Android or Spydroid
 

"Some of the most popular apps written for Google's Android phones do not tell users what data they are gathering, says a study by US researchers."

continue reading here....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11443111

is it possible to have something like a firewall application working in background which can report all these unwanted background activities in maemo?

Re: Android or Spydroid
 

Yes and no. It doesn't seem feasible to have a program which flawlessly monitors all network traffic and picks out all secret "phone home"-style activity.

On the other hand, there's nothing to stop someone analysing specific traffic for suspicious behaviour by hand (e.g. Wireshark captures?) or even developing firewall or other packet inspection software which blocked known offenders.

Re: Android or Spydroid
 

This is one of the things why closed source are dangerous. Although Maemos extras-devel could be a security threat it is still safer than most closed sourced programs available.

So Android and iOS will always be a bigger target than Maemo/Meegos open-sourced strategy.

There is ways to do this already but i am not aware of any user-friendly way..

Re: Android or Spydroid
 

there is something called Droidwall

Of course only on rooted and specific phones from "aware non-average users"
http://www.androlib.com/android.appl...wall-jDxB.aspx

When will people realize how to threat their sensitive data on a computer?
When will they realize they are running around like kids with toys with mini computers giving away privacy / sensitive data for free?

Will Go0gle be government before they realize?

Re: Android or Spydroid
 

I wish on Maemo somebody could port something like Little Snitch

As far as android goes - the purpose is data gathering isn't it?
The whole concept of "allow program to access gps , contacts, screen YES / NO" is fishy. They know damn well impatient and unknowledgable users will YESKip these questions.

Re: Android or Spydroid
 

Sure, but what are they going to do? Go the iOS/WP7 route and deny users any and all control over the device?

Re: Android or Spydroid
 

Seems to me the only fair thing to do - or hand out Android phones for free with a disclaimer.

Re: Android or Spydroid
 

Some news for Spydroid aware users:

Taintdroid is an open source software to be integrated in custom Android roms that will monitor the privacy sensitive information such as IMEI, telephone number, etc.. sent into the void behind the smartphone user's back.
http://appanalysis.org/index.html

Be sure to check the demo to see Taintdroid in action against a random Wallpaper app :D

Now I wonder if there are any Maemo applications that are this aggressive?

Re: Android or Spydroid
 

Actually it hardly seems fair, considering that as the iPhone has shown that denying users control doesn't protect you in the slightest.

What does handing android phones out for free have to do with this?

There might be in the future, but at this point I don't know of any. Considering that most applications in Extras went through a hell of a review and are open source, I don't think anyone would bother (that and the small user base.)

Perhaps with MeeGo and a wider user base it might be of concern.

Re: Android or Spydroid