Posted on 11/30/2011 2:14:08 AM PST by Mount Athos
An Android app developer has published what he says is conclusive proof that millions of smartphones are secretly monitoring the key presses, geographic locations, and received messages of its users.
In a YouTube video posted on Monday, Trevor Eckhart showed how software from a Silicon Valley company known as Carrier IQ recorded in real time the keys he pressed into a stock EVO handset, which he had reset to factory settings just prior to the demonstration. Using a packet sniffer while his device was in airplane mode, he demonstrated how each numeric tap and every received text message is logged by the software.
Ironically, he says, the Carrier IQ software recorded the “hello world” dispatch even before it was displayed on his handset.
Eckhart then connected the device to a Wi-Fi network and pointed his browser at Google. Even though he denied the search giant's request that he share his physical location, the Carrier IQ software recorded it. The secret app then recorded the precise input of his search query – again, “hello world” – even though he typed it into a page that uses the SSL, or secure sockets layer, protocol to encrypt data sent between the device and the servers.
“We can see that Carrier IQ is querying these strings over my wireless network [with] no 3G connectivity and it is reading HTTPS,” the 25-year-old Eckhart says.
The video was posted four days after Carrier IQ withdrew legal threats against Eckhart for calling its software a “rootkit.” The Connecticut-based programmer said the characterization is accurate because the software is designed to obscure its presence by bypassing typical operating-system functions.
In an interview last week, Carrier IQ VP of Marketing Andrew Coward rejected claims the software posed a privacy threat because it never captured key presses.
“Our technology is not real time,” he said at the time. "It's not constantly reporting back. It's gathering information up and is usually transmitted in small doses.”
Coward went on to say that Carrier IQ was a diagnostic tool designed to give network carriers and device manufacturers detailed information about the causes of dropped calls and other performance issues.
Eckhart said he chose the HTC phone purely for demonstration purposes. Blackberrys, other Android-powered handsets, and smartphones from Nokia contain the same snooping software, he claims.
The 17-minute video concluded with questions, including: “Why does SMSNotify get called and show to be dispatching text messages to [Carrier IQ]?” and “Why is my browser data being read, especially HTTPS on my Wi-Fi?”
The Register has put the same questions to Carrier IQ, and will update this post if the company responds. ®
“All your key taps are belong to us—and everything they say, including all your passwords.”
Interesting video at 7:00
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=T17XQI_AYNo
Obama knows all!
Yeah.... omni-evil
I expect government all over the world to sue this company into oblivion over this, if true! Ought to interesting to see how the company responds!
for later
If it is true that it is on all smart phones it should be all of the smart phone manufacturers that are sued
These phones came preloaded with the software.
NSA backdoor?
Carrier IQ withdraws ‘misguided’ cease-and-desist letter, apologizes to security advocate TrevE
They already responded right in the article. They are trying to muddy the waters (of course) by claiming it's not done real time. The issue is not real time or not, its the snooping, theft and storage of person information. IIRC Apple just went through this, didn't they?
Coward went on to say that Carrier IQ was a diagnostic tool designed to give network carriers and device manufacturers detailed information about the causes of dropped calls and other performance issues.
What makes you think it isn’t government demanding these back doors and collecting the data?
“someone set us up the bomb?”
Root your phone and remove the app.
That’s like saying you’re not spying if you record video of someone rather than using a live feed.
Sounds like the motherload for identity thieves if this ever got hacked. This Carrier IQ company seems as shady as they get. Hope they get hammered by class action suits and put out of business.
“I expect government...”
That’s funny right there. I expect “government” is precisely where it all started.
This type of crap has been around a long time for 'security' reasons.
Buy disposable phones, use them and toss them.
Or keep your smartphone as if its a pet scorpion, in time regardless it will sting you.
Its in its nature.
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