carriers

Carrier IQ faces lawsuits, lawmaker seeks FTC probe

Carrier IQ's woes continue to multiply.

The Mountain View, Calif., startup now faces four lawsuits over allegations that its cellphone software violates the privacy of mobile users. A congressman has also asked the U.S. Federal Trade Commission today to investigate those charges.

The developments aren't terribly surprising given the media firestorm around Carrier IQ, which programmer Trevor Eckhart alleges records keystrokes from mobile phones and sends all sorts of personal information off the phone. Carrier IQ denies that and says limited data is gathered for diagnostic purposes only. (CNET has a FAQ with more detailed information about … Read more

The 404 958: Where we lied our way into this job (podcast)

Our guest today is Emily Dreyfuss from CNET's newest tech gossip podcast, Rumor Has It!

We're learning all kinds of stuff from Emily, like to how to defeat an oncoming shark attack, the best way to win a burger-eating competition, and the backstory behind the Carrier IQ keylogging controversy.

Leaked from 404 Podcast 958:

How Carrier IQ was wrongly accused of keylogging. Controversy, confusion over Carrier IQ. Congress lifts five-year ban on the sale of horse meat. Thanks Obama! Rumor: Apple TV sets will be mighty pricey.… Read more

How Carrier IQ was wrongly accused of keylogging

In just a handful of days, a startup company named Carrier IQ has been subjected to extraordinary public vilification, with reports accusing it of making a "rootkit keylogger" that "creeps out everyone" or is the "rootkit of all evil."

The only problem, which is always a risk when a public lynching takes place, is that Carrier IQ appears to be not guilty of the charges lodged against it.

The most serious charge against Carrier IQ, a venture capital-funded startup in Mountain View, Calif., that makes diagnostic software for carriers, has been that it records … Read more

Controversy, confusion over Carrier IQ

week in review Controversy over a mobile data-logger flared this week despite confusion over how the software works and what data it transmits. Some security experts said the privacy threat was overblown and it turns out Carrier IQ was falsely accused of "keylogging" in a rush to virtual judgement.

Carrier IQ, a startup that provides tracking tools to carriers and phone vendors, came under fire for allegedly monitoring Android- and iOS-based smartphones. According to Android researcher Trevor Eckhart, an outspoken critic of the company's technology, the company's software running on Android devices can record and relay … Read more

Android app tells you if Carrier IQ is on your phone--kinda

All the controversy surrounding Carrier IQ has prompted a developer to create an application that helps Android device owners determine whether their handset is running the software.

Dubbed Voodoo Carrier IQ detector, the application, which is available in the Android Market, helps "you find out as easily as possible if your Android device hosts CarrierIQ rootkit or not." The free application is open source, and its developer, "supercurio," says he's willing to work with others "for collaboration and contributions."

But before you download the program, beware that it might not be so accurate. … Read more

What does Carrier IQ do on my phone--and should I care? (FAQ)

Just what is Carrier IQ's software doing on your phone? And do you really need to worry about it?

A 25-year-old systems administrator in Connecticut set off a media firestorm after discovering mysterious software on his Android that appeared to be recording his activities. Software maker Carrier IQ says the software is designed to give carriers usage and other stats so they can improve the network and service. But the researcher argues that the software represents a serious privacy threat because sensitive data is being logged without user permission.

Mobile security researchers CNET has spoken with say that they … Read more

Carrier IQ: More privacy alarms, more confusion

Controversy over a mobile data-logger called Carrier IQ escalated today, with a U.S. senator raising an alarm and Apple and Verizon distancing themselves, even though it's still unclear how the software works.

An Android developer, Trevor Eckhart, reported last month that Carrier IQ software phoned home with details about how the phone was being used and where it was. Earlier this week, Eckhart posted a video elaborating on his claims, which was followed by another report that the software has been found on iPhones.

Apple responded today, saying it hasn't used Carrier IQ since it released iOS … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 1568: That's just the Google Maps guy, ignore him (Podcast)

The Carrier IQ spy software scandal continues to grow: Al Franken wants an explanation and researchers say it might even be showing up in iOS. AT&T's T-Mobile bid is on death watch, and we perform a live demo of Siri's abortion "glitch" -- biggest problem? It's not search and it should be search. Meanwhile, Google announces that it's planning to map indoor spaces, and we envision a world of Google mapping guys on Segways in the mall and maybe even snooping around our cubicles and kitchens.

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How to disable Carrier IQ on your iOS device

Carrier IQ, a company practically none of us knew about a few weeks ago, sure is making a name for itself this week.

With Carrier IQ having now been found in iOS, you may feel more comfortable knowing you can disable any logging or reporting done by the service on your iPad, iPod Touch, or iPhone in just a few steps. … Read more