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Sprint Faces Backlash For Adding MDM Software To Devices (csoonline.com)

Posted by timothy on from the but-we-thought-you-wanted-that dept.

itwbennett writes: On Wednesday, Sprint customer Johnny Kim discovered an in-store technician adding MDM software to his personal iPhone 6 without prior notice or permission. Kim took to Twitter with his complaint, sparking a heated conversation about privacy and protection. One expert who commented on the issue told CSO's Steve Ragan that 'it's possible Sprint sees the installation of MDM software as an additional security offering, or perhaps as a means to enable phone location services to the consumer.' But, as Ragan points out, 'even if that were true, it's against [Sprint's] written policy and such offerings are offered at the cost of privacy and control over the user's own devices.' (MDM here means "Mobile Device Management.")

7 of 123 comments (clear)

  1. Nice summary! by Just+Some+Guy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Credit where it's due: adding the definition of "MDM" at the end was a nice touch for those not already in the know.

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    Dewey, what part of this looks like authorities should be involved?
    1. Re:Nice summary! by mitgib · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Credit where it's due: adding the definition of "MDM" at the end was a nice touch for those not already in the know.

      Perhaps, but going the extra step to define it for this audience is like having to spell out STD in a porn workers forum.

      Isn't it proper journalism practice to define acronyms on their first use, then continue on using the acronym through the remainder of the story? Doing it at the end does make it seems as I am splitting hairs, which I am not, as long as the acronym was defined, I understand it.

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      Being a spelling & grammar Nazi is a sign you do not poses the intelligence to contribute to the conversation
    2. Re:Nice summary! by Opportunist · · Score: 4, Insightful

      To be fair, it's not far from what is considered journalism today.

      I mean, the difference between copy/pasting from other places to aggregate stories isn't that far from copy/pasting press agency reports and cutting it so the ad fits on the page.

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      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  2. I don't care how Sprint "sees it" by U2xhc2hkb3QgU3Vja3M · · Score: 2, Insightful

    It's not their devices and they should not be installing software without the express permission of their owners.

    Fight for your bitcoins!

    1. Re:I don't care how Sprint "sees it" by Darinbob · · Score: 3, Insightful

      If it's Sprint's phone, then Sprint should be the one paying for it.

    2. Re:I don't care how Sprint "sees it" by CanadianMacFan · · Score: 4, Insightful

      If the phone is part of a contract you are paying for the phone over a number of installments. Paying for a car by using a loan doesn't make it bank's.

      The provider's terms don't make the phone theirs either. Just like signing up to an ISP doesn't make your computer belong to that ISP or by getting a license for your car doesn't make it belong to the government.

  3. Everyone is blaming Sprint by Holi · · Score: 4, Insightful

    When Sprint has policies in place that actually forbid that action without a customer request. Isn't it more likely you have an unethical tech who is looking for future access to phones?

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    Sorry, teleporters just kill you and then make a copy. A perfect, soul-less copy.