Path texts my entire phonebook at 6 AM • Hacker News Board

Re: Path texts my entire phonebook at 6 AM

#11

Post by eksith » Tue, Apr 30, 2013, 4:15 PM UTC

Remember when a while back they downloaded far too much information from each phone (for the convenience of connecting you to people)? Everyone was surprised (some outraged) and then they pushed an update to stop that "feature" and when the CEO/Boss man posted a blog entry apologizing, everyone forgave the company, people were holding hands singing Kumbaya.

Edit: Here's when they flubbed a year ago.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-19882_3-57373474-250/path-ceo-we-a...

Edit2: Er... apparently, I suffered a seizure of some sort (and an aneurism and a stroke simultaneously). Reworded.

Re: Path texts my entire phonebook at 6 AM

#12

Post by kyberias » Tue, Apr 30, 2013, 4:17 PM UTC

This is *ucked up but hilarious at the same time.

Re: Path texts my entire phonebook at 6 AM

#13

Post by w1ntermute » Tue, Apr 30, 2013, 4:17 PM UTC

raverbashing wrote: post #7

This is good information I'll make sure to never install Path There are some abuses that can't be solved by an apology.

Yeah, this just convinced me to never use Path too.

Re: Path texts my entire phonebook at 6 AM

#14

Post by OGinparadise » Tue, Apr 30, 2013, 4:18 PM UTC

Wow, they just paid $800K to FTC for being shady.

They are betting that they become so big that these shenanigans don't matter later on.

Re: Path texts my entire phonebook at 6 AM

#15

Post by gcv » Tue, Apr 30, 2013, 4:18 PM UTC

Could this just have been a good old-fashioned programming bug, rather than spamming or malicious intent?

Re: Path texts my entire phonebook at 6 AM

#16

Post by greghinch » Tue, Apr 30, 2013, 4:20 PM UTC

Path seems to do all the shady things with your data that we fear Google and Facebook could do. FB and G definitely push the boundaries of privacy/creepy sometimes, but Path seems to have no qualms about blowing right past them. I am staying away.

Re: Path texts my entire phonebook at 6 AM

#17

Post by nwh » Tue, Apr 30, 2013, 4:21 PM UTC

evan_ wrote: post #2

The weirdest part of this is that it apparently made voice calls to landlines? Why would they do that, it makes no sense. Unless maybe that's what the phone company does if you text a landline? Never tried it but I would be surprised...

Various API that let you send SMS will make a call if the SMS can't be delivered, and then use text-to-speech to read the thing out to you. It's fairly obnoxious really.

Re: Path texts my entire phonebook at 6 AM

#18

Post by zalzane » Tue, Apr 30, 2013, 4:22 PM UTC

Why is it even possible for this to happen? Did someone really think it was a bright idea to provide an API to access people's personal data, and if so, why doesn't the phone tell them that before letting them install the app?

On top of all of that, why wouldn't the phone provide a setting to restrict all personal/identifying information from being accessed by the app?

Re: Path texts my entire phonebook at 6 AM

#19

Post by homosaur » Tue, Apr 30, 2013, 4:22 PM UTC

This is pathetic. I'm glad I've never found a use for this pile of garbage but this is like the fourth or fifth time I've read about something exactly like this happening. This company has no respect for users or privacy.

CALLING A FREAKING LANDLINE?!? DIE PATH

Re: Path texts my entire phonebook at 6 AM

#20

Post by DanI-S » Tue, Apr 30, 2013, 4:23 PM UTC

FYI, you can deactivate your Path account by visiting their website (https://path.com/), signing in and clicking 'Deactivate' on the 'Settings' page.