Carrier IQ Your cell phone's secret big brother

  • Thread starter Thread starter rhody
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Carrier Cell Iq
AI Thread Summary
Carrier IQ is a software installed on millions of mobile phones that tracks extensive user data, including web browsing history, text messages, and keystrokes. Reports about its invasive tracking capabilities gained attention after Android developer Trevor Eckhart demonstrated how it operates on devices like the HTC EVO 3D, logging sensitive information even from encrypted websites. The software is present on an estimated 150 million devices, with carriers claiming it helps diagnose network issues. Apple has announced plans to remove Carrier IQ from future iOS updates. Discussions around the software highlight concerns over privacy and the potential for misuse, with some users seeking tools to detect such invasive software.
rhody
Gold Member
Messages
679
Reaction score
3
I have been following this story for awhile, and since no one is reporting it, I thought I would post, because I feel you should be aware of what you may be subjected to when you use your cell phone. Have a look, comments, disbelief, outrage...

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/technology/chi-meet-carrier-iq-your-phones-secret-recording-device-20111202,0,225498.story
Carrier IQ is a piece of software installed on millions of mobile phones that logs everything their users do, from what websites they browse to what their text messages say.

and

Reports about Carrier IQ's hair-raisingly detailed tracking capabilities began swirling in the tech press several months ago and gained steam after Android developer Trevor Eckhart posted an analysis of the software's data logs.

But on Monday, Eckhart followed up with a 17-minute YouTube video showing how the software secretly runs on his HTC EVO 3D Android phone and logs every key press, every text, and the full URL of every website he visits. It recorded that data even from websites that use security encryption designed to prevent that kind of tracking.

Then word began spreading about just how ubiquitous Carrier IQ's software is. It's on an estimated 150 million mobile devices .

The carrier's justification for having the software on the devices is to spot problems across a network, where and why calls are being dropped, battery life problems, and general phone software glitches. Apple says it stopped supporting it in the latest version of iOS and will completely eliminate Carrier IQ from all iPhones and iPads in an upcoming software update.

Aren't rootkits fun ? I wonder if Kasperski's latest tool to detect them has a cell phone app as well as for a PC. I have it on my PC, and it has detected and removed google web page redirects nicely. Evert time you execute it, it goes out and downloads a new version of the software in a .zip file, it takes only seconds to run as well. I run the free version. Rootkit insurance is what I like to call it.

Rhody...
 
Computer science news on Phys.org
We already have a thread on Carrier IQ here.
 
Thread 'Urgent: Physically repair - or bypass - power button on Asus laptop'

Thread 'Urgent: Physically repair - or bypass - power button on Asus laptop'

Asus Vivobook S14 flip. The power button is wrecked. Unable to turn it on AT ALL. We can get into how and why it got wrecked later, but suffice to say a kitchen knife was involved: These buttons do want to NOT come off, not like other lappies, where they can snap in and out. And they sure don't go back on. So, in the absence of a longer-term solution that might involve a replacement, is there any way I can activate the power button, like with a paperclip or wire or something? It looks...
View full post »

Thread 'The Human Cost of AI'

This week, I saw a documentary done by the French called Les sacrifiés de l'IA, which was presented by a Canadian show Enquête. If you understand French I recommend it. Very eye-opening. I found a similar documentary in English called The Human Cost of AI: Data workers in the Global South. There is also an interview with Milagros Miceli (appearing in both documentaries) on Youtube: I also found a powerpoint presentation by the economist Uma Rani (appearing in the French documentary), AI...
View full post »

Similar threads

Unprecedented level of spying on consumers using Android and Apple smart phones
Replies
11
Views
12K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top