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Even if they don't share, it is a piece of spyware they have on their phone, called Google Android. I believe PLA uses its assets within Google, and other Amer

Even if they don't share, it is a piece of spyware they have on their phone, called Google Android. I believe PLA uses its assets within Google, and other American dotcoms to the fullest extend, and they already pulled every info they can through their Android Store accounts on them. Even a running meme of spy agency, the Saudi Army intel wing managed to have their men operate within Google for years. Imagine now what Chinese could.

kbenson 5y ago
Yes. Don't allow smartphones around top secret facilities? That seems a sane precaution. Or require them be vetted.
- baybal2 5y ago
  Even if they carry them off duty only, it's a crapton of useful intel info that can be harvested from more or less open data.
  - kbenson 5y ago
    Yes. So it people tagging pictures or leaving reviews on Yelp. Is your suggestion that off-duty people during their personal time should not use social media for purely personal ends with personal info, as long as it's for things that are not already to not be done while working with security clearance? Otherwise, I'm not sure what point you're trying to make.
    - falcolas 5y ago
      Given that fitbits and their ilk have exposed the specific locations and layouts of airbases, perhaps they should be a bit more careful with what technology they use, even in their offtime.
      - kbenson 5y ago
        Checking them in at a locker at the edge of base is probably sufficient, at least for an airbase. It's not like you can actually hide those in the days ubiquitous satellite imagery, right? For some other types of facilities, maybe check them in off-site somewhere before you transport people in (because otherwise how secret can it be if you can just follow someone's car?). Letting people transmit GPS coordinates while walking around a military facility though? Yeah, maybe that's not a good idea.
        baybal2 5y ago
        Not that. For example you can easily guess everything about ones family members, his work schedule, browsing history, ruffle his personal email/facebook — stuff that often gets mixed with work correspondence, financials, home location, other gadgets, other people in his first circle — people often meet with other servicemen off duty. A lot in other words.
- fakedang 5y ago
  Once upon a time (7-8 years ago), they would issue govt-vetted smartphones to even subcontractors. Wonder how that culture changed....
nightpool 5y ago
> the Saudi Army intel wing managed to have their men operate within Google for years. Do you have a source for this? I spent a while searching, but I couldn't find anything that would corroborate your claim
- williamscales 5y ago
  This is the case that I can recall, it was at Twitter: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/06/technology/twitter-saudi-arabia-spies.html https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/06/technology/twitter-saudi-...

kbenson 5y ago

Yes. Don't allow smartphones around top secret facilities? That seems a sane precaution. Or require them be vetted.

baybal2 5y ago
Even if they carry them off duty only, it's a crapton of useful intel info that can be harvested from more or less open data.
- kbenson 5y ago
  Yes. So it people tagging pictures or leaving reviews on Yelp. Is your suggestion that off-duty people during their personal time should not use social media for purely personal ends with personal info, as long as it's for things that are not already to not be done while working with security clearance? Otherwise, I'm not sure what point you're trying to make.
  - falcolas 5y ago
    Given that fitbits and their ilk have exposed the specific locations and layouts of airbases, perhaps they should be a bit more careful with what technology they use, even in their offtime.
    - kbenson 5y ago
      Checking them in at a locker at the edge of base is probably sufficient, at least for an airbase. It's not like you can actually hide those in the days ubiquitous satellite imagery, right? For some other types of facilities, maybe check them in off-site somewhere before you transport people in (because otherwise how secret can it be if you can just follow someone's car?). Letting people transmit GPS coordinates while walking around a military facility though? Yeah, maybe that's not a good idea.
      - baybal2 5y ago
        Not that. For example you can easily guess everything about ones family members, his work schedule, browsing history, ruffle his personal email/facebook — stuff that often gets mixed with work correspondence, financials, home location, other gadgets, other people in his first circle — people often meet with other servicemen off duty. A lot in other words.
fakedang 5y ago
Once upon a time (7-8 years ago), they would issue govt-vetted smartphones to even subcontractors. Wonder how that culture changed....

nightpool 5y ago

> the Saudi Army intel wing managed to have their men operate within Google for years. Do you have a source for this? I spent a while searching, but I couldn't find anything that would corroborate your claim

williamscales 5y ago
This is the case that I can recall, it was at Twitter: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/06/technology/twitter-saudi-arabia-spies.html https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/06/technology/twitter-saudi-...