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General => General discussion => Topic started by: Kerrse on 27 February 2012, 13:04

Title: Android holes
Post by: Kerrse on 27 February 2012, 13:04
I read about this in the paper today but found the article below as well pretty dodgy if they can so what has been suggested.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/02/27/facebook_android_app_sms/ (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/02/27/facebook_android_app_sms/)
Title: Re: Android holes
Post by: Ben Lessani on 27 February 2012, 13:11
That is a pointless scaremongering article.

The permissions on android are extremely transparent, don't install if you have any doubts
Title: Re: Android holes
Post by: Jay on 27 February 2012, 13:16
I read about this in the paper today but found the article below as well pretty dodgy if they can so what has been suggested.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/02/27/facebook_android_app_sms/ (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/02/27/facebook_android_app_sms/)

I read an article last night about Facebook, youtube, Flicker and a load more doing the same thing on iPhones.

As Ben said, Android gives you a complete list of permissions that Apps request when YOU install them (either from the Market, Amazon Market OR sideloading APK's etc), if you don't read it all and just accept the permissions, tough titties imo

PS: if you have automatic updates turned on for any app, it won't install the updates if the permissions change from the previous version, if the permissions remain the same as the previous version the updates will install automatically.
Title: Re: Android holes
Post by: Ben Lessani on 27 February 2012, 13:20
It reminds me of the completely pointless tv show I watched on the BBC about Facebook. Where the stupid woman was trying to make some stupid point about how Facebook use your behaviour on the site to promote/advertise services.

Eg. Ben likes coke - in your friend feed

If you don't want people to know you like coke, or want Facebook to promote coke using your name - don't "like" coke. Its pretty simple.

I'd be more concerned about the backdoors that they do not actively warn you of, after all, who has ever read an entire EULA. Carrier IQ anybody ...
Title: Re: Android holes
Post by: Kerrse on 27 February 2012, 15:24

 if you don't read it all and just accept the permissions, tough titties imo


This probably applys to a lot of people, how many people actually read through permissions
Title: Re: Android holes
Post by: Jay on 27 February 2012, 19:24
Their problem then, Google is telling them what they are accepting when they're installing an app. If you install a calculator, should it really have access to your SMS's, Conacts, Storage and other accounts? No, at the very most it should have internet access IF it has adverts or other features that require internet.
Title: Re: Android holes
Post by: bobotheclown on 28 February 2012, 07:53
http://gizmodo.com/5885929/googles-iphone-privacy-invasion

Google: Don't be evil. Yeah right. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don%27t_be_evil
Title: Re: Android holes
Post by: Jay on 28 February 2012, 13:45
They're not the first and won't be the last to use that sort of 'bad practice' use http://www.networkadvertising.org/managing/opt_out.asp if you don't want targeted adverts based on your previous browsing history.