If the App is Free, That Means YOU Are the Product

They have to make money somehow, so it is by selling all of your information. Dozens of popular iPhone apps caught sending user location data to monetization firms.

A group of security researchers say dozens of popular iPhone apps are quietly sharing the location data of “tens of millions of mobile devices” with third-party data monetization firms.

Almost all require access to a user’s location data to work properly, like weather and fitness apps, but share that data often as a way to generate revenue for free-to-download apps.

There is a list of at least some of the apps involved, including those, like AccuWeather and NOAA Weather Radar that changed the code once they were busted. But some don’t.</p

Apple is demanding that all apps have a privacy policy by October 3, which will do nothing, but lets them pretend they are doing something. Have you EVER not installed an app or piece of software because something the privacy policy or the other disclaimers made you hesitant? And yes, I do read those and I do take them seriously. And when I don’t like something, I have been known to perpetrate misinformation. (You mean you don’t have disposable email addresses?)

iPhone fans still consider it the pinnacle of security

But it is proving to be surprisingly porous. Cambridge Scientist Demonstrates $100 Hack of iPhone 6 | Digital Trends

For 100 bucks, and a bunch of time, you can crack a 4-digit pin in about 40 hours. A 6-digit pin takes longer. Into the 100s of hours.

And to think the FBI paid more than $1million. (Your tax dollars well spent!)

Systems and programs that are not subject to outside review can hardly be declared secure. Other systems have problems – but we know about them and they get fixed. Apple has had outstanding problems for years that no one – aside from some of the bad guys – have known about.

The moral of the story is probably that your smart phone – from whatever vendor – is not so smart, and should not hold all of you financial data.