Comments on: FBI says Carrier IQ files used for "law enforcement purposes"

By: Caged Ideas

Caged Ideas — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 21:25:00 +0000

There’s this thing about rights that everyone seems to forget, if you expect to have any, you have to defend them; ask government to and they will take them away to protect them. That being said, we have spent years researching this whole problem and it’s not just because of the type of phone you have, the software installed on it, or who’s operating system controls your phone, the core of the problem is in the way the cellular networks function. All cell phones are tracked real time, and all of them can be compromised allowing your devices microphone, camera, or GPS to be used by unauthorized persons without your knowledge. In addition the contents of your entire phone including the text messages, emails, phone book, confidential log in information etc can be accessed with or without the phone being connected to any network. After realizing the extent of the problem we set out to create a device which would allow the owners of these devices to control when, where and by whom the device is accessed as of this month we are making this device available to you, me and everyone else concerned about their privacy. See us at thecaseforprivacy.com for more information.

By: Emmett Brown

Emmett Brown — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:24:00 +0000

We have interpreted any meaning out of the words in it at least. Privacy? You can have it all you want as long as nebulous secret police are watching over you.

By: carlopiana

carlopiana — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 11:55:00 +0000

If you cannot replace it with a version you yourself have compiled, it’s not Free/open source software. It’s an application that you have received pre-compiled, any intermediary can have put any nasty thing on it. I run Cyanogenmod.

By: penguinchris

penguinchris — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 06:59:00 +0000

This is really more of a reply to your later comment (reply to Mxx), but there’s no reply button there.

Google could have (and I agree, they should have) adopted a license structure that prevents the phone makers and carriers from doing all the crap that they’re doing. But if they had, the carriers in particular would not have gotten on board and Android would have gone nowhere.

Google had to make a compromise, and it’s unfortunate (why Apple didn’t have to compromise – at least, not as much – is a different argument).

By: penguinchris

penguinchris — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 06:54:00 +0000

Considering the viewpoints and slant of the editors and regular commenters here regarding issues like this, I would really be surprised if we weren’t already on some sort of watch list. You get sent to the top of the list if you’re also a regular on Slashdot (which surely has its own separate list as well).

By: JohnBerry

JohnBerry — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 05:40:00 +0000

“FBI said that it held relevant records but that their release could interfere with pending or prospective law enforcement proceedings.” In addition their release could cause the sun to be extinguished and the terrorists to “win”.

“Pending or prospective law enforcement proceedings,” couldn’t this be said about releasing ANY information about ANYTHING? Sorry, we can’t tell you how much toilet paper the FBI uses. The release of that information could interfere with pending or prospective law enforcement proceedings.

@Apai – “US is increasingly becoming what it supposedly hates.” So true. So sad.

By: AnonymousNow

AnonymousNow — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 04:32:00 +0000

Use a coffee filter so the good packets get through.

By: AnonymousNow

AnonymousNow — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 04:31:00 +0000

Let’s face it, we are all busted. This is warrantless. Our Constitution has been stolen.

By: APai

APai — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 03:54:00 +0000

…aaand, USA is championing democracy and no censorship to china, north korea and other despots ?? it’s like the pot calling kettle black. US is increasingly becoming what it supposedly hates.

By: MrEricSir

MrEricSir — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 03:40:00 +0000

But all Google would have to do is have a license that prevents what the phone makers and carriers are doing. (GPLv3, for example.)

This is the key difference between “open” and “free.”

By: Mxx

Mxx — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 03:36:00 +0000

again, you are mistaken.
Android IS open(-ish) and IS free.
Retail phones that general consumers buy are neither.
If you really wanted to, you could build your own Android phone/device and it will be 100% real android device.

Don’t blame Google or Android for the shit carriers and phone mft do with that project.

By: MrEricSir

MrEricSir — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 03:30:00 +0000

The point is that this is a marketing problem. FOSS advocates have long championed the model as solving the problem of spyware, rootkits, etc.

Now Android comes along and it’s said to be “open source.” Problem is, Android is open but not free — that is, it’s open for the phone makers and mobile service providers, but NOT open downstream for the end user.

The blame for this I think belongs to Google for promotion Android as something it’s not — free software.

By: Mxx

Mxx — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 03:02:00 +0000

Don’t confuse open-source with projects like Cyanogen and custom proprietary closed phone builds that you buy at retail.

By: Mxx

Mxx — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 02:56:00 +0000

by asking about it, you are already on one

By: efergus3

efergus3 — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 01:32:00 +0000

Don’t own a cell – want one even less every day.

By: psulli

psulli — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:24:00 +0000

That is the combination of the tazer and the pepper spray.

By: Guest

Guest — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 23:55:00 +0000

Well, hollowed out skulls of their enemies usually sufficed. It was years later (at least two) that Charles M. Dixie got the idea to make them from paper.

By: fr4nk

fr4nk — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 23:52:00 +0000

I knew about this over a year ago. The description of the custom ROM I was installing said something along the lines of “CarrierIQ removed – no more spying, and one less running service = better battery life! :D”

By: Alan Olsen

Alan Olsen — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 23:37:00 +0000

BTW, the one missing scene from the President’s Analyst was removed by the director, not the studio.

By: Alan Olsen

Alan Olsen — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 23:35:00 +0000

Mayans had Dixie cups?

By: Alan Olsen

Alan Olsen — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 23:33:00 +0000

The version on DVD is about as complete as possible. It has the correct music and aspect ratio. It is missing one short scene which is considered lost as far as I can tell. (I have never seen a print with that scene.) The VHS version has the music replaced which destroys far too much of the pacing of the film. (Especially the scene in the field.) The DVD version has a nice print and is well worth getting. No extra features, but at $6.49 it is well worth getting.

By: Cowicide

Cowicide — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 23:32:00 +0000

You see, I’ve set up another laptop with its camera on all the time just watching my other laptop’s green light. So I know it doesn’t turn on whenever my back is turned. ;D

Kidding aside, I really think robdobbs is being watched and needs to give me his iMac so I can properly dispose of it while he buys a new one that hasn’t been compromised by agents (yet).

By: Aleknevicus

Aleknevicus — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 23:17:00 +0000

…you’ll know if your camera is on or not by the green light.

So long as you’re constantly looking at it.

By: TheHowl

TheHowl — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 22:57:00 +0000

Reason #897 to never, ever, ever believe a corporation when it tells you that it’s only collecting your information ‘to improve their service.’ Once data is collected it will /always/ end up being used by law enforcement.

By: MrEricSir

MrEricSir — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 22:32:00 +0000

The unfortunate thing here is how long it took before someone discovered this, particularly in “open” phones like Android. It seems the promise of open source leading to greater security failed here, and it failed hard.

By: MrEricSir

MrEricSir — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 22:30:00 +0000

YES! Absolutely one of the funniest movies ever. (Pity the full version never came out on DVD or Blu-Ray.)

By: what_do_you_care

what_do_you_care — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 22:23:00 +0000

Make it ten? http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/11/reasons-to-wear-tinfoil-hats/

By: what_do_you_care

what_do_you_care — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 22:20:00 +0000

Yay spy state well on the way!..just wait for it to get shown being used for political motivations.

By: mesocosm

mesocosm — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 22:13:00 +0000

Hold on a minute. Muckrock, the source that filed the FOIA request, makes it very clear in this article that the FBI response may indicate nothing more than that they are conducting an investigation into allegations of possible criminal misconduct by Carrier IQ.

By: the_engineer

the_engineer — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:47:00 +0000

This story makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.