Free mobile apps can spy on your texts and calls.

[Shadeyman]

Facebook insists that people using its Android smartphone app agree to give them permission to read their text messages ...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencet...s-emails-pictures-spying-smartphone-apps.html

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

And that's why I dont have android

 

[Shadeyman]

I recently found my old N8 in a draw, Nokia have released a updated OS for it called Belle. I've gone back to using my old N8, it's a great little phone ...

Only got a couple of downloaded apps on it, Belle comes with most the things I need.

 

[Eklipze3k]

Just because they've admitted the android app does it, doesn't mean the iPhone or Blackberry app doesn't. Be better off just not having facebook, it's a privacy blackhole.

 

[Shadeyman]

Chris Brauer, of the centre for Creative and Social Technology at Goldsmiths, University of London, said: ‘Most adults have smartphones now. They are a source for incredibly rich information about people’s lives. A lot of apps are fronts for various companies who are now capturing this data.’

That seems a bit "underhanded" to me as they don't make it obvious when you download and install these apps.

 

[Eklipze3k]

Of course it's underhanded, it's like the old tick boxes you'd get on any kind of application form "Don't not tick this box if you don't not want to not receive no marketing spam". It'll be there in the T's and C's when you install the app, but who the hell reads all of that guff?

 

[Shadeyman]

Something as important as giving access to personal details should be written in 6 foot tall neon lights to make sure you see it.

 

[JustAndy]

Usually when you install something on the android market it actually says that you are giving permission for this app to, then gives a list of things.It sometimes says change data on your phone, access internet etc but dont think ive read the one about reading your personal information yet

 

[RuSZ]

just out of interest i went onto the Android Market and went on the Facebook Permissions page..

This application has access to the following:

• Your accountsact as an account authenticator
  Allows an application to use the account authenticator capabilities of the AccountManager, including creating accounts and getting and setting their passwords.
  manage the accounts list
  Allows an application to perform operations like adding, and removing accounts and deleting their password.
• Services that cost you moneysend SMS messages
  Allows application to send SMS messages. Malicious applications may cost you money by sending messages without your confirmation.
• Your locationfine (GPS) location
  Access fine location sources such as the Global Positioning System on the device, where available. Malicious applications can use this to determine where you are, and may consume additional battery power.
• Your messagesedit SMS or MMS
  Allows application to write to SMS messages stored on your device or SIM card. Malicious applications may delete your messages.
  receive SMS
  Allows application to receive and process SMS messages. Malicious applications may monitor your messages or delete them without showing them to you.
  read SMS or MMS
  Allows application to read SMS messages stored on your device or SIM card. Malicious applications may read your confidential messages.
• Network communicationfull Internet access
  Allows an application to create network sockets.
• Your personal informationread contact data
  Allows an application to read all of the contact (address) data stored on your device. Malicious applications can use this to send your data to other people.
  write contact data
  Allows an application to modify the contact (address) data stored on your device. Malicious applications can use this to erase or modify your contact data.
• Phone callsread phone state and identity
  Allows the application to access the phone features of the device. An application with this permission can determine the phone number and serial number of this phone, whether a call is active, the number that call is connected to and the like.
• Storagemodify/delete USB storage contents modify/delete SD card contents
  Allows an application to write to the USB storage. Allows an application to write to the SD card.
• System toolswrite sync settings
  Allows an application to modify the sync settings, such as whether sync is enabled for Contacts.
  prevent device from sleeping
  Allows an application to prevent the device from going to sleep.

https://market.android.com/details?...1bGwsMSwxLDIwNSwiY29tLmZhY2Vib29rLmthdGFuYSJd

 

[arc]

And that's why I dont have android

At least Android asks you, unlike iPhone apps

If you don't want the Facebook app to have that kind of access then don't use it; just browse to the site on your phone - it works just as well!

Usually when you install something on the android market it actually says that you are giving permission for this app to, then gives a list of things.It sometimes says change data on your phone, access internet etc but dont think ive read the one about reading your personal information yet

From the https://market.android.com/details?id=com.facebook.katana

This application has access to the following:

Your accounts
act as an account authenticator
Allows an application to use the account authenticator capabilities of the AccountManager, including creating accounts and getting and setting their passwords.
manage the accounts list
Allows an application to perform operations like adding, and removing accounts and deleting their password.
Services that cost you money
send SMS messages
Allows application to send SMS messages. Malicious applications may cost you money by sending messages without your confirmation.
Your location
fine (GPS) location
Access fine location sources such as the Global Positioning System on the device, where available. Malicious applications can use this to determine where you are, and may consume additional battery power.
Your messages
edit SMS or MMS
Allows application to write to SMS messages stored on your device or SIM card. Malicious applications may delete your messages.
receive SMS
Allows application to receive and process SMS messages. Malicious applications may monitor your messages or delete them without showing them to you.
read SMS or MMS
Allows application to read SMS messages stored on your device or SIM card. Malicious applications may read your confidential messages.
Network communication
full Internet access
Allows an application to create network sockets.
Your personal information
read contact data
Allows an application to read all of the contact (address) data stored on your device. Malicious applications can use this to send your data to other people.
write contact data
Allows an application to modify the contact (address) data stored on your device. Malicious applications can use this to erase or modify your contact data.
Phone calls
read phone state and identity
Allows the application to access the phone features of the device. An application with this permission can determine the phone number and serial number of this phone, whether a call is active, the number that call is connected to and the like.
Storage
modify/delete USB storage contents modify/delete SD card contents
Allows an application to write to the USB storage. Allows an application to write to the SD card.
System tools
write sync settings
Allows an application to modify the sync settings, such as whether sync is enabled for Contacts.
prevent device from sleeping
Allows an application to prevent the device from going to sleep.

Hide

Your accounts
discover known accounts
Allows an application to get the list of accounts known by the device.
Hardware controls
control vibrator
Allows the application to control the vibrator.
Network communication
receive data from Internet
Allows the applications to accept cloud to device messages sent by the application's service. Using this service will incur data usage. Malicious applications may cause excess data usage.
view network state
Allows an application to view the state of all networks.
System tools
read sync settings
Allows an application to read the sync settings, such as whether sync is enabled for Contacts.

 

[ChrisUK]

And that's why I dont have android

That's the usual responce from the ignorent. What you don't understand is that every app that is installed has a list of functions it's allowed to access which are listed when you install. So for instance if I install Co-Pilot nav it lists:-

GPS module
Data Access
Phone Access (You can call POI's direct from database)

If the app your installing looks like it's accessing stuff it shouldn't by the list DON'T INSTALL IT!.

At least your given this information which your not with Apple products.

Edit:- Whoops beaten to it by Arc .

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

And as all iPhone and iPad users will know (well those who know how to operate them properly) there are ways off seeing what app is accessing what and changing permissions for it to do that.

 

[custard]

And as all iPhone and iPad users will know (well those who know how to operate them properly) there are ways off seeing what app is accessing what and changing permissions for it to do that.

ways?
not right in front of you?

 

[bludvl_x19]

ways?
not right in front of you?

Well, some steps are removed.

 

[denideth]

If its on iOS5 I'd best get deleting my terrorism related messages and indecent photos then. My lifes not interesting so anyone who does read my messages will be in for a boring time hahaha