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Massachusetts health notifications app installed without users’ knowledge

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Re: Massachusetts health notifications app installed without users’ knowledge

#31

Post by mssundaram »

kuschku wrote: post #12
boredpudding wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The worrying part is that it was installed without consent.

There’s nothing worrying about that. You get tons of apps installed without consent (including whatever spam your network provider pushes on you). This app can actually save lives without sacrificing any privacy, pushing it to users is something that has no drawbacks. The largest trouble for the German version of the app was that not enough people installed it. Choosing to install it automatically isn’t something nef…

Under any circumstances it is nefarious. Please allow me into your home and let me put up a painting of my choosing.

Re: Massachusetts health notifications app installed without users’ knowledge

#32

Post by josefx »

kuschku wrote: post #6

The app is just a fork of the German Corona-Warn-App [1][2]. From what I can tell only the UI was modified, the codebase seems to be still the same. Honestly, pushing the app to users isn’t anything to worry about – and in fact something I’d have loved to see other countries do as well. ________ [1] https://www.coronawarn.app/en/ [2] https://github.com/corona-warn-app

So the German government isn't happy with just fucking everything up locally and is now spreading globally? Did they run out of toxic masks to buy, fake tests to pay for and success statistics to falsify (by removing the leading 20 countries)? There are currently investigations against several members of the government over quite visible corruption while paying themselves with money meant to fight corona and more than enough reports around misuse of government funds because nobody checked how the money would be used.

If there is anything corona related from the German government on your phone you probably should nuke it just to be sure. The mixture of corruption and stupid involved in making it is not something you want anywhere near you.

Re: Massachusetts health notifications app installed without users’ knowledge

#33

Post by gostsamo »

Animats wrote: post #22
gostsamo wrote: post #4

Here is an official page for the same app. Interesting what is the whole story. https://www.mass.gov/info-details/enable-massnotify-on-your-...

Why do this at this late date? A year ago it would have been useful. Now, 59% of Massachusetts's population has been fully vaccinated. About 70% have at least one shot. A bit more pushing and they'll hit 80%, which seems to be about where the epidemic dies out for lack of new carriers.

No idea, I'm not from there. Some interesting facts:

1. this is not active unless activated.

2. Apple too.

3. Not communicated to the users, especially, that a os level update is served as an app install.

Re: Massachusetts health notifications app installed without users’ knowledge

#34

Post by delusional »

ganzuul wrote: post #17
m463 wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would imagine you can get location by getting in range of those edison beacons google is pushing.

They bundled bluetooth and location permissions not long ago. Claimed their users were too ill-informed to know the difference.

Are you sure about that? Previously they required the location permission to scan for nearby bluetooth devices (because of the obvious implications). Recenly they've split that into it's own separate permission. It that what you're thinking of?

Re: Massachusetts health notifications app installed without users’ knowledge

#35

Post by kuschku »

sildur wrote: post #21
kuschku wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There’s nothing worrying about that. You get tons of apps installed without consent (including whatever spam your network provider pushes on you). This app can actually save lives without sacrificing any privacy, pushing it to users is something that has no drawbacks. The largest trouble for the German version of the app was that not enough people installed it. Choosing to install it automatically isn’t something nef…

> There’s nothing worrying about that. You get tons of apps installed without consent (including whatever spam your network provider pushes on you). That is different. They are pre-installed and I can list them and disable them. They do not install suddenly by themselves months after buying the device. If they did so, there would be an outrage. > This app can actually save lives without sacrificing any privacy, pushi…

> They do not install suddenly by themselves months after buying the device. If they did so, there would be an outrage.

They absolute can do that, and do that. For example, if you switch SIM cards, the phone can (and in some situations will) install whatever crap the ISP chooses.

In my case, inserting a SIM card from ALDI’s carrier used to auto-install some weather, news, and similar stuff. Luckily that stopped recently.

This can happen at any time, actually.

> Yeah, "for our own good".

Sometimes it is actually for your own good. I agree that it can be a slippery slope, but using the available means to save lives is sometimes necessary.

The only risk is governments not returning the power they got during this pandemic, but that’s more of a worry in 3rd-world-dictatorships.

Re: Massachusetts health notifications app installed without users’ knowledge

#38

Post by kuschku »

ganzuul wrote: post #26
kuschku wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The app was criticised from all sides due to lack of effectiveness. That’s because not enough users use it. About 10% of Germans have the app installed. Massachusetts deciding to auto-install the app on every device is the logical conclusion if you consider those statistics.

That's some seriously flawed logic, and a much bigger issue, if you are correct. They should have tried an information campaign first. If that didn't work then clearly people voted against it, and they have no business going against that. If they think they know better than the people they undermine democracy.

Germany had a massive ad campaign for months without much success. The issue remains that people are lazy. That’s part of why microsoft bundling IE was banned, because 90%+ of users won’t go out of their way to install something.

Re: Massachusetts health notifications app installed without users’ knowledge

#39

Post by axismundi »

kuschku wrote: post #12
boredpudding wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The worrying part is that it was installed without consent.

There’s nothing worrying about that. You get tons of apps installed without consent (including whatever spam your network provider pushes on you). This app can actually save lives without sacrificing any privacy, pushing it to users is something that has no drawbacks. The largest trouble for the German version of the app was that not enough people installed it. Choosing to install it automatically isn’t something nef…

> You get tons of apps installed without consent (including whatever spam your network provider pushes on you).

So you are putting this app in the same category as spam, at least that's good.

> This app can actually save lives without sacrificing any privacy, pushing it to users is something that has no drawbacks.

I have an app that can save your life, trust me. And give me your email so I can send it to you ;)

Re: Massachusetts health notifications app installed without users’ knowledge

#40

Post by csomar »

Animats wrote: post #22
gostsamo wrote: post #4

Here is an official page for the same app. Interesting what is the whole story. https://www.mass.gov/info-details/enable-massnotify-on-your-...

Why do this at this late date? A year ago it would have been useful. Now, 59% of Massachusetts's population has been fully vaccinated. About 70% have at least one shot. A bit more pushing and they'll hit 80%, which seems to be about where the epidemic dies out for lack of new carriers.

Because that’s when the developers finally shipped?
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