Apple’s App Store and Android Market is the world’s largest and most respected shops of mobile applications. These two stores have a rigorous certification applications call / validation process before an application goes live. Like any other user of the iPhone, I think I’m in good hands with Apple’s strict privacy guidelines and application security. Apparently I was wrong – a stunning revelation of Wall Street Journal indicates that the number of iPhone (and Android) applications share at least some of your personal information without your permission.
Believe it or not, some iPhone apps running on your device may be spying on you!
The WSJ investigation was conducted by consulting firm Electric Alchemy using an iPhone 3G and an Samsung Captivate and it covered 101 of the most popular smartphone applications including bestsellers such as Pandora, TextPlus 4, Angry Birds and several others. And I must admit that I’m shocked at the findings.
- 56 apps transmit the phone’s unique device ID to other companies without users’ awareness or consent
- 47 apps transmit the phone’s location without users’ awareness or consent
- 5 apps transmit the age and gender details to other companies without users’ awareness or consent
In a major embarrassment for Apple, the research also indicates that IOS applications are more likely to transmit more personal information than their counterparts in Android. Most applications pass this information, more sensitive to Facebook, Twitter and a host of advertising and marketing networks. The usual procedure for applications to request the user’s explicit consent before sharing information with third parties, but it is clear that this protocol has been openly violated by a number of applications for the iPhone.
Interestingly, the investigation claims that Angry Birds, one of the most popular games on the Apple App Store, sends your username, contacts, location and phone ID to Google as well as Flurry, an application analytics company. As expected, these claims have been strongly denied by Angry Birds developer Rovio.
There are mixed opinions on whether the findings are a matter of real concern WSJ have or were blown disproportionate to the propaganda. Network World believes that this information is for targeted advertising is used, it is not such a big deal. Others, believe like GigaOm that Apple it responsibility for the apps to monitor its showcase for questionable and inappropriate content.
Either way, apps running on your iPhone spying on your personal details does sound a scary proposition. What do you think? Please share your opinion by leaving a comment below this post.
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