The Carrier I.Q. scandal. - LG Optimus 3D

http://www.gsmarena.com/whats_the_deal_with_carrier_iq_and_what_it_means_to_you-news-3460.php
Does the O3D come pre-installed with the Carrier I.Q. "spyware" in any of the standard ROM's?

Don't think so. At least in the Euro Open ones there's no trace of it I could find.

Cheers fella.
I couldn't find it in my firewall listing either.
Thanks for taking the time to reply.
I'm T-Mobile, using the Euro Open V21a. When T-Mobile (UK) release the V21a I'll flash it and check if it is in there, then re-flash back to Euro Open.

Carrier IQ Updates Statement: Operators Use Carrier IQ Software Only to Diagnose Operational Problems on Networks and Mobile Devices.
Mountain View, CA – December 1, 2011 – To clarify misinformation on the functionality of Carrier IQ software, the company is updating its statement from November 23rd 2011 as follows:
We measure and summarize performance of the device to assist Operators in delivering better service.
While a few individuals have identified that there is a great deal of information available to the Carrier IQ software inside the handset, our software does not record, store or transmit the contents of SMS messages, email, photographs, audio or video. For example, we understand whether an SMS was sent accurately, but do not record or transmit the content of the SMS. We know which applications are draining your battery, but do not capture the screen.
“Having examined the Carrier IQ implementation it is my opinion that allegations of keystroke collection or other surveillance of mobile device user’s content are erroneous,” asserts Rebecca Bace of Infidel Inc. a respected security expert.
Privacy is protected. Consumers have a trusted relationship with Operators and expect their personal information and privacy to be respected. As a condition of its contracts with Operators, CIQ operates exclusively within that framework and under the laws of the applicable jurisdiction. The data we gather is transmitted over an encrypted channel and secured within our customers’ networks or in our audited and customer-approved facilities.
Carrier IQ is aware of various commentators alleging Carrier IQ has violated wiretap laws and we vigorously disagree with these assertions.
Our software makes your phone better by delivering intelligence on the performance of mobile devices and networks to help the Operators provide optimal service efficiency. We are deployed by leading Operators to monitor and analyze the performance of their services and mobile devices to ensure the system (network and handsets) works to optimal efficiency. Operators want to provide better service to their customers, and information from the device and about the network is critical for them to do this. While in-network tools deliver information such as the location of calls and call quality, they do not provide information on the most important aspect of the service – the mobile device itself.
Carrier IQ acts as an agent for the Operators. Each implementation is different and the diagnostic information actually gathered is determined by our customers – the mobile Operators. Carrier IQ does not gather any other data from devices.
CIQ is the consumer advocate to the mobile operator, explaining what works and what does not work. Three of the main complaints we hear from mobile device users are (1) dropped calls, (2) poor customer service, and (3) having to constantly recharge the device. Our software allows Operators to figure out why problems are occurring, why calls are dropped, and how to extend the life of the battery. When a user calls to complain about a problem, our software helps Operators’ customer service more quickly identify the specific issue with the phone.
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Darkforce101 said:
Carrier IQ Updates Statement: Operators Use Carrier IQ Software Only to Diagnose Operational Problems on Networks and Mobile Devices.
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Yeah, sure. I have no doubt about it. That's why they intercept all keystrokes, sms, URL including https ones...
Yep, only to diagnose op. problems. And of course they discount the bandwidth used for their diagnoses from your account.

According to the various Android news sites Carrier IQ is only on US phones, including Apples Iphone, but not on UK or European devices.
Dave

And so it begins:
"We all knew it was going to happen - the first lawsuits are being filed against Carrier IQ and its data-stealing nature. Not only is CIQ getting hit with a suit, but HTC and Samsung are also being thrown into the ring since many of their phones support the software.
The suit claims that Carrier IQ is in violation of the Federal Wiretap Act, which makes intercepting "oral, wire, or electronic communications" illegal. The punishment isn't a light one, either - $100 per day for every incident; that could potentially cost Sammy and HTC millions of dollars.
Information is just now becoming available about the suit, but we'll make sure to keep you posted as more details become available.
This is probably the first of many suits to come; after all, not a single carrier is involved... yet. "
http://www.androidpolice.com/2011/1...rier-iq-could-potentially-cost-them-millions/

Related

Verizon/Google dealing major blow to Net Neutrality.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/posttech/2010/08/google_and_verizon_have_come.html
Seems like the two are in bed for a hell of alot more than just Android.
FCC was weakened on this matter not too long ago and n ow this. Very very bad news for anyone who uses the internet.
Verizon, Google make net neutrality pact, sources say
Google and Verizon have come to an agreement on how network operators can manage Web traffic, according to two sources briefed on their negotiations.
The agreement, expected to be announced within days, comes as the Federal Communications Commission tries to get major Internet content firms and network service providers to strike a deal on disputed points of so-called net neutrality rules. It's unclear how the deal will affect the direction of those discussions.
The FCC said Verizon and Google are still part of meetings between senior staff and officials at AT&T, Skype, a cable trade association and the Open Internet Coalition. Public interest groups criticized the meetings and the rumored agreement between Verizon and Google for allowing giant Internet firms to have a greater say in the future of how consumers access the Web.
Verizon wouldn't confirm that a deal was struck but said in an e-mail statement:
"We've been working with Google for 10 months to reach an agreement on broadband policy. We are currently engaged in and committed to the negotiation process led by the FCC. We are optimistic this process will reach a consensus that can maintain an open Internet and the investment and innovation required to sustain it."
Specifically, Google and Verizon's agreement could prevent Verizon from offering some prioritization to the biggest bidders who want better delivery of content on its DSL and fiber networks, according to the sources. But that wouldn’t apply to mobile phones, the sources said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because the companies have not officially made their announcement.
And Verizon could offer some managed services -- better quality to some Web sites such as those offering health care services, the sources said. But some analysts speculate that managed services could also include discounted YouTube and other services to FiOs customers at better quality.
Google did not reply to a request for comment.
The rumored deal drew criticism from public interest groups, who have argued that the country's biggest Web firms and broadband service providers shouldn't have such a strong influence on how federal rules are formed on Internet access.
“The fate of the Internet is too large a matter to be decided by negotiations involving two companies, even companies as big as Verizon and Google, or even the six companies and groups engaged in other discussions at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on similar topics," said Gigi Sohn, president of public interest group Public Knowledge.
FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski's chief of staff has orchestrated meetings with Google, AT&T, Verizon, Skype, a cable trade association and the Open Internet Coalition in hopes of presenting to Congress consensus ground rules that would prevent network operators from blocking or slowing down certain Web sites. Genachowski wants an agreement that will encourage lawmakers to introduce net neutrality legislation as the FCC struggles over its ability to regulate broadband providers.
The six officials at the FCC meetings, which continued Wednesday and will resume Thursday, are hashing out details on whether wireless phones should be included in legislation and if carriers can charge for better quality of service.
The FCC declined to comment specifically on Verizon and Google's deal, but an FCC spokesperson said: "The broad stakeholder discussions continue to actively include Google and Verizon.”
According to the sources, Verizon and Google have met separately to reach an agreement they will tout as an example of successful self-regulation. Once bitter opponents in the so-called net neutrality debate, the firms have grown closer on the issue as their business ties have also strengthened. Verizon partners with Google on their Android wireless phones.
Their actions could set a course for the FCC meetings and what ultimately the parties could present to lawmakers, analysts said.
More from Post Tech:
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Nevermind,
Yay!

Serval Mesh -Free communications between Android Phones

I found this at servalproject
Serval is changing the face of telecommunications forever
Communications should not just be for the geographically and financially fortunate — communication should be freely available to everyone.
It shouldn’t matter whether you live in a city or in the bush.
It shouldn’t matter whether it is economical for a cellular carrier to provide service to your community.
It shouldn’t matter whether you can afford cellular rates, or have credit on your phone.
Nothing should prevent you from communicating with those near and dear to you.
We also believe that people should be able to continue to communicate when they need it most.
In the face of earthquake, wild fire or cyclone, communications systems should keep working as well as they can, with whatever infrastructure remains available.
Serval is revolutionary, free, open-source software under development for mobile telephones, letting them communicate even in the absence of phone towers and other supporting infrastructure.
The initial public release of the software is scheduled for late 2012.

[Q]Does German Vodafone lock Note 4

Hello everyone!
I'm planning to buy a Note 4 from a guy who is coming from Germany with a phone bougth from vodafone germany. He is telling me that vodafone sells samsung devices unlocked. Is there any sim lock and bootloader?
Btw here is the reciept he sent me. It's looks tike it has a contract: https://www.dropbox.com/s/66hqg2zr3nwbd1g/IMG-20141224-WA0000.jpg?dl=0
Should I buy this or not? Thank you.
In the EU it is legally forbidden to SIMlock devices to a specific provider. Even on a contract.
However Samsung has a Region Lock on their devices. You can't use an EU device with a non-EU SIM without first unlocking it with a local SIM by calling, internetting and texting for 5 minutes each.
Sewrizer said:
I don't know about Germany, but I live in the EU and all carriers here give you SIM Locked phones if you buy them on contract. In point of fact, I have seen a lot of iPhones locked by carriers from France and England. The fact that there are so many "companies" that Sim unlock them via IMEI is proof that there is demand for such services.
The problem with them is that they are significantly more expensive to unlock than devices that run Android. The only way (that I am aware of ) of getting a SIM Unlocked phone from a carrier is to buy it without contract.
Edit: I must add that I am not aware of the law you mention, but in practice the situation is different. I would like to read that law, if you could quote it.
Blog: http://applesndroids.wordpress.com
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It would appear those laws on SIMlocking were not actually enforced, just guidelines to which new local laws must adhere. Until countries review their laws, they need not change. (And there we have the explanation why local laws are all so outdated..)
Those 'companies' are money sucking leeches praying on ignorant customers. Here's why:
"The Directorate-General for Competition (DG IV) has written to GSM/DCS1800
handset manufacturers and network operators in the EEA limiting the use of
the "SIM Lock" feature in mobile phone handsets: the feature effectively
ties the customer to one GSM operator or service provider. The handset must
be able to be unlocked upon demand by the consumer. This will prevent the
anti-competitive effects of the feature vis-à-vis existing or new operators,
and avoid a reinforcement of the division of the mobile phone market along
national lines.
[...]
The practical effect of this will be that consumers will no longer be
charged what were often significant amounts of money for the privilege of
linking their own handset to the services of another operator / service
provider."
They must be unlocked upon request by the service provider, free of charge. Going to a paid 3rd party is sheer stupidity.
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-96-791_en.htm
Sadly, many customers are not aware of these laws, and in many countries the courts rule in favour of the mobile operators for less than honest reasons (which they ofcourse always deny, because it has nothing to do with the ungodly amount of ex-politicians in the boards of directors..)
The only thing providers are allowed to do is put a timestamps on how long it takes for you to be allowed to unlock it, usually the time your contract lasts. By doing this, they can charge fees if you want it unlocked earlier.
The problem with Apple is that Apple itself locks the firmware to a carrier, and requires an update from Apple itself to unlock. (Like they also do with 4G for every separate provider.) The bastards have never cared for laws: The EU has laws that every charging port must be a MicroUSB since 2011. Apple ignored that, and with Obama backing Apple and holding the chains on the trade agreements, the EU can't do much more than impose petty fines that are small change to Apple.

T-Mobile plans to put an end to excessive data use.

http://gizmodo.com/t-mobile-will-stop-customers-abusing-unlimited-data-1727652180
Will this mean that T-Mobile will no longer be truly unlimited? The article states that T-Mobile has software to track whether excessive data users are taking advantage of the system by modifying their devices to hide tether. So stop me if I'm wrong but being able to tell what data you view, stream, or use would be invasion of privacy. And I believe it's illegal for the carriers to monitor what data content is. So by throttling a user for so called cheating the system would mean submitting evidence that they ,the carrier, has invaded the subscribers privacy. And didn't AT&T get fined $100 by the FCC recently for throttling unlimited users due to breach of contract? Check out this article, its a good read......
http://gizmodo.com/t-mobile-will-stop-customers-abusing-unlimited-data-1727652180
That only applies to the USA. European Privacy laws dictate that providers are not allowed to see the details of data usage. Deutsche Telekom and all T-Mobile branches in Europe can not, and will not block or track users based on data usage. If they do they face an instant seize and desist from the EU high court on all assets, the charges being direct violation of EU privacy laws.
A few providers tried to ban tethering for a while a couple of years ago, but thanks to Neelie Kroes they got a hefty fine and we got a law that prevents them from limiting specific services.
Besides, do we even have unlimited 4G data plans in Europe? Low-speed 3G maybe, but not 4G.
This is mild compared to the actual level of spying that US providers do. Did you know they can even see what apps their users have installed and, if they're internet-using apps, how many times they use them? Lots of cases where users had warranty service refused because an app that required root access was running on their phones. They've even got the right to remotely remove apps from a user's phone without informing the user. It's terrifying to think that people actually tolerate such a thing...

Robo calls

We bought a landline phone system with a feature that has eliminated robo calls by forcing the caller to press the number 8, then state their name. We went from dozens of robo calls a week to zero. Is there a reason this can't be a carrier feature or an app for cell phones?
Oh, and if I see you stranded with a broken down car on the side of the road, don't expect me to stop and offer you help. You were offered an extended warranty several times.
MightymomTN said:
We bought a landline phone system with a feature that has eliminated robo calls by forcing the caller to press the number 8, then state their name. We went from dozens of robo calls a week to zero. Is there a reason this can't be a carrier feature or an app for cell phones?
Oh, and if I see you stranded with a broken down car on the side of the road, don't expect me to stop and offer you help. You were offered an extended warranty several times.
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I'm assuming the service was offered and controlled by the telephone service provider. That being the case, for such a service to be available on mobile platforms, it would have to be offered by the mobile service provider, which I don't see happening given that trackers, ads and such are the lifeblood of the mobile device and mobile app developers, it is, after all, how they make their money with all the money and incentives being passed back and forth between mobile device manufacturers, mobile software/app developers, ad agencies and tracking services. Restricting the things that are associated to trackers, ads and robo callers would kill their profits.
The manufacturers, the service providers, the developers and the tracking/ad agencies are in bed together, what you suggest is counter to ther business model. Doing what you want them to do would make things much more expensive on us users.
Droidriven said:
I'm assuming the service was offered and controlled by the telephone service provider. That being the case, for such a service to be available on mobile platforms, it would have to be offered by the mobile service provider, which I don't see happening given that trackers, ads and such are the lifeblood of the mobile device and mobile app developers, it is, after all, how they make their money with all the money and incentives being passed back and forth between mobile device manufacturers, mobile software/app developers, ad agencies and tracking services. Restricting the things that are associated to trackers, ads and robo callers would kill their profits.
The manufacturers, the service providers, the developers and the tracking/ad agencies are in bed together, what you suggest is counter to ther business model. Doing what you want them to do would make things much more expensive on us users.
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No, it's actually the phone system. It's the sole reason for buying it.
MightymomTN said:
No, it's actually the phone system. It's the sole reason for buying it.
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Then its incorporated into the hardware. Either way, I don't see it being a thing in mobile devices, as I stated earlier, it would be counterproductive to how the whole mobile communication system works.

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