In the hobby and have a smart phone? You may want to read this

[hotlips_houlihan]

In a 17-minute video posted Monday on YouTube, Trevor Eckhart shows how the software – known as Carrier IQ – logs every text message, Google search and phone number typed on a wide variety of smart phones - including HTC, Blackberry, Nokia and others - and reports them to the mobile phone carrier.

Read the full article here.

Be careful out there

Meg

[Sydney Pure]

Thanks!!! I still keep it separate my smart phone is personal.... My work is my "tink tink " phone....lol...

But I don't know if thats beating the purpose or not!!!

[Guest020720]

so looks like there is some debate if it's a program on an iphone or not. I don't have my work phone any longer - and it was a droid. guess it was a good thing I don't use a work phone any more. email only!

[Brandee69]

wow thanks for the info i watched the video.crazy!

[lisa.lisa0302]

Thanks for the info.

I use a beat up throw away phone. No internet or anything.

[The Dark Passenger]

If you want to disable Carrier IQ on your iPhone, go to Settings > General > About > Diagnostics and Usage. From there, click on "Don't Send".

Additionally, all new iPhones prompt you to enable or disable Carrier IQ when you first activate the phone. Keep that in mind if you are planning to upgrade in the near future.

[DBM]

[hotlips_houlihan]

from what i understand, it's also on all android phones.

[Bestman200600]

Tens of Millions of Smartphones Come With Spyware Preinstalled, Security Analyst Says


Published December 01, 2011
| FoxNews.com

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  YouTube/Trevor Eckhart
  Security researcher Trevor Eckhart demonstrates how Carrier IQ logs keystrokes on his Android [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]smartphone[/COLOR][/COLOR].

Over 100 million smartphones are tracking their owners’ every step, Android developer Trevor Eckhart claimed, thanks to software that comes preinstalled on phones from most major carriers.
During a security demonstration revealed on Monday, Eckhart showed how software developed by Carrier IQ tracks virtually everything a user does -- going as far as logging individual keystrokes and button presses. [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]The [COLOR=blue! important]company[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] claims it helps its customers improve quality and performance “by counting and measuring operational information in mobile devices.” Security experts call it spyware.
Related Stories BlackBerry Safe From Carrier IQ 'Spyware,' RIM Says Carrier IQ: Spyware or Handy Tool? What You Need to Know Facebook Reaches Deal Over Deceptive Behavior Allegations

"I assume that when I SMS my wife on the phone, no one is intercepting that message," Chet Wisniewski of security firm Sophos told FoxNews.com. He called the whole ordeal is a "serious invasion of privacy."
"Why do they need to know when I'm logging into Bank of America, when I'm accessing my password? It's a different level of snooping," he said.
Developed as a mobile analytics platform, Carrier IQ's software can be found on most Android, BlackBerry and Nokia phones -- over 140 million phones in total, the company's website boasts. Some reports suggest [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]Apple [COLOR=blue! important]iPhones[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] may carry the software as well.
The company has flat out denied that its software records keystrokes, a claim Eckhart’s latest video seems to refute.
“Every button you press in the dialer before you call,” Eckhart says in his latest video, “it already gets sent off to the IQ application.”
Carrier IQ: Spyware or Handy Tool? What You Need to Know
Eckhart did not return FoxNews.com phone calls, and Carrier IQ declined to comment on his claims. A statement on the company's website reiterates the company's claims that its [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]software[/COLOR][/COLOR] does not track customers or record keystrokes.
“This information is used by our customers as a mission critical tool to improve the quality of the network, understand device uses and ultimately improve the user experience,” the company said. By evaluating these metrics, Carrier IQ aims to help with issues such as “dropped calls and battery drain.”
In videos showing Carrier IQ at work, Eckhart showed it going beyond such utilitarian monitoring. He showed Carrier IQ’s software monitoring entire text messages, a Google search, and his location, even during sessions protected by HTTPS, a security protocol that encrypts communications for sensitive transactions like [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]online[/COLOR][/COLOR] banking.
Sprint has acknowledged using Carrier IQ's software, but denies having access to personal data.
"Carrier IQ provides information that allows Sprint, and other carriers that use it, to analyze our network performance and identify where we should be improving service," Sprint told CNET earlier this month. "We collect enough information to understand the customer experience with devices on our network and how to address any connection problems, but we do not and cannot look at the contents of messages, photos, videos, etc., using this tool," Sprint continued.
While Wisniewski understands the needs for data and metrics, he believes carriers must be more forthcoming about how they are monitoring their users, what data they are collecting, and how they are protect that data.
"If you're going to collect that kind of information from people, you have to meet a different standard," Wisniewski told FoxNews.com.
But for now, most users are stuck, unable to even turn off or uninstall the program.
"The Carrier IQ application is embedded so deeply in the device that it can't be fully removed without rebuilding the phone from source code," Eckhart wrote on his website.
"Even where a device is out of contract, there is no off switch to stop the application from gathering data."

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Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/...#ixzz1fKSuEXye

[GreatLife]

It says iPhone has the software but it comes disabled, glad I got an iPhone!

[213674]

Fyi i got an iphone two weeks ago ( new upgrade) and i just looked, it was ON and i would have said no to anything sounding like that. Its now off.

[GoAheadMkMyDay]

Its a lot of fuss over nothing. EVERY computer ever made has the CAPABILITY of capturing EVERY little thing you're doing. At its basic level you must have an application or program to work out when you're pressing or touching something and these CAN be tracked somewhere, somehow. And EVERY computer I've ever had has DIAGNOSTIC software that can and DOES do this.

The question you have to ask is not CAN they capture it, but what do they do with it once they've got it.

Ever used any kind of frequent shopper program, or store card or ANYTHING like that? Most people have. And I can guarantee you that they DO alot more with that data than these people are doing, and they've been doing it for decades.

Ever give your credit card to someone else to process, say to a server in a restaurant or give your number to someone over the phone? The riskiest ways to use your credit card. In Europe your card never leaves your hand any more.

This is a report of a risk that MIGHT happen. Start worrying about the ones that already HAVE happened. Or ... let's all just pet the sweaty stuff.

[Fort Worth Punk]

Originally Posted by hotlips_houlihan

from what i understand, it's also on all android phones.

Not true. On some, but not all. For example, the RAZR doesn't have it.

Also, before people panic, realize all of that data you are scared about? Your carrier already has access to it, CarrierIQ or no, and no matter what kind of phone you have.

[camryndior]

Very interesting. Best to keep it safe and use a basic phone for the hobby. however, for my personal phone...being that it is an android, how do I locate and disable that software?

[DallasVet]

While this program is damn scary and appears to be an invasion of privacy, there are other things to worry about first:

- Spouse installing a tracking program on your phone, or signing you up for Google Latitude without your knowledge (it will show her where your phone is and was)

- Call history. Many providers' phone numbers can be Googled and tracked back.

If LE has access to the Carrier IQ info for you, it's too late at that point. They've also got access to cell tower triangulation, GPS info, etc.