UPDATE: In an announcement earlier this week Sprint said that they would drop Carrier IQ from all of their phones.
WHAT IS CARRIER IQ?Carrier IQ is an "app" that is secretly installed into our smart phones. This past week many phone manufacturers and carriers alike were being questioned about Carrier IQ and what their intentions have been. This "APP" has the ability to scan every single text message, website, email, phone call that we receive/send. When the whole fiasco happened earlier this year about the iPhone tracking scandal I didn't really care because you know what? I EXPECTED THAT! Including from Google, Microsoft, and Blackberry. They need to collect data and hell, if I have location on I know they know where I am going. This, though, this is something totally different! This is taking it too far and we all need to be aware of what our carriers are doing behind our backs! Carrier IQ is switched on once our smart phones are turned on and it tracks every key we stroke. You cannot force quit it or uninstall it and is running without our permission!
WHY IT MATTERS TO US?Essentially this is a privacy of our rights. Something like this should have been notified to us and WE should have the say in whether we would like for this app to be installed on our phones. When either Apple, Google, RIM, Microsoft, or third party developers use our location or phone settings we must "accept" the terms giving us the power to say no!
As of now Carrier IQ has listed Sprint, AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, HTC, Samsung, Apple, Nokia, and RIM These companies either deny using Carrier IQ or say that they use it to see how well their networks are working.
I for one don't have anything to hide or really care... but for those of you doing illegal activities, remember, CARRIER IQ IS WATCHING!
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Source: Engadget
