Several iPhone and Android apps sharing private user data
An investigation by The Wall Street Journal has found that some iPhone and Android apps are spying on users and potentially transmitting personal data to other companies. While both Apple and Google say that they have privacy protections in place for their customers, many apps are able to skirt around them either on purpose or by claiming ignorance as the maker of Pumpkin Maker (a pumpkin-carving app) did -- he said that he didn't know that he needed user permission before sharing the data he collected inside his app. But in speaking to the WSJ, Apple spokesman Tom Neumayr said that "We have created strong privacy protections for our customers, especially regarding location-based data. Privacy and trust are vitally important."
iPhone apps transmitted more data than the Android apps tested, and two apps in particular stood out: Pandora and TextPlus 4. Pandora (a music streaming app) and TextPlus 4 (a text messaging app) sent the phone's unique ID number, along with the user's age, gender and zip code to several different advertising companies. Out of 101 apps tested in the study, the WSJ found that over half sent the ID number out to companies without the user's consent.
Privacy concerns are often at the forefront of users' minds and rightly so, but I do think most people understand that companies collect some information and that whatever is collected is actually beneficial to their user experience. Apple itself recently detailed its location collection policies, which it uses to provide location-specific information, to members of Congress after the House of Representatives looked into the company's privacy policy. And as a personal example, I use the Yelp app quite a bit to discover new restaurants in my area. I do know that they are collecting location information from me, and it is probably being kept in a database somewhere. I also believe that it helps Yelp tailor my (and others') experience with their app, as they want users to share information with them and so do I -- without some of this info the app wouldn't be all that valuable.
Do I want these app companies sharing my name, age, gender, mailing address, birthdate or sexual preference with ad networks everywhere? Not really, and I do believe we should have the ability to opt out of sharing anything if we so choose. Apps that are doing that without gaining my permission to do so shouldn't be allowed on the App Store. But a little location-based marketing in the apps that it is needed in does go a long way to making a more positive user experience. Macworld thinks that the concerns raised by the WSJ are overblown. What do you guys think?
[via GigaOm and Macworld]
Share
An investigation by The Wall Street Journal has found that some iPhone and Android apps are spying on users and potentially transmitting...
Add a Comment
how do they get age, sex, zip, etc. that's not stored in my phone, is it?
December 28 2010 at 10:44 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replydoes it really matter, I mean really?
"how dare they steal my personal information" come on do you really think you are that important, I couldn't care less who knows my information
It's people who don't take any precautions to protect their personal data/identity who are first to have that identity stolen, their credit and future burned to the ground. There's serious damage that can be done with your personal information; you wouldn't let a random person photocopy the contents of your wallet, but having your personal data shared freely online is even more risky.
December 21 2010 at 9:59 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyIt's not just your Phone ID or location that's being taken and passed to third parties. In various cases it has been demonstrated that certain apps are also passing on your phone number and more worryingly, your CONTACT LIST.
While I'm not a member of the tin-foil hat brigade, this is starting to sound a bit dodgy!
Your info is not tied to a name or a phone number, unless you give them that info to shady developers. They tie it to Your iphone unique ID, anyone of you actually know your iphone's unique ID? i don't. I care about privacy as much as i care about better products. That wallstreet journal investigation is just as lame as every other fear-driven articles that are so common in america. I read that kind of articles everyday on google news, the funniest i've ever read was titled "can speedbumps DESTROY your car?" it's just ridiculous.
December 21 2010 at 3:28 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyMy personal data belongs to me. If some app developer sells my info without paying me, he is stealing.
December 21 2010 at 12:44 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyIt should always be MY choice!
December 20 2010 at 10:29 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyPandora shares your information for the purposes of targeting advertisements. They clearly communicate during registration how they will use the information you provide - gender, age, sex, ZIP.
If you don't want them sharing your information, you have two choices:
* Pay $36 for ad-free (the right thing to do)
* Provide false info (the wrong thing to do)
I'm a 25 yr old male in Atlanta Georgia. I like women and my favorite color is red.
There. Now they don't have to steal it.
yes you fav color is red but we don't know your mobile number place of residence or which food shops you go to!! They do know all that from your phone usage!!
December 21 2010 at 5:47 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyIt's easy (and convenient) to assume that the data is being used for "harmless" activities like serving up tailored ads, etc. But we don't know that for sure.
Many of the data miners accessing this info aren't using it for such innocent purposes. Many of them are bundling the data and selling it to other companies to do whatever they want with it. Once the data is in third-party hands like that, the sky is the limit as to what they can and will do.
Either way, it seems like common sense that all advertising platforms (desktop, mobile etc.) should have to get your consent before collecting any data beyond very basic things like broad geographic region. At least Android apps tell you what type of data apps will be collecting, but even that's not enough in my opinion.
If this was the behavior of a government app we would be going all sorts of crazy. Why should companies be held at a lower standard when it comes to our privacy compared to government intrusion? Our privacy is our privacy. We are allowing ourselves to become products to be bought and sold. For what... a free app that we will not use in a week or so? It is time to stand up and remind these folks that we will not continue our apathetic response to the continued intrusion of our privacy. I want a full list of the offending apps and it is time to boycott them.
December 20 2010 at 7:40 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyDeals of the Day
more deals- Refurb Mac Pro Xeon Quad-Core 2.8GHz Workstation for $1,150 + $38 s&h, more
- Used Apple iPad 32GB Wi-Fi Tablet for $200 + free shipping
- Apple iPod nano Multi-Touch 8GB MP3 Player for $100 + $8 s&h
- Cases for New iPad at HandHeldItems: Extra 20% off, $2 credit, from $3 + $3 s&h
- $15 Apple iTunes Gift Card for $8 for new Saveology customers
- Retro 80's Case for iPhone for $11 + $2 s&h
Software Updates
more updatesFeatured Stories
more stories
Popular Stories
TUAW (or The Unofficial Apple Weblog) is a website devoted to tips, reviews, news, analysis and opinion on everything Apple.
14 Comments