What's the deal with Carrier IQ and what it means to you
- ?
- Anonymous
- JFP
- 09 Dec 2011
The point many people are missing is that the Carrier IQ software that is causing all the rumble, is not something integrated into the sorcecode of any os (iOS, Symbian, Android, BlackBerry OS, etc), but by the different USA (and British as i understand) carriers and manufacturers (and mostly on USA carrier specific phones not global versions of the devices). So if you found this article as a reason to start pointing fingers at OS platforms and their developers think again.
As far as i could dig up reading different articles the people to blame are the carriers who actually bundled the software on contract bound phones, as the software is found only on their phones and the only carriers guilty so far are american, and some british, carriers.
Now the sorcecode of any, and i mean any, open source OS's can be verified by anyone with the necessary programing skill (and probably will as i understand class action lawsuits are flying and local authorities have started to look into the problem) as they are posted on the internet for anyone to use and take apart, hence the "open" part. That includes MeeGo, Android and any other open source OS, but I am sure as Apple, RIMM and other corporations might get subpoenaed by goverments to hand over their proprietary OS's for scrutiny, and the result will be the same and none of them will include the software in the source code. This is because without the carrier in on the action the phones would track unknown users in different parts of the world and the information would be to vast and in most cases unimportant (in my opinion at least, I mean what would RIMM, HTC or Apple do with someone's browsers search info in Dubai for instance) to use in any way asside from stealing peoples money and serious stuff like that.
Anyway as i already mentioned this is a problem for americans and british people and i truly am sorry for them as i would not want to be in their shoes in my country ( probably would be as outraged as many of them). If you live in America or GB get well informed and direct your distaste and outrage on the right people (companies), as this isn't something that rests on OS developers as much as can be understood from all the articles i could find.
Hope my post helps inform people as that is it's intent and i hope i don't get hatefull responses since i don't care to be hatefull to anyone :) in any case, and i am sorry if i got anything wrong but all users here are open to debate this problem as things unfold and lawsuits open and uncover more and more in this scandal.
- ?
- Anonymous
- IsB
- 09 Dec 2011
It's suprising they didn't sell it as a premium add-on
for those that, presumably, want that "enhanced service", if only to guarantee the rest of us privacy.
- ?
- Anonymous
- mJr
- 05 Dec 2011
carrier iq scum!!!!
- ?
- Anonymous
- YaD
- 05 Dec 2011
Just a good friend, 04 Dec 2011You people, don't worry if you're in Europe. In Europe, th... more If you live in Europe, Rupert Murdoch and any newspaper owner can hack into your phone and not be punished. They hacked into the phone of a kidnapped teenager, families of Soldiers killed in Afghanistan, actors, politicians and havent receved any jail time. As far as the laws protecting privacy, everyone from the plice to the prime ministers of Britain were aware they were ding it and did nothing. So, good luck with all those privacy laws in europe. Just as long as you cntinue to allow the US to build secret CIA prisons on your land, you enjoy the privacy you thnk you have.
- D
- AnonD-1420
- PFe
- 05 Dec 2011
So... when I get my Nokia WP7.5 device on Vodafone, I reckon I'll be pretty safe! :--P
- ?
- Anonymous
- q2A
- 04 Dec 2011
Anonymous, 04 Dec 2011....and you guys comment about iOS security loopholes and w... moreApple also used carrier iq. they only recently decided to let users disable it with a software update.
- ?
- Anonymous
- pVq
- 04 Dec 2011
what about the tablets I've planed to get xoom
- J
- Just a good friend
- na0
- 04 Dec 2011
You people, don't worry if you're in Europe.
In Europe, there is a strict law regarding user's privacy; so legally, there shouldn't be any software of this kind on European phones. But if there is, I guess it will be removed soon; now, that it's known about, or else Carrier IQ, carriers (mobile operaters) and phone manufacturers (the ones that have installed this Carrier IQ software) will face all kinds of sanctions and maybe even bans from various areas. So, MY POINT IS: if you live in Europe and have a phone bought from European carrier (mobile operater), you should feel safe about this for more than one reason.
- ?
- Anonymous
- utp
- 04 Dec 2011
....and you guys comment about iOS security loopholes and whatever... iOS, Symbian, MeeGo, every OS is just much much better than android.. look what open source can do!!
- ?
- Anonymous
- YaD
- 04 Dec 2011
AnonD-10525, 03 Dec 2011Wow... I'll add this to the long list of reasons why I am s... moreUm...carrier iq is on iphone, blackberry, and other devices. You may have missed that part.
- t
- toss
- S65
- 04 Dec 2011
the fact that I have to loose my warranty to remove illegal software from my device is unbeliavable but true.Also the fact that I am waiting better source code for my lg 2x from any Cyanogen like dev ensures me when a google represender a few days ago said that android security software is filthy,that yes android gives the freedom to useless thieve corps and a lot of work to volunteers.That is PATHETIC AND DISGRACEFULL for the """""""""inocent""""""" google product!
- ?
- Anonymous
- rAU
- 03 Dec 2011
Carrier IQ just manufacturers the software, it seems from reading the article. It's the phone manufacturers and carriers that are to blame. Carrier IQ can't magically get access to the phone prior to its shipping unless the carriers/phone manufacturers want.
- D
- AnonD-10525
- qiU
- 03 Dec 2011
Wow... I'll add this to the long list of reasons why I am super glad I no longer use an Android powered device!
- A
- Anon
- q{r
- 03 Dec 2011
Jonesy, 02 Dec 2011Do anyone you actually know what the software is used for. ... moreI agree with you to an certain extend...these tools help devs, techs and consumers...however the point here is that although they can be beneficial, they can be detremental to consumers privacy. Especially without consumers knowing that they are being logged. Also it doesnt bode well for consumers if they are unaware of such activities. Apple included CIQ but only enabling it if your phone needs to be serviced and from what i read, Apple wont be using CIQ in the future. So thats a good example of service and protecting ones privacy at the same time.
What about smartphones that have CIQ that run all the time in background and with no visibility and the ability to disable it? Im just making a point and i dont mean to rant. Bottom line is that, CIQ has a lot of xplainin to do! :)
- ?
- Anonymous
- kJr
- 02 Dec 2011
edge, 02 Dec 2011that is why open platforms like androids are so easy to tak... moreThat makes no sense... there is no way to tell if a closed source device like blackberry is running similar logging software. On an open source platform you can certainly see, and remove it if you so desire.
- e
- edge
- IaH
- 02 Dec 2011
that is why open platforms like androids are so easy to take info out from!!who knows there may be more companies like Carrier IQ doing the same jazz!!!safe=Blackberry:D
- A
- Anon
- kJq
- 02 Dec 2011
It's hard to say who's pulling the strings to get CIQ in the phones, some say the phone manufacturers, then some say its providers..at the end of the day it doesn't matter..this is a clear attempt to conceal it from consumers. I won't even go into the legal ramifications, marketing or how agencies can use your own data against you. If you have it, remove it!
- J
- Jonesy
- 9y9
- 02 Dec 2011
Do anyone you actually know what the software is used for. In the past, simplier days, carriers drove cars equipped with test equipment to measure their radio signals in their service areas. If the signal was good then customer experience was assumed to be good. Today, we have much more complex devices and simply having a good signal does not mean good service. CarrierIQ software is used to measure howthe network performs on a service level. Like say, how fast your first page on amazon loads or how much delay there is in your video chat. This helps them tweak the various aspects of their network to perform better. CarrierIQ and the carriers are guilty only about not being clear the software exists. CarrierIQ's management were idiots for threatening the researcher that discovered it and for not just explaining waht the use is. No carrier, and I work with them on network issues, uses this software to evesdrop on users or track the content on their communications. Worst case, they will know the destination of your service requests and various parameters that help isolate where you were on the network and how the servicde performed. Take away tools like this and then don't complain that your service sucks.
- H
- Hmm
- mXb
- 02 Dec 2011
@^@ haha
- H
- Hmm
- mXb
- 02 Dec 2011
Brain Dead, 02 Dec 2011If he TE charged you $1 for his own data stealing app you c... moreOh btw its his job.................