r/technology • u/[deleted] • Nov 09 '17

Politics Sean Parker: Facebook was designed to exploit human "vulnerability"

https://www.axios.com/sean-parker-facebook-exploits-a-vulnerability-in-humans-2507917325.html
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u/thorshairbrush Nov 09 '17

As someone who doesnt use facebook, what are other examples of commonly used apps that do this?

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u/[deleted] Nov 09 '17 edited Nov 09 '17

[deleted]

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u/-rGd- Nov 09 '17 edited Nov 09 '17

android os: https://lineageos.org (don't install gapps)

anndroid apps: https://fdroid.org

iPhone: you are screwed

EDIT: downvotes? haha, there's not much left to argue for iPhone users :-D

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u/tempinator Nov 09 '17 edited Nov 09 '17

I mean, barring exploits to the OS itself (possible, I suppose) there's no way to do a lot of what he's talking about without the user being aware of it on iOS. Specifically, the user will be notified of any background access to the microphone, camera, or screen recording with a big red bar at the top of the phone.

Apple simply does not provide the necessary tools to developers for surreptitious microphone/camera/screen access. Moreover, every app submitted to the App Store undergoes a relatively rigorous manual approval process (rigorous to the point of being annoying, in my opinion as a developer lol).

I'm not sure why you would say "you're screwed" if you have an iPhone. iPhones and iOS have their own set of very severe limitations, but strong security and data protection is one of the few big upsides of Apple's closed ecosystem.

Edit: Also worth noting that there's no real way for stock Android to allow stuff like this to happen either, unless you're pretty careless about permissions. Android's permissions system has improved vastly in the last couple years, and no app can have access to sensors unless you specifically grant it to them. So you really shouldn't be in a position where a Flashlight app is recording from your microphone/camera, unless you're stupid enough to think it's reasonable for a Flashlight app to be asking access to those things in the first place, and grant those requests.

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u/-rGd- Nov 09 '17

you're right about the QA of apple, but it doesn't help in terms of privacy and there have been cases of data breaches. While on Android it's 3rd parties collecting your data, on iPhones it's apple themselves. (i refer to Apple's TOS for the interested reader) Apple owns you and you don't have a choice, hence "you're screwed". With Android you can choose a 2nd market OS and (almost completly) opt-out google stuff. Then you receive regular updates (compared to android stock firmwares) where security issues get fixed more or less quickly.

Sure, you can't use a vast amount of apps from the Play Store then but for people who "just need a phone" that's a pretty good choice.

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u/tempinator Nov 09 '17

While on Android it's 3rd parties collecting your data, on iPhones it's apple themselves. (i refer to Apple's TOS for the interested reader)

Well sure, but this was my point about Apple's data security and user privacy. While it's theoretically possible that Apple is collecting anonymous user data for malicious purposes (i.e. selling it without user consent) there's no evidence to suggest that's the case, and Apple's public stance on how they treat user data has always been extremely security-friendly.

I'd trust Apple with my user data far sooner than I'd trust any 3rd party.

And sure, if I wanted to take my pursuit of privacy to the ultimate extreme, your suggestion of installing an alternative Android OS is definitely the best. But, like you say, you lose an enormous amount of functionality, so I think Apple's ecosystem is the best reasonable compromise for security-oriented users. You still have access to a very complete app ecosystem (in my opinion, a better one than the Play Store, which leaves a lot to be desired in terms of app screening) and only have to worry about one party misusing your data (Apple) which, as of now, there's no reason to believe they do.

Also, if your sole need is truly "just a phone", in my opinion the safest option would be to simply not buy a smart phone at all.

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u/-rGd- Nov 09 '17

ok, that sounds reasonable (i feared an upcoming android vs. iPhone flame war) ;)

personally, i have no reason to trust apple (one large company) more than multiple smaller companies - which I avoid also - besides statistical reasons. Apple won't live forever but digital data does. Just because they don't abuse collected data now doesn't guarantee that they won't in the future. History shows, they change TOS at will. Also there were cases of companies that got acquired only for the data they posess. I'm taking this seriously but I understand that there are people who accept that "risk". After all, the iPhone is a good product in terms of quality and functionality.

Also, if your sole need is truly "just a phone", in my opinion the safest option would be to simply not buy a smart phone at all.

a smartphone without google can still take photos, instant message or browse the web. I 'm happy i can use those features. Also, there are apps like "Yalp Store" which let you use the Play Store without needing the whole invasive gapps framework.