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Spyware Company Leaves 'Terabytes' of Selfies, Text Messages, and Location Data (vice.com)

Posted by msmash on from the privacy-woes dept.

An anonymous reader writes: Spyfone, a company that sells surveillance software to parents and employers left 'terabytes of data' including photos, audio recordings, text messages and web history, exposed in a poorly-protected Amazon S3 bucket. News outlet Motherboard verified that the researcher could access anyone's data by creating a free account and installing the spyware on a test device. After a few hours, the researcher sent me back a picture I took.

25 of 58 comments (clear)

  1. Notification Disaster by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    So now are they going to have to notify their "Targets" of a breach who will learn they were being spied upon?

    1. Re: Notification Disaster by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 4, Insightful

      1. Parents have admin access to the smartphones.
      2. Parents installs Spyfone.
      3. Parents clicks "accept" on the wall of text they did not read.
      4. Parents give smartphone back to children.
      5. Prof... there is no step five.

      --
      #DeleteFacebook
    2. Re: Notification Disaster by CastrTroy · · Score: 2

      Spyfone, a company that sells surveillance software to parents....

      Looks like it's not just corporations using it. Most kids could probably figure out that the software is installed, and I would hope that most parents would tell them that this is installed to stop them from doing stuff they would be caught with, but I'm sure there's children (and spouses) who have this kind of think installed on their phone without their knowledge and consent.

      --

      Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
    3. Re: Notification Disaster by Opportunist · · Score: 2

      I'd actually expect the majority of those installs to happen without the consent or even knowledge of those afflicted.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    4. Re: Notification Disaster by war4peace · · Score: 1

      I must admit I was tempted a few times. It's easy to give in to temptation, especially when your wife is relying on you to maintain her phone. But after thinking about it I decided against it for three reasons:
      1. I already had full control over her phone (since I bought it, configured it and maintain it 100%)
      2. I don't trust ANY third party company with that data
      3. I am getting a divorce anyway. What happens after we separate is none of my business.

      --
      ...gis sdrawkcab (usually not responding to ACs; don't bother posting as AC)
    5. Re: Notification Disaster by Opportunist · · Score: 3

      How the hell can someone get the idea that it's ok to spy on someone they allegedly love?

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    6. Re: Notification Disaster by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 2

      That's okay, he's getting a divorce!

      --
      #DeleteFacebook
    7. Re: Notification Disaster by war4peace · · Score: 3, Informative

      Jealousy. Need for control. Doubt. Scientific curiosity (not kidding). Reciprocal agreement.
      Enough reasons?

      --
      ...gis sdrawkcab (usually not responding to ACs; don't bother posting as AC)
    8. Re: Notification Disaster by nitehawk214 · · Score: 2

      How the hell can someone get the idea that it's ok to spy on someone they allegedly love?

      Thus the divorce. Looks like she should run fucking fast to restraining order land.

      --
      I'm a good cook. I'm a fantastic eater. - Steven Brust
    9. Re: Notification Disaster by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      No that doesn't make it ok.

      And supervising your child is in no way spying.

    10. Re: Notification Disaster by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      How the hell can someone get the idea that it's ok to spy on someone they allegedly love?

      What does whether or not you love them have to do with whether or not they are cheating on you?

      Think about that, because that is in fact how it works.

    11. Re: Notification Disaster by Opportunist · · Score: 3, Interesting

      As someone who had ZERO privacy as a child, I can tell you with some certainty that this is the perfect way if you wanted to ensure your kids would not trust you with anything, even if you were the last person on earth or the only one who they'd know could solve a problem.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    12. Re: Notification Disaster by dougmc · · Score: 1

      Most kids could probably figure out that the software is installed

      Depends on the kids, and how good the software is at hiding.

      I can provide a single data point: my kids. They spend hours and hours and hours on their phones and fewer (but still plenty) hours on computers, and yet they don't really have much of an understanding of how it all works -- they know how to use them well, but aren't really interested in going deeper.

      So as long as any "big brother" kind of software made any effort at all to remain hidden, they'd probably never notice. At least until there were a few incidents where we (their parents) found out about stuff that there's no way we could have found out about them except for bugging their phones -- if that happened a few times, they'd put two and two together.

      That said, I have little interest in babysitting them to that degree, but I think if I did ... they'd probably not notice, at least not at first. But eventually, they might figure out that something is going on if I didn't keep what was learned to myself.

    13. Re: Notification Disaster by Gr8Apes · · Score: 1

      It's apparent you're not someone with a 8-15 year old in the house with a cellphone. It isn't so much spying as the wish to keep them out of certain areas of the web and to not do stupid shit with their "personal" take anywhere record anything web sharing enabled cameras. Keeping them somewhat restricted to phones in common areas only and lots and lots of discussion about what not to do is a good start. But at that age in today's world, keeping them away from slimy creeps is a whole lot harder than it used to be.

      --
      The cesspool just got a check and balance.
    14. Re: Notification Disaster by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      You think spying on your child would allow you to avoid this? If anything could allow you to avoid this, it's your child actually trusting you. Which you certainly won't achieve by doing something that ultimately destroys that trust.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    15. Re: Notification Disaster by Gr8Apes · · Score: 1

      Your definition of spying could use some work, as could your reading comprehension. Take off your "I hate everyone that doesn't outright agree with me" glasses and reread what I wrote.

      --
      The cesspool just got a check and balance.
  2. Re:Complete Summary Title by The-Ixian · · Score: 1

    Also, what is with the single quotes around the word "Terabytes"?

    I imagine someone speaking that sentence and when they get to the word Terabytes, they make air quote gestures with their fingers.

    Is it actual terabytes of data or is that implied hyperbole?

    --
    My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.
  3. no comment by MJhasHIV · · Score: 1

    other than WTF

  4. Parents, I'd have one question to you by Opportunist · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Why would you want someone who you don't know the least thing about spy on your kids? Because he shares his findings with you?

    Do you also hire some seedy looking hobo as a babysitter?

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    1. Re:Parents, I'd have one question to you by cascadingstylesheet · · Score: 1

      Why would you want someone who you don't know the least thing about spy on your kids? Because he shares his findings with you?

      Do you also hire some seedy looking hobo as a babysitter?

      I don't. I just don't let my kids have smartphones.

      You approve ... right?

      Or is your real issue with parents doing anything protective in this regard?

    2. Re:Parents, I'd have one question to you by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      Your kids will probably be seen as weirdos or at the very least have a hard time socializing in a teenage society that exists mostly via instagram and whatsapp, but that's a different concern. My business is security, not psychotherapy.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    3. Re: Parents, I'd have one question to you by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      He wanted fridge privileges last time, too, that's where I draw the line!

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    4. Re:Parents, I'd have one question to you by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      Even as an adult of intelligence and wisdom, if no one has taught you how to properly and safely use a power tool, it would still be correct to say such a person should not be trusted to use one, yes?

      Depends entirely on whether I may be there with a camera and get the international rights to the pictures.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  5. Unencrypted, naturally. by OldMugwump · · Score: 1

    [eom]

    --
    "Shoot, a fella could have a pretty good weekend in Vegas with all that stuff."
  6. Re:I spy DEEZ NUTZ by Type44Q · · Score: 1

    That's "they be bouncing" - even Ebonics has rules.