PrivacyGrade: Grading the Privacy of Smartphone Apps

#1

Post by guardian5x » Wed, Nov 19, 2014, 9:24 AM UTC

PrivacyGrade: Grading the Privacy of Smartphone Apps
privacygrade.org

Re: PrivacyGrade: Grading the Privacy of Smartphone Apps

#2

Post by dobbsbob » Wed, Nov 19, 2014, 10:08 AM UTC

How did WhatsApp receive an A rating when it can access your mic and camera to record without confirmation?

Re: PrivacyGrade: Grading the Privacy of Smartphone Apps

#3

Post by [deleted] » Wed, Nov 19, 2014, 10:20 AM UTC

[deleted]

Re: PrivacyGrade: Grading the Privacy of Smartphone Apps

#4

Post by codesuela » Wed, Nov 19, 2014, 11:31 AM UTC

dobbsbob wrote: post #2

How did WhatsApp receive an A rating when it can access your mic and camera to record without confirmation?

they actually just rate whether the App permissions match the users expectations.

Re: PrivacyGrade: Grading the Privacy of Smartphone Apps

#5

Post by mediaserf » Wed, Nov 19, 2014, 12:57 PM UTC

Facebook gets an A? All the egregious permissions say "Not analyzed yet". In cases where permissions aren't analyzed the grade should at least be marked as tentative / incomplete.

Re: PrivacyGrade: Grading the Privacy of Smartphone Apps

#6

Post by hobarrera » Wed, Nov 19, 2014, 1:08 PM UTC

dobbsbob wrote: post #2

How did WhatsApp receive an A rating when it can access your mic and camera to record without confirmation?

Because users expect an application used for sending audio snippets use the microphone.

Re: PrivacyGrade: Grading the Privacy of Smartphone Apps

#7

Post by Kapow2112 » Wed, Nov 19, 2014, 1:15 PM UTC

I think this just highlights a problem with app permissions. Why should the Kindle app ( http://privacygrade.org/apps/com.amazon.kindle.html ) require phone status and identity? (Also how is "not analyzed yet" helpful?)

Re: PrivacyGrade: Grading the Privacy of Smartphone Apps

#8

Post by Kapow2112 » Wed, Nov 19, 2014, 1:17 PM UTC

Kapow2112 wrote: post #7

I think this just highlights a problem with app permissions. Why should the Kindle app ( http://privacygrade.org/apps/com.amazon.kindle.html ) require phone status and identity? (Also how is "not analyzed yet" helpful?)

Even worse, why can Skype ( http://privacygrade.org/apps/com.skype.raider.html ) read my text messages when I definitely never want to use the feature?

Re: PrivacyGrade: Grading the Privacy of Smartphone Apps

#9

Post by Eye_of_Mordor » Wed, Nov 19, 2014, 2:15 PM UTC

Anything that can read my contacts should automatically be a 'D' in my opinion. Take pictures and access the internet - that's a 'D' too. I know this site is measuring the difference to people's expectations, but privacy needs to be re-framed once you have an out of control government in the mix.

Re: PrivacyGrade: Grading the Privacy of Smartphone Apps

#10

Post by Eye_of_Mordor » Wed, Nov 19, 2014, 2:17 PM UTC

mediaserf wrote: post #5

Facebook gets an A? All the egregious permissions say "Not analyzed yet". In cases where permissions aren't analyzed the grade should at least be marked as tentative / incomplete.

If trust is earned then they should all be graded 'D' until shown otherwise.