Yes and no. It doesn't seem feasible to have a program which flawlessly monitors all network traffic and picks out all secret "phone home"-style activity.
On the other hand, there's nothing to stop someone analysing specific traffic for suspicious behaviour by hand (e.g. Wireshark captures?) or even developing firewall or other packet inspection software which blocked known offenders.
This is one of the things why closed source are dangerous. Although Maemos extras-devel could be a security threat it is still safer than most closed sourced programs available.
So Android and iOS will always be a bigger target than Maemo/Meegos open-sourced strategy.
There is ways to do this already but i am not aware of any user-friendly way..
When will people realize how to threat their sensitive data on a computer?
When will they realize they are running around like kids with toys with mini computers giving away privacy / sensitive data for free?
I wish on Maemo somebody could port something like Little Snitch
As far as android goes - the purpose is data gathering isn't it?
The whole concept of "allow program to access gps , contacts, screen YES / NO" is fishy. They know damn well impatient and unknowledgable users will YESKip these questions.
The whole concept of "allow program to access gps , contacts, screen YES / NO" is fishy. They know damn well impatient and unknowledgable users will YESKip these questions.
Sure, but what are they going to do? Go the iOS/WP7 route and deny users any and all control over the device?
Taintdroid is an open source software to be integrated in custom Android roms that will monitor the privacy sensitive information such as IMEI, telephone number, etc.. sent into the void behind the smartphone user's back. http://appanalysis.org/index.html
Be sure to check the demo to see Taintdroid in action against a random Wallpaper app
Now I wonder if there are any Maemo applications that are this aggressive?
Actually it hardly seems fair, considering that as the iPhone has shown that denying users control doesn't protect you in the slightest.
Originally Posted by
or hand out Android phones for free with a disclaimer.
What does handing android phones out for free have to do with this?
Originally Posted by
Now I wonder if there are any Maemo applications that are this aggressive?
There might be in the future, but at this point I don't know of any. Considering that most applications in Extras went through a hell of a review and are open source, I don't think anyone would bother (that and the small user base.)
Perhaps with MeeGo and a wider user base it might be of concern.
