Latest Podcast



Featured Articles

Ofcom helps protect customers against unexpected roaming charges

Ofcom helps protect customers against unexpected roaming charges

UK service providers must notify customers when they connect to a different network

New rules from UK telecoms regulator Ofcom will protect customers when they use their mobile phone on a foreign network. In addition, customers will be alerted if they are inadvertently roaming, perhaps because they're near an international border.
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Global smartphone market is set for recovery, says new forecast

A new forecast from research specialists Canalys shows the smartphone market is set to recover next year. Worldwide shipments declined by 12% last year but that decline is expected to slow to 5% this year.
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
Vodafone and Three plan to merge their UK businesses

Vodafone and Three plan to merge their UK businesses

New Hutchison/Vodafone network would be biggest UK operator

Vodafone Group plc and CK Hutchison Group Telecom Holdings Limited have agreed to combine their UK telecommunication businesses, respectively Vodafone UK and Three UK. The merger will create a large new network operator to compete with Virgin Media O2 and EE.
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

UK mobile payment service Paym to close in March 2023

UK mobile payment service Paym will close on 7th March 2023. The service, which allowed users to make and receive payments using their mobile phone numbers, was launched in 2014.
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
Qualcomm legal action moves forward in the UK

Qualcomm legal action moves forward in the UK

Which? seeks payout for Samsung and Apple smartphone owners

Consumer protection organisation Which? has been given permission by the UK's Competition Appeal Tribunal to represent Apple and Samsung smartphone buyers in a legal case against chip manufacturer Qualcomm.
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
RSS

Opinion Articles

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Big Brother Camera Security app removed from Apple store after iPhone password survey published

Mark Bridge writes:

It may have been done with the best possible intentions, but developer Daniel Amitay has managed to upset a few people after releasing information gathered by his Big Brother Camera Security app.

The app helped iPhone users to protect themselves against thieves; not only did it lock the user’s iPhone if left unattended, it would use the phone’s camera to take a photo of anyone who tried unsuccessfully to unlock the device.

However, the app also sent Mr Amitay an anonymised record of the passwords that were used. He then published this data - from almost a quarter of a million 4-digit codes - to show what the most used (and therefore least secure) PIN codes were.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, 1234 was the favourite, followed by 0000. In fact, just ten four-digit combinations accounted for 15% of all passcodes.

The following day, Apple removed the application from the Apple App Store. Its concern is not that the survey information would make it easier for criminals to unlock iPhones; instead, it’s apparently unhappy that the app sent password information to the developer without making this clear to users. Mr Amitay insists no user-identifiable information was sent - and points out that the iTunes user agreement appears to permit this. He’s now submitted a new version of the app without the data tracking.

Top ten iPhone passcodes from www.amitay.us
Print
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Rate this article:
No rating

Categories: Applications, OpinionNumber of views: 11226

Tags: research security opinion apple applications

Leave a comment

This form collects your name, email, IP address and content so that we can keep track of the comments placed on the website. For more info check our Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use where you will get more info on where, how and why we store your data.
Add comment

Recent Podcasts

Podcast - 4th August 2010

This week we discuss the UK government's forthcoming mobile spectrum auction, BlackBerry problems in the Gulf states, universal mobile chargers, the new Amazon Kindle ebook reader and the 'religion' of Apple. There's also an interview with Milly Allen, who's planning to broadcast her London talent shows via mobile phone.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Podcast - 30th July 2010

In a special extended interview, Ross Catley speaks to Mark and James about smart metering in the UK. He explains the basics of 'smart meters', talks about the benefits for consumers and discusses the ways this technology will affect the mobile phone industry.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Podcast - 28th July 2010

Iain, James and Mark take their regular look at the week's mobile industry headlines - from quarterly results to texting sharks - and also talk to Ross Catley about the problems and opportunities with smart metering.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Podcast - 21st July 2010

Apple's "antennagate" press conference, Microsoft lets developers see Windows Phone 7, Motorola sells much of its network infrastructure business, Vodafone goes open source with sat-nav software, the Spanish go mad for SMS when they win the World Cup... and much more!

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Podcast - 14th July 2010

The week's mobile industry headlines - from mergers and partnerships to legal action and departures - plus a review of the BeeWi solar handsfree car kit.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
RSS
First6364656668707172Last

Follow thefonecast.com

Twitter @TheFonecast RSS podcast feed
Find us on Facebook Subscribe free via iTunes

Archive Calendar

«November 2024»
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
28293031123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
2526272829301
2345678

Archive

Terms Of Use | Privacy Statement