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Hello there chaps & chapettes(?),
I come to you today with a very real and possibly useful question. I come today to ask if there is a need for an anti-virus on smartphones at the moment and to gain an idea of the amount of HD2 users who do use an anti-virus.
So, would you say that there is any real need for an anti-virus? Are there many threats out there for us smartphone users? And do any of you have an anti-virus and if so, which is the one most recommended?
As an IT Engineer, I see many PC deaths attributed to malware of various flavours and I'd rather not see my beloved phone fall folly to these harmful programs.
Thanks for your responses (in advance),
Martin
I personally do not use one, but it depends on personal choice and what you use your phone for really.
Viruses and malware are fairly uncommon on android, but they do exist.
For example if you download a lot on your phone, or try unknown apps in market (viruses have been known to to find their way into the market) then you could maybe look into trying one.
Hope this helped
Sent from my HD2 using XDA app
IMHO, even on a PC, the anti-virus software often causes more harm than good, simply by slowing the system down considerably, especially the file system access, with its background scanning. Most of the viruses those days are stupid user oriented, you have to actually launch the virus/worm yourself for it to infect you. This kind of viruses only requires a tiny bit of common sense to avoid without using any anti-virus software. The other kind use well known network exploits - all i can say about it is "firewall yourself", there is nothing out of the ordinary in the way those viruses initially connect, a simple NAT router should protect you from those. There are also ones that infect you using some kind of browser, or other app exploit, but those are killed off at the distributing server side the moment they are discovered (anti-virus won't help you if you've stumbled upon one of those in zero days). And finally, some of those can be silent, properly coded, totally invisible, getting to you through some unknown exploits, using rootkit methods to hide etc... Those are the kind antiviruses are totally going to miss anyway.
The bottom line is - i don't see much point in using an antivirus on a PC. And you are actually asking me here if i think one should use it on an Android device ? Well, my answer is "No", unless you are a total stranger to some minimal common sense in this area.
I'll state this as someone who even leaves his wifi unlocked at home, but anyway...
My only viewpoint is that the only entry point for Malware is via Market downloads, and by that I mean downloading loads of apps from unknown names. While I know this advice will be disproved long-term, personally I would not bother unless I was silly with downloading apps from strange sources with weird permissions
Sent from my HTC HD2 using XDA App
smeddy said:
I'll state this as someone who even leaves his wifi unlocked at home...
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I did this too, pretty much isolated from the LAN, though. I've stopped doing it after someone started torrenting on it, and i am not talking occasionally fetching stuff here and there, limiting the BW to some sane values, but heavy, 24/7, bandwidth hogging torrenting.
I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction after spending a day reading about mobile phone security. I'm still confused as to what an app can do and how I can limit access. Some answers or a point in the right direction for more information would be helpful.
Apps that are granted permission "Modify/Delete SD Card" can pretty much read/write anything on my device? Could an app go through my sd card and see files, for example, music, movies, other data from different apps; file names/content? I have about 35 apps running on my phone with this access. I'd rather not leave it to "how much I trust the developer" and have some means to limit access to data.
I don't keep national security secrets on my nexus but there is work and personal information that is sensitive and I wouldn't want shared. It looks like if I use android to encrypt my data it only encrypts the /data folder and there doesn't seem to be much in there.
What about securing contact and calendar data? Is this possible? Not as critical as guarding my file data, but still important to me. Thanks.
Yes, files on the external sdcard are not protected, I.e. all apps which have the right to read/write sdcard can read/write everything there. One reason is just the filesystem type: on FAT you don't have access rights. On internal /sdcard it's a bit different, because it's using ext4 as a filesystem, so principally not all apps can read everything, but also here you have the problem that for example the camera, the gallery app, ... need access to the same files and directories. So at the moment you need to trust the apps in a certain way or not to install it at all.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
While it is difficult for someone with limited tech experience, it is plausible to protect your data with measures like XPrivacy or PDroid.
However, if you're looking for an answer without jumping through a few technical hoops, there aren't many good ones unfortunately. The best bet is as you already suggested, that is to be smart about where you browse the net, and only install trusted apps. Always think twice and review permissions carefully for any app even if it's from the Play Store.
And don't forget encryption only works similar to a house door. It's only good if you keep it locked. But if you let the bad guys into your house (i.e., installing a naughty app), it doesn't protect you much. It only keeps them out so long as you don't let them in (physical access). P.S. I'm assuming you're talking about the stock android encryption not actually having individual encrypted files on your device if not then ignore this paragraph (although I'm sure some will disagree that even having SHA-512 AES encrypted files with a extremely complex and long passwords is still not enough to protect data once a malicious user gets their hands on that file.)
Even on the internal SD card, it looks like once I give an app access to "modify/delete" the entire sd card is exposed; did I understand that correctly? It looks like grant access to everything or nothing.
After reading this:
http://appanalysis.org/
It seems that even trusted developers can't be trusted. I don't consider myself a novice user but I'm really surprised at how exposed the data is on phones and tablets. Its like leaving money on your front porch and hoping it isn't too tempting for someone to walk though a broken gate and grab.
Any idea what WP, iOS or BB10 offer in the way of data protection?
TheAltruistic said:
While it is difficult for someone with limited tech experience, it is plausible to protect your data with measures like XPrivacy or PDroid.
However, if you're looking for an answer without jumping through a few technical hoops, there aren't many good ones unfortunately. /QUOTE]
XPrivacy looks good, might be worth rooting for that app.
I'm not as concerned with an app downloading files and using a high level attack on my data. I am concerned about an app where the developer decides to go through my contacts, photos, and files which are unlocked and easily viewed. Then sell the data to whomever that can do whatever. No effort required, no ability to know the data was even accessed and no ability to lock the data. I think like most things, if there is more than a slight effort needed to access the data, they'll move on to something else.
I see Google offers encryption but I can't find information on exactly what is encrypted and if I install an app with say permission to contacts does that give them encrypted access to all contacts? For example, a program that can add a contact via sms I don't want to allow it to read all my contacts, just add a new one.
Maybe Android isn't the right platform for me.
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mgerbasio said:
TheAltruistic said:
While it is difficult for someone with limited tech experience, it is plausible to protect your data with measures like XPrivacy or PDroid.
However, if you're looking for an answer without jumping through a few technical hoops, there aren't many good ones unfortunately. /QUOTE]
XPrivacy looks good, might be worth rooting for that app.
I'm not as concerned with an app downloading files and using a high level attack on my data. I am concerned about an app where the developer decides to go through my contacts, photos, and files which are unlocked and easily viewed. Then sell the data to whomever that can do whatever. No effort required, no ability to know the data was even accessed and no ability to lock the data. I think like most things, if there is more than a slight effort needed to access the data, they'll move on to something else.
I see Google offers encryption but I can't find information on exactly what is encrypted and if I install an app with say permission to contacts does that give them encrypted access to all contacts? For example, a program that can add a contact via sms I don't want to allow it to read all my contacts, just add a new one.
Maybe Android isn't the right platform for me.
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Click to collapse
Heh don't give up. To be honest at least android tells you when it grants a program certain permissions unlike some other OSes where you're in the dark in terms of security.
As far as I know, and I'm assuming we're talking about the same thing, the type of encryption Android offers only prevents people from gaining unauthorized access to your data if your device is mounted or accessed when your lock screen is up. (I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong--please do). But if your device is not password protected (e.g., you set lock password to lock every hour and they get it when it's unlocked) then your data can potentially be compromised.
This encryption does not, however, protect your data as you're browsing the internet, or running apps like facebook.
If you're looking for something to protect your data from say facebook finding your GPS location without your permission, or accessing your contacts and doing God knows what with it, then XPrivacy and PDroid (links above) is your answer, and I'd say that's awesome.
I may not play around with an iPhone / iOS enough, but I'm confident enough to say that they don't offer the same privacy protection even from Cydia that you can get from communities like here on XDA. Perhaps for iOS users, ignorance is bliss?
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TheAltruistic said:
mgerbasio said:
Heh don't give up. To be honest at least android tells you when it grants a program certain permissions unlike some other OSes where you're in the dark in terms of security.
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Click to collapse
Thanks again. I appreciate the comments.
All I'm really looking to do is prevent an app downloading all my contacts, photos, movies, files, etc. I have some work data on my tablet that isn't confidential but it is what I would call sensitive. Actually, I rarely use external memory, mostly just use in internal sd card.
It seems all the "good apps" grab more permissions than they need or, the permission they do need to operate gives them way more access than I'd like. I'm not so concerned that I'd start using Tor or duckduckgo, but just trusting a developer with an open door to data is more than I can to leave to chance.
From what I've been reading the sandboxing in iOS and WP provide good security and in BB you can remove permissions from apps; BB10 is still the most secure if you can believe the internet articles. I'd like to see Google make it more clear as to what encryption actually allows and prevents.
There seems to be apps that button up a lot of holes, like photos, but there still are gaping holes.
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Hi guys,
Any progress? I use PDroid on my smartphone and find it unnerving to see how much and how often data is accessed not only by third party apps but by Google itself. With PDroid you can restrict permissions without bricking the app because it can provide fake data rather than none. I have to say that I am not entirely happy with it though. I hope that Firefox OS will have success in stopping the appification of our devices. Data wise, it is much safer to use web-based services than app-based services.
I think Google's Android is so successful with developers (also) because they can gather so much data. Our smartphones are unfortunately "data gold mines" for the ICT industry.
If you have any progress in improving privacy, safety and security of the Nexus 7 than I'd be happy to read about it.
Hello Good People of XDA
I have been a i9506 owner for quite long, had a 9100 before,
I am used to root and mess with apps to customize things to my wim,
at the best of my knowledge (I lack android programming skills, but I can do things with terminal and filesystems).
All that before to say I am not totally a noob, but my lack of technical knowledge might bite me there.
System wise, I am under 4.2.2, rooted, unknow sources are not allowed, system check for apps is allowed,
I have an antivirus (more than one, but only one works each day, just to be sure I don't miss things)...
My problem is that I recently found out that some apps, actually system apps, blocked
with Titanium backup, or with gemini app manager, or app quarantine,
were actually running anyway.
They are marked as blocked in my app manager, but can still be force closed,
and they appear in battery displays (most of these under the android system block, in the list of services/apps used),
and in process running when using Ccleaner apps.
Also, my battery display show GPS is activated, while when I go into options, all boxes are off or unticked.
I thus wonder what's happening?
How is it possible to have these schrödinger apps tamed and blocked like I want them.
I want these to shut down and only work when I DO ALLOW these, for them not to suck my battery or do unauthorized chores like tracking me when I don't want.
How is it possible that they even behave like that? In i9100, I never observed that in Android 4.0.
I wonder if Google didn't change the workings for making us unable to disactivate what we don't want to work, which was pissing them off.
They already change the permissions displays in the market so permissions as intrusive as "contacts/sms message/USB stockage" are considered "not relevant/important",
while they are depending on the announced display of the app.
But I don't want to go on the "conspiracy route" (I am not like that, I am a pragmatist and I just observe facts, like these apps, with sensitive access, not being able to be deactivated), so let's focus on the technical part:
such apps were Maps, Samsung sync adapters, NFC service , Google Agenda/Contact synchronisation, sysscope, context provider, etc.
That's a lots of things that are supposed to communicate to cloud or other devices, with feels lot like a gaping flaw in the armor...
I want a phone and a tool, not something that track me or put me at risk of being stolen by somebody with technical knowledge.
Am I alone?
Thanks for any insights.
Blocked apps still working
I don't know if my title was too unclear, so I would like to change the title but am unable to do so?
Is it please possible for a moderator to do it (with the title of this post)?
Thanks by advance.
I feel like it is a true problem not being able to block some apps,
or even more, to believe they are blocked while they perfectly perform in the background,
and display activity only in secondary reports, not under their respective "buttons"/information tabs.
I wonder abourt the technical reason to such behavior.
Then delete those apps or block some of the permissions with an app (eg Privacyguard).
It's my opinion that an antivirus app (at the moment) is a waste of resources. Just think before you install something. Also if you are worried about security, you should always run the latest version of Android. 4.2.2 is an old version.
Lennyz1988 said:
Then delete those apps or block some of the permissions with an app (eg Privacyguard).
It's my opinion that an antivirus app (at the moment) is a waste of resources. Just think before you install something. Also if you are worried about security, you should always run the latest version of Android. 4.2.2 is an old version.
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Click to collapse
Thanks for your answer.
Well I don't want to delete system app when they might be useful at time.
I just want them to behave correctly, that is, not work when they are blocked.
That is not a solution to say "uninstall this", while the true problem is Android general behavior here.
I didn't installed system apps, they came with the thing, and all of them are not bloatware.
"NFC service" is something I want to keep for when I am ready to use it,
but I don't want to let it free and unleashed because of the opening it leaves on my phone.
Same goes for bluetooth, synced backups and so on.
I don't want backups on the cloud, so I deactivated the options, and blocked the apps.
Why are they running? It is not normal!
And my old version is maybe not secure, but actually trying 4.3 hasn't changed anything,
and I only suspect this to be some "new feature".
The antivirus is a waste for scans, I agree, still it has useful firewall features that justifies in itself its uses.
When it comes to my phone (GS4 SGH-M919) I am extremely serious about what's running or installed and why. There is nothing installed on my phone that I didn't personally install or allow to run. I like a nice clean phone with nothing wasting resources. I'm sure I'm not alone in this way of thinking, so I ask, what are you guys doing to minimize apps and wasted services running? How are you keeping your phone running at it's absolute best?
Uninstall anything that isn't important to the correct operation of the phone.
Freeze or greenify anything that you don't want constantly running in the background (like Google play or Facebook+Facebook messenger).
I'm the same in my mindset I don't like background processes running when I don't have a use for them right there and then. I freeze a few apps with titanium, I have everything that's not related to downloading, playing or streaming music greenified. I always have sync off and run AFwall+ controlling internet access. sometimes if a free app needs net access I'll try hunting for it's ads processes with this http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=cn.wq.disableservice
I really wish they'd start allowing users to have more control or total control over their devices without using 3rd party apps. Especially with high-end devices. When are they going to learn that we don't want unneeded apps and functionality ramed down our throats. I guess they still believe that even though we bought the device, it still belongs to them.
Tommy807 said:
I really wish they'd start allowing users to have more control or total control over their devices without using 3rd party apps. Especially with high-end devices. When are they going to learn that we don't want unneeded apps and functionality ramed down our throats. I guess they still believe that even though we bought the device, it still belongs to them.
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we are not the majority. it's more likely that instant updates arriving from facebook are valued more highly than comprehensive control of our device by most. I read that android device ownership is at 1 billion devices but XDAmembers is just over 7 million.
It's true, most people just care about the phone being able to send a text, but there's no reason all apps and services have to be locked down and not removable. That doesn't atfect the casual user. They choose to lock things down. They choose to make it so uninstalling trivial apps breaks the OS. Short of deleting OS files or drivers, they don't need to make it so my hands are tied.
I'm going to do what I want to do one way or another. All they're doing is pissing people off.
..
lol, to be fair the whole trend of a separate Gapps package is all about giving us that choice in the first place. hell I didn't even have gmail in the last version I used.
I use the browser to check my email, and facebook, and xda, and pretty much every other website.
I would even use the browser for YouTube if it weren't for the OGYouTube app which allows me to download the videos.
If anyone is interested in combining the sms, Facebook messenger and WhatsApp apps into one single app, try Disa. It can replace all 3. Unfortunately you have to give up the chatheads of messenger.
According to Samsung customer support and some members of this forum, this device does not have a built-in way of blocking Internet access for specific applications!
Many of those apps have permissions like "storage", "phone ID", "contacts", "calendar", "camera", "microphone", etc...
Therefore, when those applications are given Internet access they will be able to send all our data via the Internet...
That's why it would be of crucial importance and vital to have a built-in way of blocking Internet access to those apps.
For example, if an application has access to your data, to your storage or your contacts, it stands to reason that it should not have Internet access...
The only explanation for the lack of such an integrated system of blocking Internet access for specific applications can only be explained by the fact that Samsung and Google intend to have all our data and info sent over the Internet ... probably for specific domains ...
Google, Samsung or any other companies should not have, simultaneously, access to our storage data, contacts, calendar, camera, microphone..., and Internet access to send out all those data and info...
Besides, most apps are proprietary... so nobody knows what info or data the app is really sending out...
(Curiously and as a side note, my son has a Huawei P10 and that device allows the user to block Internet access to specific apps).
Therefore, given that this Samsung device does not have a way to limit specific applications from reaching the Internet, the phone is a spyware device!
Niccolò Paganini said:
The only explanation for the lack of such an integrated system of blocking Internet access for specific applications can only be explained by the fact that Samsung and Google intend to have all our data and info sent over the Internet ... probably for specific domains ...
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Click to collapse
Its google that doesn't want to implement an internet permission, we can block apps from access to storage/location/contacts and whatnot but not the internet, blame google not samsung.
peachpuff said:
Its google that doesn't want to implement an internet permission, we can block apps from access to storage/location/contacts and whatnot but not the internet, blame google not samsung.
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Well, blame them both. Samsung is knowingly 'accepting' the Google 'flaw' on it's phone. So Samsung is also culpable.
Talk about an Over the Top Melodramatic 1st post!
Stay off the internet - Get rid of your Smart TV - Live in a box... SMH
Sent from my SM-G955W ??
Niccolò Paganini said:
According to Samsung customer support and some members of this forum, this device does not have a built-in way of blocking Internet access for specific applications!
Many of those apps have permissions like "storage", "phone ID", "contacts", "calendar", "camera", "microphone", etc...
Therefore, when those applications are given Internet access they will be able to send all our data via the Internet...
That's why it would be of crucial importance and vital to have a built-in way of blocking Internet access to those apps.
For example, if an application has access to your data, to your storage or your contacts, it stands to reason that it should not have Internet access...
The only explanation for the lack of such an integrated system of blocking Internet access for specific applications can only be explained by the fact that Samsung and Google intend to have all our data and info sent over the Internet ... probably for specific domains ...
Google, Samsung or any other companies should not have, simultaneously, access to our storage data, contacts, calendar, camera, microphone..., and Internet access to send out all those data and info...
Besides, most apps are proprietary... so nobody knows what info or data the app is really sending out...
(Curiously and as a side note, my son has a Huawei P10 and that device allows the user to block Internet access to specific apps).
Therefore, given that this Samsung device does not have a way to limit specific applications from reaching the Internet, the phone is a spyware device!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't worry about it the NSA and Google already know everything about you.
without permissions 99% of your apps won't work. want to stop tracking ?dig deep into your account, real real deep to cut off a lot of privacy issues
then when you have time, google your name
pltctytc said:
....then when you have time, google your name
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Not much came out for me, just a Google+, Twitter, Photobucket and my company activity...
But: I must agree with OP to some extent...at the end it is weighting between functionality vs privacy.
Gregzi said:
Not much came out for me, just a Google+, Twitter, Photobucket and my company activity...
But: I must agree with OP to some extent...at the end it is weighting between functionality vs privacy.
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Click to collapse
Agreeing to ANY extent with the OP's RIDICULOUS and ABSURD post & a Thread Title that is Entirely Misleading and Uninformed!
While everyone is entitled to their opinion - This Thread & Particularly it's Title are perilously close to warrant being Reported to the Mods!
It's a simple process to Disable Background Data for each and every Application that you decide to disable in Settings - Apps - Permissions - Data - Background /Toggle Off.
I made reference to Smart TV's as they are constantly "listening" in order to provide functionality - Then there's Laptop cameras which could be equally used to "spy" on their users... Are we to disable the functionality offered by Ok Google - Which is also "listening" to provide the functionality that we have come to expect from our technology?
Two Tin Cans and String are the bastion of the Paranoid & Conspiracy Theorists.
Sent from my SM-G955W ??
**** this I'm going back to a Palm Pixi so the NSA can't spy on me!
What if.....
The NSA IS Google?!
Seriously? You're downloading things from F-Droid and Yalp and you're concerned with what data individual apps are sending? If you don't trust an app to have an internet connection, why on earth are you using it? If you don't trust the company behind an app to use your data appropriately, whey are you using that app? Do you shut off all data so your internet/mobile provider can't sniff out what you're doing? Tin foil is relatively cheap.
Niccolò Paganini said:
The only explanation for the lack of such an integrated system of blocking Internet access for specific applications can only be explained by the fact that Samsung and Google intend to have all our data and info sent over the Internet ... probably for specific domains ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Surely this is "the only reason", surely. I'll assume you have thought through the entire process of creating a mobile phone operating system as complex as Android, and also every detail involved in creating an application ecosystem that scales to millions of user created applications access by billions of people that worldwide probably generates over a trillion dollars in overall economic revenue (including employment by business built around it, advertising money spent, etc). Surely you saw a foolproof way too easily do all of this AND follow seemingly arbitrary privacy rules? You MUST have also COMPLETELY ruled out every other innocent explanation using this model, including showing conclusively that it wouldn't cause ANRs, app crashes, or anything else. Right?
You also have data showing more than just you would revoke this permission right?
Right?
Mr. Orange 645 said:
What if.....
The NSA IS Google?!
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You mean you only just realised this NOW???!
I have to say, I'm always amazed how little people care about the spying that's being done through their phones. Saying "live in a box" or "just don't use the app" is a stupid response. You can still want to be part of society (which nowadays REQUIRES using whatsapp/facebook/google) EVEN THOUGH you're uncomfortable with the privacy implications. Someone acknowledging and being aware of this, and trying to improve upon it (or even simpler, just demanding improvements by the companies you pay a thousand dollar for a new phone) is often ridiculed as if it wouldn't matter, or people accept it as an something that is required for the systems we use. Social networks could work totally fine without being centralized, google maps doesn't actually need to send your location to google to function, and no app that i know of needs to send your usage of the phone to their company to do whatever it promises to do. Yet many apps do. It's not so much about that it is possible, the problem is that it is allowed. It shouldn't be allowed, much of the data collection should simply be outlawed. But, since hardly anyone seems to care, I don't see that coming anytime soon. I've tried to find people interested in this, but not even on reddit /r/privacy/ this seems to be a major concern.
@the_toast
There's a difference between being responsible for the amount of privacy you have and the amount of personal information that has already been made available... long before people were even aware of the amount of personal information that was already gleaned from the Products and Services that you have been using for years. To some extent trying to reign in your personal information is like closing the barn door after the horse is long gone.
The guy who originally posted this Thread is focusing his "panic" on one device and THAT is naive and Grossly Misleading!
Whether it's FB (which I don't use) or signing up for a Loyalty card - Your personal information is everywhere! Using common sense going forward is the only rational approach, but standing on an imaginary mountain top and shouting to the world that one device is "spyware" is ridiculous and deserves to be called out ?
Sent from my SM-G955W ??
Ahh, the time of the Internet where everyone knows who you are, what you're doing, what you're buying, what sites you browse, your fetishes, etc. Most importantly, here in the U.S., your IP now can sell your internet history to anyone they please, even that time you looked up 2 girls and a cup. Sorry, Charlie, your life is no longer a private one and never will be again.
MiMtnBiker said:
Ahh, the time of the Internet where everyone knows who you are, what you're doing, what you're buying, what sites you browse, your fetishes, etc. Most importantly, here in the U.S., your IP now can sell your internet history to anyone they please, even that time you looked up 2 girls and a cup. Sorry, Charlie, your life is no longer a private one and never will be again.
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And if you Travel into the USA... Did you know THIS?
https://www.google.ca/amp/www.cbc.ca/amp/1.4494371#ampshare=http://www.cbc.ca/1.4494371
Sent from my SM-G955W ??
@shaggyskunk True, the OP is alarmist and uninformed. I was just put off by many of the answers, which basically said "why do you use Internet then". With respect to your post about searching phones - we can easily make this a scare thread (and people would be scared for good reasons). Let me continue:
- apps that want to use your microphone without apparent reason (of course also the ones WITH a good reason to use the mic) can track you through high-pitched sounds you cannot hear, which are emitted e.g. by some retailers to track you through their store.
- You talk about 1 in 13.000 people arriving in the US getting their phone/laptop looked at and potentially copied? How about knowing for 1Bn people (1 in 7 on earth) who they talk with, when they talk with them, and in which location they are whenever their phone has internet. That's Whatsapp.
@MiMtnBiker Gnn that's exactly my problem, people just accept it and believe it's never going to change. I'm not happy they know what kind of porn I'm looking at, and even less happy that they could sell the information (although I don't live in the US). If it is that way, it CAN be fixed, you CAN prohibit selling this information. Or to collect it at all. It's definitely better to know the big 5 have all my information but won't have all future information about me than to know they can continue like this forever
@the_toast
Many of the answers - including "live in a box" - "stay off the internet" were in direct response to the careless & irresponsible comments by the OP - like = like?
Not only your phone has the potential to gain access to your personal information - But your Laptop camera - Your Smart TV (that is "listening") But this technology is something that most people appreciate and expect their tech to provide them with the functionality that they want - Being aware of the capabilities of your Tech is prudent - being paranoid & frightened by it is just sad.
The issues of Privacy are extensive and if someone decides to pull on that thread - it's going to be never ending.
Common sense & being informed is the most appropriate way to go ??
Sent from my SM-G955W ??
the_toast said:
@shaggyskunk True, the OP is alarmist and uninformed. I was just put off by many of the answers, which basically said "why do you use Internet then". With respect to your post about searching phones - we can easily make this a scare thread (and people would be scared for good reasons). Let me continue:
- apps that want to use your microphone without apparent reason (of course also the ones WITH a good reason to use the mic) can track you through high-pitched sounds you cannot hear, which are emitted e.g. by some retailers to track you through their store.
- You talk about 1 in 13.000 people arriving in the US getting their phone/laptop looked at and potentially copied? How about knowing for 1Bn people (1 in 7 on earth) who they talk with, when they talk with them, and in which location they are whenever their phone has internet. That's Whatsapp.
@MiMtnBiker Gnn that's exactly my problem, people just accept it and believe it's never going to change. I'm not happy they know what kind of porn I'm looking at, and even less happy that they could sell the information (although I don't live in the US). If it is that way, it CAN be fixed, you CAN prohibit selling this information. Or to collect it at all. It's definitely better to know the big 5 have all my information but won't have all future information about me than to know they can continue like this forever
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I'm afraid the only way you are going to change it is to completely get off the grid. Many people are oblivious to the fact that they are willingly giving up their personal information when they have their noses buried in their smartphones pert near all day. What's worse is that the politicians only seem to cater to the wealthy, and since they are salivating at the idea of getting their grubby hands on your info, this will continue. Unless there is a huge uprising and people assemble in protest of this, it will not stop. Heck, I don't even think it will stop, then. Nope, money is the reason as to why this won't change and, unfortunately, you have no say in the matter. Unless, that is, you do get completely off the grid.