Article: Android’s Ad-Based Apps May Be Spying On You

[Guest eirlysbill1]

Hi All,

Just saw this article today: http://www.trustedre...e-spying-on-you

I'm no expert, so I was wondering: if there is anything to this? And if there is, is it a real concern, or a storm in a tea cup?

Thanks, Bill

[Guest Davidoff59]

adfree works for me. I think this blocks access to the ad's server and redirects it back to the phone. There are some apps with questionable permissions and I block these with lbe privacy manager. I tried an app called permission remover or something similar which removes permissions from the apps code but I could not get it to work, only had a quick go though.

[Guest Weezle]

Personally, I consider it mostly "market research", but everyone loves a conspiracy theory.....pretty much all the genuine apps from well known or recognised sources are going to be legit. Is it really any different to search engines logging search requests, or servers recording IP addresses?

I have no big-hitting personal stuff on my phone in any case - online banking for example is done elsewhere. General information about me is public domain if you know where to look in any case and I am yet to "suffer" from information leakage via apps.

[Guest bladebuddy]

Hi All,

Just saw this article today: http://www.trustedre...e-spying-on-you

I'm no expert, so I was wondering: if there is anything to this? And if there is, is it a real concern, or a storm in a tea cup?

Thanks, Bill

Its LEWA Rom but probably legal world wide. Like Davidoff59 says just use apps to block it.

Lucky patcher is a good app when used correctly.

Edited March 21, 2012 by bladebuddy

[Guest targetbsp]

Kills your battery too! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17431109

[Guest Amphoras]

Personally, I don't see the issue here. In general, ads that want access to your location want it to provide ads relevant to that location. If the developer is using a proper ad network like AdMob (which is owned by Google), then its not going to be using the permissions for anything dodgy. If you're still worried about what permissions the app/ads have access to, then buy the ad free version or ask the developer to make one if there isn't already.

On the subject of ad blockers, I can understand that people find ads annoying, but if an app is free, then that may be the developers only source of income. Especially if they offer an ad-free version, I think its a bit rude to use things like ad blockers when you haven't paid for it. Its not reasonable to expect to get good quality apps for free and for there to be no inconvenience (ads) to you. If everyone used ad blockers, then developers would have to start charging for all their apps or they would all be losing money (in terms of time spent working on their apps as well as the account registration cost).

[Guest bladebuddy]

Personally, I don't see the issue here. In general, ads that want access to your location want it to provide ads relevant to that location. If the developer is using a proper ad network like AdMob (which is owned by Google), then its not going to be using the permissions for anything dodgy. If you're still worried about what permissions the app/ads have access to, then buy the ad free version or ask the developer to make one if there isn't already.

On the subject of ad blockers, I can understand that people find ads annoying, but if an app is free, then that may be the developers only source of income. Especially if they offer an ad-free version, I think its a bit rude to use things like ad blockers when you haven't paid for it. Its not reasonable to expect to get good quality apps for free and for there to be no inconvenience (ads) to you. If everyone used ad blockers, then developers would have to start charging for all their apps or they would all be losing money (in terms of time spent working on their apps as well as the account registration cost).

I totally understand where you are coming from and respect you'r work big time. I just don't like anyone snooping on what I am doing on my phone. Even if it is for market research. And when it comes to payment for apps believe me I am probably one of the best. I believe payment to development helps keeping are apps constantly to be updated . And I mean no harm in above posts.

[Guest eirlysbill1]

yeah, I'm not into conspiracies, honest. But I'm on the fence with this one. I don't think the real worry is about what marketers do with your info. At best their use of your info is a benefit and at worse an annoyance. In my mind, the problem lies in the fact that all that info, from loads of people, is all in one place. Making it a nice target for organised crime.

Of course most of us have our personal details held by quite a few different companies,already. But, the Sony hack shows us that what people think is safe, may not be. So, what could organised crime do with your home address and the GPS location of where your phone is (basically where you are)? I'm just thinking out loud here: maybe that info would be useless to them, or maybe it would be too expensive for them to develop a way of using it.

At the moment, I think the risk is minimal. And, like Weezle said, I haven't had much problem with identity theft. But the one thing that is not a conspiracy theory, is that cyber crime fuelled by organised syndicates is on a massive rise, and correct me if I'm wrong, but I think I've heard that in decade or so this could be the most common type of crime committed, worldwide.

Edit: or better said: the most lucrative type of crime

Also, what about the future use of NFS? I'm only asking here. I have no idea how it works or what info is held on the phone.

Basically, life is a risk. Stuff happens, but I reckon its good to at least think a bit about this?

@Amphoras

I think you got a point about taking apps for free and not expecting any sort of way to pay for them

Edited March 22, 2012 by eirlysbill1

[Guest Roph]

Just use Ad Away :)

[Guest eirlysbill1]

Just use Ad Away :)

yeah, and there's adfree too. But actually, I'm sitting here thinking, that the threat that I mentioned above: someone getting your address and GPS location is the same, whether its from adware apps or not. Maybe I'm getting too hyped up about the privacy stuff, if you think on too much it'll do your head in. I'm sure there is potential for issues like this, but you can't go through life worrying about it too much.

Cheers

Edited March 22, 2012 by eirlysbill1