7 ms·

US Government app on my personal device that's meant to move data? No thanks. Here are the permissions for the Android App (including location, storage access

by Zhenya 6y ago

US Government app on my personal device that's meant to move data? No thanks. Here are the permissions for the Android App (including location, storage access, and starting on boot) -Photos/Media/Files --read the contents of your USB storage --modify or delete the contents of your USB storage -Wi-Fi connection information --view Wi-Fi connections -Phone --read phone status and identity --Device ID & call information --read phone status and identity -Location --precise location (GPS and network-based) --approximate location (network-based) -Storage --read the contents of your USB storage --modify or delete the contents of your USB storage -Other --run at startup --full network access --prevent device from sleeping --view network connections

stuffbyspencer 6y ago
Test your internet speed by seeing how fast you can download government malware and upload your personal data. It's so innovative!
- donw 6y ago
  My god, they’re disrupting disruption itself!
vlovich123 6y ago
Some of those permissions don’t exist on the iOS version (and some aren’t even permissions available on the platform?) which may indicate that Android perms are misconfigured.
devindotcom 6y ago
Pretty gnarly. I'm going to ask the FCC about this.
sliken 6y ago
Isn't that's what's required? Read/modify USB storage = write bandwidth logs, read them later for graphing View wifi connections = track bandwidth per network Phone status identity = track phones with a unique id Location = track location to help find the best/worst physical locations for network. Full network access = send/receive packets Prevent sleeping = accurate benchmark numbers View network connections = track bandwidth per network.
- MrDresden 6y ago
  Not an american, but I would not install a government application on my device unless it was opensourced (happened in my home country with our covid tracker). And about the permissions: 1. There is plenty of internal sandbox space for logs (even on low end devices) unless no care is taken in trimming those logs, so don't see need for this. 2. Probably due to location detection, but could lead to some scary mass data analysis (Google has been working on mapping the insides of buildings using triangulation of wifi singals from Android devices; source: ADB podcast) 3. This shouldn't be done, and has been adviced against for years. The device should register for an id on a FCC controlled server. 4. Makes sense for what they are doing. 5. Comes out of the box on Android since a few years ago 6. Makes no sense. No need to keep the device from sleeping to do the analysis. 7. Detecting bandwidth usage and capabilities is what the app is supposed to do.
  - gsich 6y ago
    6: without this you can turn off the display and the app will either perform much worse or killed.
    - MrDresden 6y ago
      As an Android dev my self I assure you there is no need for that permission, unless they are doing real time processing all the time (rather than batched processing at scheduled intervals). Which if they do, I sure hope they explain that to their users, as that will have a serious impact on their devices.
      - MrDresden 6y ago
        I honestly am wondering why this comment is being downvoted. There are ample ways of performing background processing on the bandwidth data, and scheduling background tasks when the wifi information changes, that do not require the device to be permanently turned on (which would have a drastic effect on the battery life, and potentially screen burns).
      - 5y ago
_ZeD_ 6y ago
This is something I really don't understand... You really trust private people over Government? Why?
- barsonme 6y ago
  Moderately so, yes.
- perryizgr8 6y ago
  Why not? It seems obvious to me why a private entity is more trustworthy than a government with absolute monopoly on violence.
- renewiltord 6y ago
  Private people can't put me in jail, man. That's good enough.
  - _ZeD_ 6y ago
    sure... people can only scam you, or beat you, or rape you, or kill you... or worse. About the jail, it's not that we live in a "banana republic" or in a dictatorship. You have right to a fair trial.
    - gambiting 6y ago
      I don't know where you live, but even though yes, such a right exists, it doesn't mean you shouldn't fear the government or its actions. US is extremely bad about this, but most western countries have this problem - let's say that you get accused of something(unfairly). In most western countries(with some exceptions) media can immediately print "_ZeD_ has been arrested on suspicion of murder!". You are usually arrested and kept until trial if the accusation is strong enough. In the meantime, you lose your job. You lose your friends and family support, except for the select few who actually believe your innocence. Your neighbours immediately know they live next to a murderer(even though nothing has been proven yet). And yes, in some countries(US....) you can be waiting a year for trial. Then, the trial is meant to be "fair", but surprise, it's a jury trial - the very opposite of fair, it's basically 12 random people deciding whether you should go to prison or not. 12 people who have spent the last year watching the news explaining how guilty you are and how the local police department is certain they "have the right guy". But sure, you got your "fair trial". But let's say you win. You are cleared of all charges, and are free to go. The government will not automatically reimburse you for the time you spent in jail(or some very nominal amount), your old employer is not required to give you your job back, and there will forever be people around you who secretly think you are actually guilty and just managed to escape justice. Or, you could just not trust the government and never ever put yourself in a situation which increases any chances of being accused of anything, fairly or not. The government has infinite amount of money and time to make your life miserable if someone is dedicated enough. They can make your life absolute hell or basically put you in a never ending loop of trials, which even if you keep winning, they can just bring more on, while your life is ruined. A private corporation can also make your life hell, but the only difference here is that at the very least, they would have to have a financial reason to do so. The government doesn't need that reason, all you need is one career prosecutor who thinks they can get a nice reputation by making an example of you. And the funny thing is, I generally trust our justice system(here in UK at least). I trust the police, I trust the court system. And yet I would never ever willingly give the government any information that is not absolutely 100% required by law for some essential function. Nuh uh. Nope.
avipars 6y ago
GPS is a required permission for android in recent versions to check APs and do Wi-Fi network scanning
2OEH8eoCRo0 5y ago
Everyone here cries about shitty ISPs in America. This is obviously a tool to police shitty American ISPs isn't it? You need data first. It's why 3rd party speed tests and people saying "internet is too slow" doesn't cut it. https://www.fcc.gov/general/measuring-mobile-broadband-methodology-technical-summary https://www.fcc.gov/general/measuring-mobile-broadband-metho...

by Zhenya 6y ago

stuffbyspencer 6y ago

Test your internet speed by seeing how fast you can download government malware and upload your personal data. It's so innovative!

donw 6y ago
My god, they’re disrupting disruption itself!

vlovich123 6y ago

Some of those permissions don’t exist on the iOS version (and some aren’t even permissions available on the platform?) which may indicate that Android perms are misconfigured.

devindotcom 6y ago

Pretty gnarly. I'm going to ask the FCC about this.

sliken 6y ago

Isn't that's what's required? Read/modify USB storage = write bandwidth logs, read them later for graphing View wifi connections = track bandwidth per network Phone status identity = track phones with a unique id Location = track location to help find the best/worst physical locations for network. Full network access = send/receive packets Prevent sleeping = accurate benchmark numbers View network connections = track bandwidth per network.

MrDresden 6y ago
Not an american, but I would not install a government application on my device unless it was opensourced (happened in my home country with our covid tracker). And about the permissions: 1. There is plenty of internal sandbox space for logs (even on low end devices) unless no care is taken in trimming those logs, so don't see need for this. 2. Probably due to location detection, but could lead to some scary mass data analysis (Google has been working on mapping the insides of buildings using triangulation of wifi singals from Android devices; source: ADB podcast) 3. This shouldn't be done, and has been adviced against for years. The device should register for an id on a FCC controlled server. 4. Makes sense for what they are doing. 5. Comes out of the box on Android since a few years ago 6. Makes no sense. No need to keep the device from sleeping to do the analysis. 7. Detecting bandwidth usage and capabilities is what the app is supposed to do.
- gsich 6y ago
  6: without this you can turn off the display and the app will either perform much worse or killed.
  - MrDresden 6y ago
    As an Android dev my self I assure you there is no need for that permission, unless they are doing real time processing all the time (rather than batched processing at scheduled intervals). Which if they do, I sure hope they explain that to their users, as that will have a serious impact on their devices.
    - MrDresden 6y ago
      I honestly am wondering why this comment is being downvoted. There are ample ways of performing background processing on the bandwidth data, and scheduling background tasks when the wifi information changes, that do not require the device to be permanently turned on (which would have a drastic effect on the battery life, and potentially screen burns).
    - 5y ago

_ZeD_ 6y ago

This is something I really don't understand... You really trust private people over Government? Why?

barsonme 6y ago
Moderately so, yes.
perryizgr8 6y ago
Why not? It seems obvious to me why a private entity is more trustworthy than a government with absolute monopoly on violence.
renewiltord 6y ago
Private people can't put me in jail, man. That's good enough.
- _ZeD_ 6y ago
  sure... people can only scam you, or beat you, or rape you, or kill you... or worse. About the jail, it's not that we live in a "banana republic" or in a dictatorship. You have right to a fair trial.
  - gambiting 6y ago
    I don't know where you live, but even though yes, such a right exists, it doesn't mean you shouldn't fear the government or its actions. US is extremely bad about this, but most western countries have this problem - let's say that you get accused of something(unfairly). In most western countries(with some exceptions) media can immediately print "_ZeD_ has been arrested on suspicion of murder!". You are usually arrested and kept until trial if the accusation is strong enough. In the meantime, you lose your job. You lose your friends and family support, except for the select few who actually believe your innocence. Your neighbours immediately know they live next to a murderer(even though nothing has been proven yet). And yes, in some countries(US....) you can be waiting a year for trial. Then, the trial is meant to be "fair", but surprise, it's a jury trial - the very opposite of fair, it's basically 12 random people deciding whether you should go to prison or not. 12 people who have spent the last year watching the news explaining how guilty you are and how the local police department is certain they "have the right guy". But sure, you got your "fair trial". But let's say you win. You are cleared of all charges, and are free to go. The government will not automatically reimburse you for the time you spent in jail(or some very nominal amount), your old employer is not required to give you your job back, and there will forever be people around you who secretly think you are actually guilty and just managed to escape justice. Or, you could just not trust the government and never ever put yourself in a situation which increases any chances of being accused of anything, fairly or not. The government has infinite amount of money and time to make your life miserable if someone is dedicated enough. They can make your life absolute hell or basically put you in a never ending loop of trials, which even if you keep winning, they can just bring more on, while your life is ruined. A private corporation can also make your life hell, but the only difference here is that at the very least, they would have to have a financial reason to do so. The government doesn't need that reason, all you need is one career prosecutor who thinks they can get a nice reputation by making an example of you. And the funny thing is, I generally trust our justice system(here in UK at least). I trust the police, I trust the court system. And yet I would never ever willingly give the government any information that is not absolutely 100% required by law for some essential function. Nuh uh. Nope.

avipars 6y ago

GPS is a required permission for android in recent versions to check APs and do Wi-Fi network scanning

2OEH8eoCRo0 5y ago

Everyone here cries about shitty ISPs in America. This is obviously a tool to police shitty American ISPs isn't it? You need data first. It's why 3rd party speed tests and people saying "internet is too slow" doesn't cut it. https://www.fcc.gov/general/measuring-mobile-broadband-methodology-technical-summary https://www.fcc.gov/general/measuring-mobile-broadband-metho...