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Verizon To Force 'AppFlash' Spyware On Android Phones
saccade.com writes: Verizon is joining with the creators of a tool called "Evie Launcher" to make a new app search/launcher tool called AppFlash, which will be installed on all Verizon phones running Android. The app provides no functionality to users beyond what Google Search does. It does, however, give Verizon a steady stream of metrics on your app usage and searches. A quick glance at the AppFlash privacy policy confirms this is the real purpose behind it: "We collect information about your device and your use of the AppFlash services. This information includes your mobile number, device identifiers, device type and operating system, and information about the AppFlash features and services you use and your interactions with them. We also access information about the list of apps you have on your device. [...] AppFlash information may be shared within the Verizon family of companies, including companies like AOL who may use it to help provide more relevant advertising within the AppFlash experiences and in other places, including non-Verizon sites, services and devices."
My smartphone stopped getting updates from Verizon years ago. I wonder if they will backport this into 4.1?
I will probably renew with a regular phone now. Thanks!
Just install a 3rd party ROM on the phone so you dont have to put up with this crap. Oh wait, its Verizon, they lock the phone down so you cant install 3rd party ROMs or remove their crapware...
Why anyone would go with Verizon when they do this crap instead of going with a phone and carrier that doesn't do crap like this is beyond me.
The app provides no functionality to users beyond what Google Search does. It does, however, give Verizon a steady stream of metrics on your app usage and searches.
For a couple decades there's been a steady stream of shitware of that general nature. "Toolbars" on desktops. "Bonzai buddie". Browser plug ins that exist only to datamine everything you do. Google itself, which profiles you for its own profit, not only web searches but all your emails and travels around the net. Windows 10, spyware built right in. Half the apps in the phone ecosystem that demand to scrape your contacts list for a calculator or whatever.
People don't care. They have never cared. If they cared, the internet would be a very, VERY different kind of place.
I make at most 2-3 phone calls per month on my phone. I could actually not have a phone number and it would work just fine for me. I only use it for internet access, including tethering for other devices.
lucm, indeed.
This should be illegal.
Seriously. If the EFF isn't the right group to go after Verizon, please let me know who is and I'll donate $100 to the cause.
The doctrine of first sale should apply to cell phones as much as it applies to everything else. Our oligopolic mobile overlords have gotten away with being shitty corporations for way, way, too long now.
The saddest line ever penned by man was Stallman was right again.
Stuff like this makes me glad I only use unlocked phones I buy from a source other than the carrier. (Often the phone manufacturer, or a mostly-direct reseller.) Unfortunately, that means the only major carriers in the US I can now ever use are AT&T and T-Mobile. But then again, its nice to be able to use any device I want on a carrier that doesn't have the technical means (due to an uncommon network technology) to be a jackass about devices.
... beginning the deployment of this tool, eh? I guess they figure that the popular vote loser's signature is a sure thing and income from that customer data will be rolling in just in time for the next quarterly conference call with the Wall Street analysts.
CUR ALLOC 20195.....5804M
No, seriously, hear me out.
1) Choose the samsung model
2) sign up for samsung MDM developer program.
3) get your free samsung mdm developer key.
4) write a small app to disable the package/firewall it.
5) profit? maybe if the subsidy from verizon was worth it. VERY DOUBTFUL.
or alternately buy package disabler or some other 1 dollar app that does _Exactly_this_. if you have ever wondered how some of these 1 dollar app disablers manage to do their thing without rooting, this is how. it's free to get the key to do it on limited amount of devices from samsung though, but it's stupid that you can't just approve it locally without signing up as a mdm developer with samsung(totally free, mind you).
or just use a different operator with byod and decent rates. you might have to move outside of usa to achieve this though.
Android has the facility for user to give permissions for apps to do device management, BUT there pretty much isn't a single manufacturer that ships phones where it works as you would expect. on samsung for example you need to use their special api to get permission from KNOX and then you ALSO have to have the permission given to the app by putting it as a device admin app).
*) there are some app packages on the samsung phones that ignore enabled/disabled setting. also none of the package managers on market currently let you disable specific activities/services of an app WHICH THE API LETS YOU TO DO(you can for example break youtubes ads by playing around with this). the samsung mdm api's also give you access to the built in firewall rules and a bunch of other stuff you would normally need to root your phone for.
world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
... because they already got this, anyway.
US Congress Votes To Shred ISP Privacy Rules
It little behooves the best of us to comment on the rest of us.
"Evil Launcher"
If you like Verizon then buy an unlocked phone elsewhere and THEN go to Verizon. I have Verizon and if I were to buy a new smart phones again (unlikely as it is truly a waste of money for our family) I wouldn't buy it from Verizon NOR stay with them.
Dear Verizon,
Fuck You.
Oh, wait, how rude of me.
Fuck You Very Much.
I don't know who to blame more. Verizon, or their customer base who doesn't give a shit.
Consumers, continue to enjoy your privacy ass-raping. You should enjoy it, because you support it.
In security textbooks we usually talk about Alice, Bob, sometimes Charlie, as the communicating parties, and usually use Eve as name for an eavesdropping attacker.
Nice, they at least call this app what it is.
Huh. Right after Republicans passed a law allowing providers to sell consumer data without permission.
Really makes you think.
At what point do people start sabotaging Verizon's equipment? At what point do people start insinuating threats to any of their neighbors that happen to work for Verizon? An what point do people erect a guillotine for the CEO and board members of Verizon? Not for a long, long time, if ever These things will continue until then.
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They do care. As soon as they found out about CarrierIQ (the very same functionality from the very same Telcos), there was an outrage and carriers were forced to removed it.
Anti malware is the biggest selling Windows app, people pay to remove the malware, and people moved away from Internet Explorer and its millions of toolbars.
Bonzai buddie died in 2004 more than a decade ago.
I always buy used phones and custom rom them. Good ones that last and can be rooted. Buy your sim from verizon and you're good. Or maybe not, since last issue with them was injecting advertising IDs into your http headers.
Verizon's spyware won't get on my phone. I rooted the thing specifically to avoid updates. This should be a lesson to anyone who still buys the "install all updates" bullshit, although if they haven't been paying attention to Windows 10, they're probably not going to learn from this, either.
Mind you I still don't think they should be doing this, and I think it's a gross invasion of privacy. But, I've taken some steps to protect myself and it's a lot better than doing nothing, at least, until I can change providers.
When no one buys their shit.
If everyone still does they deserve what happens.
Just root your phone and put AFWall+ on it. It's available from FDroid. It allows you to block internet access to any app.
Most system apps can be disabled in Settings.
Go to Setting / Apps / AppFlash
Press the Disable button. It will appear where the Uninstall button normally appears, but for apps that cannot be uninstalled.
It doesn't seem like my vanilla Nexus 5x that I purchased directly from Google and activated on the Verizon network will fall under this category.
I highly doubt that Verizon can remotely install anything on a phone purchased outside of their standard phone line up.
They lost me as a customer following the V720 Bluetooth crippling fiasco. Add all their nickel-and-diming tactics, their hyper-aggressive overbranding of hardware, their massive amounts of bloatware, their constant preaching of how great they are, and now this.
I'll continue to not be a customer, thanks.
It's "Evil Launcher", not "Evie Launcher".
You don't buy a TV from the cable company, you don't buy a computer from your ISP, so why should you buy a smartphone from your carrier?
The subsidized phone model is a relic from the pre-smartphone days and more and more people are turning away from it.
So buy your own phone full price and if you like Verizon, get an unsubsidized plan from Verizon.
Evie... it's almost evil.
Just another reason to drop Verizon.
What is actually odd is that they are being so blatant about it. How hard would it be for them to surreptitiously do this and really do you think they are not doing this already.
Does anyone actually use Evi(L)e launcher?
What is vzw going to do about business account holders? The laws known as HIPPA and Sarbanes/Oxley will drop the hammer on vzw's toes for this one. I know of more than a few business accounts that will get terminated once this hits the bricks.
And so will a vzw rep for suggesting this in the first place.
We're talking million-dollar business accounts here folks...
First rule of holes; When in one, stop digging.
Is an app called "noroot firewall"
You can block off specific programs from accessing the network. Pretty handy for ad blocking in appls and other things.
So rise up, all ye lost ones, as one, we'll claw the clouds.
THEIR network...their rules. Don't like it? Go somewhere else. Oh, that would be at&t, sprint, t-mobile? Don't like it? Build your own network. Personally, I use an MVNO...yeah, "technically" I use at&t's towers, but for less than 1/2 the price.
That's exactly the point. Those million dollar business accounts will grow legs and walk across the street, something vzw does not want to happen. If vzw insists on maintaining this course, it's vzw's fault, no one else's.
First rule of holes; When in one, stop digging.
u stupid fucking nerds