2/3 of Android Apps Use Private Data Suspiciously

[Vladislaus]

[citation][nom]back_by_demand[/nom]Because of course everyone reads in detail the 600 page EULA with the section that says they will monitor your wherabouts more closely than the authorities monitor suspected terrorists.Riiiight.....[/citation]
The information doesn't appear only in the EULA. A screen appears when we are about to install the app that tells everything that the app has access to. If people chose to ignore it then that's their fault.

 

[back_by_demand]

[citation][nom]Vladislaus[/nom]The information doesn't appear only in the EULA. A screen appears when we are about to install the app that tells everything that the app has access to. If people chose to ignore it then that's their fault.[/citation]
I'm sure there are a few enlightened souls who take a lot of care but the massive majority of Android users are like average Windows users - they blindly use it without knowing how any of it works - shouldn't the providers of the OS take some responsibility and do something to prevent mis-use via susoect applications?

Of course not - they are in the ad-revenue business - why should they?

 

[kartu]

Suspicious eh? Define suspicious please, is it yet another "we ran our perfect software and it detected the following is suspicious"?

Is it just part of Apple's anti Android FUD campaign? (Android has already grabbed bigger market share, than iphones) Or both?

 

[Vladislaus]

[citation][nom]back_by_demand[/nom]I'm sure there are a few enlightened souls who take a lot of care but the massive majority of Android users are like average Windows users - they blindly use it without knowing how any of it works - shouldn't the providers of the OS take some responsibility and do something to prevent mis-use via susoect applications?Of course not - they are in the ad-revenue business - why should they?[/citation]
This problem also affects the iPhone. In fact, according to statistics, there are more apps that have access to personal information on the iPhone than on Android. What makes even worse is that the iPhone doesn't warn anything when installing an app, we have to read the EULA.

By showing what an app has access to, Google is taking responsibility. The warning is pretty easy to read and takes just a few seconds. The warning also as warning signs all over the place to prevent users from just skipping it. If a user ignores the warning, then they can't complaint.

 

[RabidFace]

[citation][nom]Tom's Hardware[/nom]Furthermore, 15 out of the 30 apps investigated send users' geographic location to remote advertisement servers.[/citation]
Umm, how long have websites been doing this? This is nothing new and something I could care less about. If I am going to HAVE to look at ADs, I would rather have them tailor to my area of residence.

[citation][nom]Tom's Hardware[/nom]The study also found that seven of the 30 applications send a unique phone (hardware) identifier, and, in some cases, the phone number and SIM card serial number to developers.[/citation]

Again, something websites have been doing for ages. Wonder how websites and peoples signatures are able to tell what Browser you are using, OS, and your ISP? I also wouldn't doubt that through these same practices, would be able to get more information off your computer, but they choose NOT to.

For me, it's all what they are doing with this information. If it's going to help provide a better experience with giving them my hardware ID (what model of phone to narrow things), phone number (can tell what carrier you MIGHT be on and the about location of you). Though, I don't know why they want my SIM card ID (ESN for CDMA) because what can they do? Yes, they could probably block you directly from the program, but if that was the case, you did something wrong and they have the right to get the info they need to fix the damages.

So, I guess in a nutshell, non of this surprises me and it's not the HUGE of a deal. The internet has been doing this same stuff for YEARS. And, again, it's all what they are doing with my information. If they are keeping it for themselves, by all means, get the info you need. But if they are doing it just to sell off my info, then shame on you

 

[Griffolion]

[citation][nom]getreal[/nom]I feel worse for you, because you can't spell "responsibility".Uneducated people = the majority of Android users! LOL.[/citation]

A friend of mine has an IQ of 136 but is dyslexic. He generally can't spell for his life but is very educated. Also, the fact that you didn't come back with a counter-point and instead chose to mock the slight mispelling of "responsibility" suggests you had little to come back to on his point.

Also, to make such a sweeping statement that the majority of Android users are uneducated merely serves to identify your own childish and unfounded hatred for Android. Now i'm not saying you're a fanboy/girl of another platform (but IMO i reckon you are) but you clearly have some strange issues with Google and the revenue generating policies attached to the products they give. Like many people have said, it isn't Android or Google, its the developer. They have a duty to keep the openness of Android a transparent and fair concept otherwise they simply attract mindless haters.

On my X10, i never download an app unless im fully prepared to accept that app will take some information and give it somewhere.

 

[diplomat696]

while I agree with a lot of the people who say it is not that big a deal what happens when they develop a software for you to access your bank information that you put onto your phone and then suddenly the developer knows who you bank with or what your account # is. It only takes one rogue developer/hacker to create this and then you have armageddon. This is why personally I would prefer my software apps to be vetted by a company like apple or microsoft whilst they obviously are not perfect I trust them much more than John Smith from Ukraine developing the Open Source Software for Android markets!!!