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"Brightest Flashlight" stealing personal data

Mycroft

Mycroft

Genius is where you find it.
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An Android app called 'Brightest Flashlight' has admitted that it sneakily sent location and device ID data of its users to advertisers.

The Brightest Flashlight app has been downloaded between 50m and 100m times since February 2011.

The app makers have agreed to pay a settlement to the US's Federal Trade Commission after the app "left [consumers] in the dark about how their information was going to be used," according to Jessica Rich, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection.

Android torch app has been secretly telling advertisers where you are | News | TechRadar
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This makes me wonder how many other app makers HAVEN'T gotten caught.
 
Mycroft said:
This makes me wonder how many other app makers HAVEN'T gotten caught.
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It makes me wonder what Jessica Rich is doing slumming it at the FTC when she could be big on the stand-up comedy scene. :)

It also makes me wonder how effectively a company could be (mis)using people's data if they can't get a more accurate count of their downloads than "between 50m and 100m". :confused:

That makes me wonder how much competent criminals could be getting away with.
 
Mycroft said:
This makes me wonder how many other app makers HAVEN'T gotten caught.
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Lots. At least on Android you are warned that they are collecting the information... unlike on the other big mobile system.
 
PeteEU said:
Lots. At least on Android you are warned that they are collecting the information... unlike on the other big mobile system.
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Except you're not:

Even if app users chose the option to not share their information, the app shared it automatically - basically rendering the presentation of a privacy option completely pointless.
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spud_meister said:
Except you're not:
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Okay I just went to download it and it clearly states

App access to

Your location (WHY?),
Camera (thats for the flash so acceptable)
Phone calling (WHY?),
System (okay)
Network communications (WTF, why?)

As you can see, it is very clear that it is accessing it, and you have to ask yourself why the hell a flashlight app needs to access the network, phone and location?

Now it does not say it will share or sell this info to advertisers so yes that is bad that it is doing it, but why should it even be gathering that info? It is a flashlight app!
 
PeteEU said:
Okay I just went to download it and it clearly states

App access to

Your location (WHY?),
Camera (thats for the flash so acceptable)
Phone calling (WHY?),
System (okay)
Network communications (WTF, why?)

As you can see, it is very clear that it is accessing it, and you have to ask yourself why the hell a flashlight app needs to access the network, phone and location?

Now it does not say it will share or sell this info to advertisers so yes that is bad that it is doing it, but why should it even be gathering that info? It is a flashlight app!
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Almost every app you download says that stuff. Don't people wonder why those apps are free??
 
MaggieD said:
Almost every app you download says that stuff. Don't people wonder why those apps are free??
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Yes many do, and in most cases I understand most of the access requirements. For example, on the flashlight one, I can understand network com.. for the ads, since it is free, and even location can be understood (location based ads) but phone calling?
 
MaggieD said:
Almost every app you download says that stuff. Don't people wonder why those apps are free??
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Cmon now Maggie.....who has time to read the small print when one is in a hurry. :lol:
 
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