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When you install it, it takes data from your address book. That's how it gathers data.

by deepuj 11y ago

vitd 11y ago
Sounds horrible! I shouldn't have to give them my address book to find out if whomever is calling me is a spammer. I wonder what they're doing with the data? Also, phone numbers change hands. What happens when my friend John Doe changes his number and it goes to a spammer? Do I suddenly get marked somehow as being associated with spammers?
- o_____________o 11y ago
  And I wonder how vulnerable it is to consensus abuse like search engines are. If a few people name someone "Douchebag", what comes up on other phones?
Ash-k 11y ago
I think it does not come from your address book. Rather, it builds the database from each one of us who register with truecaller with thier numbers. So for example: I register with my phone number 123456789, and you register with your phone number 987654321. Both these numbers would be stored on Truecaller's servers and when you get a call from my number 123456789, and even if you don't have my phone number in your phonebook, you still get to see that I am calling you with my name (the details come from the server). You need Wifi/data connection to get truecaller working. That's my understanding , unless I am utterly wrong.
- dpacmittal 11y ago
  You are utterly wrong. Truecaller does take its data from the contact book. It's very easy to test as well. If you happen to know someone's number is not on truecaller, do this - add his number in your contact book with some fake name and install true caller after that. When he calls you, you'll see the fake name.
  - Ash-k 11y ago
    Hmm.. I am not sure you are right. http://www.truecaller.com/support#/General/a3 http://www.truecaller.com/support#/General/a3 http://www.truecaller.com/support#/Android/a24 http://www.truecaller.com/support#/Android/a24 It says: When you download Truecaller from Google Play, it NEVER uploads your phonebook to make it searchable or public. Truecaller needs access to certain capabilities to provide you with a richer experience.

When you install it, it takes data from your address book. That's how it gathers data.

by deepuj 11y ago

When you install it, it takes data from your address book. That's how it gathers data.

vitd 11y ago

Sounds horrible! I shouldn't have to give them my address book to find out if whomever is calling me is a spammer. I wonder what they're doing with the data? Also, phone numbers change hands. What happens when my friend John Doe changes his number and it goes to a spammer? Do I suddenly get marked somehow as being associated with spammers?

o_____________o 11y ago
And I wonder how vulnerable it is to consensus abuse like search engines are. If a few people name someone "Douchebag", what comes up on other phones?

Ash-k 11y ago

I think it does not come from your address book. Rather, it builds the database from each one of us who register with truecaller with thier numbers. So for example: I register with my phone number 123456789, and you register with your phone number 987654321. Both these numbers would be stored on Truecaller's servers and when you get a call from my number 123456789, and even if you don't have my phone number in your phonebook, you still get to see that I am calling you with my name (the details come from the server). You need Wifi/data connection to get truecaller working. That's my understanding , unless I am utterly wrong.

dpacmittal 11y ago
You are utterly wrong. Truecaller does take its data from the contact book. It's very easy to test as well. If you happen to know someone's number is not on truecaller, do this - add his number in your contact book with some fake name and install true caller after that. When he calls you, you'll see the fake name.
- Ash-k 11y ago
  Hmm.. I am not sure you are right. http://www.truecaller.com/support#/General/a3 http://www.truecaller.com/support#/General/a3 http://www.truecaller.com/support#/Android/a24 http://www.truecaller.com/support#/Android/a24 It says: When you download Truecaller from Google Play, it NEVER uploads your phonebook to make it searchable or public. Truecaller needs access to certain capabilities to provide you with a richer experience.