Guest Bygway Posted January 2, 2011 Report Posted January 2, 2011 Hi all! So I've recently purchased a ZTE Blade and thanks to the efforts of those on this forum I've managed to get back my missing memory (on the Hungarian Blades), unlock my phone and install a custom ROM *insert mad props here*! I'm well happy with it now, as it's probably the fastest and coolest phone I've had to date (been through quite a few Smart phones thus far). The phone itself is awesome, but the more I get use to Android the more it starts to make me question the nature and intent of it. OK so it's obvious that Google aren't going to make an operating system like this because they want to "give something to the people"; they obviously designed it to generate an income with it. The first thing I didn't like about Android is that I couldn't even open the calendar app without signing into my Gmail account. I have 3 Gmail accounts, but why am I being coerced into using it for an application as simple as a calendar? Oh wait I know, data transfer! Which is why there's no desktop synchronization for Android :unsure:. I suspect that Google also get kickbacks from service providers for data transfer made using their services (Maps, Gmail, etc.). I guess that's why there's not too many stand-alone GPS programs out there for Android yet. The next thing that bothers me about this OS is the permissions given to all the apps I install. Why does a GAME need access to my personal data like location, contacts, etc.?? The ad-supported apps are understandable, as everyone's got to get something out of their efforts, but again why are they collecting such personal information? I've deleted all the programs that start downloading ads as soon as I open them (here we are again with my data transfer qualm), but I can easily see now how one could spend copious amounts of money with an Android OS phone, just as with an iPhone... there's some crazy phone plans out there! Call me paranoid or whatever, but I think the data collection policies on this OS and the programs made for it are a bit unethical and a bit disturbing. I guess in this sense, Window$ Mobile isn't that bad... I'm curious what you guys think...
Guest gusthy Posted January 2, 2011 Report Posted January 2, 2011 Hi all! So I've recently purchased a ZTE Blade and thanks to the efforts of those on this forum I've managed to get back my missing memory (on the Hungarian Blades), unlock my phone and install a custom ROM *insert mad props here*! I'm well happy with it now, as it's probably the fastest and coolest phone I've had to date (been through quite a few Smart phones thus far). The phone itself is awesome, but the more I get use to Android the more it starts to make me question the nature and intent of it. OK so it's obvious that Google aren't going to make an operating system like this because they want to "give something to the people"; they obviously designed it to generate an income with it. The first thing I didn't like about Android is that I couldn't even open the calendar app without signing into my Gmail account. I have 3 Gmail accounts, but why am I being coerced into using it for an application as simple as a calendar? Oh wait I know, data transfer! Which is why there's no desktop synchronization for Android :unsure:. I suspect that Google also get kickbacks from service providers for data transfer made using their services (Maps, Gmail, etc.). I guess that's why there's not too many stand-alone GPS programs out there for Android yet. The next thing that bothers me about this OS is the permissions given to all the apps I install. Why does a GAME need access to my personal data like location, contacts, etc.?? The ad-supported apps are understandable, as everyone's got to get something out of their efforts, but again why are they collecting such personal information? I've deleted all the programs that start downloading ads as soon as I open them (here we are again with my data transfer qualm), but I can easily see now how one could spend copious amounts of money with an Android OS phone, just as with an iPhone... there's some crazy phone plans out there! Call me paranoid or whatever, but I think the data collection policies on this OS and the programs made for it are a bit unethical and a bit disturbing. I guess in this sense, Window$ Mobile isn't that bad... I'm curious what you guys think... If you are paranoid, do a separate google account for your Android phone B) Btw, WinMo currently doesn't have enough application to tell us anything relevant about this issue. (They have around 5.000, compared to Market's 200.000, or iStore's 500.000). Personal data is usually collected to be able to send more focused ads.
Guest fonix232 Posted January 2, 2011 Report Posted January 2, 2011 Hi all! So I've recently purchased a ZTE Blade and thanks to the efforts of those on this forum I've managed to get back my missing memory (on the Hungarian Blades), unlock my phone and install a custom ROM *insert mad props here*! I'm well happy with it now, as it's probably the fastest and coolest phone I've had to date (been through quite a few Smart phones thus far). The phone itself is awesome, but the more I get use to Android the more it starts to make me question the nature and intent of it. OK so it's obvious that Google aren't going to make an operating system like this because they want to "give something to the people"; they obviously designed it to generate an income with it. The first thing I didn't like about Android is that I couldn't even open the calendar app without signing into my Gmail account. I have 3 Gmail accounts, but why am I being coerced into using it for an application as simple as a calendar? Oh wait I know, data transfer! Which is why there's no desktop synchronization for Android :unsure:. I suspect that Google also get kickbacks from service providers for data transfer made using their services (Maps, Gmail, etc.). I guess that's why there's not too many stand-alone GPS programs out there for Android yet. Actually there are a few standalone GPS apps (Aura, iGo, etc). But there is only a few because Android, opposite to WinMo/Symbian, isn't running a native UI - so to the native C++ basecode, they need a Java frontend. Android's main goal was to store everything on the cloud - and this cloud is your GMail account. EVERYTHING what you need (contacts, calendars, APPS, e-mails, etc) are grabbed from the net. Google does not get any income from this, but a lot more of bandwidth usage - what worth money too. The next thing that bothers me about this OS is the permissions given to all the apps I install. Why does a GAME need access to my personal data like location, contacts, etc.?? The ad-supported apps are understandable, as everyone's got to get something out of their efforts, but again why are they collecting such personal information? I've deleted all the programs that start downloading ads as soon as I open them (here we are again with my data transfer qualm), but I can easily see now how one could spend copious amounts of money with an Android OS phone, just as with an iPhone... there's some crazy phone plans out there! A game usually needs your location to provide info to the global leaderboard, or needs your contacts to find out if your friends are playing the game too. I exactly know these plans, but these ads are about 1-30kB huge (most images are stored in the APK file). Call me paranoid or whatever, but I think the data collection policies on this OS and the programs made for it are a bit unethical and a bit disturbing. I guess in this sense, Window$ Mobile isn't that bad... I'm curious what you guys think... They aren't unethical or disturbing. This is simply what called extended security. On Symbian, you had only 20 capability flags - and if an app had access to read phone info (like a phone monitoring app) then it had access to contacts, messages, other apps, and it could even dial non-standard priced numbers! While on Android, you can specify that an app can read only the system info, and only that. A lot better I say!
Guest Simon O Posted January 2, 2011 Report Posted January 2, 2011 At least Android users are told what permissions an application needs before installing. iPhone apps don't give you this information.
Guest Frankish Posted January 2, 2011 Report Posted January 2, 2011 At least Android users are told what permissions an application needs before installing. iPhone apps don't give you this information. Nail. Head.
Guest Bygway Posted January 2, 2011 Report Posted January 2, 2011 At least Android users are told what permissions an application needs before installing. iPhone apps don't give you this information. Thanks for the info Főnix! Fibblesan you've got a good point there... at least they tell you. I still think there should be an option to disable the data collection in these apps though. Hmm, maybe I'll just firewall it?
Guest dbeckett Posted January 2, 2011 Report Posted January 2, 2011 I've deleted all the programs that start downloading ads as soon as I open them (here we are again with my data transfer qualm) There's an app called adfree which you can install to prevent apps being able from downloading ads, it blocks access to their ad servers
Guest Simon O Posted January 2, 2011 Report Posted January 2, 2011 Thanks for the info Főnix! Fibblesan you've got a good point there... at least they tell you. I still think there should be an option to disable the data collection in these apps though. Hmm, maybe I'll just firewall it? A possible way of monitoring this is being discussed here
Guest oh!dougal Posted January 2, 2011 Report Posted January 2, 2011 A possible way of monitoring this is being discussed here Yes, TaintDroid. Could you look into whether it could be produced as a flashable system patch? (Even for a specific kernel/rom) Or whether it needs to have the kernel built round it. And whether it has any on/off capabilities. AFAIK, it gives notification after data has been sent. Every time an app does it. Needs some sort of user friendly 'ignore' preference - a white list. Otherwise it could get VERY tiresome.
Guest Bygway Posted January 2, 2011 Report Posted January 2, 2011 A possible way of monitoring this is being discussed here Cheers mate! I'll be following that thread with great interest. Some may not be bothered by these things, but I think "they" have no business/right prying into my phone and life like this. It's almost as if it's some kind of obligatory fee that I'm subject to just because I'm using a mobile phone.
Guest isambard Posted January 2, 2011 Report Posted January 2, 2011 At least Android users are told what permissions an application needs before installing. iPhone apps don't give you this information. true. though it would be nice to have fine grained control. it's one thing to have access to network for ads and write to sdcard to save data. but with the same permissions, it can read your entire sd card and upload it to their servers. ditto for contacts. ok, we know this is possible, but if we want to use the app, we need to 'trust' that it uses functionality only for 'good purposes'. one thing i'd like to do, is build a sandbox dalvik VM to incorporate more control. for example, i don't want games to be able to access my phone id, or contacts list, or find what other things i have installed. so if i run it in a sandboxed dalvik VM, i can present an 'empty' sd card, 'empty' contacts db and fake IMEI to the app. you get the idea.
Guest Bygway Posted January 2, 2011 Report Posted January 2, 2011 true. though it would be nice to have fine grained control. it's one thing to have access to network for ads and write to sdcard to save data. but with the same permissions, it can read your entire sd card and upload it to their servers. ditto for contacts. ok, we know this is possible, but if we want to use the app, we need to 'trust' that it uses functionality only for 'good purposes'. one thing i'd like to do, is build a sandbox dalvik VM to incorporate more control. for example, i don't want games to be able to access my phone id, or contacts list, or find what other things i have installed. so if i run it in a sandboxed dalvik VM, i can present an 'empty' sd card, 'empty' contacts db and fake IMEI to the app. you get the idea. Yeah that would be nice to have. Let ME have the choice of what I want and don't want to reveal. Then again, I can see where that would defeat the purpose of all these programs being offered for free. OK I know, "If you don't want it on your phone don't install it." But the thing is that there's no other programs out there for the Android, so basically if you want to have anything on your phone you're really have no other choice than to add the ones that collect your data, which is most of them. Even if you want the app to be ad-free and you pay for it, you're still subject to data mining AFAIK. The paid versions just get rid of ads.
Guest Gryphonic Posted January 2, 2011 Report Posted January 2, 2011 If you havnt seen it, theres a table of what some of the most popular apps send and who they share it with here: http://blogs.wsj.com/wtk-mobile/ The paid apps tend not to send data to third parties (with exceptions obv)
Guest zurpher Posted January 4, 2011 Report Posted January 4, 2011 At least Android users are told what permissions an application needs before installing. iPhone apps don't give you this information. True. It's something so that you can at least become suspicious but it's not enough. Why does a simple game like Paper Toss requests unnecessary permissions for its core function. Of course, its core function can also be seen in collecting user data and selling it to mobile advertising companies behind the users back. See: Privacy sandbox for Android apps? and What They Know - Mobile - Paper Toss (Android). flibblesan, it would be great if you could look into integrating privacy-enhancing features into your ROMs. I have opened a new thread in the Android software section on privacy-enchancing apps. Please post there any privacy apps that you happen to know. Thank you!
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now