MobileRL wants you to download its software so it can spy on you!
With rising concerns for privacy these days, advertisers are having an increasingly difficult time gathering personal consumer data. MobileRL, an Israeli start-up, is looking to change or “revolutionize” the way information is collected for ad purposes. The Israeli company wants you to download software onto your phone which will allow them to turn it into an eavesdropping device. Your phone’s microphone can be turned on at any time, at MobileRL’s discretion, so it can listen to what’s going on at any given time. This new “data collection tool” is obviously going to need user consent since you have to download it yourself, so that might mitigate most legal issues (unless you live in a place where they can force something like this on you). But we know the real issue here, and if they can turn your phone’s microphone on at any time and run it for how long they want, how will that affect your phone’s battery life?
UPDATE: We’ve been told by MobileRL that the audio is actually 100% encrypted, and is turned on at specific intervals, then analyzed electronically without human interference. It’s then compared digitally to radio and broadcast channels to determine what the user was listening to / watching. It’s also in very limited testing with a research company, and obviously all of the participants have given permission for this trial.
Battery life?? LOL. Nice one BGR! That is of course the least of our concerns.
Yeah, I would definitely hate the decreased battery life…..
If they play their cards right they can totally get traction with this idea. Basically subsidize either the initial purchase price or make it a monthly subsidy for the ability to eavesdrop. People’ll turn a blind-eye to the privacy issue for a price…and given the state of the economy, I’d say the price is pretty competitive.
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You actually have to have a healthcare system in place before you have one forced on you. Now that they’ve given us one… we can start the complaining.
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…errr….ur lucky compadre that Bush is out of office other whise it will be legally bound on ur new legislation, and at least ur gonna get healthcare
wait… we have privacy right now??????
Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone).
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Yup, we have not, Apple keep all this stupid apps running in the background, feel sorry for all the users of normal phones…
Aside from the microphone control, they’re doing nothing Google isn’t doing already. Look at GOogle Voice’s voicemail transcripts, or Google Maps’ position recording. What can be used for advertising can also be used for identity theft, monitoring, profiling, etc. That is why I avoid Android like the plague.
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Apparetly you have a computer for sale…… that is after you remove all traces of your digital existance on the internet that is.
I have personal information available on the web that I have voluntarily given. I’m totally fine with that. But I sometimes don’t use Google Search for some terms because it does open the user up to certain rights waivers.
I use a PC rarely, and depend mostly on mobiles running Symbian or Maemo. My N900 is my primary computer. But there are various ways to surf the web anonymously if you are willing to learn.
Just because its easy to leave traces of personal data online doesn’t mean I shouldn’t protect myself. In fact, its more reason to. How secure is Google’s data? Probably not as secure as we’d like if we knew just how much data they have on us as individuals. If you agree to their TOS, you have given them info on what books you’re interested in reading, checking out at the library, or have subscriptions to, the people you talk to and places you go, even photos of you. It’s a precarious position many overlook.
Israeli spys are real problem now.
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If your device is rebooting, it may be a flawed unit. I’ve had two N900s for over a month, and not one reboot. Maybe its an application you’re using? Try reflashing, or do as I’d do, and contact Nokia Care. Could be an issue with your device. I doubt it is Google’s fault. I’m using Google’s services just fine on my units.
I use Google for some things. They provide a good service. But when privacy and confidentiality are more important, I prefer to use the POP email from my ISP, and use Nokia’s OVI and other alternative, more privacy respecting services.
According to the movie Eagle Eye, the U S government can already turn on the mic, even when the device is powered off. You know, we have to believe it if it’s in the movie after all!
Honestly, all of our lives would be much easier when everyone realizes that privacy is a very false illusion. It doesn’t really exist- people only believe it does because it makes them feel better. I just assume everyone knows what I’m doing or saying every minute and there’s much less to worry about.
Real privacy was lost the minute we started to use credit-cards and mobile phones and the internet.
It’s lost already. Each and every cellphone maker in the world is trying to get as much out of you as they can. They are not here to be nice to you – they only exist to make money for themselves. Each and everyone of them. Nokia, Samsung, Apple.. list is endless, each and every one.
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Starving con artists in Nigeria wished more like you existed. And they can’t turn on an unpowered cell mic on, but a landline phone on the hook? Yep.
This software is not intended for general public use!!! This is a tool which is handed to market research companies for using with people they recruit for market research purposes under strict and fully confidential privacy assurance. Even more important is the fact that no audio is sent anywhere, only a meaningless electronic signature which only the market research can decode as it has the reference to compare it with.
Not for general public use? Who is the target audience here then? Market research my ass.
This is a huge security concern. I’m glad this made the headlines.
Big Brother is watching
@wimo user,
Let’s be honest here, everybody on this planet wants money. Of course all companies just look at customers like $$ signs. Some companies just happen to provide a good product but they care about the customers as long as their credit cards are full.
Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone).
Yea I can hear you Joe! And it’s not just the big companies – each and every mobile carrier knows your location pretty accurately even if they have not manufactured the handset or the OS! Every carrier knows what you’ve been doing if they want to. All the data goes through their networks. So, it wouldn’t help if Apple, Microsoft and Google would disappear. Mobile carriers would still know where you are at certain moment and what you are doing with your cellphone.
How do we know they aren’t already doing this?
Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone).
who in the hell would ever agree to this? you’d have to be an idiot or ho the hell knows what.
Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone).
Makes me want to disconnect myself from this digital universe.
Obviously we all rely on our devices, they are more less a staple, can’t really start a day with out it… Just like food, water and shelter. When marketing and business relies on eves dropping as a way to find demographic data, I’m worried.
So someone enlighten me.. why would I download this junk?
Bring it to Canada, for sure Rogers and the big 3 bill stick it on their phones to listen what customers complain for so they can come with ridiculous rebuttals when we call customer service.
…two words “Fuck That” its one thing to have the government already doing it but with this your basically pulling your own pants down and asking for it with no vaseline.
Why in the Hell would someone want this garbage on their phone, let alone willingly download it? Don’t we get enough of this crap on our PCs? Who cares about battery life when the real issue at hand at hand is a major invasion of privacy? If they can turn on the microphone at will what’s to stop them from adding code to read your address book or text messages, or listen in to a live conversation? This has to one of the worst ideas ever thought up for a cell phone.
Awesome! Where can I download?
It’s already legal for law enforcement agencies to remotely activate your handset’s microphone for eavesdropping purposes, provided they meet certain judicial requirements. And forget about the police for a moment- how about intelligence agencies like CIA and Britain’s SIS/MI-6? *Everything* they do is technically illegal, as they are committing espionage against foreign countries. Attempting to make laws about this type of eavesdropping might deter marketers and advertisers (who are only a nuisance anyway), but it will do nothing against the really spooky people who want to spy on you for much more than your shopping habits.
Phone companys have had the tech to do this for years! Just a case of flicking a switch and they can use any phone, home or mobile and find its position and listen in through the mike.
More and more in the UK local councils are using these tools to spy on people for simple things like over filling there rubbish bins,dropping litter, and checking where you live so your child goes to the right school.
Every email, phone call everything you do is recorded and logged.
Just get used to it and don’t be naughty.
Oh and welcome to the 21st Century!!