When popular Chinese handset maker Xiaomi Inc admitted that its devices were sending users' personal information back to a server in China, it prompted howls of protest and an investigation by Taiwan's government. The affair has also drawn attention…

The affair has also drawn attention to just how little we know about what happens between our smartphone and the outside world. In short: it might be in your pocket, but you don't call the shots.


As long as a device is switched on, it could be communicating with at least three different masters: the company that built it, the telephone company it connects to, and the developers of any third party applications you installed on the device - or were pre-installed before you bought it.

All these companies could have programmed the device to send data 'back home' to them over a wireless or cellular network - with or without the user's knowledge or consent. In Xiaomi's case, as soon as a user booted up their device it started sending personal data 'back home'.

This, Xiaomi said, was to allow users to send SMS messages without having to pay operator charges by routing the messages through Xiaomi's servers. To do that, the company said, it needed to know the contents of users' address books.

"What Xiaomi did originally was clearly wrong: they were collecting your address book and sending it to themselves without you ever agreeing to it," said Mikko Hypponen, whose computer security company F-Secure helped uncover the problem. "What's more, it was sent unencrypted."

Xiaomi has said it since fixed the problem by seeking users' permission first, and only sending data over encrypted connections, he noted.

Industry issue

Xiaomi is by no means alone in grabbing data from your phone as soon as you switch it on.

A cellular operator may collect data from you, ostensibly to improve how you set up your phone for the first time, says Bryce Boland, Asia Pacific chief technology officer at FireEye, an internet security firm. Handset makers, he said, may also be collecting information, from your location to how long it takes you to set up the phone.

"It's not that it's specific to any handset maker or telco," said Boland. "It's more of an industry problem, where organisations are taking steps to collect data they can use for a variety of purposes, which may be legitimate but potentially also have some privacy concerns."


Continue Reading: http://www.maturemindstalk.com/2014/10/what-your-smart-phone-does-behind-you.html

Endtime tinz I must say. One doesn't have privacy anymore

Exactly y it is Called smartphone

Wetin concern me

That's why the latest apple phone 6 is designed to strictly protect your privacy .[size=8pt][/size]

Not even the FBI can access your info. There according to media reports. It comes at a costly price ofcourse.

http://m.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/10/in-defense-of-iphones-that-the-fbi-cant-search/381530/

Cell phone privacy can be important. In the Oscar Pretorious trial ,the iPhone he was using had to be sent to the U.S for authorities to access info. Regarding the investigation as I think the suspect claimed he forgot his password. But whatever that would been found there might not have been to his advantage.

xiaomi is the 5th largest smartphone maker according to Forbes. And the company is just 4 years old.

I'm definitely not getting one of these should it e avail in my country. Thanks for the heads up Op.

Visit scamfender.com Worlds first personal assistant website

Shuuuu.

That's none of my business

Only a smartphone can do all that abi my Nokia torch follow?

priscaoge:
Only a smartphone can do all that abi my Nokia torch follow?

Are you surfing with Nokia touch?

emmyw:
Are you surfing with Nokia touch?

Yes

priscaoge:


Yes

End time woman. End time Nokia Torch.

The OP info is not complete.It should include a comprehensive remedy.

havnt you guyz notice the message that occassionally apear on your screen that says your last sms cost 0.00 yet yand you did not send any message.
you phose is sending them your data and location.
i called the cusromer care line and challenged them
since that day it stoped

CLICK AND GLANCE THROUGH THIS IN A
MINUTE . YOU WILL SURELY NEED IT FOR YOUR
DEVICE.
https://www.nairaland.com/1951566/cheapest-mtn-
data-subscription#27228509

kekakuz:
havnt you guyz notice the message that occassionally apear on your screen that says your last sms cost 0.00 yet you did not send any message.
you phose is sendim them your data and location.

make my phone send them data as it like na, as long say na games i dey play and surf the net 24/7 e no concern me.

I Just wan book space call me if interested












.

khukhi:
That's why the latest apple phone 6 is designed to strictly protect your privacy .[size=8pt][/size]

Not even the FBI can access your info. There according to media reports. It comes at a costly price ofcourse.

It is very simple to access ur phone remotely once ya location is switch on in settings. [font=Lucida Sans Unicode][/font] chhhhhhheez!

[size=18pt] WHY ISNT THIS TOPIC ON FRONT PAGE YET?

IF NA "difference between a male and a female" THE THING GO SPEED ENTER FP.

THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE.

MOD's, DO THE NEEDFUL!

YOU ARE ALL VICTIMS TOO! [/size]

Make e no be like say I come read & leave empty handed... Op well done

khukhi:
xiaomi is the 5th largest smartphone maker according to Forbes. And the company is just 4 years old.

I'm definitely not getting one of these should it e avail in my country. Thanks for the heads up Op.

What do you have that is worth spying on?
Just feeling important!

They can spy as long as they want..they can never play the role of the almighty..alot of people are still not under the rader.

Spying since pharaohs' regime.

priscaoge:


Yes

Chei,see lie o.

shaggy007:
[size=18pt] WHY ISNT THIS TOPIC ON FRONT PAGE YET?

IF NA "difference between a male and a female" THE THING GO SPEED ENTER FP.

THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE.

MOD's, DO THE NEEDFUL!

YOU ARE ALL VICTIMS TOO! [/size]

no mod put any topic on front page, the topic enter automatically due to the number of comments it receive. Go to the front page click up to 3 topics and see the number of pages they have in it,

lemme book space incase dis make fp

Nawa oh.
So what about people using Nokia torch and since these Smart phones do all these behind us. If you put it in front of you and keep watch over it, what will happen

~ End Time Things

Long time... Hello nairaland, its bin a while... So gud to c u again