Sprint: We've Disabled CarrierIQ On Our Devices

If other carriers follow Sprint's actions, CarrierIQ is toast as a company. They are done.

Good.

Umm... they're not toast. You forget, what has been de-activated can be re-activated. Sprint is not saying it's *removing* CarrierIQ. It's just saying it has turned it off.

Thus there is no reason they can't turn it back on later. And nothing stopping them from continuing to install the software on their phones but just leave it turned off until some later date.

}Davoice

Sprint says it is removing the software and not just turning it off.

»www.geek.com/articles/mo ··· 0111216/

They'll just change the TOS and people will be "opting in" for CarrierIQ. And then it will be turned back on.

I think the threat CarrierIQ posed was really overblown, but nonetheless I don't agree with this stuff installed on phones that you as the user cannot disable or turn off at will.

This dslreports poster points out how CarrierIQ software isn't a rootkit. But the use of that term helps people to demonize the software:
»Rootkit? Really?

Here is he definition of a "rootkit", you tell me if it meets this"
Rootkit - A rootkit is software that enables continued privileged access to a computer while actively hiding its presence from administrators by subverting standard operating system functionality or other applications.

No, it doesn't

Agree, not a rootkit. Some reporters just use that term to incite the minions and generate clicks. Just as slimey as mainstream media is portrayed to be...

The correct term is spyware

That's about as close as anyone will get. "The 17-minute video sparked a firestorm not only because it alleged the software logged numerous details about users' activities, but also because it did so without their knowledge".. So if it's not a keylogger or spyware people, then what is it REALLY?

Ok, sticking my neck out and I'm sure some of you will take a whack at it , having worked for Sprint for 10 years as a switch tech in one of their central offices (no longer there or with Sprint ), they do not, again, they DO NOT need this kind of installed software to check network performance. Any Sprint network operations person, any ATT or Verizon network person, who says otherwise, is full of crap. Having spent those 10 years as a switch tech, we have "built in" metrics/software IN THE SWITCH (Nortel, Lucent) that tracks network usage and problems. If you dropped a call for example, it is logged in the system logs. If enough drop, alarms are sent to the switch, a ticket will be generated or a switch tech will see a cell in trouble and take a look at it. Every call that hits the network even tells what digits you dialed the trunkgroup it handed the call off too. It will tell you what BSS, what tower, what node/antenna, what trunk group, all the way down to the member number of that trunkgroup itself. It could even tell the difference from fading out, to network congestion problems (if it was getting overloaded with calls, it would show alarms in the switch for that tower/T1). All this and without having to know what sites you visited, passwords, any data at all or your keystrokes. Yes, the amount of data from the first bit to the last was counted but all the bytes in between, from the network reliability reasons, we didn't give a crap or captured. But it seems someone decided it was. Gotta wonder if someone else isn't pulling Sprints, AT&T and Verizons strings? FBI, NSA maybe? Carnivore as it use to be known, isn't as dead as people think. I seem to recall that Carrier IQ has said the FBI approached them about this software. Oops, the smoking gun?

I agree. Also it seems no one remembers what the FBI attemted to do with onstar.

There really is no clean phone, the problem is the way the networks themselves function. If every tower on the network looked for every phone getting a call there wouldn't be enough bandwidth, so they track every phone real-time to see which towers have the best signal quality to send you your call, data, or texts.

As long as your phone is connected to the network, your phones microphone, camera, GPS, and it's contents are available to anyone who wants them. Worse yet your phone is nothing more than an open book to someone with a laptop and an antenna.

We've spent years researching the problem and have compiled a series of news reports that clearly lay out the problem, including the fact that turning your phone off doesn't cut it said at the end of the clips by ABC, FOX, Local network affiliates.

See for yourself: www.Thecaseforprivacy.com/blogs/news

Exactly, get your overpriced made in China government pre-approved tracking device here!

Don't own a cell and never will.

So then what's the solution? Based on what you said, I can see why something is needed.... but is there no way to balance functionality of how things work with privacy concerns?

I think the solution is to have strong data privacy laws that aren't full of loopholes. And those should also have to apply to each and every government agency from the local cops to the FBI, CIA, and NSA.

The problem is that all the opponents of such a law are very well-connected. A real privacy law would only benefit the general public, and we all know how well politicians are at playing many people off against each other. So many people are so caught up in the petty partisan wedge issues that they never look at the things that really matter, and the politicians like it that way.

Good job, Sprint!

The company/person who looked into this and brought CarrierIQ to the public's attention is a hero!

That would be Trevor Eckhart.

And the reason that name is so fresh in my mind is because of a CNN opinion piece about SOPA. The author mentions how Carrier IQ initially threatened Eckhart, accusing of copyright infringement for posting information that was publicly available on the Carrier IQ Web site. The author's point was that, under SOPA, it would have been very easy for Carrier IQ to have either had this information quickly taken down or or to have had his site blacklisted. That would have stopped his disclosure dead in its tracks, and we likely wouldn't be discussing this now.

In case you're interested, here's the link:

»www.cnn.com/2011/12/14/o ··· t=hp_bn9

Thanks for the link!

The carrier also clarified that Carrier IQ was not used for any form of targeted advertising or profiling of customers. The software's sole purpose was to report network deficiencies and allow Sprint to improve its network and service for its customers.

Considering how pathetic their 3G performance has been lately, I truly believe them when they say there were not using CarrierIQ extensively. If they were using it, perhaps their network would be running better. (sarcasm)

Considering the level of incompetency at Sprint, I'd surmise they didn't even put two and two together that they could use this software to monitor their (lack of) network performance and role out capacity and bandwidth upgrades to certain towers.

SO, thats why I seent "there is an important update" for my phone this morning. Now, my phone as been running like crap all day. Really lagging and network issues. But then again, it's a android on Sprints network. I don't need to look too far for that answer.

Or the the network is horrible in the first place and Carrier IQ is having to transmit so much information about the pathetic network that alone is killing the network even more

what about the government spooks who get the info? what will they do? secretly turn it back on?

can this be removed if device is rooted?

Yes

to an extent. you will need to flash your phone with a custom rom. and still then it is not fully removed do to the fact it is embedded on the rom chip it self. thats my understanding from a friend who has made custom rom's

It seems to me that carriers want to own the phone when it suits them, and the customer to own the phone when it does not. E.g.: I have to pay for the phone, but I can't take it to whatever network I want (after any subsidizing contract is up) or put it on another network when I can't get to theirs. The carrier believes it has the right to put spyware on the phone or determine what electronic payments system can be installed upon it, but if it breaks I'm the one who has to pay to replace it.

This is simply blatantly wrong, in my view. You either own the phone or you do not. If you own the phone, the most the carrier ought to have the right to do is enforce technical standards that ensure compatibility with their network. Period. Exception is subsidized phones, while the subsidizing contract is still in force, of course. Then you're obliged to stay on their network until the contract is up or you pay the ETF. But that should be the limit of their control over your phone. If the carrier owns the phone then you're at their mercy, but it's also on their dime for repairs and replacements.

Carriers ought not to be able to have it both ways.

Exactly. If you own your phone, or at the end of your subsidy, the phone should be unlocked and and privileges given to full (Like rooting). The user shouldn't be the one who has to try and find custom roms, or manually root or jailbreak the phone.

As you say: They want "ownership" control and rights, but none of the liability or responsibility. IE they control it and use it how they see fit, however you pay for it and are responsible for it should it break or need replacement.

It's completely messed up.

So if what they say is true then why am I still seeing this on the Sprint Galaxy S2?

»www.washingtonpost.com/b ··· ory.html

quote:

---

A senior executive at a technology company that makes monitoring software secretly installed on 141 million cellphones said Thursday that the FBI approached the company about using its technology but was rebuffed.

---

I'd be reluctant to believe a word that man has to say.

It seems that even though everyone "agreed" to have this monitoring on their phone according to Sprint and ATT by contract it means very little when people start suing left and right. So are carrier contracts not worth the paper they are printed on?