in these forums rather than go through Play to find the website or email.

Since I've used another forum not allied to Google, there is really no way for Google to know.

I'm glad these developers keep an eye on their products and handle questions, etc. in a prompt manner.

Another program has its own group on Yahoo.

possible but remote. I'm leaning towards Play Store apps having a linkback feature for developers as being the most logical answer. I've emailed him waiting for an answer I'll let you know

 

[omnius]

Maybe he just pops in often to read and see if his app is mentioned. I wouldn't immediately jump to some nefarious invasion of privacy.

The simplest explanation is usually correct.

I've ruled that one out. The developer hasn't been active in that forum since mid to late 2012. Yet he replied to my thread within 24 hours of me creating it. In order for that to be the reason, he would either have to have been obsessively checking multiple forums specifically for mention of his app every day for a year, or it was just a freak coincidence, the odds of which would be in the magnitude of The Big Bang.

 

[Hadron]

He hasn't posted in that time, doesn't mean he's not been there.

Or they could just routinely google "app name" plus a few keywords ("review" being one). If they did that once/week (maybe limiting the time period of the search to keep number of results manageable) then a reply within a day would be not that unlikely at all.

Hopefully we'll know when he replies to you.

 

[LeoRexus]

Why is the prospect of an app developer routinely checking one of the busiest forums so absurd? If I wrote one, I would most certainly check the larger forums every day or so to see if there was any chatter.

 

[psionandy]

Guys, guys...

He hasn't posted since 2012. It was a forum specific to one phone brand. That's not what happened.
He also couldn't have subscribed to the thread... I had just created it.

Sent from my (fill in the blank) phone using (fill in the blank software)

you misread my reply.. I said he was subscribed to the forum, not the thread. So there's no reason why he wouldn't have got an alert that way.

Or he could have set up alerts with google to send him messages whenever google spots a keyword.

 

[omnius]

He got back to me, it was Google Alerts as you said

Sent from my (fill in the blank) phone using (fill in the blank software)