Droid app security question
Just got my incredible a few days ago and am trying to get up to speed on it. Call clarity is #1 for me and it's been very good so far.
I have a droid newbie question. I have been concerned about the disclaimers on most of the apps that are available. It says many of them can track your location,accsess your phone calls, browser etc.
Is any of this a concern as long as you are not a drug dealer or terrorist? I just don't like the idea of the New York Times or MSNBC knowing everything I do on my phone. Am I mis-interpreting how these apps work?
I have a droid newbie question. I have been concerned about the disclaimers on most of the apps that are available. It says many of them can track your location,accsess your phone calls, browser etc.
Is any of this a concern as long as you are not a drug dealer or terrorist? I just don't like the idea of the New York Times or MSNBC knowing everything I do on my phone. Am I mis-interpreting how these apps work?
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Good question. I have downloaded a ton of apps, but have deleted most. I know the Market still has a ton of great stuff yet for me to discover, but a lot of it is just worthless fluff. Anyways when I answer the phone you see a MSG 8 apps KILLED ( or whatever it says) before I answer the phone. I'm not particularly worried about it...
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Hehe, I wonder about the location thing as well. Why does my XKCD viewer need to know my fine GPS location? But, it doesn't concern me. Some apps state directly that it's for anonymous information gathering; maybe there will be some survey along the lines of 'People on the west coast like Tetris %20 more than people on the east coast!' or something like that.
Besides, if one were to make an app for nefarious purposes, they could just disable the GPS. Yay settings menu!
Besides, if one were to make an app for nefarious purposes, they could just disable the GPS. Yay settings menu!
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Its not the NY Times or MSNBC that you have to be concerned with. I'd be scared silly that Fox News and Rupert Murdoch were watching if I were you.
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In my experience, GPS is typically about advertising targeting. Most free apps are going to have an AdMob banner somewhere within, and location helps to target (e.g., when I text a friend and say "what sounds good for dinner", my ads start showing "Find Columbus Restaurants").
While I don't necessarily see the need for devs to require "Fine" GPS Location for ad targeting (more precise), that is usually what its about, except for the obvious apps like Maps and Navigation.
Keep in mind GPS "tracking" and GPS "access" are two different things. You will typically see a GPS icon on your phone that shows when your location is being accessed. Most apps are going to get a relative idea of where you are, use it to target ads, then drop it. If ...
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While I don't necessarily see the need for devs to require "Fine" GPS Location for ad targeting (more precise), that is usually what its about, except for the obvious apps like Maps and Navigation.
Keep in mind GPS "tracking" and GPS "access" are two different things. You will typically see a GPS icon on your phone that shows when your location is being accessed. Most apps are going to get a relative idea of where you are, use it to target ads, then drop it. If ...
(continues)
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THose warnings are basically telling you what your phone can do.
For example, a music app needs access to your phone "app" because it needs to know to pause/mute music when you get a call coming in.
A program like YELP or some other location based program needs to know your location to work and so on.
Those warnings are just informing you what the app has access too. They're not going to record that information, they just need access to the program to function.
For example, a music app needs access to your phone "app" because it needs to know to pause/mute music when you get a call coming in.
A program like YELP or some other location based program needs to know your location to work and so on.
Those warnings are just informing you what the app has access too. They're not going to record that information, they just need access to the program to function.
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