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I can sort of understand the outrage but I don't see the utility of it. Apps that are written for the App store don't have access to this data without the permi
by yardie 16y ago
I can sort of understand the outrage but I don't see the utility of it. Apps that are written for the App store don't have access to this data without the permission of the user. And the only way an app would be allowed access to a file outside the sandbox is if its jailbroken.
I'm not familiar with the in and outs of iOS LocationManager but it generally gives you the immediate coordinates at the time you request and nothing more. As for why the database of locations? It's entirely possible they are using it for QoS.
As for access to device backups. If someone has unauthorized control of your desktop computer you have bigger problems.
- pdenya 16y agoWhat is QoS? I agree that it's not a security risk from an app store perspective but I'd still prefer not to be tracked.
- deleted 16y ago[deleted]
- yardie 16y agoQuality of service. Like when the iPhone 3G first came out you could only buy it in areas where 3G service was available. AFAIK, most carriers already do this on all their handsets but their data is restricted to just a few days to a a few months.
- phlux 16y agoRight, if QoS were a concern to att, my phone would not drop/fail to make seriously, 75% of the calls. I am switching to Tmobile because ATT makes me want to go on a rampage. Of course, now using this file, they'll be able to predict where that rampage will occur.
- kgermino 16y agoUm... http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/20/atandt-agrees-to-buy-t-mobile-from-deutsche-telekom/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/20/atandt-agrees-to-buy-t-mo...
- yardie 16y agoIf it makes you feel better, the little dots aren't your location specifically but the location of the tower you are connected to at that instance.[1] [1] This is according to a commenter on another blog. I'm still on 3.1 so can't verify these claims either way. But this seems to confirm it http://blog.csvance.com/?p=39#comment-109 http://blog.csvance.com/?p=39#comment-109
- cooldeal 16y agoMaybe because of things like this? >A US Department of Justice test of the CelleBrite UFED used by Michigan police found the device could grab all of the photos and video off of an iPhone within one-and-a-half minutes. The device works with 3000 different phone models and can even defeat password protections. >"Complete extraction of existing, hidden, and deleted phone data, including call history, text messages, contacts, images, and geotags," a CelleBrite brochure explains regarding the device's capabilities. "The Physical Analyzer allows visualization of both existing and deleted locations on Google Earth. In addition, location information from GPS devices and image geotags can be mapped on Google Maps."
- delano 16y agoDo you have references for those claims?
- cooldeal 16y agohttp://www.thenewspaper.com/news/34/3458.asp http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/34/3458.asp
- kovar 16y agoThere's a lot of marketing hype in here. There are a lot of mobile device collection tools and none of them fully collect every device out there. Also, collecting a 64GB i<device> over USB will take at least 24 minutes. (You don't really just want the photos, do you.) That makes for a long traffic stop.
- burgerbrain 16y ago24 minutes is a long traffic stop? Have you never been pulled over for speeding? That's a positively snappy traffic stop... Also, what the hell are you doing turning over your phone to police officers during traffic stops......
- 16y ago
- crocowhile 16y agoThey are collecting private information about a person and make them somehow accessible. I'll give you an example: now your technologically savvy and pathological jealous partner can open that file on your phone while you are sleeping and check where have you been in the past months, day by day. Iphone users should be aware of that possibility. EDIT: Actually, now that I looked at the software presented here, it doesn't even require access to the phone, just to the computer. Your partner can do this while you are at work.
- yardie 16y agoThe iphone doesn't have a file browser and apps are sandboxed. So how they would get access to this file without jailbreaking or the backup file is a much better case. Besides, everyone knows mobile me is a jealous stalkers best friend. And it doesn't even require tech savvy, just access to the iPhone to activate the service is enough.
- edw 16y agoYes, your partner can do this if you let him or her access to your computer's account. Keep in mind that if you let your partner use your account, he or she can also look at all your cookies, your browser history, and probably your Facebook account and Gmail accounts. If you don't trust your partner and want to rummage through his or her computer—or if you worry about the prospect of your partner rummaging through your computer—you may want to go to a couples' therapist.
- crocowhile 16y ago>If you don't trust your partner and want to rummage through his or her computer—or if you worry about the prospect of your partner rummaging through your computer—you may want to go to a couples' therapist. Thanks, I am fine. But you should know that a number of marriages do in fact end badly in the real world and that a tool like this one can give evidence of cheating and cost a lot of money in a divorce trial. Do I need to make any more examples of why collection of private information is frequently a problem in everyday life?
- MatthewPhillips 16y agoSince the backups are unencrypted it would be trivial to steal the data exploiting a Flash hole or worst case an email virus.
- taylorbuley 16y agoFlash hole... on an iOS device?