Recently WMDT has been showing a commercial that is advertising an App called Buzzmark. It's supposed to help people get discounts on various items and services. Being an IT person something just seemed suspicious about this app so I decided to look into what type of access this App would have on your smartphone.
Well it turns out this App which WDMT claims is "Powered By WMDT" has access to your smart phone's microphone, Location, all device activity such as what apps you have running, browser history and bookmarks. It also is able to determine your phone number, device ID, whether a call is active and what number your talking to.
Basically you are giving up a lot of privacy just for a few discounts. What is really scary is that the device has access to the microphone on your phone. This could potentially allow the App developers to listen in on your conversations even if your not on your phone by just turning it on and listening in on whats being said. This is sort of the issue with Samsung Smart TVs being able to spy on you from their integrated camera's and microphones.
I know WMDT did not develop the app but by them claiming that the App is "powered by WMDT" they are basically owning this App and in my opinion are trying to trick people into downloading a data mining tool to that is capable of spying on the general public.
I have attached a picture showing the access the App will require from your device once its installed. Most people do not ever read the disclaimer before they install such Apps and would never realize just how much personal information they will be giving to the App or WMDT.
Wow! Glad I don't have a smart phone!
ReplyDeleteis it possible the mic access is for voice search?
ReplyDeletei don't download apps just for discounts, and i check the access of each app, and the reason for such access
I always read all of the disclaimer information nowadays - there's too much going on with information grabbing technology to trust any add on program, no matter who "powers" it.
ReplyDeleteIt is worse than that, here is the full access list for version 1.4.2:
ReplyDeleteVersion 1.4.2 can access:
Device & app history
retrieve running apps
Identity
find accounts on the device
Location
precise location (GPS and network-based)
approximate location (network-based)
Photos/Media/Files
modify or delete the contents of your USB storage
read the contents of your USB storage
Microphone
record audio
Wi-Fi connection information
view Wi-Fi connections
Device ID & call information
read phone status and identity
Other
receive data from Internet
full network access
control vibration
view network connections
connect and disconnect from Wi-Fi
run at startup
prevent device from sleeping
You don't need a smart phone if you're complaining about this. Most apps do the same thing.
ReplyDeleteYour correct that most Apps do this but when a so called local "Trusted News Source" makes it look like they have made this is an App provided by them its good to let the public know that the App is not at all trustworthy.
ReplyDeleteBesides just because most every one does something wrong it does not make it right to do the same thing.
If WMDT had the best interest of its viewership in mind it would not have such data mining included in this product or at the very least they should not attach their name to it by claiming that its "Powered by WMDT"
When I first saw the comercial I thought to myself "Great another coupon App that's really spyware". Then I saw the "Powered By WMDT" and I thought that maybe this was a local App that would actually save money without stealing my private information.
When I looked into this I found that that was certainly not the case.
I'm too smart to have a smart phone.
ReplyDeleteThe way android works, is you need to give permissions for apps to do certain things... Like if you want the app to be able to take or show pictures and such the dev puts the camera permission in the code which give full access to the hardware of the camera...
ReplyDeleteSame thing with voice commands to search, the dev needs to add a permission for microphone...
there are no different levels at which you can put permissions.. All you can do is add them nor not add them and if you do't add them, it will not work, if you do add them it is all or nothing...
All apps do this, especially one who can sell your info to make money, which WMDT probably would do...
All cell phones smart or dumb have back doors and with cops and nsa and the like using "Stingray's" it doesn't even matter because stingrays trick your phone into thinking it is a real cell tower, in theory it is real but not run by a carrier but ran but the police or who ever wants your data...
If you all think this is bad, wait until the biometric system gets implemented fulling in our society... And just wait when the nsa and police have drones flying over...
You dumb people have't see anything yet...
The govt is already making robots to use AI which means that yes terminator is absolutely right around the corner... Funny thing is, the govt already as something called sky net!!!
Oh but remember folks, you all didn't think this would affect you in any way... remember you all said that...
^This
DeleteI have developed applications for BlackBerry for years until the Android market blew up and I decided to slowly transition to Android and eventually iOS. There are no in between with permissions and after the Facebook app blowup, there has been a huge surge of inquiries about permissions. Most of the permissions are for convenience, even if you don't use the feature that coincides with the required permission. Most of the standing issues from consumers are just misunderstanding, but there are those malicious apps out there that will take advantage of the access granted to your device.
You think that's bad? Check the permissions you give Facebook.
ReplyDeleteEmily Lampa knows ALL!
ReplyDeleteSo who is this "Buzzmark" company and what are they doing with the info they collect?
ReplyDeletei don't worry, cause you see Jesus is returning soon and everyone will be at the great judgment day to give an account of what they did with their life. That is what you should worry most about. Are your sins under the blood of Jesus? satan thinks he's god and use every scare tactic he can. he's coming to rule this world soon but for only 7 years. you people think i'm crazy, but the Bible has been around before you and will be around after you die. So we'll see in the end. Get ready cause the world will soon be judged by God eventually!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
ReplyDeleteYour correct that most Apps do this but when a so called local "Trusted News Source" makes it look like they have made this is an App provided by them its good to let the public know that the App is not at all trustworthy.
Besides just because most every one does something wrong it does not make it right to do the same thing.
If WMDT had the best interest of its viewership in mind it would not have such data mining included in this product or at the very least they should not attach their name to it by claiming that its "Powered by WMDT"
When I first saw the comercial I thought to myself "Great another coupon App that's really spyware". Then I saw the "Powered By WMDT" and I thought that maybe this was a local App that would actually save money without stealing my private information.
When I looked into this I found that that was certainly not the case.
March 16, 2015 at 9:35 AM
I downloaded the app to because I trusted WMDT. When I downloaded it, it didn't look nothing like "WMDT" so I became suspicious, but downloaded it anyway. I am now going to delete it because I am pissed about WMDT now.
I think they are running a commercial for this app because they are probably getting a big kickback from the maker of the app.
I heard the same thing about the Facebook Messenger app so I uninstalled it as well.
ReplyDeleteI suspect its the same thing as "Delmarva Life" over at WBOC...ad revenues for stations is down down down as is viewership... more and more people simply do not watch live tv anymore, plus the economy is worse than anyone is letting on...so the local stations are forced to try these schemes to plug the revenue holes they have....
ReplyDelete